By RYAN TOLMICH
It was announced Thursday that Tim Howard is set to return to the U.S. Men’s National Team for the upcoming September friendlies. However, his former place in the team may not be awaiting him upon his return.
Since Howard’s departure following the conclusion of the 2014 World Cup, the role of USMNT No. 1 has been assumed by Brad Guzan, who has shown to be a stable presence in net throughout his run. Guzan has performed admirably in Howard’s absence, doing little to jeopardize his spot in the lineup.
Yet, with Howard’s return, the team is rejoined by one of the best goalkeepers,  if not players, in the USMNT’s history. Riding the wave of last season’s heroics against Belgium, Howard remains a big-game keeper, one that has stood tall for the U.S. time and time again.
In Howard, the U.S. is rejoined by a three-time World Cup veteran, whose experience both with the USMNT and on the club level could prove invaluable as the U.S. heads into a must-win Confederations Cup playoff against Mexico.
At least for now, Klinsmann has made it clear that Guzan is his starter, with Howard returning to the fold in a No. 2 role. Whether this stays the case beyond the September friendlies remains to be seen.Guzan has shown well in his year as the USMNT’s starter. Despite undergoing some struggles on the club level to close last season, Guzan erased most doubt in the Gold Cup, though his performance in the team’s loss to Jamaica wasn’t his best.
Even before Howard’s departure, Guzan had shown to be a strong hand, leading the way in crucial World Cup qualifiers last cycle, including the now famous 0-0 draw with Mexico at the Estadio Azteca. With Guzan proving capable at an age six years younger than Howard, it may be time to let the Aston Villa goalkeeper take the reins in anticipation of the upcoming World Cup cycle.
But is Guzan better than Howard right now? That’s a big question as we approach some important matches, none more important than the Confederations Cup playoff. Howard is a goalkeeper who typically has a strong command of his backline, and the argument could be made that he is a better organizer of his defense than Guzan. Both are excellent shot stoppers, but Howard’s ability to put his defenders in good positions could give him the edge in the competition for the starting job.
Who do you think should be the U.S. starter in goal? Do you stick with Guzan, or do you give the job back to Howard?
Cast your vote here:
[polldaddy poll=9037088]
Who should the USMNT start in goal?
Who did you vote for? Still can’t decide between the two? Who do you see starting against Mexico in October?
Share your thoughts below.
Whenever I think ‘hey, timmy should sit the bench, he took sabbatical, pulled a donovan, he should be sitting out, Guzan’s done adequately, etc ‘, then I just think ‘Belgium’ and I guess we have to start Howard.
I’m not thrilled with it, but come on. Belgium, man.
I have always had doubts about Guzan. It began when MLS artificially raised his stock by giving him the player of the year award while simultaneously shopping his contract to Europe. (It proved major dividends for the league). He rode the pines for way too many seasons at Aston Villa and does not seem to be impressive as a starter. Guzan was nothing special at the Olympics and seemed ordinary at the Gold Cup with genuine starters in front of him.
If the other team gets a fast break and only the goalie is left who would you rather have in the net at that moment? (Psst, Howard)
Howard is a commanding presence on the field. Guzan is adequate as a back up.
Howard is more natural leader, and Howard helps organize new players to USNT.
Bil Hamid. Bill Hamid. Bill Hamid. He’s above Howard and Guzan. Howard looked like junk after the World Cup, and we saw Guzan come up really small recently. Hamid is ready to take the position to new levels. He could easily make 10 + saves in a game if he had to. His reflexes are world class. Hamid is the best keeper in MLS. Its time to turn the page.
“Hamid is the best keeper in MLS.”
That does not mean he is the best USMNT keeper.
” Its time to turn the page.”
Not yet
Maybe we start Hamid and if we lose we lose. If you think about both Howard and Guzan struggled post World Cup as did a majority of the World Cup players. Look at the schedule, 2013 Gold Cup, 2014 World Cup, 2015 Gold Cup, 2016 Copa America, 2017 Confed Cup and Gold Cup, 2018 World Cup. That’s brutal, plus two rounds of World Cup qualifying. We’re playing quality opponents in friendlies maybe we should take the Summer of 2017 off.
Idk i want Guzan to take it, but he has not really taken the position like Howard or others have before…
I dont see an issue with using Howard in the Brazil game, Mexico playoff and until Guzan has really proven himself in the friendlies, early qualifiers, etc.
Tim was god freakin’ awful for Everton last year, making countless unforced errors and recording the lowest save percentage in the Premier League. He was arguably the worst keeper in the league, and if he plays like that for Everton again this season, I don’t want him anywhere near the US National Team. Yes, I realize Guzan was not at his best last year either, but Howard was worse – if not for the fact Martinez seems to love him to death, he would have been dropped. Most Everton supporters, myself included, wanted us to start looking for a replacement.
With that said, Howard has done well in his first two Premier League games. But until he has played a few decent halves for a USA national team, and strung together a number of strong performances for Everton, Guzan should keep the top spot. This is particularly the case since Guzan is younger, and is much more likely to be our keeper at the next world cup.
Guzan arguably cost us the Gold Cup. And before that he was benched @ Villa. Timmy isn’t what he once was, but he’s better than BG. Rimando may be our best right now. They’re all getting older. Need some young blood @ keeper.
“Rimando may be our best right now.” I hope that this was your attempt at a joke. Rimando isn’t even the best in MLS (Robles, Hamid, Johnson,…, Rimando) let alone better than either Guzan or Howard.
IMO Rimando, like others from the 2014 WC (Wondo, Davis), shouldn’t be called into a USMNT camp again.
Are we trying to win or is Klinsmann tryin to develop for the World Cup damn the results?
I want to win. Howard. Duh. What will klonsmann do? Start Alvarado in goal.
ha! Good old Alvarado. Versatile and super awesome! 🙂
Yarbrough
It’s Goose for me…he may have been a little shaky when he first got the permanent spot but he’s really found his feet lately and until his form dips to the point where you can’t justify keeping him as the starter, then you can let Howard get the starting spot back.
Timmy’s better so it’s an easy call.
I’m a big Guzan supporter, and while he’s “performed admirably” I am having hard time shaking that gaff against Jamaica. Howard should get the nod.
gaffe*
Rimando
I’m really surprised it’s this close. guan is very good. but T-Ho is truly just a level above.
Not in the final parts of 2015 he isn’t. He’s gone backwards from last summer.
Based on what exactly? When T-Ho was sitting due to his injury? I would need a bit more detail to prove a claim like that. T-Ho has been very good this season and all last season. Taking some time off from the Nats only made him better—he needed the rest. I’ve watched them both many times over the past 12 months and it’s just obvious T-Ho is the better of the two by a country mile at this point.
What’s more concerning to me is who is behind Guzan? Where is next great American keeper? If it’s Johnson, needs playing time on the National level.
Luis Robles
The team is better with Tim. No room for hurt feelings here.
+1
Howard.
The margin for error in this competition is slim. Guzan’s screw-up in the semifinal game was enough for me to give it back to Tim.
Is that fair? No, but neither is life.
I tend to agree with you. Howard is a proven top keeper and as far as the USMNT team is concerned, still on top of his game.
If you would have asked me at the end of the last BPL season, I would have been more torn. Howard had a tough season. And thinking about it, so did Guzan.
Guzan’s error was a bad one. And he clearly didnt learn from it because I thought he had a throw that was very close vs Panama.
I think Howard is a better distributor anyway.
But I like how JK has played this and claiming Timmy has to earn his place again. That is fine. Guzan deserves a shot. But I think Timmy does earn it back.
simple, for the next couple of friendlies you have them split halves. the one who performs best gets the full 90 vs mexico.
+1 As these are friendlies, then why should JK’s penchant for experimentation stop with the keeper. Guzan should get the start, and it’s his job to lose.
+1
You stick with Guzan. If and only IF Howard proves himself to be a better (more specifically, meaning the team is better with him), then you go to Howard, but not until.