All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

Studly. They already posted highlights on the website, and all three were nicely taken. Six in eight games for EJ now as well, one behind Twellman for the league lead.

 

Ummmm, Howard as the third-best keeper in the EPL?

Uhhh, no.

Just off the top of my head -- and I'm sure I'm missing someone -- you've got Cech, Van der Sar, Jens, Friedel and Jaaskalanen ahead of him.

Howard's decent and very fun to watch because of his aggressiveness, but this sounds like someone trying to push him as the next U.S. keeper once Keller retires.

 

Actually, they speak some truth about it. Of course the Actim rankings aren't absolute since they're kind of based on a Sabermetrics-type scale, but Howard was one of the best goalies in the EPL this season.

http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=forwardOnly&nextPage=actimTop5&type=Goal%20Keeper

Add in that Everton only conceded 36 goals in 38 Premier League games this season, and I think they have a point. There's a reason why Bradley has made him the No.1 for the Gold Cup.

 

Pepe Reina, anyone?

 

Reina's a good goalie, and in the squad for Spain's upcoming internationals, but he's firmly entrenched behind Iker Casillas of Real Madrid.

 

Owen Hargreaves is close to going to Manchester United.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6700973.stm

If he arrives, that's a crowded midfield next season.

 

Man United has to prepare for the post-Giggs, Scholes and Neville era. Scholes seems the type to will retire while he's still playing well.

 

I see you point, but didn't Scholes retire from the national team so he could A: spend more time with his family and B: have more time off so he could prolong his domestic career.

I know Mclaren's asked him to reconsider his international retirement.

 

I think that he's a smart guy and realized that he was having a hard time staying healthy playing both club and country soccer. He certainly didn't use his free time learning to stop making reckless tackles!

I'm guessing that he has at least one excellent year left. I don't see him chasing a paycheck when he's in his late 30s, like a Sir Les or Teddy Sheringham.

Gary Neville has to be a real concern. He's always make it by more on guts than talent and he's had a lot of injuries.

 

Well -- United does look to replace Giggsy and Scholes, by going back to Portugal for some young talent. Haven't seen either of these players.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2091854,00.html

 

I have seen some highlights of these guys, and they fit the Ferguson mold. Young fast, and getting them as they hit their prime.

Sounds a lot like another signing he made a couple of years ago.....

 

One can only hope.