Albion will step in for Brad Friedel
Tuesday 24th May 2011, 11:15AM BST.
Albion are ready to step in and sign veteran goalkeeper Brad Friedel if he fails to agree a new contract with Villa.
The Baggies have contacted the American’s agent as they weigh up their goalkeeping options for summer transfer deals.
And head coach Roy Hodgson is ready to extend the former Liverpool and Blackburn goalkeeper’s remarkable Premier League career if he opts to leave Villa Park.
But any deal could hinge on whether Albion are willing to offer the former United States international the two-year deal he craves. Liverpool are also reported to be interested.
Villa have placed a one-year contract extension on the negotiating table, believing a year-by-year approach is the best option for a player who celebrated his 40th birthday a week ago.
But, while he would be happy to remain with Villa, sources have hinted Friedel would consider moving on in exchange for extra financial security.
His first-team future at Villa is also in doubt with the club expected to step up their interest in England international Robert Green following the relegation of his current club, West Ham, to the Championship.
A loss of guaranteed first-team football could also change Friedel’s outlook, as he looks to extend his record of 275 consecutive Premier League appearances.
Friedel is just one of several goalkeepers being monitored by the Baggies with former Hawthorns favourite Tomasz Kuszczak still under strong consideration.
The Poland international is set to leave Manchester United this summer after failing to land the No.1 spot at Old Trafford. Albion have already sounded out his agent and received positive feedback.
Kuszczak has a year remaining on his United contract but the Red Devils are willing to let him move on five years after he left the Hawthorns to join Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.
The 29-year-old has attracted interest from other clubs across Europe but he favours remaining in the Premier League with Wigan likely to be chasing his signature.
Scott Carson’s long-term future at the Hawthorns remains uncertain despite him being included in the England squad for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland at Wembley on June 4.
The goalkeeper and former captain has a year left on his contract plus a year’s option in the club’s favour, but has yet to be offered an extension.
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He’s already signed for Liverpool
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To the above, quite simply, no he hasn’t. I don’t see anything on the villa or liverpool site confirming he’s signed for anyone. He has offers on the table, but not confirmed anything himself yet. So please, give it a rest.
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lol, he aint even left Villa yet, you prat.
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Glad Friedel has gone to Liverpool. Bit too old
for us? Rather see Kuszczak back! Message to all dingle shirts “Time to be washed”
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Its all paper talk, nothing has been decided, he was joining spurs at 10am, Liverpool at 11am and staying at Villa at 12.
not even Friedel knows yet lmao, ask his agent.
as long as we replace Carson with a decent consistent keeper I will be happy.
Ben Foster anyone ?? I think Kuszczak is as inconsistent as Carson judging by his last game for Man utd.
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He is too old.
Lets just stick with Carson so he can grow in confidence. he is only 24/25 and has time to develop into a top keeper.
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…The Pole in Goal has also never had a good word to say for WBA, has been happy to warm the bench at Man U while picking up an excellent salary and is no longer the sharp ‘keeper we sold for £4 million. The last ancient goalkeeper we bought from Villa was Nigel Spink, at 38, who had difficulty in getting down to pick the ball out of the net, let alone anything else. Brad is too old at 40.
Have we all given up on Myhill? Can’t remember him doing too much wrong.
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no1baggiesfan
Has Foster not dropped a number of clangers in recent weeks?
To be honest I agree with you on Kuczszak, I think most keepers will be as inconsistent as Carson, but the boo-boys will only realise that at a later date. Kuczszak started making errors before he left us. There are no infallable keepers anymore, certainly none that are realistic targets for a club like us. Every keeper has cost their team points this year.
Interesting stat this morning- Carson has come out right at the top of a Villa supporters poll on who to replace Friedel with. I’ll get shot down for this, but perhaps the grass isn’t always greener……
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I accidently came across the ‘Daily Mail’ sport online earlier,and they said Freidel had talked to Kenny Dalglish,and had agreed a two year deal with Liverpool,rejecting villa and the Baggies.
If these stories are untrue,they should name and shame the reporters,because they’re just telling porkies to get the attention,and sell papers.
I prefer a much more honest profession,like being a politician for example………….
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Warren
I applaud your constant backing of Scotty but it’s got to be said that your backing is a lot more consistent than Carson lol
I’ve said before that I’ve never been one to boo Carson but the lad doesn’t command his box enough – I’ve also said before that maybe this is due to Kiely’s coaching methods as he too had the same problem. With the amount of goals we concede from set pieces do you not think that it’s about time we got a keeper in who isn’t as indecisive as Scotty and will come off his line and claim the ball in the air?
Also the poll you’re talking about was from 2007 if it’s the one I’ve found!
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According to Tribal (BS site) we are now putting in a £2M bid for Schwarzer from Fulham.
Do we really need an oap in goal ?? first Friedel now Schwarzer, a 40 year old and a 38 year old.
I know GK’s are usually better at 30+ but pushing 40 ??
LMS, I think its Carsons consistent inconsistency that makes him inconsistent. :)
I dont mind the odd mistake here and there, that is human nature, but he just seems to make a lot more that just a few and they are usually fatal lol.
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I still go for Eiji Kawashima. He would be good competition for Scot, that is what Scot needs, somebody on his back.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.
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8 Warren.
I agree and I wonder how much of this is due to the deviation in flight of the modern lightweight footballs. The reason Carson gets stick is mostly down to his alleged error for England. Some people seem unable to make an unbiased judgement. I watch other clubs on TV and see their keepers make mistakes, I see them uncertain whether to come for the ball but apparently SC is the only one that does it. I must be seeing things.
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Warren, if that is true about Villa wanting Carson i’ll drive him there myself. I cannot believe people who have watched Carson over the last three years week in week out think he is consistantly good enough? He doesn’t command his area, is slow reacting to low shots and makes more than his fair share of errors. I really don’t think his consistant all round game is good enough. I do agree though that the keepers mentioned Kuczszak, Foster have made their fair share of errors but Carson has not been good enough over three years and has had long enough to prove himself. I actually sit in the camp that he is still young enough to improve but he shouldn’t be our number 1 next season no chance.
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I haven’t dug these facts out just to aim digs at Carson but merely to show that he may not be as good as some people think, these are Opta stats:
57.6% – lowest saves to shots ratio in the league.
5 – the number of errors that have led directly to goals this season.
Personally I thin k he can get better but I would prefer it to be with another club as we need someone now and Carson will probably benefit from a change of scenery.
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Lords My Shepherd
I absolutely agree with you that Carson doesn’t command his area enough. On the flip side I think he’s a very good shot-stopper. You can’t have everything. Lets try and improve by all means, I’m just saying that I don’t think there are any out there immeasurably better who is a realistic target.
Romsley
I also agree with you that Carson has made a few errors. Off the top of my head I can think of Fulham away, Man United at home when Hernandez won the header in front of him, Chelsea at home and….well, I’m struggling for blatant errors beyond that to be honest. Not coming for every cross- perhaps, skewing the odd kick- perhaps, but no other blatant errors that have led to goals, please tell me if I’ve missed some.
TRBH mentions this, but I’ve seen Joe Hart come rushing out of his box and kick thin air, Foster let a few roll through him, Schwarzer have a couple of shockers. For some reason nobody mentions them, but we all think of calamity Carson when he makes one.
Like I’ve said, I’m not suggesting Scotty’s faultless, but he often gets blamed for things not always his fault IMO and I can’t see too many realistic alternatives who are better.
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Brad Friedel ….nice guy but to old now. We do need a new keeper but lets not get someone who’s no better than we have. We cannot risk the same errors as the season just gone, just imagine the comments if in the first game another cock-up accured….God forbid.
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I`m with Warren & Bully on this.
A number of post`s who want Carson replaced, but suggest they dont want Friedel or Schwarter because of their age.
Truth is folks, if we want a better and more consistant and commanding figure than Carson, then the only keepers that fit that criteria that we can afford, are those.
Unfortunately for Scott, he is in a no win situation with some of our number.
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no1baggiesfan 3-see the number of men required in the wall as indicated by Friedel in the picture? The same to you mate!!!
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Just been on the Dark Side and the difference is amazing. While on here people talk of signing Johnson or Dann but add that probably bigger clubs will be after them, over there they obviously take it for granted that they’re one of the bigger clubs.
They just talk of ‘we ought to go and sign Johnson and Dann’ and a host of other players. No mention of anyone else wanting them. No consideration of wages. Totally ignoring that their Chairman has said he won’t be spending £18 mill again. No thought to the fact that moving to a club that struggled to stay up on the last day probably isn’t what these players dream of.
I think whoever wrote the Wizard of Oz knew exactly what he was doing when he coined the ‘yellow’ brick road. Anyone wanting to visit cloud cuckoo land to see what it’s like, have a look at ‘Henry says we won’t sell our stars’ thread. It really is an eye opener. And Shadrag hasn’t posted yet.
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why dont we recall all the points carson has cost us in the last few years, at newcastle last sunday, 2 points, anymore?
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it must be at the very least 10 points this season alone.
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I’ve just had another look at the above picture of Friedel,and I don’t know where he wants to go,but he seems to be telling villa that he’s had enough of them……….
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I aint Scott Carsons biggest fan but I think I would have him over Brad Friedal. My choice if I was to go after a Goalkeeper would be Kasper Schmeichal, every time ive saw him play he has been top drawer, and wont be long till a bigger club comes in for him so why not us?
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21.Solihull. There were others involved in the mess for the second goal. And did it go in? That linesman couldn’t possibly know for sure. Are you sure you don’t think Olsson scored one just to annoy Carson? To say he cost us TWO points is just unfair. As a team, we were absolute rubbish first half. Not ‘as a goalkeeper’ please note. If I may be so bold, I don’t think you’d be suited for Jury Service.
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I say keep Carson, and Myhill theyve both had a stint in goal in the Prem, experience is whats counts, and theyve had a taste, they say mature keepers are better, so next season will be another one under their belt with this one, freidel wants financial security and lpool will give him that, kuszack did a runner last time, the only thing with carson is that he got booed by his own and its played on his mind and is rightly so, scared or dubious to do things, ie panicky, or hesitant, if he can get this out of his system pre season then i think he’ll be fine, at least he’s not like Gomez, James , (clown keepers at times), spend the money up front i say, the keepers will be fine, Come on you baggies
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Instead why don’t you tot up all the points other goalies gave you 7 pts in 3 games come to mind straight away
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Any-one for Shay Given?
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19. Better late than never
he’s actually telling you how many brain cells YOU have.
try growing up. m8.
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funny thing is Better late, HE STILL HASNT GONE ANYWHERE.
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Still rankles doesn’t it Willenhall 27
Boing Boing!
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27 willenhall-
as you seem to be saying your ‘keeper’s dodgy,maybe wolves should have a go for Freidel?
(and it works both ways-we ‘gave’ you three points to keep you up,don’t forget).
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26 sid
Again, this isn’t a pop at Scott, I just think some people are a little ill informed on the keepers in the Prem. Gomes has made the same number of errors that have led directly to goals this season according to Opta – 5 which is more than any other keeper (along with Green) so by your rationale Carson is a clown too.
However, Gomes has a saves to shots % of 77 (top 5) and Green 69%. Carson has the lowest in the league at 56.7%.
Stats don’t lie people. Maybe it’s time we tried someone else in goal and Carson will hopefully benefit from a change of scenery. I still think Sorensen would be worth a punt if Stoke would do business.
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Solihullbaggie
How about neither centre-back winning the header in our box for their first, then Brunt/Morrison or whoever it was mis-kicking the clearance?
Then Meite missing a routine header off a diagonal ball, then getting beat for the next header, then Olsson losing Lovenkrands for their second?
Then Olsson trying to cut out a cross with his left foot when anyone in their right mind would’ve used their right for their third?
Have Olsson, Morrison, Brunt or Morrison not cost us 2 points? And do the saves Carson made afterwards not count for anything?
Trouble is Solihull, people like you only see Carson’s errors and this is where the criticism gets irrational and silly.
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LordsMyShepherd
That’s good research on the stats, however I think you’ve gotta be careful with these stats, they only tell a part of the story.
For example, what sort of chances to teams get against us? Against Stoke and Blackburn you might be restricted to long-range efforts as they ‘park the bus’. Therefore giving the opportunity for Robinson and Begovic to save 100% of their shots (for the record, I think they’re both better keepers). We probably concede a lot more clear-cut chances. The stats are only truly comparable if you’re comparing save ratios on the same shots.
Also who decides what mistakes lead directly to goals? At Blues vs Wolves, Foster skews a kick, Ward then gets put through on goal, Foster brings him down and is fully culpable for the goal Wolves then score, but since the actual shot’s a penalty on target, it doesn’t count.
Solihull makes a point about Carson’s errors, then like most of his other critics, struggles to reel them off. I gave his critics a head start, Fulham (away), Man U and Chelsea (home). Any others? I’m struggling to be honest.
Irish Paul- If we could get Given, I say go for it, but imagine his wages at City and I’m sure he’ll be coveted by the top six.
LMS- Did you watch Sorensen in the World Cup? Why didn’t Villa want him? Is he any better?
Josh- Fair suggestion, but I’ve seen K.Schmeichel drop a couple of clangers, QPR away the other week being one. He’s younger and less experienced.
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Every keeper makes mistakes it goes with the
job, Even Van der sar gifted us a point this season with Carson its the frequency of his errors and this in turn make everyone in the team nervy
Am i the only one who believes Thomas Sorenson would be a good solid keeper for
us over the next few seasons
one more thing it appears we want to keep Bednar i thought he was out of contract
does anyone know if he is or not…?
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Warren
Tottenham play the same way as us in that they get opened up quite frequently but Gomes saves 20% more shots than Carson. Also just found another stat that says Carson conceeded 14 goals fom outside the area this season – a new league high.
Yes I saw Sorensen at the world Cup. But I could counter that with did you see Carson in goal against Croatia? Why didn’t Villa want Carson? I honestly think Sorensen is a much better keeper than Scott and has commands his area a lot better whilst also making less errors.
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LMS
According to a new poll on Friedel’s replacement amongst Villa fans in a local paper, a significant number do want Carson.
I haven’t said Carson’s better than Sorensen, read my post back, what I have questioned is whether Sorensen’s any better than Carson. Stoke don’t want him, neither did Villa and he’s also capable of a shocker as the World Cup proved.
Can I ask where you get these stats? I’ve been on Opta and they’re not listed as far as I can see.
For the record, our defence has been much leakier than Tottenham’s.
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Warren
Which poll is this as the only one I’ve found was from 2007?
I said that I thought Sorensen was the better keeper IMO, not that you thought Carson was. I was merely highlighting the fact that you say Sorensen had a shocker at the World Cup and Villa didn’t want him…well the exact same things can be said of Carson.
Opta release stats through Twitter, Facebook and Sky Sports periodically and these are the sources I have been picking the stats up from. they have also recently released season stats to the national newspapers. You can’t get them from Opta directly unless you’re willing to pay.
And may I suggest that our defence has been leakier because Gomes saves 20% more of the shots on their goal than Carosn does on ours?
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LMS
You argue Sorensen’s made similar mistakes to Carson, which is essentially what I’m suggesting, that they’re both as shaky as one another. I’d love us to improve, I just don’t think Sorensen’s the answer, however I’ll gladly hold my hands up if proven wrong.
The poll- I was taking the words of a journalist on one of those sites you mention that Carson got a significant number of votes. Having looked for myself at the poll, which was conducted by another local media source I shouldn’t mention) it’s 8% he got. But he did poll nearly four times as many votes as Rob Green, Manuel Almunia and Allan McGregor, and around 10 times more than Lee Camp, Craig Gordon and Thomas Kuszczak. Sorensen wasn’t even in the vote but ‘others’ only polled 6%, most of which were for Paul Robinson allegedly. Villa fans- though generally speaking an untrustworthy bunch!- will have seen both Carson and Sorensen.
Opta- I’ll follow your lead and take a look.
As I’ve said before I’m not suggesting Carson’s infallable, just not sure who’s immeasurably better and available.
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Warren
I’ve never argued that Sorensen has made the same mistakes as Carson, in fact to my knowledge he’s never been known to one who drops a clanger.
What I’m saying is your argument AGAINST Sorensen can be discredited as the exact same sentences can be used against Carson.
Seen the poll and it’s got to be said the bunch that the poll provides are missing some keepers Villa will be linked with ie Al-Habsi and Robinson. I severely doubt that any genuine Villa fan would have chosen Carson seeing as they ridicule him more than a section of our lot do!
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LMS
Given the abuse I’ve heard shouted towards Carson this season at matches, I find it difficult to believe the Vile fans think worse of him!!
As for Sorensen, we’ll just have to agree to disagree. I don’t disagree it’s worth having a look for a Carson replacement, I’m just not sure we’ll find one better as easily as some seem to think.
Cheers for the stats eye-opener anyway, been an interesting debate.
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LMS.
There’s a saying of unknown origin.
‘There are three types of lies. Lies, damn lies and statistics.’
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42 Warren.
A good point. If you look at the Wolves pages they go in for similar speculation. Despite Shadrag telling us earlier in the seaon that Berra is better than any of our CH’s, he has now become a figure of derision (even LW has turned against him.)
The similarity is that the consensus over there is Rangers allegedly want Berra and Bougherra wants a move so lets do a swap.
Bougherra was a good CH with Charlton 4-5 years ago, he’s been playing in the SPL since then where I’m sure not many Wulfies will have seen much of him especially against EPL quality strikers. The common theme is ‘let’s have anybody that’s not called Scott Carson/Christoph Berra because they must automatically be better (or Berra if you prefer.)’ Even if they’ve seen little of them play.
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