Guzan Finally Gets a Chance to Start via Loan to Hull City

Brad Guzan serving as the US #2 goalkeeper while rarely seeing any time with his professional club is something that has been very confusing. This blogger has questioned why Guzan hasn't demanded a loan or transfer... Well it has FINALLY happened... At least for a month.

Brad Guzan has made a 2.5 hour drive from Birmingham to Hull City where he will play on loan for one month. The move comes after Hull GK, Vito Mannone, was called into duty at Arsenal.

The 26 year old American joined Aston Villa in 2008 from Chivas USA but has seen limited action. Former US #1 GK, Brad Friedel, has held the starting spot for an extensive period at Aston Villa. Friedel turns 40 in May.

Hull City was relegated from the Premier League to the Npower Championship in 2010 and currently sits 15th in England's second-tier, but only 4 points shy of a place in the Championship Play-offs.

Guzan has made one Premier League appearance and seen a handful of UEFA Cup/Europa League and Carling Cup action. The United States victory over South Africa in November is arguably Guzan's most exceptional game as a professional.

What can be accomplished during the short span of a one month loan is questionable. However, this is only a positive if Guzan can find himself in a starting position for Hull. Best case scenario would be the further exposure and consistent playing time prompting a transfer to another top-tier club..

GK MacMath included in 2011 Generation Adidas Class

The 2011 Generation Adidas class includes one goalkeeper, Zac MacMath. The program, sponsored by adidas, encourages early entry (without college graduation) of American players into MLS. Joining MacMath is eight other underclassmen and four seniors for which the MLS has signed early.

MacMath is considered to be a bright young prospect on equal footing to Cody Cropper (Ipswich Town and my former club, Bangu -MN). MacMath recently recorded two shutouts during both starts of the U20 Milk Cup in Northern Ireland and spent some time training with Everton and US Senior Team GK Tim Howard.

Until 2005, the program was sponsored by Nike and was called Project-40. Generation Adidas players do not count against the MLS senior roster and usually earn a much higher salary than the league minimum . Entering into the program automatically classifies a player as professional and thus, disqualifies them from playing college soccer. As a result, Generation Adidas players are guaranteed scholarships to continue their college education.

Other notable Project-40/Generation Adidas goalkeepers include Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Stefan Frei (Toronto FC), and Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake).

Zac MacMath - GK
Age: 19
Hometown: St. Petersburg, FL
College/Club: University of Maryland
U.S. Nat'l Team: U-17, U-18, U-20, U-23

- 2010 NSCAA First Team All-American
Joined the U.S. Soccer U-17 Residency Program in 2006 and started two games in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

- Led the U-20 team to a Milk Cup Championship in the summer of 2010 in Northern Ireland

- Earned lowest goals-against average in NCAA (.44 GAA) in 2008 as a freshman and set a program record for shutouts in a season with 15 in 2010

Lucasz Fabianski (Arsenal) vs. Petr Cech (Chelsea) - 12.27.2010

Final: Arsenal 3, Chelsea 1
Emirates Stadium, London, England
Barclays Premier League
12/27/2010

The Gunners ended their five-match losing run against Chelsea with this stunning victory at the Emirates Stadium. Petr Cech didn't get much help from his defenders as Arsenal took advantage of three sloppy plays which proved to be the difference in the 3-1 final.

The match started slow with both teams hanging back to defend with 10 men, leaving a single striker forward. Arsenal managed the midfield better than Chelsea and started creating chances with 5 minutes remaining in the half.

Cech came up with 2 exceptional saves in the 40th and 41st minutes only to see 2 goals hit the back of the net in the 44th, 51st, and 53rd minute. Cech got caught leaning on the first goal but could do little to divert the 2nd and 3rd goals. The catalyst for all 3 goals was sloppy play in the Chelsea defensive third.

Chelsea attempted to make a late run after a great ball into the box left Fabianski in "no-man's land" and the ball simply required a flick by Ivanovic to see the back of the net. Fabianski was tested very little and the majority of his touches were harmless.

Although Fabianski and Arsenal got the match result, Cech gets higher marks for his GK Rating.

Petr Cech
Chelsea
GK Rating: 90.9

Minutes: 90
Touches: 30
Tests: 3
Goals Allowed: 3 (44th, 51st, 53rd min.)
PK Goals Allowed: 0
Routine Saves: 6
Exceptional Saves: 3 (44th, 51st, 53rd)
PK Saves: 0
Exceptional Plays: 0
Errors: 0
Critical Errors: 0
Error Rate: 0.000
Critical Error Rate: 0.000
Save %: 0.750
Save % + PKs: 0.750

Lucasz Fabianski
Arsenal
GK Rating: 75.6

Minutes: 90
Touches: 28
Tests: 2
Goals Allowed: 1 (57th min.)
PK Goals Allowed: 0
Routine Saves: 3
Exceptional Saves: 0
PK Saves: 0
Exceptional Plays: 0
Errors: 0
Critical Errors: 0
Error Rate: 0.000
Critical Error Rate: 0.000
Save %: 0.750
Save % + PKs: 0.750