Comments on: Blackburn Signs Paul Robinson For £3.5 Million

By: Kartik Krishnaiyer

Kartik Krishnaiyer — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 17:40:01 +0000

It’s a fact that Guzan had a better MLS career than Tim Howard who wasn’t even the best keeper on his own lousy Metrostar team while first Tony Meola and then Mike Amman were there. Really Howard had one and a half good seasons in MLS at a time when MLS’ talent level was arguably at its lowest point in the history of the league.

Guzan won’t be a top 10 EPL keeper, but the fact that Marcus Hahnehman who was (and trust me on this and maybe someone else here who watched MLS in the early days can agree or disagree) was bottom end keeper was considered passable in the Premier League tells me something. (he did beat out Chris Woods for the GK job w/ the Rapids) Other American keepers like Ian Feuer and Juregen Sommer survived for years in England even though they too were far from the best keepers in MLS.

So my point is two fold.

1- American keepers no matter how poor in MLS seem to survive in England
2- Tim Howard’s signing with Manchester United in 2003 appeared to be a complete utter joke. I mean Howard wasn’t even good enough to play for the US in a competitive match and had failed to make the 2002 World Cup team. His only caps were to that point in friendlies. Yet he did alright and despite some bumps has turned out fine. Guzan is much further along than Howard was in 2003, and yet Alex Ferguson signed him, probably due to my first point more than anything, the comfort of American keepers in England.

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 17:20:54 +0000

Guzan is barely a top two or three keeper in MLS; there’s no way he can just walk into the Premiership, where he won’t even start, and be a top 10 keeper. That’s ludicrous.

By: eplnfl

eplnfl — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:52:59 +0000

Ok, Kartik, you exposed me. I am a Chicago guy first and last. Guzan is a local guy and like Brian McBride and Jon Spector, they do no wrong in my book. I’m a homer!

I also believe Blanco is picked on by every ref who has called his games.

By: Kartik

Kartik — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:06:59 +0000

Way to stand up for your Chicago guy Lou!

Guzan is from Chicago, BTW for everyone even though he went to South Carolina for college and Chivas LA when joining MLS.

By: eplnfl

eplnfl — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 13:18:09 +0000

Guzan is a top ten keeper if in the EPL this season, as long as he has some defense in front of him. I would hope that Guzan can team with Friedel for an All-American keeper corps. Friedel knows the league and the players and is the ideal guy to help break Guzan in to the EPL.

I think Tim Howard was more developed when he came to Man U. from a understanding the game point of view. Both are physically talented.

Kartik:

The other day when you spoke about the international players in the MLS, well since all the Yanks are in the EPL, the MLS has to get along with imports. A discussion we can have later.