Yeah. I think teams almost always ensure that at least the primary backup keeper gets a medal, in recognition of the belief that they are generally as important or valuable to the squad as the players in other positions that would automatically qualify by achieving the bare minimum number of necessary appearances. (I.e., staring keepers are uniquely expected to play the full 90 in every single league game of the season, barring injury or a severe drop in form.)
https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/2023/02/23/friedel-turner-should-leave-arsenal-if-he-cant-start/ Brad Friedel has told U.S. national team goalkeeper Matt Turner that if he can’t win the starting role at Arsenal, he has to leave the club.
Says Friedel, who didn't lock down a permanent top-flight starting job until he was 30 and spent 6 full seasons as a Premier League backup goalkeeper. It would be more fun if Turner was a starter, but he seems to be doing just fine. Arsenal also has no incentive to sell him at all.
Yeah, I think he should have his agent shop him around, and push for a transfer if a good option pops up, but there’s not really any urgency with the situation unless he just hates being a backup.
Sounds like solid advice actually. Turner will be 29 at the end of this season. A man’s got to pay the bills, but Turner probably knows by now if he’s got a legit chance of being the starter.
Turner knew upon signing whether he had a legit chance to be a starter, and the answer was always no.
You think he committed himself to playing a handful of games per year for the rest of his playing days as a 27 yo goalie? Ouch.
Year One in Europe: Training at Arsenal followed by schedule of cup games and possibility to replace Arsenal starter. That was a good bargain for Matt and it already shows in his improved play. Year 2? I don't know what happens. I just know that so far so good. b.t.w. Wasn't Friedel the guy who brought Turner into the forefront as a pro? I think I had some kickback on that one at some point which I'm too lazy to research. Just brought it up for context since Firedel getting roasted.
Dude is allegedly getting paid like 8x what he was making in MLS. If the equation is "handful of first team games and get paid 8x my previous salary, or go to a lesser team / league, play more, but make 4x my previous salary", I think he would absolutely commit to the first option.
Sure, but this doesn't mean he won't ask to be sold if an offer from mid table PL team looking for a starter comes. A year ago those offers just couldn't exist.
I mean, I'm sure he's open to other offers, especially if it allows him to keep collecting $2m/yr. But I don't think he, "committed himself to playing a handful of games per year for the rest of his playing days"... he took a backup role because he's 27 and was offered (and I really can't stress this enough) an 8x raise for the next 3-4 years (TM says Arsenal has a 1-year option that activates in 2025).
Again, agree. That was a right move, and, probably, neither Turner nor Arsenal expected him to be a lifelong back up anyway. He is much improved proven well known keeper now, if a good offer comes he will be sold.
Which is again crazy to me that Arsenal was the only club (that we're aware of) that was interested in him. But it was the Premier League and he's making seven figures so I get it but damn he could have risked losing the no.1 spot.
On the bench: 🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️We're unchanged from Leicester City 👊COME ON YOU GUNNERS! pic.twitter.com/NeYnYJMaHN— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 1, 2023
I'll be happy to root for this if it means that Arsenal have clinched with three matches to play, and not a Ramsdale injury.
Waiting and hoping for some Europa League action. R16 up next: March 9 @ Sporting (4th in Portugal) March 16 v Sporting
a little disappointing to me Turner doesn’t come into a game like this…he needs 5 appearances to automatically qualify for a winners medal. Arsenal made 4 subs after it was 4-0, 2 in the 82nd minute. It would be easy for Turner to have been one.
Subs for goalies for anything other than an injury (or red card) in a competitive match are extremely rare, and even those are usually only ever to take over for penalties in a knock-out match. Others have noted that the league winners are given 40 medals to hand out and the number 2 keeper generally gets one regardless of how many league matches they've played anyway. Turner will almost certainly get one if Arsenal win, even if he doesn't play another game for them this season.
120th minute, let's sub a keeper. Keepers speaking in unison "This man has the biggest brain of any manager I've ever seen"
All signs/sources point to a Turner start for Arsenal today, visiting Sporting (of Portugal) in Europa League KO action. The home leg is next Thursday.