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TIM HOWARD will start the new season as Manchester United's No.1 goalkeeper, ahead of French World Cup winner Fabien Barthez.
Sir Alex Ferguson was so impressed with the form of new signing Howard on United's pre-season tour of the United States he is ready to plunge the American into action against Arsenal in the Community Shield this weekend.
Howard was in inspired form during United's 3-1 victory over Barcelona here, making a series of crucial saves to ensure Fergie's side made it four straight wins on the tour.
And while the local boy was making good, the man who turned down United, Ronaldinho, was constantly booed by the largely pro-United crowd of almost 68,000.
Barthez has been out of favour since the end of last season when Fergie dropped the increasingly erratic Frenchman after deciding he was no longer his first choice.
And although Barthez will make his comeback in a friendly against Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese capital tomorrow, Fergie is ready to put his faith in Howard for the start of the season.
"Tim has been fantastic in his two games for us," said Fergie. "And he's impressed me much more than I thought he would. It's one thing saying he's impressive, but is he our No.1? I can say the signs are much better than I expected.
"He's settled in right away. He's got that American thing about him that he wants to win. So he could very well be the one. He's a real character and that's what you need at a club like Manchester United. You can't be a mouse here, whatever position you play in."
Diego Forlan scored two first-half goals to turn the game on its head after Ronaldinho had laid on an early Barca goal for Patrick Kluivert.
Forlan's diving header steered Ryan Giggs' low cross beyond Victor Valdes and then he bundled home Nicky Butt's low cross.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, who replaced Forlan, scored the third five minutes from time when he rounded substitute Barca keeper Albert Torrvera and tapped into the empty net.
Howard produced a series of athletic stops, the pick an acrobatic one-handed effort to keep out a 25-yard Marc Overmars free-kick with United holding a 2-1 lead.
Fergie described the save as "one of the finest you will see anywhere in the world" and afterwards Howard, 24, said it was one of the best performances of his career.
"I really enjoyed it out there and it was great to make some big saves," he said. "But unless you keep a clean sheet you always feel you could have done better. This is a big chance for me and I'm trying to fit in - I need to fit in.
"I'm sure Fabien is a real competitor, being a World Cup-winner tells you that, and I'm sure he'll be up for the challenge. Competition for places is good. But we all get along and no-one's being a jerk to anyone else. I'm excited about playing in the Premiership but I don't want to get too ahead of myself."
On current form, there seems little chance of that. With Howard, there is none of the uncertainty that often undermined Barthez's performances. United tried to sell Barthez over the summer but were unable to do so and Fergie now finds himself in the unusual position of having four goalkeepers.
United's players were effusive in their praise of Howard after his commanding display, defender Rio Ferdinand pointing to the improved communication with the back four.
"It's good to have a keeper who shouts sometimes," said Ferdinand. "Fabien isn't so vocal, but he's got a real presence about him. Tim and Roy Carroll like to shout a lot, which is good in terms of communication. I've been impressed by Tim and the way he's settled in in such a short space of time."
But Ferdinand was not letting Howard take all the plaudits, insisting he had played a significant role in the breathtaking save from Overmars. "I told Tim to move over to that side," joked Ferdinand.
"He shouted back 'Don't worry about it, man'. Then I looked over and I thought the ball was going in, but he'd moved over and made a fantastic save."
Skipper Roy Keane was also full of praise for Howard, but sounded a note of caution. "He's done well, but let's not get carried away," said Keane.
"I know I like to put a dampener on things, but the real business starts in a couple of weeks when we play Bolton on the opening day of the season."
And Fergie also had a word of warning for Howard. When told Howard had trouble understanding his thick Scottish accent, the United boss was quick to respond.
"Wait until I lose my temper with him," quipped Fergie. "Then he'll understand me all right, don't you worry."
TIM HOWARD will start the new season as Manchester United's No.1 goalkeeper, ahead of French World Cup winner Fabien Barthez.
Sir Alex Ferguson was so impressed with the form of new signing Howard on United's pre-season tour of the United States he is ready to plunge the American into action against Arsenal in the Community Shield this weekend.
Howard was in inspired form during United's 3-1 victory over Barcelona here, making a series of crucial saves to ensure Fergie's side made it four straight wins on the tour.
And while the local boy was making good, the man who turned down United, Ronaldinho, was constantly booed by the largely pro-United crowd of almost 68,000.
Barthez has been out of favour since the end of last season when Fergie dropped the increasingly erratic Frenchman after deciding he was no longer his first choice.
And although Barthez will make his comeback in a friendly against Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese capital tomorrow, Fergie is ready to put his faith in Howard for the start of the season.
"Tim has been fantastic in his two games for us," said Fergie. "And he's impressed me much more than I thought he would. It's one thing saying he's impressive, but is he our No.1? I can say the signs are much better than I expected.
"He's settled in right away. He's got that American thing about him that he wants to win. So he could very well be the one. He's a real character and that's what you need at a club like Manchester United. You can't be a mouse here, whatever position you play in."
Diego Forlan scored two first-half goals to turn the game on its head after Ronaldinho had laid on an early Barca goal for Patrick Kluivert.
Forlan's diving header steered Ryan Giggs' low cross beyond Victor Valdes and then he bundled home Nicky Butt's low cross.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, who replaced Forlan, scored the third five minutes from time when he rounded substitute Barca keeper Albert Torrvera and tapped into the empty net.
Howard produced a series of athletic stops, the pick an acrobatic one-handed effort to keep out a 25-yard Marc Overmars free-kick with United holding a 2-1 lead.
Fergie described the save as "one of the finest you will see anywhere in the world" and afterwards Howard, 24, said it was one of the best performances of his career.
"I really enjoyed it out there and it was great to make some big saves," he said. "But unless you keep a clean sheet you always feel you could have done better. This is a big chance for me and I'm trying to fit in - I need to fit in.
"I'm sure Fabien is a real competitor, being a World Cup-winner tells you that, and I'm sure he'll be up for the challenge. Competition for places is good. But we all get along and no-one's being a jerk to anyone else. I'm excited about playing in the Premiership but I don't want to get too ahead of myself."
On current form, there seems little chance of that. With Howard, there is none of the uncertainty that often undermined Barthez's performances. United tried to sell Barthez over the summer but were unable to do so and Fergie now finds himself in the unusual position of having four goalkeepers.
United's players were effusive in their praise of Howard after his commanding display, defender Rio Ferdinand pointing to the improved communication with the back four.
"It's good to have a keeper who shouts sometimes," said Ferdinand. "Fabien isn't so vocal, but he's got a real presence about him. Tim and Roy Carroll like to shout a lot, which is good in terms of communication. I've been impressed by Tim and the way he's settled in in such a short space of time."
But Ferdinand was not letting Howard take all the plaudits, insisting he had played a significant role in the breathtaking save from Overmars. "I told Tim to move over to that side," joked Ferdinand.
"He shouted back 'Don't worry about it, man'. Then I looked over and I thought the ball was going in, but he'd moved over and made a fantastic save."
Skipper Roy Keane was also full of praise for Howard, but sounded a note of caution. "He's done well, but let's not get carried away," said Keane.
"I know I like to put a dampener on things, but the real business starts in a couple of weeks when we play Bolton on the opening day of the season."
And Fergie also had a word of warning for Howard. When told Howard had trouble understanding his thick Scottish accent, the United boss was quick to respond.
"Wait until I lose my temper with him," quipped Fergie. "Then he'll understand me all right, don't you worry."
