Avoiding the Drop

Joe Hart

With just 154 days left until the start of World Cup 2010, it seems a good time to begin the discussions of certain elements left to be decided.  We’re all keenly aware of the first match for a couple of our favourite sides, but the distinct difference between the USA and England at this point is how settled the goalkeeping position is for the Yanks as opposed to the chaos that is England.

The USA is a standout nation when it comes to producing high quality goalkeepers.  This fact is not in dispute as even the stubborn-as-a-mule English press has come to recognize that two up and coming sides in the Premier League, Aston Villa and Everton, feature star American keepers in Brad Friedel and Tim Howard.  Howard, of course, is the solid USMNT number one at the keeper position, and it’s widely assumed that Friedel’s backup at Villa, Brad Guzan, will the the US number two in South Africa.  There has been some scattered talk about perhaps trying to coax Friedel into one last run in the Sun, but he’s quashed that talk at every step.  It’s clear that South Africa 2010 will be on the shoulders of Tim Howard, and quite frankly, he’s earned it.  I will admit that I feel Howard has been hamstrung by a lack of cohesion in front of him when wearing the colours for the USMNT, and he has conceded some soft goals.  It will be paramount (in my mind, anyway) for Bob Bradley to try to find a solid definitive back four before South Africa, so that Howard gets a chance to solidify with them in some friendlies.

That being said, the England goalkeeping situation is much murkier, and quite frankly, much more troubling for fans of the Three Lions.

The three goalkeepers for England in Germany 2006 were Paul Robinson (then of Spurs, now at Blackburn Rovers), David James (then of Manchester City, now at Portsmouth) and Scott Carson (then at Liverpool, now at West Bromwich Albion).  Chances are very good that perhaps only Robinson will be part of this year’s team.  Fabio Capello, England boss, has long said that he will pick his side based on form and current fitness.  While David Beckham plays a never-ending schedule to attempt to make one last World Cup, others seemingly feel that they will be picked on merit and previous performances.  I would suspect that they are sorely mistaken in that thought process.

The contenders for the squad:

David James (40-1) – James has had a miserable few months and it’s showing in his lacklustre attempts at getting back on the pitch.  His club situation is poor, his play has slipped, he’s 39 years of age and it would appear that he’s suited for retirement rather than a first-class ticket to Johannesburg.  I have a lot of respect for James, all things considered, because he put in yeoman’s work during the pathetic reign of Steve McClaren, oftentimes for me being the best player on the pitch.  He’s never really had a moment in the Sun for the national side and I’m beginning to believe he never ever will.  He’s not fit, first and foremost, and if that doesn’t happen and soon, there’s no chance.

Scott Carson (18-1) – Carson is toiling away for the second-place Baggies in the Coca-Cola Championship, and quietly having a decent season.  He’s been quite a nomad throughout his career, but he seems to have settled a bit at West Brom and in his twenty starts this season, he’s pulled 11 wins, 5 draws and only 4 losses while only conceding 18 goals.  The issues here are simple.  Will Capello want a player whom he has not picked for awhile, who is playing in the second division and who in the past has only had marginal success at the national level?  The other issue is, however, what choices does he really have regarding the three keepers?  Carson might just sneak in as a number three in South Africa.  It would not surprise me, anyway.

Paul Robinson (15-1) – Robinson was England’s number one in Germany, and performed about as well as could be expected.  His career has been moving on a downward trajectory since then though, and I feel as if he is not doing enough right now to really shine for Capello.  Sadly, for him, while Blackburn Rovers stand 13th in the Premier League table, they have quite a leaky defense and have conceded 15 more goals than they’ve scored.  Robinson has started every game for them and his fitness has never really been an issue.  It’s his abilities to be a rock when confronted with a leaky defense that have always been the concern.  He has conceded 35 times in twenty starts this season, and that’s not good enough.  He may get picked as the backup, he may get a nod as the number three, or he could be left out entirely.  His advantage over Carson is that he is in the top flight and Capello knows full well about Blackburn’s defensive issues.

Robert Green (15-1) -  Green, who is West Ham United’s number one, has conceded twice more than Robinson this season, but when the question is asked about who is the better keeper, Green is usually the answer.  Again, the problem here is one of mediocrity.  Can one really differentiate between Green and Robinson?  Both play in front of leaky defensive squads, both have flaws against longer shots, both are susceptible to moodiness and shoddy indifference.  Neither makes anyone afraid of their abilities.  Will Green be a choice for South Africa?  Flip a coin between him and Robinson in my book.

Ben Foster (80-1) – Foster got a shot to shine on the biggest stage this season when Edwin Van Der Sar was injured, and flubbed it.  By doing so, he’s now been demoted to Manchester United’s number three, and is only making the bench at this point due to Van Der Sar’s absence to tend to his ailing wife.  Foster is still young in terms of his footballing and he clearly needs a change of scenery.  He was quite comfortable at Watford when on loan there a few years ago, perhaps a smaller (in stature) side would take a chance on him next season much like how Carson ended up at West Brom.  Either way, there is no chance of him being on the flight to South Africa this June barring a major run of injuries to England’s other choices.  Perhaps Brazil ’14 is his shot.

Joe Hart (5-1) -  The clear leader in the clubhouse, for me, at this point.  Hart is property of Manchester City, but is on loan at Birmingham City at the moment.  He’s also in the best form of his life and is looking fantastic.  In 19 starts for the Blues, he’s conceded 18 goals and is part of one of the stingiest defensive sides in the entire league.  He is clearly playing himself into the side that will go to South Africa and in my opinion, should be given heavy consideration to be the starter against the United States on June 12.  I believe that the England players, especially John Terry, need to go to Capello to proclaim their confidence in the young man and make sure that he understands that despite Hart’s youth (he’s just 23) that he can be a solid number one.  If form, performance and fitness are the factors for the choices, this young man should be the starter.

England have a friendly against Egypt at Wembley in March, and for those interested in who the US might face on June 12, that match is one to keep an eye on.  England clearly want to have a look at how Egypt plays since Algeria, the team that toppled the African champs from a shot at World Cup ’10, are in the group as well.  It will be interesting to not only see the squad players but the goalkeeping structure for that match.  All in all, a situation to keep an eye on.