by J Hutcherson | May 3rd, 2006
Is anybody else concerned about the mix of goalkeepers? Tim Howard should be in there because he’s seen big games on big stages, trains with one of the best minds in world soccer, etc… but behind the US defense he didn’t do as much as Zach Thornton did during the qualifying run for 2002.
Marcus Hahnemann was an above average keeper in Major League Soccer for some bad teams, and he deserves a lot of credit for getting out when he did. He’s also spent several seasons in a classic English system, playing behind a classic English defensive unit. That’s about as far away from the US back four or three as you can get, and his experience is a league down from big-time soccer. No disrespect implied, but this is the World Cup.
The last time Arena announced his squad, he rightly angered a lot of people by picking Tony Meola as the third keeper behind Brad Friedel and Keller. That slot should have gone to an emerging MLS keeper, and there were several deserving of consideration. Instead, he picked the three available keepers with the most World Cup experience, basically backing up his backup.
This time, he did the opposite. After Keller, there are issues with the keeper pool that could’ve been solved with the same choice Arena made four years ago. Backup the pool with Meola - or in a better world convince Friedel to do the job - leaving the second slot for the guy most likely to be starting in 2010.
Ah, but that’s where it gets tricky. Right now, Howard is a likely candidate for that role. If Hahnemann makes it with Reading in the Premier League, he’s challenging.
We profiled the keeper pool for the third slot in the July 2005 issue of Round not Oval and had this to say about Hahnemann:
Marcus Hahnemann: It’s worth noting that until very recently Hahnemann wasn’t listed as part of the Federation’s player pool, wasn’t included in their Yanks Abroad update, and was basically considered a guy who has had some success in the English Championship but not exactly National Team calibre. Now, more than a few people have him penciled in as the favorite to take the third spot to Germany… even if he was a late addition to the Gold Cup squad and still only has four caps with the last one coming two years ago against New Zealand. As odds-on favorites go, he’s not much of one. That could change quickly, but it’s still a long shot. On paper? Maybe, but Arena has had ample opportunity to use him in the past and opted for different players.
Those criticisms of Arena are still valid. Hahnemann didn’t get the kind of run one would expect for an eventual World Cup spot. Neither did Meola in the run-up to 2002. Meola remains the better choice because of his resume, Friedel because of his level, and at this point 2010 is a totally open question.
All of that said, credit Arena for not doing what he did four years ago. He’s taken a risk with a keeper that isn’t young, but could still factor in 2010. Arena has turned what would already be the banner year so far in Hahnemann’s career - promotion, starting a season in the Premier League as one of the key members of his club - and raised it a level.
What the rest of us get is someone who could have spent his career fighting it out among a group of MLS keepers who - rightly or wrongly - end up canceling each other out. Instead, he’s going to Germany. Good for him, good for Arena, and hopefully good for US.
What I’m Watching
Earlier and probably better options on Deportes, Setanta, and something called World Sport HD: Groningen - Ajax live at 1pm and Bayern Munich - VfB Stuttgart live at 2pm, and Atletico Madrid - Osasuna respectively. And then the deluge.
Bolton - Middlesbrough live at 3pm on Fox Soccer Channel and Espanol, or Celta Vigo - Barcelona live at the same time on GolTV. Let’s see, first vs. fifth in La Liga or an opposite end of the middle of the table battle in England? Advantage, GolTV.
Galavision has Toluca - Cruz Azul live at 4pm in the MFL playoffs, and Fox Soccer Channel is back with same day Bundesliga, Duisburg vs. Werder Bremen at 5pm. Not to be outdone, GolTV has same day La Liga (Mallorca vs. Valencia) also at 5pm. Playoffs beat any of that, but I don’t have Galavision. La Liga wins, but only because Duisburg is bottom of the table with four whole wins.
Three Libertadores playoffs tonight on Fox Sports en Espanol, starting live at 6pm with Velez Sarsfield - Newell’s Old Boys, then it’s Sao Paulo - Palmeiras live at 8:30pm, ending with Internacional-RS vs. Nacional same day at 11pm.
One more Mexican League playoff? Sure, why not. San Luis - Atlante, live at 9:30pm on TeleFutura. All Times Eastern
Quote Of The Day
“I knew yesterday that (England striker Wayne Rooney) had more than one fracture. Miracles happen in life now and then, but I don’t really know.” England manager Sven Goran Eriksson.
The Wonderful World of Soccer Media: Europe
Highbury memories — from The Independent’s Matt Denver, Glenn Moore and Phil Shaw.
Arsenal’s stadium raises hackles in local election — from The Guardian’s David Conn.
Van Nistelrooy’s future in question after failing ‘test’ — from The Times’ Oliver Kay.
The Wonderful World of Soccer Media: USA
Only a Few Surprises as the U.S. Picks Its World Cup Roster — from The New York Times’ Jere Longman. Registration Required
U.S. Cup team appears balanced — from The San Francisco Chronicle’s Dan Giesin.
Twellman’s Cup doesn’t runneth over — from The Daily News’ Tribune’s Mike Biglin.
Hejduk gets shot to shine for U.S. — from The Columbus Dispatch’s Shawn Mitchell.
Big Picture
For Every Season, Arenas Has a Jersey — from The New York Times’ Liz Robbins. Registration Required
A Clear View Is Now Suddenly Full of Clouds — from The LA Times’ Bill Plaschke. Registration Required
For Bud, Family Trumps Race — from The Washington Post’s Thomas Boswell. Registration Required
Comments, questions, solutions to problems that have yet to present themselves. Please, tell me all about it.