Tim Howard

talking robot · Oct 11, 2009

I saw this quote from David Moyes in a soccernet article on Tim Howard:

"Tim is now on the same level as Pepe Reina and Petr Cech," Moyes said. "They are considered to be the two best in England. I would not swap either for my man."

"Since we signed Tim he has worked to prove that what happened to him at Manchester United was only a learning experience as opposed to what might have led to the downfall of his career," Moyes said. "He simply gets better and better. He works harder than any goalkeeper I have employed.

"He is the last off the training ground," Moyes continued.

"Tim does whatever it takes to improve himself and his commitment is fantastic.

"Can he become the best in the world? You bet he can," he said.

"Even now I don't see anyone better than him. And at the age of just 30, which is not even a goalkeeper's prime time, he has many seasons ahead of him to grab that No 1 spot and keep it."

I'm not sure that he is good as Peter Cech, but I do think he has progressed a lot in his time at Everton. I wouln't mind if we bought him back as he is now in his prime and has enough experience internationally and in the premier league to merit a position in our first team. Of course buying him a second time is extremely unlikely, but I'd prefer Howard to either Foster or PIG as a replacement for Van der Sar.

032Devil · Oct 11, 2009

Goalkeeper is such a crucial position that for a club like United that only the best of the best can be considered for it.

A club like Everton can lose a goal, a game without much consequence to their position whereas at United, one mistake, one conceded goal have major impact.

It's not an attempt to belittle Everton but United are in a different league and we couldn't give Howard time to develop.

Alex · Oct 11, 2009

He is better than Foster imo

fatboy · Oct 11, 2009

Howard was prone to mistakes when playing for us, mistakes he seldom made when playing for the US, and Everton. It only means that once again the pressure of playing for United didn't sit well with him. Everton is the right level for him, and he has flourished because he always had the talent. I suspect this might be the same for Foster, unfortunately.

Raoul · Oct 11, 2009

Better than PIG or Foster.

Ekeke · Oct 11, 2009

His decline and replacement was just bad timing and his form didnt pick up quick enough. He's a good keeper.

Pogue Mahone · Oct 11, 2009

Raoul said:
Better than PIG or Foster.

That's not saying much, unfortunately.

Howard's a level below Reina, Vds and Cech (the Cech of a couple of years ago anyway) and on a par with a whole bunch of other PL keepers. We could and should be looking at better keepers.

Raoul · Oct 11, 2009

Pogue Mahone said:
That's not saying much, unfortunately.

Howard's a level below Reina, Vds and Cech (the Cech of a couple of years ago anyway) and on a par with a whole bunch of other PL keepers. We could and should be looking at better keepers.

Agree. He's not as good as Edwin, even now. We should be looking at the best of the best.

Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber · Oct 11, 2009

Raoul said:
Agree. He's not as good as Edwin, even now. We should be looking at the best of the best.

Agreed

FlawlessThaw · Oct 11, 2009

He is better than Foster because he is playing regularly and at a club where the pressure isn't as big as it is at Old Trafford. Temperament was the big thing that I thought let Timmy down and it's looking like it's whats stopping Foster and many other keepers as well.

Laphroaig · Oct 11, 2009

Isn't it time to stop pretending that Cech is a great keeper? He was fantastic a couple of years ago but hasn't been for a good while. It's like saying Ronaldinho is one of the best footballers around right now.

Epic · Oct 11, 2009

Howard, with his reflexes, would be a monster of a keeper in the Spanish league.

Raees · Oct 11, 2009

Pogue Mahone said:
That's not saying much, unfortunately.

Howard's a level below Reina, Vds and Cech (the Cech of a couple of years ago anyway) and on a par with a whole bunch of other PL keepers. We could and should be looking at better keepers.

Agreed

Laphroaig said:
Isn't it time to stop pretending that Cech is a great keeper? He was fantastic a couple of years ago but hasn't been for a good while. It's like saying Ronaldinho is one of the best footballers around right now.

No-one said that Cech was all that great now, he's half the man he used to be since that incident.

Laphroaig · Oct 11, 2009

Raees said:
No-one said that Cech was all that great now, he's half the man he used to be since that incident.

David Moyes said that "Tim is now on the same level as Pepe Reina and Petr Cech. They are considered to be the two best in England. I would not swap either for my man."

Raees · Oct 11, 2009

Laphroaig said:
David Moyes said that "Tim is now on the same level as Pepe Reina and Petr Cech. They are considered to be the two best in England. I would not swap either for my man."

I was referring to the posters on this thread, regardless the fact that Moyes would even contemplate comparing Howard to Cech says alot about Cech's decline in itself.

Laphroaig · Oct 11, 2009

Well, I didn't.

Elliott · Oct 11, 2009

Being Everton's no.1 is very different from being a United gk. Howard lacked the concentration level required in his younger days and while he's now more experienced, he's probably better off at a upper mid-table club.

talking robot · Oct 12, 2009

Elliott said:
Being Everton's no.1 is very different from being a United gk. Howard lacked the concentration level required in his younger days and while he's now more experienced, he's probably better off at a upper mid-table club.

He has acquired the confidence he needs to handle the pressure at a club like United now. He was good enough to be at United, but his head wasn't right because he was justifiably insecure about some aspects of his game and not as confident with regards to the strong parts of his game. When he made an error, it was compounded by his mentality. Now he knows he is a good keeper, and he has improved on the weaker aspects of his game. He would be in much better mental shape if he were to come back, and Moyes is right that Howard has the potential to be amongst the best in the world. He'll never prove it at Everton though.

MrMarcello · Oct 12, 2009

In hindsight, it would have been better for all parties had SAF signed VDS that summer and Howard went to Fulham. He could have developed at Fulham for a few seasons with far less pressure, then moved on to Everton and now be looking at a move to a big club next summer like Arsenal or United. The current Howard would be a solid successor to VDS. Not that top tier like Buffon, Casillas, etc., but in the tier below.

talking robot · Oct 12, 2009

MrMarcello said:
In hindsight, it would have been better for all parties had SAF signed VDS that summer and Howard went to Fulham. He could have developed at Fulham for a few seasons with far less pressure, then moved on to Everton and now be looking at a move to a big club next summer like Arsenal or United. The current Howard would be a solid successor to VDS. Not that top tier like Buffon, Casillas, etc., but in the tier below.

Yeah, that's true that he is a step below Casillas and Buffon. I totally agree with the Van der Sar comment too.

pbrown · Oct 12, 2009

Well we know he was better then Roy Carroll....

davisjw · Oct 12, 2009

I prefer Freidel...

Carl · Oct 12, 2009

Howard is a very good Premier League goalkeeper and stands out at Everton. However games like Everton v Stoke last season are examples why he never made it at United.

Rahul · Oct 12, 2009

Better than PIG and Foster, but still not good enough for United.

Donaldo · Oct 12, 2009

Isaksson's one of the most underrated keepers in the world.

Laphroaig · Oct 12, 2009

He'll keep being underrated as long as he singlehandedly ruins Sweden's world cup dreams.

dev1l · Oct 12, 2009

davisjw said:
I prefer Freidel...

Now that's what I call an under-rated keeper...

F-Red · Oct 13, 2009

I have it on very good authority that Everton had Coventry keeper Keiren Westwood all signed & sealed, but they did not submit the paperwork in time for the last transfer deadline, so expect to see him there at the next window or in the summer.