So, now that Howard has proven himself..............

BillP

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for two games, who is willing to say they were wrong about bringing him in? I read these boards during the transfer talk and many people said what was the point of bringing in a yank from a crap league who has TS? BTW, his TS, and I'm saying this because some people still get it wrong, is not the type where he swears uncontrollably. He has the twitches and none of us in the states and abroad knew about it until it became a big deal with the English press.

I'm not sayin he's had the last laugh, but many people were wrong and I promise you that Howard will go down as one of the best ever to play between the pipes for United!

I'm off the soapbox.
 

Mr. Wood

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I don't remember anyone saying we shouldn't sign him. Most recognized that he's one of the best, if no the best, young keeper around today.
 

devilish

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Remember that Howard is not as good as Robinson. Ok he showed class against Barca and Juve but remember, hes not English <img src="graemlins/wenger.gif" border="0" alt="[Wenger]" />
 

CremboMan

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Originally posted by devilish:
<strong>Remember that Howard is not as good as Robinson. Ok he showed class against Barca and Juve but remember, hes not English <img src="graemlins/wenger.gif" border="0" alt="[Wenger]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

Are you still on that ? you boring twot.
 

devilish

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Originally posted by CremboMan:
<strong>

Are you still on that ? you boring twot.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Ohh you still critise me despite totally agreeing with you. Spoiled brats ;)
 

Nate

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What has he proven then?
 

Member 5225

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Originally posted by Nate:
<strong>What has he proven then?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Well, how it is not too difficult to avoid the ball being put through your legs, while trying to catch it...for a start! ;)
 

blythy

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Originally posted by Nate:
<strong>What has he proven then?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Good point.

"he's one of the best, if not the best, young keeper around today." - get a grip, he's had two games.
 

devilish

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While not having a reputation of a Buffon or a Toldo, Howard had little to prove to the football’s world.

I mean before signing with us, Howard was already MLS best keeper, with experiences against the world greatest (for example he was simply the best keeper during the Confederations cup) and with enough caps in his belt to be considered an international keeper. Ok maybe the Europeans (me included) new little about him but while there is always room for improvement, no one should look down towards Howard. He is a finished article who had already played against the world greatest (like Ronaldinho, Kluivert, Del Piero, Davids and Adriano) something, keepers like James, Taylor, Wright and Kirkland has yet to achieve. Playing so well against Barcelona and Juventus (despite he is yet to settle down with the team) clearly shows that.
 

spinoza

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Originally posted by devilish:
<strong>While not having a reputation of a Buffon or a Toldo, Howard had little to prove to the football’s world.

I mean before signing with us, Howard was already MLS best keeper, with experiences against the world greatest (for example he was simply the best keeper during the Confederations cup) and with enough caps in his belt to be considered an international keeper. Ok maybe the Europeans (me included) new little about him but while there is always room for improvement, no one should look down towards Howard. He is a finished article who had already played against the world greatest (like Ronaldinho, Kluivert, Del Piero, Davids and Adriano) something, keepers like James, Taylor, Wright and Kirkland has yet to achieve. Playing so well against Barcelona and Juventus (despite he is yet to settle down with the team) clearly shows that.</strong><hr></blockquote>

:confused: Don't get too excited. It was only a couple of friendlies.

He's very good - so far. Lets see how he cuts it in the league and the champions league.
 

devilish

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Originally posted by spinoza:
<strong>

:confused: Don't get too excited. It was only a couple of friendlies.

He's very good - so far. Lets see how he cuts it in the league and the champions league.</strong><hr></blockquote>

By saying so I am not being too excited (I am not saying for example that we should get rid of Barthez etc), but only giving a realistic picture of the facts.

Howard may not have the reputation of Buffon but he is a renowned international who had played incredibely well against the world greatest. He is a much more finished and experienced article than James or Kirkland.
 

spinoza

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Originally posted by devilish:
<strong>

By saying so I am not being too excited (I am not saying for example that we should get rid of Barthez etc), but only giving a realistic picture of the facts.

Howard may not have the reputation of Buffon but he is a renowned international who had played incredibely well against the world greatest. He is a much more finished and experienced article than James or Kirkland.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I agree he's got fantastic potential and he plays a lot more like schmikes than many other goalkeepers, and he did very well in both games he played in.

But he's got 8 caps most of which were won in a fairly meaningless end of season tournament, and you should know as well as I that Spanish and Italian teams don't care as much about friendlies as we do. It's good that we thumped them but hey, they don't give a shite, do they.

So phrases like 'renowned international', and comparisons with Buffon and Toldo are premature.
 

devilish

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Originally posted by spinoza:
<strong>

I agree he's got fantastic potential and he plays a lot more like schmikes than many other goalkeepers, and he did very well in both games he played in.

But he's got 8 caps most of which were won in a fairly meaningless end of season tournament, and you should know as well as I that Spanish and Italian teams don't care as much about friendlies as we do. It's good that we thumped them but hey, they don't give a shite, do they.

So phrases like 'renowned international', and comparisons with Buffon and Toldo are premature.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Now one here is comparing him to Buffon Spinoza

What I wanted to point it out was that we shouldn’t look down towards Howard. He is a great talent and had been tested amongst the world greatest,(something that a Kirkland or a Wright has yet to do.)

Known talent is not always the best talent (Just ask those whom several years ago had first witnessed the prodigies of a certain Danish keeper)
 

spinoza

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Originally posted by devilish:
<strong>

Now one here is comparing him to Buffon Spinoza

What I wanted to point it out was that we shouldn’t look down towards Howard. He is a great talent and had been tested amongst the world greatest,(something that a Kirkland or a Wright has yet to do.)

Known talent is not always the best talent (Just ask those whom several years ago had first witnessed the prodigies of a certain Danish keeper)</strong><hr></blockquote>

Fair points re Buffon comparison. I wasn't reading the posts as closely as I should have perhaps.

Just like to point out though that Howard hasn't actually been tested - not at the highest competitive level anyway. He had 2 good games and he's got fantastic potential. Anymore singing of the praises is premature.
 

devilish

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Originally posted by spinoza:
<strong>

Fair points re Buffon comparison. I wasn't reading the posts as closely as I should have perhaps.

Just like to point out though that Howard hasn't actually been tested - not at the highest competitive level anyway. He had 2 good games and he's got fantastic potential. Anymore singing of the praises is premature.</strong><hr></blockquote>


Well you are forgetting his heroic displays in the Confederations cup where he was tested against renowned nations like Brazil. Personally he was the Confederations cup best keeper and that is quite a great honor when you consider that there were several great keepers involved (from Barthez to Landreau to Rustu)

I agree with you that we shouldn’t be overjoyed. Many finished articles had came to OT and failed to make an impact (for example Mark Bosnich). On the other hand you cannot treat MLS best keeper who has 9 international caps in his belt and had played incredibly well against teams like Brazil and Juventus as an unfinished article.
 

devilish

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Originally posted by An Extremely Boring Man:
<strong>He's a Septic

And gay I think</strong><hr></blockquote>

we werent talking about you <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />
 

spinoza

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Originally posted by devilish:
<strong>


Well you are forgetting his heroic displays in the Confederations cup where he was tested against renowned nations like Brazil. Personally he was the Confederations cup best keeper and that is quite a great honor when you consider that there were several great keepers involved (from Barthez to Landreau to Rustu)

I agree with you that we shouldn’t be overjoyed. Many finished articles had came to OT and failed to make an impact (for example Mark Bosnich). On the other hand you cannot treat MLS best keeper who has 9 international caps in his belt and had played incredibly well against teams like Brazil and Juventus as an unfinished article.</strong><hr></blockquote>

My points exactly. I didn't really rate the Confed Cup as a feast of highly competitive footy. It was about on par with our preseason matches.

IMO the acid test remains the Champions League. I'll agree that Howard is the best thing since sliced bread if and when he performs well on that stage. I agree that he has it in him, but as far as I'm concerned he hasn't - yet.

The same goes for Bellion which is why I'm a bit fecked off with these "better than Henry" comparisons.
 

DLE

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Originally posted by spinoza:
<strong>

IMO the acid test remains the Champions League. I'll agree that Howard is the best thing since sliced bread if and when he performs well on that stage. I agree that he has it in him, but as far as I'm concerned he hasn't - yet.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

I personally think the PL will be a bigger test for him than the CL. Look at Verón.
 

spinoza

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Originally posted by DLE:
<strong>

I personally think the PL will be a bigger test for him than the CL. Look at Verón.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I would happily forgive Veron a hundred indifferent PL performances if he turned in a matchwinning performance against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu ;)
 

Alek M

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Originally posted by Nate:
<strong>What has he proven then?</strong><hr></blockquote>

That he can be great. Whether he will become great depends on his work ethic, few circumstances, and the support from the coaching staff.
 

devilish

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Originally posted by spinoza:
<strong>

My points exactly. I didn't really rate the Confed Cup as a feast of highly competitive footy. It was about on par with our preseason matches.

IMO the acid test remains the Champions League. I'll agree that Howard is the best thing since sliced bread if and when he performs well on that stage. I agree that he has it in him, but as far as I'm concerned he hasn't - yet.

The same goes for Bellion which is why I'm a bit fecked off with these "better than Henry" comparisons.</strong><hr></blockquote>

But this comparision is what I cannot agree with

On one hand you have a young talent (Bellion) with little first team experience on the other hand (Howard) is an already tested keeper who has 9 international caps in his belt and who was simply magnificent in the MLS league

As Schmicke once said, there is a difference between promising talent (ie Bellion, Richardson etc) and Unknown talent (for the English based). Players like Howard, Johnsen, Djemba, Schmeichel and Ole’s name may have been heard at OT yet these players where already fully tested internationals long before coming to Manchester,.
 

BahamaRed

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I've seen em come and seen em go but this one's a pearl. It'll take me a year to make a decision on Bellion and probably Djemba2 and Kleber too. But Howard has won me over in 2 games. He's top drawer. His arms and legs all over the place like Schmikes yet he's more athletic than Schmikes. Everything I saw and heard about him I liked and without a doubt he's our number one for many years to come. I'm not sticking my neck out on this. It's obvious. At least to me.
 

Gutsy

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Just ask yourselves this... Other than Howard which, if any other Man Utd goalie would have saved Xavi's free kick? Would have faced the shots Tim had in the last 2 matches and only let in 2 of them? Would any of them been able to save the 2 goals he let in?

I think alot depends on how Barthez does against sporting.
 

Georgie

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He looks really good. He is about to step into the frying pan for real, on a consistant basis.

He may be the one.
 

MrMarcello

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Howard's performances and youthful assurance might inspire Barthez to his best season in 3 years. Either way, United get a solid GK. I hope Barthez has a solid season so Howard can learn and be groomed in as the successor. Plus, a solid season by Barthez increases his market value, thus making it easier for United to find him a new home. Probably get anwyere from 2-6 million for him next season. He only has one season on his deal, right? I wonder if United might just pay him 1 million to walk away next June, if they are unable to find a buyer?
 

uranushk1

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Originally posted by spinoza:
<strong>

I would happily forgive Veron a hundred indifferent PL performances if he turned in a matchwinning performance against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu ;) </strong><hr></blockquote>

Even if at that time he's wearing a blue shirt? ;)
 

uranushk1

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Originally posted by BillP:
<strong>for two games, who is willing to say they were wrong about bringing him in? I read these boards during the transfer talk and many people said what was the point of bringing in a yank from a crap league .</strong><hr></blockquote>

I don't remember there has been too much objection about bringing him in though. The objection to bring in Robinson and David James was much bigger than him, if I didn't remember wrong.
 

Zheng Khai Xiang

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That's why I said I was impressed by the Keeper's standard in US,but at the time I was talking about this nobody agree with this.Here's the result to prove that I wasn't wrong and isn't wrong!!!!
 

Sir A1ex

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Only a couple of months ago, I was the only person on this forum or any other forum who didn't think Howard was the worst goalkeeper on the planet.
I, however, have rated him as being on a level with Schmeichel, if not better, for the last seven years.
And now I have been proved completely and utterly right for ever and a day. And you all, to a man, look like twots. :D
 

golden_blunder

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having not been on the board for about a week, im finding it interesting to read peoples mood changes about him now. I was sceptical about bringing an unproven yank in when we first purchased him, but his performances during the confeds cup convinced me that he SHOULD be chucked straight in as number 1. His performances over the past 2 games look like putting the nails in Fabs coffin. It was also interesting to read Ferdinand's comments that he enjoyed playing in front of Tim H because he likes a vocal keeper to keep him on his toes.
So now we've got Schmikes II, Pally II, now we just need a new Brucey :D
 

Red15

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I've only seen Howard play in the Confederations Cup and in our matches in the U.S. But the thing you could see with him straight away is that he's got great agility, is an excellent shot stopper, and has good kicking ability. I'll be interested to see how he does with corners and crosses.

Otherwise, the only real question for me is his temperament and mental strength. We've all seen keepers who had all the physical talent in the world but who couldn't cut it because they couldn't handle the pressure.

I know it's really early. But I think Howard's got it. That match against Juventus was a big test for him. Initially, I thought it would make it easier for him that it was a "home" match, so to speak. But as the match got closer, I actually thought he would feel additional pressure, and he said as much afterwards. But he came through it really, really well.

What I also like about him is he seems so focused and level-headed. Watching his interviews on MUTV and reading his comments in the press, he seems very Ruud-like to me in some ways...modest, unassuming and humble - and yet you sense that underneath all of that there is an incredible amount of self belief.

I think he may well turn out to be our best signing of the summer.