Brad Friedel set for new Villa deal
Friday 29th October 2010, 11:30AM BST.
Villa manager Gerard Houllier has confirmed the club are prepared to offer Brad Friedel a new contact to take the evergreen goalkeeper into his forties.
The 39-year-old, who holds the record for the most consecutive Premier League appearances, has been in outstanding form this season, not least in Wednesday’s Carling Cup win over Burnley, but his existing deal runs out next summer.
And Houllier, whose team tackle Birmingham in Sunday’s eagerly-anticipated Second City derby, has revealed he wants to keep the veteran American at Villa Park beyond the current campaign.
The Frenchman said: “Brad will be offered something, definitely, yes. At the moment, he’s doing a very good job. He’s very professional. We need to manage and deal with that.
“With a player after the age of 30 you need to sometimes take into consideration certain things.
“When you have the opportunity to rest them, do it. But he’s a good professional.
Ironically, Friedel left Liverpool while Houllier was manager at Anfield due to a lack of first-team action.
But the 63-year-old has nothing but praise for the goalkeeper, who was signed by Martin O’Neill for a bargain £2.5million from Blackburn in the summer of 2008.
Houllier added: “Everywhere he went I have never heard anything against him in terms of dedication, commitment, preparation.
“The boys like him as well.”
Friedel was Man of the Match on Wednesday, making a string of saves to keep Burnley at bay.
Houllier felt his decision to select his first-choice ahead of regular Carling Cup goalkeeper Brad Guzan was vindicated.
He said: “That was a good decision we made. It’s nothing against Brad Guzan.
“I know that sometimes the tradition is to play the reserve goalkeeper.
“Brad Friedel is in good form and I knew the tie would be difficult.”
UK Sport
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