Brad Guzan / USA World Cup Qualifying

[uscjeremynca]

In the next week, USA will play Costa Rica and Mexico in World Cup qualifying. These are two HUGE matches for the US.

With Tim Howard out, former Gamecock and current Aston Villa GK Brad Guzan should get the start. He had a fabulous match this weekend against QPR with some calling it one of the best performances of the season.

On Fox Soccer channel, TWICE they mentioned Guzan as a former South Carolina Gamecock when talking about his efforts this past weekend and his upcoming role with the USMNT.

Thought I would give the guy some recognition on here.

[Travelin]

We need to win both of these matches. At worst a win over CR and draw with Mexico.

Guzan can get it done, no doubt.

[SECgamecock453]

I watch Aston Villa just about every weekend... I'm sort of partial to them even though Man Utd is my team. Guzan has been great in goal... doesn't have the best defense in front of him either. He is keeping Aston Villa out of the relegation zone though.. Go Guzan!

[cockypanther]

Great to hear about Guzan! Here's to hoping USA can surprise some people and make a little noise (wishful thinking I know)

[SECgamecock453]

There is never a World Cup that we shouldn't qualify for... by the time you get to the last round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying there are 6 teams vying for 3.5 spots. So only 2 teams finish the stage without a change at all of getting into the World Cup. Even if we somehow get into that 4th spot we'd play the Oceania winner in a two-leg playoff to determine if we got in. In that case we'd just have to beat New Zealand on aggregate because they are pretty much always the Oceania rep.

[SECgamecock453]

Save from the weekend against QPR:

[uscjeremynca]

Originally Posted by SECgamecock453

I watch Aston Villa just about every weekend... I'm sort of partial to them even though Man Utd is my team. Guzan has been great in goal... doesn't have the best defense in front of him either. He is keeping Aston Villa out of the relegation zone though.. Go Guzan!

I watched that Aston Villa/QPR match this weekend and Guzan was great. You are right about AV's backline - they are awful. If they stay up this, and I hope they do, it may be because of Guzan. Guys on Fox Soccer said this weekend that staying in the Premier League would give AV 100 million pounds and they would owe a big hug to Guzan.

That picture above was his best save of that match. He made another great one as well. I hope he plays well for the US. He is still young so he will still have time left in his career when Howard is done.

As for your signature, that's an awful photo. I am a Chelsea fan and I know EXACTLY where you got that one from. Chelsea made a good comeback in that FA Cup match. If De Gea had not had saved that, Chelsea moves on. Instead, they may end up playing 4 matches in one week. Brutal.

[gamecockphan]

Brad has looked better than Howard this season.

[USC-Hokie]

Originally Posted by gamecockphan

Brad has looked better than Howard this season.

This. I follow three things in BPL.
1. City
2. Everton
3. Brad Guzan

He has looked outstanding on an awful team this year. He has had hard luck with the guys before him but def. deserves that spot over Shay Given now. He commands the box every bit as well as Howard does and is taller which I appreciate in a keeper. Excited to see how he does.

[tkousc]

I lived in the Roost in 2004 with Brad and the whole soccer team. That 1-0 win we had in 04 or 05 against Clemson we were probably outshot 5 to 1. He had an amazing game. I'd take him for my Gunners right now. Gotta to beat Costa Rica or we are in trouble.

[uscjeremynca]

Originally Posted by tkousc

I lived in the Roost in 2004 with Brad and the whole soccer team. That 1-0 win we had in 04 or 05 against Clemson we were probably outshot 5 to 1. He had an amazing game. I'd take him for my Gunners right now. Gotta to beat Costa Rica or we are in trouble.

If we don't beat Costa Rica at home on Friday, I don't think we will qualify. We might but it would be REALLY tough.

If we don't beat Costa Rica at home, we don't deserve to qualify. Our backline is VERY questionable right now. Guzan will have to step up and play well.