I mean, they at least need a backup to take with them to Guatemala (or is it Honduras? I forget which). That's this weekend, isn't it? Also, I've read on other boards that the league this year has "strongly suggested" to all teams that in addition to the two keepers they keep on their 18 man roster, they should keep a 3rd keeper on their developmental roster, in case an injury or other problem develops with the first two. This would mean the Quakes need TWO keepers. Yikes!
sorry. trying to look ahead to the future. and this weekend's game is a mere 4 days away. DC waived a guy named Behonick, who I think they'd drafted in this year's SuperDraft. Maybe someone to keep an eye on.
I suspect Saunders was intended to be a DP, but I think the difficulty in finding a suitable backup may have defaulted him to backup status and a full contract. And now he is the only GK that we have in camp, so I cant see any circumstance of the quakes offering him anything other than a full contract.
But theoretically couldn't he still be offered a DP contract even if he gets amole playing time this season due to Conway's unfortunate bad luck?
The keeper position is over-rated.....sure you'd like to have Cannon over Saunders but if you have a good D, Saunders will do fine. Over a whole season, will Cannon win u a match that Saunders tied or lost? Maybe, 1 game but I doubt it. Goals against are mostly decided on your defenders. Some keepers will make an amazing save maybe once every 2 or 3 games. Mostly you want your keeper to play mistake free soccer. No rebounds to opposing players, good hands in the air and positioning. Don't give away freebies.
obviously good goalkeepers play "mistake-free" soccer a lot more than avergae or bad goalkeepers do. you can build your whole team around a great goalkeeper, and a good one can lead you a long way. average or bad goalkeepers give away a lot more "freebies" as you put it, and can help destroy a defense's confidence. i guess i'm saying i disagree with your premise.
An avg keeper can win an MLS Cup on a good team. Brad Friedel isn't gonna take a bad team to MLS Cup. Nor will Jon Conway be the reason that a good team won't make it. Tony Meola is over-rated but he's good enough. Bo is bad.....he could be the kinda guy you are referring to as a guy that gives away alot of freebies. Jordan is talented but inconsistant, he gives away freebies, he is a mystery to me. Saunders is unknown in the heat of MLS battle(ones that count). I'll give him a few games.
But a good defense needs to be organized, and the man with the best view of what needs to happen is the keeper. The keeper needs to organize the defense and minimize the number of opportunities he himself needs to shut down. With Saunders as the only keeper in camp, his development rate should be accelerated.
      I heard that Earthquakes will sign Canadian goalkeeper from the A-League.       GO EARTHQUAKES!!! -G