I have my doubts about the veracity of the reports linking USA backup Brad Guzan to the Gunners, but his recent run of form has left me wondering about his potential. I have long thought that if Tim Howard were English, he would be the starting keeper for their national team. I believe that he would have been in the mix from the time he joined Manchester United back in 2003, and by now would be the mainstay. But is it possible that the Yanks' have two keepers good enough to get a shot for The Three Lions?
Now don't get me wrong, I am firmly in the Howard camp for 2014. But Timmy is going to be 40 by the time the USA boards the plane to Russia, so Brad Guzan's emergence as the full time starter for Aston Villa is a welcome development. At 29 he will almost certainly be the starter for the 2018 World Cup, and it's possible that he will brave the heat of Qatar in 2022 as well. But if he can play in a snowstorm, he can probably figure it out in the heat.
I know that a lot of people are very keen on Joe Hart and the talent that he brings to the table, but there seems to be questions about his reliability. At this level of play, it comes as a given that these guys are going to be outstanding shot stoppers. They never would have gotten to this level if they weren't. But being prone to catastrophic mistakes is a trait that a top level keeper simply cannot have. Part of the reason why Tim Howard is so incredibly valuable to the US is that he very rarely commits such blunders. He might not have quite the shot stopping ability that Hart does (although he still makes some breathtaking saves), but I would choose him feeling confident that the big mistake wasn't coming.
It's possible that a large factor in all of this is the English media. The incredible pressure and scrutiny that aspiring English players are under almost blows the mind, and most certainly affect their development. It's entirely possible that if Tim Howard had been English, the experience at Manchester United would have ended his career. He might never have recovered from having his shot at one of the most coveted jobs in the world at age of twenty four, only to flame out and be replaced after only two seasons. Guzan might have gone through something similar. Instead of toiling in relative anonymity as the backup for Aston Villa for several years before getting his shot, might have been rushed onto the scene at a young age and exposed before he was ready?
Joe Hart has a once in a lifetime chance, but is also dealing with once in a generation pressure. Every one of his mistakes is analyzed and picked apart, and doubt is immediate upon any sign of weakness. Tim Howard and Brad Guzan got to come up in the low pressure world of MLS, and even when they got their shot at the big time (Howard in '03 and Guzan now) they haven't dealt with the intense hype that young English keepers deal with. But that pressure isn't going away any time soon, and we'll learn with time whether or not Hart is capable of rising above it.
I'm not saying definitively that Brad Guzan would theoretically win the #1 job over Joe Hart (I am saying that about Ben Foster and John Ruddy), but if he magically switched national allegiance I am certain that he would be called into camp. By this time he would be the veteran option that England so desperately lack, and having a reliable veteran keeper can end up making all the difference on the worlds biggest stages (as English fans might be aware of).
In any case, I'm excited for Guzan's career both for Villa and for the USMNT. It's similar to how I felt while watching a young Tim Howard play before the 2006 World Cup and thinking, "you know we might be OK at keeper after Friedel/Keller retire."
What a relief. Take my word for it England fans.
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