Berhalter did say part of the reason was the UK quarantine rules, but also that he specifically wanted to leave him England because he's got a new coach.
He asked about a "depressing" career arc. Freddy's isn't depressing, just shameful. Assuming Freddy knows the meaning of the word, that is.
Why again did he sign for a middling Championship club? Hell, he could have been the no.1 for most of the clubs in Belgium if he didn't wanna move. It's just such a piss-poor move.
All the more so if, as was widely reported, Brugge were interested in resigning him - he'd get plenty of silverware and there'd always be the chance of the occasional CL appearance. There was also the possibility of going from "designated replacement for" to "designated successor to" Mignolet, who's already 33. Now, he's gone from nailed-to-the-bench #2 at a CL side to the same slot at a Championship bottom-feeder. With his Nations' League Final performance this summer he was in the driving seat to a more-than-usual extent for a player. He could have - had to really - said to his agent "Tell every team that I'm starting the first six games or I'm not interested". His previous performances are rapidly fading into the background and, like Sarge, alternatives are going to emerge. Extremes of optimism or pessimism are usually misplaced, even with injuries, but this is one cash where it's really impossible to be in any way hopeful .
Desevio Payne, Joe Gyau and Jonathan Amon can enter that convo. Depressing because of injuries. As for depressing career in Europe over not getting chances, there is Yelldell and Lletget, who wasted six years in West Ham. And even Jonathan Klinsmann can be one, considering his dad tried to move all the strings he could and nothing.
On the bench: 📋 Team news🔢 Steve Cooper names his side for today's clash 🆚 Birmingham 👊 🌳🔴 #NFFC pic.twitter.com/gaiqLsIUGC— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) October 2, 2021 Up 2-0 at the half.
At this stage he should just change his name to On The Bench Horvath. We could certainly change the thread title to that
Horvath always finds a way back to redemption. Just hope he doesn't have to wait til next year for it.
It's hard to call much about his last 3 years "redemption". He had a good game against Mexico, and I believe one in the Champion's League...but other than that the guy has hardly played.
He had those 3 CL games in late 2018 after not playing for months and retaking the no.1 spot at the club not to mention him playing out of his mind vs Italy in 2019 (I think it was).
<slight variation from above> If a tree fell in Nottingham Forest, could Horvath make a bench out of it?
Yes, I suppose it is... I'm sure all of us would much rather be discussing how he's playing, and I hope he'll get a run of games soon.
The reality is this move turned out - on paper - to not really be an exceptionally bad one. Samba has left the door open more than once. Thing is, as a #2 - especially one brought in from outside - you have to be ready when the call comes. That's just the harsh reality. It sucks, It's not easy, but Horvath had the opportunity. A mediocre game might have even gotten him a second look. But he made a huge, glaring mistake that had "not ready for prime time" written all over it. I wish he hadn't. We all wish he hadn't - but Horvath puts in a decent day at the office that game, he could be starting regularly now. And he makes that mistake his first start at most any club... he's going to take some time to redeem himself.
If he had played better for Brugge,they wouldn't have needed to bring in Mignolet.That's been turned into a "poor Ethan loses job to hometown hero" narrative. Football's not that romantic anymore.
That was always a nonsense narrative. He had every shot with Brugge. He didn't put his stamp on the spot. He had similar errors at Brugge to the errors we've seen time and again with the USMNT and NF. It's a horrible trend in his career. Anyone can go back in this thread and see what Belgians were saying about him at Brugge during his time there. There were good times but there were too many poor/unconvincing performances. Really sad to see him get his shot to start in the league for NF and then immediately blow it but that's how sports goes sometimes.
I wonder if Ethan is one of those career backup keepers who is happy pushing the number one is training and getting the occasional cup/injury start.
Keeper is a tricky position. Only one guy plays. Rarely does a back-up get the chance to play, let alone plays well enough in those small chances to overtake the #1. Ethan probably had a few other transfer opportunities and viewed taking over Samba and the #1 spot at Forest his best shot. I mean he probably was right, Samba has given a lot of reasons to be replaced, Ethan just blew his chance. Hopefully he gets another one with the new coach. I will never understand why some other mid-table or even bottom of the table Belgium League team didn't want to bring him in to be #1. He proved he could play in that league during his time at Brugge. I think that would have been the best way to ensure 1st team football. Oh well...