The Montreal Impact came away from last week's expansion draft without a proven goalkeeper, but that void was filled in a major way on Monday after the Impact acquired Jamaican national team goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts from the Impact for allocation money.
Ricketts had been one of the best goalkeepers in the league before a broken arm sidelined him and paved the way for Josh Saunders to take the starting job away from Ricketts. Now, the 34-year-old netminder, and 2010 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year will anchor a Montreal defense that has the makings of a solid unit for an expansion team after signing Nelson Rivas from Inter Milan and landing Zarek Valentin, Tyson Wahl and Bobby Burling in the expansion draft.
For the Galaxy, the move seemed inevitable as the team tries to keep its championship-winning side together while paying for new contracts to keep standouts like Saunders, Sean Franklin and Todd Dunivant for the long term.
What do you think of this deal? Starting to think Montreal will be a force in year one? Disappointed your team didn't make a play for Ricketts?
Share your thoughts below.
Damn, LA, just damn….
Don’t beat around the Bush
Actually, Galaxy protected three goalkeepers: Ricketts, Saunders, and Magee.
They’ll sign Anelka, Materazzi and Zidane!
I hope Evan Bush beats out Ricketts for #1 GK
Yeah, seems to me that Jesse, love him or hate him, really knows what he’s doing. Defense is looking potentially rock solid. I suspect it helps having played in the league just a couple of years ago, you get a much better perspective of players on the field competing against them. The real test is going to be the midfield – can Montreal find that offensive midfield spark in the center or will they go with an empty bucket like Colorado, Portland, etc.
+ one million
TFC also protected both their goalkeepers – Frei and Kocic.
Given his experience and track record, I think it is safe to say Ricketts is definately TOP 5 in Concacaf and is in the arguement as the 2nd best keeper after Howard
LA did protect him – they were the only team to protect both goalkeepers.
They knew the value of their keepers and wanted to leverage one of them – most likely Ricketts all along – so put them in a great position to maintain and strengthen their field lineup coming into 2012.
This may be a great acquisition by Montreal, but it’s an even better genius move by Los Angeles.
i don’t agree that he is the best in CONCACAF, but for sake of argument i will give you that . . . because, point is . . . he isn’t always healthy.
every season he goes down with an injury, plain and simple. for that reason alone, i think saunders is a better choice. when ricketts is healthy, he is a better keeper. but because he is brittle, he isn’t always healthy.
Perk’s performance vs Hart was classic. The Magee goal in that game should have counted for one of the best of year.
We are going to miss Ricketts though
Ricketts outplayed Howard in the Gold Cup with a shoddier defense. He is certainly better than anything else the US or Mexico.
Ricketts is one of the best in the world if he is on the field. Montreal is starting off with a bang.
Best keeper in Concacaf? Are u insane? The US and Mexico have at least 2 to 3 keepers each that are better than him.
But I must say Rickets is 1 of the best in MLS.
Best GAA in league history…Hopefully they got a lot of allocation money to spend
I say very close….Montreal came up big time.
Ricketts is world-class wherever he plays. He thrived once the Galaxy defense strengthened. He was a big part of strengthening that defense also. Hopefully Perk is ready to step up in a backup role. He was great vs Man City.
Next we’ll hear that Montreal has gotten Scurvy, too.
Ahhhr, matey. What, it’s not talk like a pirate, day?
If you watched him closely over the past few years, he has single-handedly kept the Galaxy and Jamaica in a lot of games. He is the perfect guy to start with in Montreal.
Juninho is a good player but he still too young to give legitimate DP money. Ricketts is a proven world-class keeper.
why would it be a great thing that he is cap tied to Puerto Rico?
Better if they can pull of Anelka
Anybody who has watched him for LA or Jamaica know that Top Ten isn’t far-fetched. A great player is a great player regardless of division. The problem is his health.
Saunders filled in admirably – but, Ricketts is class in MLS (and these days, probably beyond). Galaxy may well be sad to see him go, but, what’s done is done.
Saunders is good, but he is no Ricketts. When healthy, Ricketts is the best GK in CONCACAF. As last season showed, you need 2 good keepers. I think this will come back to haunt LA.
thats what she said
zoom zoom Zidane…
Samir Nasri. Just kidding. They’re really going after Zidane.
And Brad Friedel is 42 and playing for Tottenham. For an example closer to home Mondragon plays for Philly and is 41. He made the all star squad and helped make that back line nearly airtight. Age can be an asset between the pipes.