OT-We Are Going To Brazil

[TheSultan]

BrewCity - Starting the wrong keeper? Howard is one the five best goalies in the world. He had three great saves last night.

But played terribly in Costa Rica.

Guzan is just as good.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

BrewCity - Starting the wrong keeper? Howard is one the five best goalies in the world. He had three great saves last night.

No, he's not. He flirted with being world class a few years ago, but has fallen off. He was directly responsible for the second and third goals against Costa Rica. On the second, he should have come off his line to claim the cross, instead he let it drift over the defense to three virtually unmarked players. That should have been an easy and harmless claim. On the third goal, same thing. Rodriguez got behind the defense, but Howard never came out. Made it too easy and left Rodriguez too large a target. Quite simply, Howard isn't what he was. He made some nice saves last night, but only 1 was really anything special.

Guzan is killing it at Villa. He is arguably the main reason they weren't relegated last year and has played just as well when given the chance with the USMNT. I love Howard. I love how much he has overcome both personally and professionally. I love his tenacity. But he's not the guy he used to be. He isn't aging like Cech or Buffon. My only fear is that Klinsmann won't make the change before next summer.

[MayorBeluga]

My only fear is that Klinsmann won't make the change before next summer.

Good news is that Klinsmann has been willing to make changes, even with the name players. Whether Howard loses out? Only time will tell but at least Klinsmann will consider it (especially after Brad likely plays the final 2 qualifiers).

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

Klinsmann has been very willing to make changes, which is why his refusal to even consider making the keeper spot a competition even more surprising. He has asserted time and time again how highly he rates Howard, but I just don't understand how he can't see that Howard has become his own worst enemy at times recently, especially when he has to come off his line and doesn't. Maybe he's afraid that if he makes Guzan the starter, Howard won't take the call-up to be the backup (decent chance that's true). But right now I'd rather have Guzan starting with Hamid and Sean Johnson as the backups than Howard and Guzan. I just think it gives us a better shot at making a deep run in Brazil.