Brad Guzan, come on down
Sunday, 13 July 08, 03:54 AM · Comments (38)
Things change quickly. Villa fans were delighted when Gareth Barry's first touch in England's June friendly against the USA set up Steven Gerrard to fire past Brad Guzan. Next season, their loyalties will lie firmly with the American goalkeeper.
It was only red tape that had prevented the 23-year-old from becoming an Aston Villa player five months before that game. Despite interest from Arsenal and Celtic (and having previously attracted the attention of Liverpool and Olympiakos) the goalkeeper had agreed a deal to sign for his compatriot Randy Lerner's club, having been wooed by a day up close and personal with the players.
"I spent twelve hours with the players in the locker room and it was outstanding," enthused Guzan.
"Being among good people who understand the game of football and are people who able to put players out on the pitch to compete week-in, week-out, that is important to me and that is what I want to be involved in."
Unfortunately for the young goalkeeper he would have to wait. He fell short of the necessary number of international caps to secure a work permit, despite having been named the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and having been regularly selected for the national squad since making his debut in February 2006.
With the work permit denied, Guzan was left to hope for the future. "It's nice to have a few more months with the guys (at Chivas) at least," he said, philosophically.
Clearly, though, the desire to move to Villa had not gone away, as evidenced by Guzan's comments when the USA travelled to Wembley, a game in which he played the second half.
"Hopefully there will be more interest from Aston Villa in the summer," he said. "Right now I couldn't tell you the specifics because my focus is with the national team.
"My agent has been handling all the discussions and nothing can really happen until the window opens anyway. I am letting him deal with that and, if something comes about, then great.
"I would love to sign for Villa. When I was there a few months back, it was an absolutely brilliant time - great people, great facilities and I couldn't say one bad thing about the place.
"When I met Martin O'Neill at the end of January he was a fabulous guy, a great person. The entire staff were outstanding.
"It is about the whole way he carries himself as a manager. To have a guy like Martin O'Neill saying good things about you, it makes you feel good as a player."
And O'Neill has moved with the minimum of public speculation to finally seal Guzan's signature in a move believed to be worth between one and two million pounds.
Guzan started his career, like many MLS players, at college, keeping goal for the University of South Carolina. In 2005 he signed a professional contract with the MLS - I'm not going to go into how all that works across the pond - and was picked second in the MLS SuperDraft by Chivas USA. (More information here on all that).
After a briefly difficult opening spell at the club, Guzan took over the number one goalkeeper's position from Martin Zuniga when the Mexican goalkeeper injured ligaments. Six months later he won his first cap for the national side and was tipped for big things by national coach Bruce Arena, although inexperience saw him miss out on a place in the 2006 World Cup squad.
He has won eight subsequent caps, most recently in the country's latest World Cup qualifier on June 22, a win over Barbados in which Guzan kept a clean sheet.
His own improvement has been matched by that of his team. 'Standing 6-foot-4 with cat-like quickness, Guzan is the prototypical keeper for the Premier League,' said CNN's Sports Illustrated, reporting last week after Guzan hinted that a move to Villa was in the offing.
'His rise from a shell-shocked 20-year-old rookie to the U.S. No. 2 has coincided with the rise of Chivas itself. After the club's horrible maiden season in 2005, the club won the Western Conference just two years later. He's not planning on leaving without some good feelings about his first pro club.'
"It's been absolutely unbelievable," Guzan said. "Obviously being able to stay at a club for three and a half years, learning and growing as a player, as a person, I've been very thankful for Chivas USA and everything they've done for me. And obviously the league has made tremendous strides, and hopefully it'll keep going in the right direction."
Guzan becomes the fourth American goalkeeper in the Premier League, alongside Fulham's Kasey Keller, Everton's Tim Howard and Blackburn's Brad Friedel. The last of those has also been strongly linked with a move to Villa Park, with the suggestion that the 37-year-old Blackburn stopper could come in as a short-term number one for the next season while Guzan adapts to the demands of a more difficult league - a task that would no doubt be easier with his fellow countryman as a mentor.
The younger goalkeeper, though, no doubt has his long-term sights set on the number one jersey at Aston Villa. Or possibly not, since by all accounts he prefers to wear number 18. Anyway, he follows Curtis Davies and Steve Sidwell as the club's third signing of the summer.
"It looks like exciting times at Villa," said Guzan back in June. It's starting to feel like them, isn't it?
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38 Comments · Add yours
Sorry but to use Taglors excito meter i give this transfer 3 out of 10. At least its something i guess, even if it is geared more towards the future.
As a very hardcore American Villa fan I could not be more happier to see this lad sign. One of the brightest talents in American soccer will be playing for my team! At the price of 1-2m comparable to the Joe Hart's out there at 7m... this is an absolute bargain. Guuuuuuuuuuuuuzan! :)
This guy's good though. He's not established but I think he will become an AV great.
Another Villa great like Marlon, Zat, Rout etc... Any fist team players on the way?
whats going on with stuart taylor anybody know?
Fits the bill of young, English (speaking) player for greater communication.
The whole of last season, i did not see Carson commanding his defense once (shouting, instructing and so on), this guy just looks commanding!
have never seen him could be a gem by what I hear can only wait and see. UTV
looks a good keeper. i just wish scott carson didn't play in that england match vs croatia.
i thought he was outstanding before the england game and i just wish he still had that confidence.
He'll develop into a superb keeper, I'm sure of it. Anybody saying this isn't that great a transfer will be eating their words in a few years time!
f00k off zidave you yank cunt, you're not wanted and neither is your piss poor american terminology....."soccer"?? it's called football you fat, burger addicted, ocean polluting, arab hating, vacant fuckwit of a man. now be gone and never darken our door again
haha watched video, is he gonna cover that Adidas logo on his leg and get a new Nike one!!!!!!
Nicky, meet Taglor.
Taglor, meet Nicky: a match made in pessimist hell ;D ;D
Extremely overrated. Big mistake. Hands like swiss cheese.
Rubbish, no problem with his hands at all.
Exactly the sort of signing MON should be making. Young, tons of upside, and a great price. £8m cheaper than Carson, and physically every bit as good if not better. If he can do the sort of job for Villa that Friedel has done for Blackburn, it will be an outstanding signing, and there's no reason to believe he won't be that good at least.
I'm pleased we're actually making signings at long last but, what bothers me is so far they're all "bargains". This makes me think how much have we really got to spend? Are we going to see a big signing or two or is going to be all on the cheap? I'm not saying there's nothing wrong with this but I was under the impression that we had a rich owner now.
MON's style though isn't it. Probably the most frugal manager in the world! Anyway we made a bid for Bentley so we've obviously got cash.
Well he does not yet look like a first choice #1 but who does these days.
Why aren't you lot excited about this lad Guzan? We've got a class keeper for 1-2 mil.. What are you on about? Last year we were about to spend 10 mil on Craig Gordon and he's turned out to be complete rubbish in the prem. We've been linked with Carson and a load of other over-priced european keepers. American keepers have a fantastic record in the prem, if you didn't know. Just think.. we could have the next Brad Friedel. He's been pure class over his career. And to get him for only 1 or 2 mil... that means we can spend the other 7 or 8 on a field player. We should be excited... even if it is just a keeper. Carson dropped us about 8 points last season.. Keeper is a huge position.
What I'm not excited about is how Pompey are signing all the players we should be getting. First it was Diarra and Defoe, now Crouch, and soon SWP. What is all that about? I'll be pissed unless we have some better players coming in.
I am excited but I'll be more excited when he is putting in the performance week in week out.
I can see it now.. Villa 1-0 liverpool 90th min Barry (judas) to Gerrard its the same one two it must be.. NO great save by Guzan, the yank gets his revenge, Villa fans go home as happy as pig in s#@t and Barry will be the victim of the alloy stealing scoucers rotation policy again next week!!!
what was the score on saturday??????
We're playing OB Odense in the Intertoto, they won 4-1 on agg. their tie.
Star players? One, Thomas Helveg (ex AC Milan and Denmark).
I agree this chap from what I've seen is a good player and looks big in goal. Is he our no1 I don't know - But MON has chased him for a while so he must really rate him.
I agree, Oscar, lets buy a couple of proven guys that will help this coming season even if we have to spend a little extra to do it. Theres just nothing to get excited about with signings like Knight, Routledge, Harewood, Sidwell, Guzan, even Petrov Reo......all work hard but wheres the flair and excitement......Is it too much to ask for a SWP, Lennon, Bent, Nelson and lets run teams off the pitch but also play an attractive brand of football.....if we land Bentley or a similar player or two ill stop whinging.
we can only judge guzan once he puts in appearances for us. bottom line is squad numbers has improved wit his signin
Hold on a minute.. If we still had DOL and Deadly in charge then I would be worried about the lack of established players coming in, purely on the basis that I wouldn't have faith in the management to do anything with them or bring anything out of them. The fact that we've got MON and Randy, both proven winners and mentors in their respective fields, for me, means that we've got every chance of progressing. It's like so many things in life - you can go out and buy something and work on it to make it what you want, or you can pay the premium to have whatever's good at the time instantly. Personally I find the former a better bet and importantly, more bloody enjoyable.
To Nicky - Marlon - cult hero with potential, Zat, scored against Chelsea, admittedly made a few errors but started to show promise, and Routledge - I think we saw him for less than 90 minutes... Come on.. Keep the faith, otherwise what's the point!? At least you're not from Luton.
villa-us-ca - Gordon wasn't rubbish last season at all, he was actually pretty decent.
Leroy - Are you having a larf mate? SWP, Lennon, Bent? All terribley overrated players. Run opponents off the pitch, maybe. Attractive football, certainly not.
Funny that mick70 as I've heard you look like cilla black. ;)
We need 3 keepers, he will be an excellent 3rd choice player who never plays actual prem matches :S
I think some people have missed the point with the transfers. Not all transfers in are for the first team!
Nicky.... I know Zat and Marlon were not the most impressive signings but look what amazing players they are now under MON!
I would of thought fans would have more faith in MON after what hes done with Marlon, Zat, Young etc
Come on Villa fans lets get behind MON and whoever he signs. This is the best manager & owner we will ever get. He has saved our club and top league football by refusing to be broken by a captain who betrayed his trust and did a deal which meant we couldn't get what he was worth, and he made millions and so would the club he had done the deal with. MON I love you and the huge desire you and Randy Lerner have to make our club great again. And anyone who doubts you can go off up the M6 to the land of the 606 whingers and car and house breakers.
mike s we lost 2-1 and I am amazed that there wasn't a post on this site about it, Damien is usually on the case. Sidwell was apparently the highlight in a an average performance, not a good sign with the game in a weeks time, it's ok trouncing a pork pie side and feeling great about it but we should beat teams like FC Zurich, hopefully we can strengthen up that defence in the next week and get some quality in goal. I don't think Taylor is much cop, doesn't deal with crosses well and doesn't look like a number 1. Mind you when is the last time we had a decent keeper? Bosnich is the best we have had in the last 10 years, bring in Friedel and Guzen.
Personally I think that the two signings so far have been a great bit of business. Guzan was being chased by Arsenal, Liverpool, Olympiakos (spelling?) and Celtic. These are all champions league clubs so he must be doing something right. He seems a good shot-stopper which is a natural ability and can't be learned and, from what i saw of him on youtube, he seems very vocal. My concerns will be his distribution under pressure (always terrified whenever I see a backpass)and whether or not he punches or catches. Both of these problems can be identified and dealt with over time. Really optomistic about this transfer window: another 3 or 4 bargains please MON and then 2 or 3 ridiculous fees for class players.
If I remember rightly, Guzan came on in the 2nd half & kept a clean sheet. The Barry/Gerrard goal was in the 1st half, but I might be wrong! All the news over the weekend said we'd solved our 'goal-keeping crisis'. Guzan has been signed as a number 2 (13), hopefully to learn off the 'American Daddy' Brad Friedel!
Jimmy Villan - I actually think that we were a little short on match fitness/pace, hence the 2 penalties we conceeded.
They didn't put one past us from open play, and given they are 7/8 games in to their pre-season we didn't do too bad. Giving away penalties can be solved.
Does Brad Friedel remind anyone else of Ron Perlman?
thanks JIMMY VILLAN although with that result now i wished i hadnt asked.
thanks anyway!
UTV ;D