For a two week training stint. Could this result in future European chances? Who knows, but it's fun to speculate.
Here's the link http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/latest_soccer_news/327095.html Hopefully this does result in him going to Europe. Gotta get DJ Countess some playing time.
DJ Countess plays for Dallas. If Howard left, the Metros would have to trade to get him back for it to have any bearing on his playing time.
It IS pretty common stuff, but rumor-mongering and wild speculation are the very life-blood of BS And why not? But the larger issue, ISTM, is the growing backlog of good American keepers who need someplace to play. Jon Busch waited 5 years to get out of the A League and get a chance in MLS. All he did, as a rookie, was lead the league most of the season in GAA and be a real contender for Keeper of the year. A guy like Countess sits in Dallas (not NoCity, as noted) and Bryheem Hancock, far and away the best keeper in college last year, toils in the A League. While in the case of Field players most Euro clubs still need some convincing before they'll put money down on an American, it certainly would seem that the USA has proved that we can produce quality keepers. As FSW posited, the two best GK's in England may well be Friedel and Keller. So frankly, MLS OUGHT to be actively peddling guys like Howard and Rimando overseas, even if they can't get what might be considered fair value. Judging by some of the atrocious performances I've seen lately between the pipes over there, they sure OUGHT to be in the market.
AWESOME! I bet he'll make it. I know he's our future goalie. I know he'll go to Europe at some point! He rocks!
The original source is Soccer America: Tim Howard's two-week training stint with Feyenoord is just the first step in showing his wares to foreign teams. His MLS contract doesn't expire until next season but he's already begun discussing a new deal...
I know it's early. But I wouldn't bet on him staying. He's got a team that refuses to pay him the money he wants, a coach that seems to be mentally retarded. Honestly, he feels like he's getting no respect when they won't give him the money. Tim's been a great keeper, and he'll definetly be #1 sooner or later. And since MFO takes him for granted, I hope, for Tim's sake, that he finds a STARTING role on a team in Europe. If that means 1st Division England, than I'd be behind him. That's how Kasey started.
Training with Feyenoord doesn't exactly mean they are completely interested. Sometimes the big clubs will bring you in to look at ya, and then after they do not sign you, one of t he smaller clubs will pick you off. Oh...and about England. If a club wants him, they'll get the gov. to give him a permit. Thus friedel + Blackburn when they both strted out. 2 years of sitting on liverpool's bench made a little talk about his work permit problems as well.
I agree w. you that there is a backlog in "keepers in development". AS for Byron Hancock, I went to SMU last year and got to see him play a lot. He's got skills but he doesn't have the mental aspect yet for regular duty in MLS. I'll never forget theNCAA's against St.John's. He got injured and should have come out but didn't and was hesitant the rest of the way. Cost us two goals and the game. Two goals any healthy keeper would have stopped. AS for Timmy, it's great he's training w. a club where he wouldn't have WP problems if they decide they like what they see. Hopefully he can get on over there. Joe Cannon should take note of the WP issue when he looks at where to train in the off-season.
Keep in mind, a lot of starting keepers are in question this offseason in MLS. Cannon. Jordan. Both out of contract on Jan 1. If the US can export anything soccer-wise, it is keepers...
I thought it was Ronald Wattereus, who we all know from the Dutch friendly earlier this year, I could be mistaken though.
Have to agree with Bill on this one. Keeper is a spot where the league definitely has a surplus of talent. We need to move some people to create some room for new blood. Now if we could just reach this level in field players.