Brad Guzan to continue the American keepers’ invasion of Premier League?

By: Bob | October 17th, 2007

The word on the street – the street of Internet buzz – is that Arsenal have been scouting Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Who can blame them? At just 23 years of age, Guzan is practically young enough to be Jens Lehmann’s grandson. He also happens to be a pretty talented goalkeeper whose future will likely take him where many an American keeper reside: the English Premier League.

At 6-foot-4, Guzan is a big, big boy. He plays even bigger in goal. He is currently third in MLS in goals against average, second in wins, and first in shutouts. His play has earned him a couple of caps for the US national team in a position where there is no shortage of talent.

In fact, if Guzan does make the leap he would join Tim Howard, Marcus Hahnemann, Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel. That is five American keepers on 20 teams. One in four is pretty darned amazing.

What do you think? Is Guzan ready to play in the Premier League? Would moving to Arsenal be good for his development? Why are Americans so handy with their hands?

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Category: English Premier League, MLS, World Football

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Laurie

Ben, I'm so with you on this one. I've seen far too many good players go for the money and prestige that come with a huge team, and then spend their entire career there warming the bench.
ben

id rather see him start every weekend at somewhere like aston villa or fulham than sit the arsenal bench for the next few years
ash87

Sabin makes a very good point.While im glad to see yet another Great player in the Premier league i think if the MLS is to ever be one of the worlds best leagues the best American players need to stay there.
Bryan

before anyone talks about anything else to fix in the MLS 3 things must be mentioned 1) fix the salary cap so that the developmental contracts give the young guys more than 12,500 per year 2) make it a single table 3) Get rid of the playoffs and instigate an actual cup fun like the rest of the world
melissa

...and a bigger roster for each MLS team. I will continue to keep my hopes and dreams alive.
Magnusson

That is a nice feeling melissa. but before that happens, there must be many more teams and the superliga should be extended to a lot more lubs. and maybe the mls should enter the copa libertadores.
melissa

I'm all for individual players taking the best offers to improve their game, stay relevant, and get that money but I also want MLS to be an awesome league filled with excellent futból. I do think MLS is going in the right direction by participating in continent-wide tournaments and elevating the exposure of the league in general (yeah, thanks Becks). I hope in a couple of years great players like Guzan can spend their entire careers in MLS and not feel like they're loosing their competitive edge or whatever (lord knows I feel a little too attached to my 2007 Chivas right now and don't want to see them scatter to the wind next season).
Sabin

For myself, I'm not psyched to see more talent shipped out of the US. I know that the EPL is where it's "at", but there should be more motivation for players to remain in the states, too.
melissa

No matter where he goes, he will always be El Guzano to Chivas fans.
Magnusson

I think GUzan is pretty good. good enough to play in the PL but with Arsene Wenger's policy, he'll probably take an older keeper. He likes his players young except for keepers.
Seaman played til like fourty, lehmann is pushing 40 and almunia is already 30.
Shane

Heh, the best American players use their hands. Damn American sports.
Lucas

I think it would be awesome to have yet another U.S. keeper in the EPL. Plus, if Guzan leaves, that means we "get" to see more of Preston "Leave Those Kids Alone" Burpo between the pipes for the Goats. And I think that's important; it would give fans around MLS a chance to discover a bottomless hatred they may never have known existed.