Anyone have more information on why Ricardo is not #2 behind Barthez? He is supposed to be the #2 on the Spanish team (with Canizares injured, that is) and was brought to OT as cover for the often injured Barthez. Yet, every time United have had the backup keeper play, it has been Carroll and not Ricardo. I haven't seen anything in print to say why this is the case.
I don't have the source to back this up, however, I read in the past the SAF has been alternating his back-up keepers between Carroll & Ricardo. Due to this, it has just happened that when Fab has left the game, Carroll was the back-up for that game. Just luck of the draw.
Maybe I've only been paying attention when Carroll has been the backup, but I've seen a lot more of Roy than Ricardo.
Well, I also think it's probably true that Carroll and Ricardo are rotating as #2 depending on their form. But I don't know, somehow I've had fonder memories of Carroll than Ricardo, maybe it's the fact that the first game Ricardo played in, we lost 3-0 to an Israelite side (that is not to say it's his fault) and the other two times Ricardo played (againts Leiceister City and Bayer Leverkusen) the United goal was relatively unchallenged. We've definitely yet to see the best of Ricardo.
Since Barhez's injury, there hasn't been a rotation of keepers. Carroll finshed up for Barthez against Southampton and has started the two games since. And before Barthez got injured, the last time I can find that Ricardo was on the bench was Jan 4 against Portsmouth. I think were not hearing the full story here.
It's hard to image that the Spainsh #2/3 keeper is Taibi-quality. (I didn't see him against Maccabi Haifa. Was he really that bad?) Then again, some players don't adjust to the English game. I was wondering if his English is limited and he consequently does a poor job of organizing the defense.