It's certainly easy to take a look at this year, then, as Campbell has been out for the same amount of time as Rio. Lehmann hasn't made near the errors Howard has. I realize he's not the US #1 or #2, but as you can see by the post just a few above mine there are those who think he's "the best keeper United has ever had". How's that for hyperbole? The more level headed of ManU fans (and you are among them) readily admit that Howard just doesn't have it right now. Even mtkill states he would take Lehmann over Howard in a big game (and I agree with just about your entire post, mtkill), so I know there are folks out there who have a grasp of reality.
That's a good excuse of your conceeding three goals on three well taken and well placed shots. But it's not a good excuse when your dropping shots hit right toward you or making other gaffes.
True, but then he's also let in more goals overall. Not that I'm saying its the same thing, just that you have to look at that. Well, there are as I said going to be a few fans who go overboard. But take a look over in Yanks Abroad and you'll see plenty who think Howard's time at United is over! That's even more pessimistic than many in the RedCafe crowd. And yes, based purely on current form you have to take Lehmann, there's not much of a decision to make there. But I still like Howard's chances for the future, and I think he has a much better chance of eventually being considered a great keeper than Lehmann does. Its tough to keep a level head as both a United fan and a US fan, but Howard is a bit down on his luck right now, and Lehmann is doing well for now. I just want to see if Howard can show us his form while having a fully fit defense like he did for the first half of last season.
I actually don't doubt that Howard will bounce back, but currently I'm of the mind that he will bounce back with a club other than Manchester United. Simply, at a club like ManU (or Arsenal, or Chelsea) there is no room to let a key player "get himself back up to speed" on the pitch. The EPL "Big Three" just don't have the option to do that. I really think that Howard being thrown directly into the fray at a huge club was probably not the best move to make. he would have been better off signing with a mid-table club that could afford to let him play all these errors out of his system. A bigger worry for the USMNT is that he could be psychologically scarred by this. It's now happened twice, and how many more "mulligans" do you think SAF is going to give him? I don't doubt that, if he gets over his penchant for boneheaded plays in tight games, he will be the US #1 in 2010, but for 2006 I'm sure the US will go into it with Friedel #1 and Keller #2 because they have the experience. BTW, has anybody else had a look at the calendar today? It's the one year anniversary of the "Battle at Old Trafford". Amazingly it was that incident which led me to get to know several of the ManU guys on this board better. So sit back and raise a pint to the lunacy of Martin Keown today!
Very true. I think Timmy simply needs some time to refocus his efforts on training. It is obvious that he is lacking in the necessary confidence at the moment and appears to be second guessing some of his actions in game situation. For the sake of Man U, Timmy needs to regroup and that should not be done in a meaningful game. No one is giving up on him and some of the posters have gone overboard with their reactions. Timmy should be back and in games with Man U sooner than later so will everyone just relax.
NOooooooooo wwwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You obviously know very little about Manchester United. The best keeper I have seen at United is the Great Dane. At the moment Howard is not fit to tie the Great Danes shoe laces. Howard could be great, but please dont say he is the best ever for United. I remember fantastic saves in Vienna, the FA cup semi-final against Arsenil and loads more. Howard has along way to go before that comparison could be made, he may never attain that level. Hell at the moment there are a lot of better keepers around than Howard (on current form). The Norwich keeper (Green) is getting rave reviews here, it will be interesting to see how he does in struggling side.
I think Rio's absence has hit Howard the Hardest, what Keeper could perform knowing his defense was jittery and at sea, I think it affected James the same way as well and also having Campbell injured. Rio and Sol are different class defenders, even to Terry and King, as these two are no1 CB's that command and domminat a game, Woodgate was one too but for the injuries. Let the defense settle, bring Tim back in and he'll be looking just like as he did when he first arrived.
Howard should be loaned out. He's got too much talent to ditch him entirely. Friedel, yes. Keller has not been an elite GK for about 1.5 years. Perhaps closer to two. I have no idea why so many USMNT fans think that he is. He's become overly rash, his reflexes have faded, and he isn't (and never was) all that athletic. Last year, he actually had far more gaffes than Howard. Without the supernatural athleticism to compensate. Keller's not a great GK anymore, or even a very good one. Friedel #1, Howard #2.
Agreed While I agree that Keller's skills have faded somewhat over the past couple of years, I do believe his "big game" experience gives him an edge over Howard for the time being. To be honest, I think the "perfect" WC for the US (outside of, say, getting to the semi finals) would be for no other keeper than Friedel to see the pitch in the summer of '06.
Well, Arena seems to be putting a lot of faith in Howard, making him almost the effective #1 keeper (tied with Keller really) as of late. Now while I doubt Howard will continue to get this kind of international experience as the US goes forward (hopefully) in qualifying into the hex, I think that if he gets better in those situations it will help him at the club level too. Slightly off-topic, but its really crazy how quickly things have changed for the American goalkeeper trio in England. Friedel went from leading Blackburn into Europe to fighting off relegation, Keller has been benched (while Tottenham have improved), and Howard apparently has the shakes. All of a sudden our once-invincible lineup of goalkeepers looks vulnerable, and you almost get the feeling someone like Jonny Walker or Marcus Hahnemann could sneak his way into the core.
Seems to me I read somewhere on the net that Keller is trying to get out of Spurs since he knows that not getting regular games will seriously impair his ability to have any kind of chance with the USMNT. I just don't know where he would go. The MLS is now following the same transfer periods as the rest of the world, and their season is almost over, anyway, so that's probably not "Option A", and I know there's no side in the Prem that jumps out at me as a place where he could challenge for a #1 job. Maybe he'll have to take a trip down to the Coca-Cola Championship (Pure Marketing Hyperbole by the FA, but genius, nonetheless) or try his luck in one of the smaller European leagues. I'd say MLS is the best shot, but if he goes in January then he'll basically have had a full year on inactivity. BTW, why am I so concerned????
He's putting a lot of faith in Howard and Keller because he's not worried about the hex...and he knows Friedel is #1. Keller and Howard are in a competition for #2 right now. I think it's silly to care too much about big game experience. You have to get it to have it, you know . Usually a poor justification for keeping fading veterans ahead of brilliant youngsters.
I humbly request the moderator to intervene into this discussion. I was reading it and had to remind myself that it was a Man U board and not a US Mens board!!! Keep it on topic. Sad to say but I think Timmy's days at United are numbered. Cudiccini from Chelsea is a target in January and Timmy didn't even make the bench for the last match.
I can't believe it, this thing happened to someone who was just voted to be the best in EPL a season ago.
as everyone understands that there's business reason behind the signing of a player, i have a little doubt that MU target business in US has reached their expectations ( as we'll know that FSW has dropped most of MU games, ...we don't see alot MU games on FSW anymore ), does the Timmy case have something to do with it ?
What do you propose a mod do to keep it on topic? You want them to delete the posts? Or just ask nicely that people keep it on topic? You can always add a negative rep to the people you think are derailing the thread...
This thread is all about Tim Howard - his future as a person, not just a United player. Howard's got to have being the US Men's No. 1 in the next world cup as a personal goal, and that will affect his career choices as well. Anybody who thinks the US keeping situation is irrelevant to Tim's Man Utd career is being shortsighted, IMO.