An excellent piece by S.L. Price in this week's SI (college b-ball on the cover), five pages. Most of it is normal stuff we've seen: fish out of water, success, how United was watching him, coping with Tourette's and nervousness, etc. But there is a part that's extremely interesting regarding Timmy's work permit appeal, rumored in-fighting between agents and perhaps players (namely, Brad--but both players deny it explicitly), and all kinds of fun stuff. Unfortunately, it's not online as of yet.
Wow. That is extremely interesting. I can only imagine what sort of fallout this might have for Friedel. Thanks Buff.
Beofre everybody on BS runs off about this "feud" thing (which they will, undoubtedly), and despite Chris Bergin not exactly going out of his way to state the facts clearly when he re-wrote the SI article and posted it on his site, ;et's make a couple things clear: 1) Friedel apparently refused to sign an affadavit. Keller refused to sign it as well. The reason, as stated in the article, is that it contained a lot of "false and exaggerated" information and neither player wanted to endose lies. Supposedly Keller signed it after it had been rewritten for him. We don't know if Friedel was asked to do the same. 2) Friedel waited FIVE FRICKIN YEARS to get an Endgland work permit. They dragged him through the ringer. If he's a little peeved that somebody else, with three lousy caps, came along and breezed through in a couple days because Sir Alex wanted it that way, who can blame him? It sounds more like a "ManU throwing it's weight around" issue than a "Friedel vs. Howard" issue. 3) The article goes on to say that Howard and Friedel are close freinds in England. 4) The FA official who reported on the hearings says Brad never said one negative word about Timmy. Now, go ahead and wank on about a "feud" like typical BS posters. I just thought the facts ought to appear somewhere in here.
Good enough reason to be jealous to me. I remebr either Arsenal or Man Utd. inquired about Friedel before Howard signed and Souness said Friedel was not for sale. So maybee it's sour grapes.
I don't believe he made effort to block anyone's approval -- it's unfortunate for him that this kind of rumor will probably follow him around for a long while. But to be honest, I do think it would be a little weird for him to be peeved that Howard had an easier time than him and depending on the timing, I think it might also be weird for him to contact a PFA official, even just to inquire about the lowering of standards. But that's just me. What is it with our goalkeepers and rumors of behind-the-scenes soap operas?
2002 against Germany in the World Cup. He took 2003 off and wasn't called in for the Holland match this year but like has already been mention he'll be in the squad for the Poland game.
I have to agree - I don't think Brad's mad that he didn't get to go to Arsenal or ManU. I do think, though, that he's right to be mad that ManU gets better treatment in these appeals than other clubs. On the one hand he may actually be happy for Howard that he's gotten his permit and gotten to play, but on the other hand, he's loyal to his club and is pissed that Blackburn would likely never have won a similar appeal.
... and in spite of the story in SI, none of this will make your local tv news or the sports pages of the New York Post. So, of course, it never happened.
Gotta agree with Bill Archer here, this is less about Brad vs Tim, and more about Brad annoyed at the system which kept him out for so long. And, until we get to read the actual documents Brad and Kasey were asked to sign, there's little to disagree with. I think we all can imagine some of the silly things that could have been written.
An aside concerning Friedel's spot with the USMNT: in his chat on Soccernet a few days ago, Bruce Arena stated that the #1 for the USMNT is currently between Keller and Friedel, since Howard has basically no experience internationally. Of course, Arsena can't crack that vaunted Haiti defense, so who knows if his opinion will even matter when qualifying comes around.
Instead of acting all pissy, Brad should be going around crowing that it's thanks to him Howard's where he is.
The Timmy article and two shots from the USA/Haiti match. How did I manage not to sell any photos for this issue.
FROM SKY Sports Im not saying hes mad to be at Blackburn but maybee deep down he would've liked a move to a bigtime club. Why?? does he have to write a letter after Howard gets his work permit. There was'nt any other players that Friedel was concerned about there requirements to recieve a work permit. Friedel should've just takin the high road.
Is this released at newstands yet? cause i know the subscribers recieve it a few days earlier before it hits the newstands.
I thought Tim Howard received a work permit because he is an EU citizen (via Hungary). Or actually, I think I remember something about Hungary not yet being an EU country, but it will be soon. And any exemption he got was given on the strength of that fact. - Paul