Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... I think the fact that the US is known for producing quality 'keepers should help.
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... But I wonder if that was just the "rounding up" clause... I always thought he won his appeal because the board realized he was always already eligible for a Hungarian passport. It doesn't seem, at first glance, that the board took "exceptional talent" into account in either instance.
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... For the record, after Saturday night's game, Guzan has five caps. However, of those 5, only 1 wasn't a friendly and the Home Office doesn't count friendlies. So, he only has one cap that matters towards the work permit. In the previous two years, the US has played threee World Cup games, 6 Gold Cup games and three Copa America games. So Guzan has played one of 12 games that the H.O. would consider. Anyone think they'll round up 66.5 percent? Agreed. Unless they know he'll qualify as an exceptional talent - entirely possible given his talent and the way US GKs are regarded in the UK - there's no way he gets this based on the usual standards.
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... I think Howard's exception came because Hungary was to become an EU nation shortly after the WP process and he was awarded one because he'd qualify when they joined the EU anyway. So basically, they decided not to be dicks and not make Timmeh wait until the EU thing went through anyway... As for Benny, I guess BB's endorsement and that Benny qualifies for* a Austrian passport must have helped. Otherwise, it seems strange looking back because those aren't battles that bottom dwellers and promoted teams usually win at the Home Office. *I think
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... Thanks for all the responses, I'm definitely more educated now. I hadn't considered that goalkeepers would be looked at differently, and also hadn't realized that Howard and Benny got exceptions, I thought both had some sort of relative tie-in. I was kinda hoping he would go to Spain or the EPL, but maybe Celtic is the best option, he'll get his experience and then move on.
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... Maybe in a bid to get him a Spanish passport Celtic have renamed him Brad "Guzman".
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... How likely is this move going to happen during this Transfer window? And I do think Guzan will cherish the fact that he will get the chance to play CL games. By next year if Boruc does move in the summer, and Guzan should do fine for Celtic. Let's hope to see Beasley back in form, and trying to score against Guzan. Big rivalry game, and two American might be in it next year.
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... I thought that there was some 'thing" that being a backup GK helped for the permit, because he can't play a lot.
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... An interesting development. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/01/25/aston-villa-want-keeper-brad-guzan-89520-20297709/
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... Here is a paragraph about guzan in a mexican newspaper(but it's in spanish so i'm going to translate it): http://www.laopinion.com/deportes/futbol/?rkey=00000000000003091780 Finalmente se confirmó la presencia del arquero de Chivas USA, Brad Guzan, en Glasgow, Escocia, donde aparentemente negocia su pase al Celtic de quel país, equipo con el que entren actualmente. Finally is confirmed that Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan,is in Glasgow, Scotland where he apparently is negotiating his transfer to Celtic, CURRENTLY he is training with them.
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... Actually, a better translations is that Guzan is in Scotland where he apparently is negotiationg his transfer to Celtir, with whom he is currently training , [not "actually" training].
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... Indeed. Were this to happen, would Guzan be the first American player signed by one of the UK clubs with an American owner (after the Americans became the owner)?
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... Didn't Villa sign one of our youth defenders last year? Obviously not a first teamer though. PS - Can we get a thread title change over here? It's annoying me.
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... The ever reputable Footbal Rumours had a post that Arsenal withdrew from bidding for Brad ($5M is peanuts for Arsenal, obviously) after making a casual inquiry because Celtic promised Arsene the first crack at Boruc in the upcoming summer transfer window. Having seen Lukasz Fabianski's stellar goalkeeping in the recent thrashing by Tottenham, maybe Arsene is having second thoughts now. PS. Arsenal also has an American (co-) owner.
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... posted 5 minutes ago celtic make offer for guzan http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/fo....Celtic_make_offer_to_American_goalkeeper.php
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... So, this is the contract offer. Presumably then, the transfer fee has been agreed to already.
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... Makes sense. Good analysis. However Fabianski is so young, even more so for a goalkeeper. I wouldn't give up on him already. I'm not saying start him, but keep him in the system. But right now, if I was Wenger, and I had to choose between a old, past-his-prime Lehmann, a overachieving Almunia, a not-ready-for-prime-time Fabianski, or a about to reach his prime Boruc... I'd pick Boruc. But if some of the rumors I've heard that AC Milan is after Boruc too, I wonder who'd he pick. Arsenal is a big-time club, no doubt, but IMHO, there's something almost mythic about AC Milan.
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... Hypothetical question: If Guzan goes on to start for Celtic, who's the US #1? Howard or Guzan?
Re: Brad Guzman? to Celtic... Howard Guzan is improving quick but I still think Howard is better and will be better for a while