I just read an article that reported Keller is ranked 2nd as a GK in Germany, ahead GK's like Oliver Kahn. His fans in Germany even call him "the wall". This is strong evidence that Keller is one of the best Goalkeepers in the world. I would think he is in the Top 20. The reason why I point this out, is that some people stated in BS that he is just above average as a GK. Maybe in the Top 50.
I think Keller has definitely risen as a goalkeeper since arriving in Germany. I think playing at Tottenham he did well , but he didnt impress as much as he is right now. Moenchengladbach is doing well in the Bundesliga right now , and Keller is giving them great performances week in and week out. I think he definitely could be one of the top 20 keepers in the world.
Always wanted to do this... Infact I did on last WC that we lost to Germany. Imagine if you will Shatner as James T Kirk captain of the Enterprise.... "KKKKKKKKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!" Thank you.
Being German, I have to add my point of view here. I don't know who voted Keller #2 in Germany, but thats probably a weekly poll. I wouldn't consider him in the top 5 in Germany and I don't know anyone who would (maybe some Gladbach supporters). Having said that, Germany is traditionally strong on the goalie position. I'd say, that our NTs goalkeepers have always been among the top 2 at any given WC (well, except Bodo Illgner in 1990, but he was still good enough to win the title). In the Bundesliga we have so many good goalies, countries like England would wish, that their #1 goalie could match our #5. So the fact, that Keller is doing pretty well in Germany shows you, that he must be among the top 30, or even the top 20.
He is second in Kicker's goalkeeper rankings for the season: http://kicker.de/content/saison/noten.asp?folder=3850&liga=1 Not only that, he's the fifth highest ranked player in the entire league: http://kicker.de/content/saison/not...on=2005/06&spieltag=17&position=0&help=235316
Kasey Keller is one of the top keepers in the world for sure. Personally, I'd put him in the top 10 in the world. I've seen an awful lot of soccer in my thirty-two years, and I've only seen one keeper who was far and away better than he and that was Olie Kahn.
Keller has always been one of the better GKs in the world (top 30) but I firmly believe he is now an elite goalkeeper (top 10). The question is how long this form will last.
I'm a big Keller fan. In fact, he's long my personal favorite on the USMNT. But I'm not sure I'd place him in the world's Top 10. He's definitely "World Class", but he's never really had the all-around game that the truly elite GKs have. He has, however, been one of the two or three best shot stoppers - ever. As he has aged his distribution and organization have improved, but I've always felt that Friedel was the best distributor of the ball the U.S. has had, and Meola is a far better organizer. During the period where the U.S. has faced consistently better teams, having a lights-out shot stopper has made Keller a great choice in the nets. But as the U.S. begins to impose its will on more and more opponents, and shot-stopping becomes less critically important, then the other parts of a GKs game come to the fore. Viva Keller!
You bring up good points and indirectly explain why Keller has gotten so much better with age. He has always been a great shot stopper but in recent years his experience has made him much better at the things he wasn't always so great at.
It's also why he probably does better with clubs like Rayo Vallecano, Leicester City, Millwall, and Borussia Moegengladbach than he would at a truly elite club. I hate to admit it, but I think Brad Friedel is the best all-around goalkeeper the U.S. has ever produced. But that's "all-around". Brad has all the tools. But I'd still pick Keller for my team. Something about his personality and fire make me pick him first. On the flip side, if I had one single game (not a tournament) to win, and I could pick any U.S. goalkeeper, I'd probably take Meola. While Keller was in the nets in the famous Brazil win, I really don't think he, Friedel, or anyone has the gear that Meola gets to in one-off situations. But soccer is rarely a "one game" situation, and over the long haul, I'll still take Keller.
look at his favorite team. metros. but i have to agree with him there. rimando definetly top 5. the guys arm span and height allow him to never miss a ball. nothing goes over that guys head.
I totally respect your opinion, but I disagree with you in a one-game situation. I'd pick Keller. Keller organizes the back just as good as Meola. And Keller is better at positioning and covering the angles than Meola. The only big advantage Meola has, is his distributing of the ball, and his sheer kicking power along with his accuracy, which is probably less than 10% of a GK's game. And even though this is irrevelant, Keller is a nice guy, and Meola is a jerk (I met them both).
In the run up to France '98, Keller was considered to be in the top three to five goalkeepers in the world (Seamus Malin, Tommy Smyth, Mike Hill). I stay away from placing a rank on goalkeepers. Just good, bad, and great. Everyone's got there opinion on what "top" goalkeeper does or does not do. But I think every one can agree Keller is a great goalkeeper. This isn't the first time Keller has gained popularity with local supporters. When he was with Leicester he was being compared with the great Gordon Banks (Considered by some to be the best English goalkeeper ever). I get annoyed when people say Keller has never played like he is playing now. The casual American goalkeeping fan needs to get their facts straight. In '95 he shut out Argentina in the Copa America. Don't forget that in '96 he shut out ManU when they were the superpower. Nike even made a commercial out of it (If you watched the Rob Stone hosted Worldwide Soccer, you've probably seen it). In 2000-02 he kind of fell under the radar for whatever reason. His odyssey in Spain. Definitly should have signed with ManU after Schmichel left. Some people say that he didn't start in the World Cup because he picked up an injury or that he just fell out of form. But right now we are seeing the second coming of Kasey Keller.
You didn't mention the Brazil game where he left Romario scratching his head all night. Look, Kasey's easily our best right now and he's playing great for Gladbach, but those rankings in Kicker are silly. Does anyone really think Koch is the best in Germany? Even more amazing, that Hildebrandt--who I think should be starting for Germany in June--is middle of the pack?
Must have missed that ranking, he wasn't. Who was comparing him with Gordon Banks? I can't recall anyone in Leicester doing that. He wasn't even our best keeper since Banks.
Tradition is the illusion of permanence. Kahn is the only GERMAN keeper that is close to Keller, and his time has passed. Timo is incredibly talented and should be #1, but experience is paramount at the goalkeeping position. This is why Keller is so strong right now. He's at the pinnacle of his career right now.
W h a t ? Germany has so many good goalkeepers that it's really hard to make a ranking and saying Hildebrand should be #1 is just wrong. Or was it meant to be a joke? I would even say that guys like Weidenfeller, Enke, Rensing, Wiese, Kirschstein, Adler or Miller are just as talented and they certainly play better than Hildebrand in his current shape. Oh and Kahn is only number 1 in the NT because of his "leadership abilities" and because of polititcs.