August 23, 2007

Kasey Keller signs for Fulham : Pretty soon the American takeover of Fulham Football Club will be complete.

read story | posted by Ricardo to Soccer at 12:34 PM CDT (13 comments total)

The joint Northern Ireland/US National team...

posted by igottheblues at 12:52 PM CDT on August 23

Keller has been playing in the Bundesliga for Borussia Moenchengladbach.

I think I heard once that "playing in the Bundesliga for Borussia Moenchengladbach" is the number one reason soccer marriages end in divorce.

posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 1:05 PM CDT on August 23

I thought that was just a metaphor for something ... naughty.

So it's starting to feel like American keepers are like Finnish hockey goalies, or Korean women golfers. It feels like there's a glut of good ones out there now. It's almost a cliche to mention it.

Frankly, I think it's a great thing.

posted by chicobangs at 1:17 PM CDT on August 23

We Americans have been shown to have a fabulous accumen for keeping the ball out of the net ... unfortunately at all positions ... especially forward.

posted by Ricardo at 1:24 PM CDT on August 23

Good one, Ricardo.

Funny, I was pleasantly surprised to find out Hahnemann was an American, especially after his heroic display against Man U. Where do all these goalies - Keller (who had a stint with Spurs) and Friedel (a former Liverpool keeper) are the first who come to mind - come from? (I mean, which academies or high schools, etc.?)

posted by worldcup2002 at 1:45 PM CDT on August 23

Where do all these goalies - Keller (who had a stint with Spurs) and Friedel (a former Liverpool keeper) are the first who come to mind - come from?

don't forget Tim Howard.

posted by goddam at 2:10 PM CDT on August 23

Where do all these goalies...come from?

They come from some crazy country where sports are played with your hands.

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 3:49 PM CDT on August 23

So it's starting to feel like American keepers are like Finnish hockey goalies...

Throw a ball to a small American child and he or she will catch it. Throw it to a child from another part of the world and they will kick it.

Or what Texan said.

posted by terrapin at 4:46 PM CDT on August 23

How old is Kasey Keller? I watched that guy play at Civic Stadium when I was still poopy-pantsed and Kool-Aid lipped.

posted by everett at 8:11 AM CDT on August 24

Last week?

posted by tommytrump at 8:59 AM CDT on August 24

everett, 40 give or take. I think he only got signed because of Niemi's injury and Warner's lack of quality; there weren't other top flight sides knocking his door down otherwise that I read about.

posted by billsaysthis at 6:10 PM CDT on August 24

He's 37. Past his prime, perhaps, but not out of gas just yet.

posted by chicobangs at 6:15 PM CDT on August 24

I think Peter Shilton (England) and Dino Zoff (Italy) played at international level (even World Cup) when they were 40. I wouldn't be surprised to see goalies at top levels going past that, given today's training and medical facilities (and better rules about protecting the goalies).

posted by worldcup2002 at 11:57 AM CDT on August 25

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