Thoughts on when you’ve got yourself a keeper

Marlon, I don’t know how old you are, but while I was living abroad years ago I would always hear the citizens of each country tell me we produce very good goal keepers. I hated it then and I hate hearing it now. I agree with the idea that Howard is an excellent goalie and that is all. A goalie isn’t a player when speaking of best players. I don’t believe they are in the running. Yes, they have an impact, but they do not do anything to control or advance the game, so I refuse to consider Tim Howard as USA’s best player.

You have to put the analysis within a historical perspective. The younger US teams are getting better and Bradley, Dempsey, Bocanegra, Cherundolo and Spector all get solid playing time from their respective Euro clubs.

I would add that Freddy Adu is in the top 50 in the world right now in terms of technical skill. He needs to find a place to get caps. If he doesn’t play next year for Monaco he should not sign anything with anyone else unless he gets a commitment from owners/management that he will play. It is such a wasted talent. He is only 19. I would say when he is 20 he should be making at least half the caps for any Euro team he is playing for. He should go to Brasil and play there. I guarantee a Corinthians, Palmeras, Flamenco, etc., would play him.

Altidore, IMO, has to learn more technical skill to take defenders one on one.

Yes, Howard is an excellent goal keeper, but I don’t include goal keepers as players.

GLTTUSMNT

i don’t see what marlon’s age has to do with this discussion. maybe it’s because i’m 20 and i happen to agree with him.

sure, keepers don’t control or advance the game, but they can still single-handedly win it (as howard pretty much did). at the end of the day, a player’s worth IS his impact, not anything else. another example was rustu recber in the euros this past summer. not only did he make some quality saves, he got the game winning assist in stoppage time in one of the matches.

if you’re a central defender on the same team as an iker casillas or a gianluigi buffon or even tim howard, you play with more confidence bc you don’t have enough pressure. when defenders play better, midfielders can get forward more, allowing the strikers to be in their best position to do damage.

Shivam, I understand your point of view, but game in and game out the game is won by the ten who are out of the box. Occasionally you will have phenomanal efforts by keepers that will win a final, or semifinal, or whatever. But the effort by the 10 players out of the box is what gets you there.

I completely respect Marlon’s post. Well written with sound reasoning. I have no complaints. I am just giving my opinion as I see the game.

GLTTUSMNT

oh yeah, completely true. i guess my main argument is that it’s just as important to have someone who prevents you from losing as it is to have someone who gives you the win.

I agree with shivam…a goalie will be given plenty of blame for letting in bad goals and losing the game for a team. He deserves just as much credit for making great saves and winning it. In this case, I think Howard’s performance can’t be credited to the defense playing out of their minds–and obviously they weren’t a factor in the PK’s. He won the game for them. Kahn definitely beat us in the WC in 2002. I think it’s ridiculous not to call him one of our best players…or at least most important in whether we succeed in WCQ and 2010.

Of course I’m assuming the ten out of the box can manage a goal in 90 minutes. And that’s the problem: a perfect goalie performance only guarantees a tie.

To not include GK’s as players is ridiculous. No matter how good the 10 in front of him/her are, something will always get through – a deflection, a better team, tight offside call, breakaways. Having a great GK is something I think every fan of any team wants (just ask Newcastle fans).

I yield to my fellow posters regarding keepers.

GLTAL