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Mid-Day Ticker: Villa talking new deal with Guzan, Henry gets a statue and more

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Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

After three years as a backup, Brad Guzan will make his first Premier League start on Saturday for Aston Villa, and the club is already in the process of trying to extend his stay at Villa Park before his current deal expires this summer.

According to the Birmingham Mail, Guzan has entered into contract talks with Villa and manager Alex McLeish about lengthening his time at the club. 

"We'd been talking about a new contract anyway, and I guess that will probably be talked about in the coming few weeks," McLeish said. "This is a challenge for him now coming in and a good opportunity for him to show how good he is.

"He's extremely unlucky to have been understudying some great goalkeepers, but now his chance has come."

Here are a few more items from around the soccer world:

HENRY GETS STATUE AT EMIRATES

New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry enjoyed the best years of his club career at Arsenal, and he was honored with a bronze statue of him outside of Emirates Stadium as part of the club's 125th anniversary celebration.

Henry, who became Arsenal's all-time leading goalscorer with 226 in his eight years in London, was present for the unveiling of the statue, according to the club's official website.

A photo of the statue can be seen here.

WHITECAPS CEO STEPPING DOWN

Vancouver Whitecaps CEO Paul Barber will be leaving his post at the end of February, the club announced on Friday.

Barber, 44, joined the organization in Feb., 2010, from Tottenham, and he helped transition the club during its MLS expansion phase.  

His responsibilities will be split between club COO Rachel Lewis and president Bob Lenarduzzi for the time being.

IMPACT KEEP SUTTON

The Montreal Impact appear to be set at the goalkeeper position.

The club signed Greg Sutton to an MLS deal on Friday, bringing the Quebec native back to the club. He joined Montreal on loan from the New York Red Bulls in July and made one appearance for the then-NASL side.

Sutton should compete with Evan Bush for minutes behind expected starter Donovan Ricketts.

BALOTELLI'S BROTHER GETS STOKE TRIAL

If you thought one Balotelli presented never-ending entertainment in the Premier League, imagine the possibilities if there were two.

Mercurial Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli's younger brother, Enoch, is on trial at Stoke City, where the club is considering a move for the 19-year-old. He had been reportedly training with the club for the last few weeks and played in a mid-week match with the Potters' reserves.

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Do you want to see Guzan stay at Aston Villa or go elsewhere this summer? What do you think of Henry's statue? Do you think Sutton can press Ricketts for starters' minutes? The more Balotellis the merrier?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I doubt it. Hamid, Johnson et. al., can use the work and the exposure.

    JK will probably give Guzan some time to get settled and see how his contract and position work out with Given coming back or not.

    There are not a lot of questions about Guzan.

    If he gets in his regular groove wih Villa, JK has got to know that he is the only legit challenger to Howard that we know of.

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  2. That easy for you to say, especially if it isn’t you with the new wife who has to bet on himself but there are a lot of factors we are ignorant about:

    We don’t know how the contract is structured in terms of how or if it restricts his movement.

    We know nothing about what Villa had planned for Given before the injury. He’s getting on and makes a lot of money and for all we know AV has been waiting for a chance to give Guzan a shot to see if they can off load the older, more expensive and less healthy option.

    Given, a great keeper, is better than Guzan right now, but not so much better that it makes sense to keep the two of them around. Villa may need to take Given’s money and spend it on someone they need more.

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  3. As a professional athlete he should bet on himself, not against himself. If he did the latter he probably would never have made it to the Premier League in the first place.

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  4. The only thing that would wow me from Little Balo is a shouldered own goal that leads to him getting a red card, after which he reveals a white undershirt saying something outlandish.

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  5. I love people who tell me how I should handle my money and my life. I’m sure Guzan feels the same way.

    He’s a big boy now and has the advantage of actually knowing the situation on the ground so to speak.

    Let him make his own mistakes.

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  6. Teams haven’t exactly been lining up for his services. Until he’s proven he’s probably going to go the conservative route. If he signs a one or two year deal, starts from here on out he could be a big deal in a few years

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  7. Speaking of American goalkeepers, the post that Henry is striking in that statue is one he did after scoring a magnificant goal against Tottenham with Kasey Kellar in the net.

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  8. He will make more money by signing 6 months early vs money from a free transfer move? i.e., new team does not have to pay Villa any fees so more for Guzan ?

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  9. Guzan should not sign an extension right now, he should wait until he starts a few games. Given isn’t that old, does Guzan really want to be a backup for another 2-3 years? If he does well there will be many teams interested in him, he’s probably get paid more, and he’ll likely play. Seems like a no brainer.

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  10. Guzan has more than enough ability to start for Villa. It’s all about making a good impression and shaking off the rust. I’d see how long I could delay signing that contract, at least till he’s played a full game or two.

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  11. I’m with you that Guzan is a good keeper, and as a USMNT fan, I want him to start for Villa,

    BUT,

    Given is a better, more tested keeper, and the opportunity of AV to acquire him, while unfortunate for Guzan, was one they were wise to not pass over.

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  12. if i were Guzan I wouldnt sign an extension, he did a good job with his loan spell and if he wants to get back into the usa setup he needs to play. Even if he plays well, Given will be the number 1.

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  13. More reason NOT to to sign the extension. He wasn’t given a fair shot, no pun intended when Given was brought in, and he’s only playing now because Given is out.

    We all know Guzan is a very good keeper since he has played a few years for Chivas USA, so it wasn’t like he still needed to be an apprentice when Given came in.

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  14. Exactly. Guzan should not sign extension; he will have more leverage in the summer when re-negotiating or leave on a free transfer. Why would you put yourself at a disadvantage when re-committing this early. This just gives Villa the upper hand in case he leaves within next few years.

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  15. Anyone know anything about Balotelli’s brother? I’ve never heard of him before now. Is he legit, or is he getting the look because of who is brother is? (I suppose it could be a bit of both.)

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  16. just because he’s discussing a new contract doesn’t mean that A) He’ll sign one and B) He doesn’t move somewhere else. He could be signing one for financial security, and to get AV a transfer fee. Maybe they’ve said “we won’t stand in the way of a transfer if one comes along”. This way, he’s got a paid contract, and the ability to leave if he’s wanted elsewhere

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  17. They better be showing Guzan the money. I read he makes a million a year. I figure if he does excellently they will keep him to fight with Given for the No1 spot. If he does quite well, maybe they shop him in the summer to another PL club

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  18. Herculez Gomez hinted on his facebook

    that he is signing with a new club (or maybe released from his current club). Any news on where he might be going?

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  19. Agreed. Wait until you’ve wowed them these next few games, Brad, THEN meet to discuss an extension or see if you can find a starting role somewhere.

    Reply

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