I actually couldn't remember who our other GK was, had to go look it up. I would have been just fine with him if Timmy had to come out. In a situation like that, you want grizzled experience and a guy you know can keep calm under pressure.
A key point. Guzan was on the bench that season as he has every year at Villa. Hahnemann, on the other hand, had been starting for Wolves that season. Hopefully we'll have a starting Premiership goalkeeper as a backup to Howard in 2014 as well.
I have to imagine that one of Johnson, Hamid, Bingham, Meara, or MacMath (and probably multiple) will no longer be in MLS and will be playing at a high level before the 2014 World Cup.
My point is that we do actually have another keeper, who might still be better than Howard, but is at least pretty close. 2 years is a long time, with Brad's age, but the possibility exists that anybody could get hurt before the World Cup. Friedel isn't going to come out of retirement to play friendlies and Klinsmann would prefer to go with a younger option during those friendlies anyway. But if Howard was to get hurt leading up to the Cup and Friedel is still playing at a similar level, would he be willing to come out of retirement and wouldn't Klinsmann prefer that option, over Guzan, if he's still backing Given up?
I can see one making the move eventually, but what makes us think that, by the summer of 2014, one of these guys will: 1.) transfer to a team abroad, in a league clearly superior to MLS 2.) earn a starting role 3.) play well enough to prove that they're world cup starter material Remember, this is assuming Howard is unavailable and Guzan hasn't earned a starting role on his club team.
Who says they have to be starting for their club. Johnson and MacMath both trained at Everton and drew a ton of interest. If either is backing up Howard in 2014 and being loaned out to an MLS level Championship team, I would not write them off for it. Remember, the vast, vast majority of goalkeepers at the 2010 WC, IMO, of course, would back up Howard. At the time, and still today, I thought/think he is about 10th on the planet, meaning at least 22 of the qualified teams have keepers worse than him.
I know Johnson had the flub in Olympic qualifying, and at the time I was incredibly pissed. But I've been watching the Fire games recently and the guy has really reached a whole different level than before. He's vocal out of the back, he's athletic enough, and you rarely ever see him out of position. It's nice to see him bounce back from it all, in comparison to Hamid who's really had a landslide in form.
Howard is #1, Guzan is #2, but I think you have to give a good look at solid keepers like Pickens (in great form right now) and Hall before you slide youngsters Johnson and Hamid too far up the depth chart.
Yup. In fact, it really doesn't matter who's #2 versus who's #3 right now. Howard's far and away #1, and will play every important game for us this cycle. In the meantime Klinsmann and staff will check out all available options, use them in friendlies & perhaps in meaningless qualifiers (if we've advanced already). By WC14 they'll know who #2 and #3 are. I honestly don't know who Klinsmann considers #2 right now, but it's probably el Guzano. If Howard got hurt for a CONCACAF qualifier, we'd probably go with Brad. And we'd be fine.
The word "great" gets thrown around too often in today's society. I certainly understand the point you were making, that keeper isn't a major concern for us and I agree. But to say Howard is great is false, unless your ideal of great is much different than mine. Buffon is great, Lloris is great, Casillas is great, Neuer is great. One would need to be amongst the 5 or 10 best keepers in the world to even been in the discussion of "great" goalkeepers imo. Howard simply does not meet this standard. Howard lets in too many soft goals to ever be amongst the greats of his generation. Timmy is good, but great he is not. I'll step down off my soapbox now...
My definition of "great" would probably involve covering the near post. Which he still can't do. Howard is very athletic, but mediocre with his positioning and command on set pieces. This adds up to above average, but I'd reserve great for the guys who it takes something special to beat. I remain unconvinced that, playing time being equal, Howard is much better than Guzan, and in some areas slightly behind. That said, the fact that Guzan can't get on the field to save his life means Tim is our #1, and it's not as if that's a bad thing. He's definitely above average. Definitely great with reaction saves.
I am a huge fan of all USA goalkeepers but agree with all of the recent discussion regarding Tim Howard. Take a look at the most recent goal we allowed: 1. He was late setting up the wall. 2. He leaves himself with a poor line of vision on the shot. 3. He wasn't ready when the shot was taken (this is the absolute "moment of truth" for any free kick). 4. He gives up the near post. 5. Needed to be on his line. 6. He has not left himself a chance to react and make the save. (and props to Pappa for a sublime effort and goal). I agree that Tim Howard is a very good goalkeeper. He may fit within many folk's definition of "great". He is not an elite goalkeeper. (And he has had elite matches).
7. It was nowhere near a corner and there was zero reaction. I don't think that was a good free-kick.
I am not agreeing nor dissagreeing with this but some people at some point have thought Howard was/is in the top 10 in the world. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...the-top-10-goalkeepers-in-the-world-right-now
Per our esteemed colleague: supercooper said: ↑ you can't use bleacher report as a reliable source for anything. anyone can write for them Here's a Bleacher Reporter's analysis one week earlier: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/727358-power-rankings-the-top-10-goallkeepers-in-the-world
I hear ya on that. Everyone has their opinion and some people think Howard is top ten in the world and others don't. At time Howard has come up big for USA and then there is the Guatemala free kick. On another note, I think it would be good to see Kennedy get to get some time for the nats at camp cupcake or something just to see how it goes.
1. We are fortunate to have Tim Howard. He is one of our finest players, probably ever. 2. Tim has not made many "Top 10 in the World" lists in the past year. 3. He is ahead of Brad Guzan or anyone else in our pool. 4. A shame about the goal vs Guatemala. 5. His biggest mistake is relying upon his athleticism at the expense of staying on his line. Watch these videos: USA Cuba :47 (10/11/2008) USA Mexico 1:24 (8/12/2009) USA Italy :35 (6/15/09) USA Slovenia :14(yes, the announcer will say "nothing Howard could have done" ), 1:00 (6/14/2010)
The 2 goals he let in against Ghana he should of stayed on his line but I only blame him for the second goal in OT, I blame the first goal on Ricardo Clark who lost possession in the midfield.
He failed to cover the near post on the first goal, as well. Demerit forced Boateng near side and Howard still didn't properly cover his post. As he didn't for 3 of Mexico's 4 goals in 2011 (if he'd stayed on his post instead of trying to use his athleticism to stupidly close down Gio Dos Santos, that 4th goal never happens).
Yep, that goal by Gio made Howard look like a clown. I slammed my tv remote into the ground and stopped watching the game.