United in Safe Hands
Posted on September 13th, 2010 | 114 Comments |
I have always felt United have been spoilt for choice with goalkeepers, for the last ten years at least, with Shay Given being and Steve Harper battling for the No.1 jersey. And now, even with Given being No.2 at Manchester ‘Abu Dhabi’ City, United are still blessed in this position.
The fact that our No.3, Fraser Forster, made his Celtic Park debut this weekend as The Hoops cruised to a 3-0 win over Hearts means that the 22-year-old could potentially add an SPL winners medal to the League One winners medal he already holds after a superb season with Norwich City last season.
Even if he did return with the two Championships to his name he will be far from guaranteed even a spot on the bench next season with United also having Dutchman Tim Krul, who has been fantastic whenever he has been called upon for the first team.
I don’t expect United to be blessed with the same incredible loyalty Steve Harper showed us by playing second fiddle for ten years from Krul or Forster, and the next 2-3 years could decide which one is moulded into Harper’s long term replacement. Krul has enjoyed successful loan spells in recent years at Falkirk and Carlisle United and at 22, like Forster, still has a good 15 years at least ahead of him.
After waiting so long to be No.1 at United, even at the age of 35, I am sure Harper is still in no rush to surrender his position at United, and in all honesty he deserves the right to be our No.1 untill he is not longer capable of performing at the highest level.
But Newcastle must also look towards the long term and I would love to see Forster and Krul compete for at least one season battling to be No.1. It can be ruthless being a goalkeeper as Harper knows, he was No.1 during the ’99-’00 season before a freak injury in training allowed Given to step in, and he set up home between the posts for the next eight years.
Both Forster and Krul have the potential to emulate the acheivements of Given. Being young and ambitious, my only worry is they could become tired of being No.2 to Steve Harper who could potentially be number one for another five years. Simply look at Edwin Van Der Sar at Manchester United who has held out competition from Thomas Kuszczak, Ben Foster and others and remains No.1 now at the ripe old age of 39!
It has been four years since Krul made his terrific debut away to Palermo in the UEFA Cup, exciting us all with a string of fantastic saves. Four years on and the Dutchman is now an established Under-21 international but spent last season as No.2 to Harper, again coming to United’s rescue on the opening day of last season with a string of second-half saves away at West Brom.
Forster has quietly build up his reputation in the shadows of Krul with loan spells at Bristol Rovers and Stockport County before winning player of the year award for Norwich City. His clean sheet record with all three clubs exceeded 50% and he lifted the ‘Golden Gloves’ award for League One last season.
His move to Celtic was instigated by former coach Alan Thompson’s recommendation to Celtic boss Neil Lennon. The move will only help to increase his maturity and personally I am excited to see how our Hexham born keeper copes with the pressure of his first Old Firm derby. However he fares, I have no doubt he will return to St James’ Park bigger, better and stronger for the experience.
At the moment it is impossible to say which one will end up as our long-term No.1, but I can say we are most definately in safe hands in at least one area of the pitch at St James’ for some time to come.
Which is pretty reassuring in all honesty!
This a sign we have moved on from Saturday toons?
Toon for Europe?