On the Record
Here's What People Are Saying About Brad Guzan
The Aston Villa goalkeeper turns 30 today, and ASN has a present for him: We asked ASN contributor Laura Greene to give Guzan the On the Record treatment, and she graciously obliged.
THREE GAMES IN and the new Premier League season has started well for Brad Guzan and Aston Villa.
One goal conceded and seven points on the board sees the Villans sitting third in the top-flight. So far, so good for the team that many predicted would get relegated this term.
On the international scene, the six-foot-four Guzan looks poised to become first-choice goalkeeper for the U.S.—assuming Jurgen Klinsmann opts for him over 35-year-old Nick Rimando—and given Tim Howard’s decision to take a one-year hiatus from international football.
Guzan, 30, has become the undisputed first pick for Villa, where he is respected by the side’s fans and no doubt coveted by those of other top-flight teams. But it wasn’t an easy route to becoming No. 1 at the Midlands club.
Back in 2008, rumors linked the Illinois native with a move to Europe. Aston Villa had tried to sign Guzan from Chivas USA in January of that year and, after he obtained a work permit, the club got its man seven months later.
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“I would love to sign for Villa," Guzan told The Guardian shortly before signing. "When I was there in January for a few days it was an absolutely brilliant time. Great people, great facilities and I couldn't say one bad thing about it. It looks like exciting times at Villa and I would love to play for Martin O'Neill. It is about the whole way he carries himself as a manager. To have a guy like Martin O'Neill saying good things about you, it makes you feel good as a player.”
Brought in as backup for fellow American stopper Brad Friedel, Guzan played a minor role in his first season at the club. Apart from a 26-minute substitute appearance in a 5-0 defeat against Liverpool, Guzan did not make it off the bench in a Premier League match. He did play in five UEFA Cup games, one FA Cup contest, and one League Cup match.
The 2009-10 season offered a similar level of opportunity. Guzan did not play a single minute in the Premier League but he did have two bows in Europa League qualifiers plus three FA Cup and five League Cup showings. It was in the latter that Guzan impressed, where he played a huge role in getting Villa to the League Cup Final against Manchester United. Stinging rejection followed, however, when he was dropped in favor of Friedel for the 2-1 defeat at Wembley.
And yes, getting benched after helping his team reach the final bothered him—big time.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to deny I wasn't pissed [off] because I was beyond pissed. But you use those tough times to make you stronger and it's how you respond to difficult times that makes you the person and, ultimately, the player you are,” Guzan later told Goal.com.
For the U.S. men’s national team, Guzan played in three international friendlies—against Slovakia, Denmark, and the Czech Republic—and traveled to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup that summer as Howard’s deputy.
Managerial changes at Villa Park saw Gerard Houllier take over from O’Neill in September 2010. With Guzan unable to break into the first team, he was shipped out on loan to Championship side Hull City, where he made 16 appearances in the English second tier.
“That was my first chance to play consistently in this country so my time up there will always be special to me,” Guzan told the Birmingham Mail in 2013. “It really helped me as a goalkeeper and as a professional to have that taste of first-team football.”
Houllier left the club after just nine months in charge due to health reasons and Guzan started to look even further from the first team when—despite Friedel’s exit to Tottenham Hotspur—incoming manager Alex McLeish brought in Republic of Ireland and former Blackburn, Newcastle and Manchester City keeper Shay Given in July 2011.
As Bazdavies wrote on fan forum Villa Talk at the time, “He's [Guzan] always looked terrible on the few occasions I've seen him. Doesn't like crosses, poor decision making.”
Czechlad added, “Guzan is a good keeper but sitting on the bench really isn't helping him. He has his flaws but he also has some really good attributes. He is an excellent shot stopper, but he is bad at crosses. He needs to be consistently playing to improve his game. I hope we can either loan him or play him in our cup matches again because I would like to see him given a shot at goal.”
Over the course of seven Premier League games, Guzan received a brief opportunity to show what he could do when Given was out with a hamstring injury midway through the 2011-12 season.
As LockStockVilla wrote on Villa Talk in December 2011, “Still early days, but Guzan has certainly has proven himself over the past couple of weeks.”
On January 12—two days after Given had resumed his place between the sticks, with Guzan back on the Villa bench—Stonejh88 commented on ESPN Soccer, “You'd think clubs would see his talent and give him a shot somewhere. There has got to be a Euro team that is lacking some good keeping! He may have to leave the Prem. to get some decent playing time, Given is just too good to give up his starting spot.”
Guzan spent the rest of the season watching from the sidelines and by the end of the campaign, he and agent Richard Motzkin decided not to extend his soon-to-be-ending contract at Villa Park.
Motzkin reflected on his client’s situation with Ravi Ubha in the New York Times in 2013: “It had been multiple years that Brad didn’t have the chance to play game in, game out, which obviously takes its toll. For a keeper it’s particularly difficult.”
On May 23, 2012 Aston Villa’s official website announced that Guzan would be leaving the club. According to Stuart James in The Guardian, “Guzan had already cleared his locker, bid farewell to his teammates, and was back in the United States wondering what the future held.”
As AVFCforever1981 wrote on Villa Talk on May 24, 2012, “I still think we should give him first-team football. Really do rate him.”
By June 2 Villa had yet another new manager in Paul Lambert, replacing McLeish who was sacked on the final day of the season. Guzan had another chance.
“For me this was a big point in my career, the national team picture was starting to fade away, I hadn't played consistent club football for four years, so that [journey] was the least I could have done to give myself the best chance to make the right decision. At the meeting the manager said to me: 'Listen, everyone starts fresh. I don't make the decisions, the players do in terms of performances.' All things considered, I felt I could give it a real go," Guzan told The Guardian.
Villa Talk user PieFace sounded less than enthused, “Guzan has always looked very average to me. I really hope he is willing to sit on the bench. Welcome back all the same.”
After two games of the 2012-13 season Lambert dropped Given and gave Guzan an opportunity to show what he could do. He rose to the challenge and remained between the sticks for the rest of the season, playing every minute of every game.
In March 2013, Pelle typed on Villa Talk, “Guzan, for me, has been the most consistent player of the season. And at a very high level. There's no contest for me."
Lambert was equally impressed. As he told the Birmingham Post, “He’s been absolutely colossal for the football club. I wouldn’t swap him. He’s a really good guy as well, which is important, he’s always bubbly and is a good character.”
“I would love to sign for Villa," Guzan told The Guardian shortly before signing. "When I was there in January for a few days it was an absolutely brilliant time. Great people, great facilities and I couldn't say one bad thing about it. It looks like exciting times at Villa and I would love to play for Martin O'Neill. It is about the whole way he carries himself as a manager. To have a guy like Martin O'Neill saying good things about you, it makes you feel good as a player.”
Brought in as backup for fellow American stopper Brad Friedel, Guzan played a minor role in his first season at the club. Apart from a 26-minute substitute appearance in a 5-0 defeat against Liverpool, Guzan did not make it off the bench in a Premier League match. He did play in five UEFA Cup games, one FA Cup contest, and one League Cup match.
The 2009-10 season offered a similar level of opportunity. Guzan did not play a single minute in the Premier League but he did have two bows in Europa League qualifiers plus three FA Cup and five League Cup showings. It was in the latter that Guzan impressed, where he played a huge role in getting Villa to the League Cup Final against Manchester United. Stinging rejection followed, however, when he was dropped in favor of Friedel for the 2-1 defeat at Wembley.
And yes, getting benched after helping his team reach the final bothered him—big time.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to deny I wasn't pissed [off] because I was beyond pissed. But you use those tough times to make you stronger and it's how you respond to difficult times that makes you the person and, ultimately, the player you are,” Guzan later told Goal.com.
For the U.S. men’s national team, Guzan played in three international friendlies—against Slovakia, Denmark, and the Czech Republic—and traveled to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup that summer as Howard’s deputy.
Managerial changes at Villa Park saw Gerard Houllier take over from O’Neill in September 2010. With Guzan unable to break into the first team, he was shipped out on loan to Championship side Hull City, where he made 16 appearances in the English second tier.
“That was my first chance to play consistently in this country so my time up there will always be special to me,” Guzan told the Birmingham Mail in 2013. “It really helped me as a goalkeeper and as a professional to have that taste of first-team football.”
Houllier left the club after just nine months in charge due to health reasons and Guzan started to look even further from the first team when—despite Friedel’s exit to Tottenham Hotspur—incoming manager Alex McLeish brought in Republic of Ireland and former Blackburn, Newcastle and Manchester City keeper Shay Given in July 2011.
As Bazdavies wrote on fan forum Villa Talk at the time, “He's [Guzan] always looked terrible on the few occasions I've seen him. Doesn't like crosses, poor decision making.”
Czechlad added, “Guzan is a good keeper but sitting on the bench really isn't helping him. He has his flaws but he also has some really good attributes. He is an excellent shot stopper, but he is bad at crosses. He needs to be consistently playing to improve his game. I hope we can either loan him or play him in our cup matches again because I would like to see him given a shot at goal.”
Over the course of seven Premier League games, Guzan received a brief opportunity to show what he could do when Given was out with a hamstring injury midway through the 2011-12 season.
As LockStockVilla wrote on Villa Talk in December 2011, “Still early days, but Guzan has certainly has proven himself over the past couple of weeks.”
On January 12—two days after Given had resumed his place between the sticks, with Guzan back on the Villa bench—Stonejh88 commented on ESPN Soccer, “You'd think clubs would see his talent and give him a shot somewhere. There has got to be a Euro team that is lacking some good keeping! He may have to leave the Prem. to get some decent playing time, Given is just too good to give up his starting spot.”
Guzan spent the rest of the season watching from the sidelines and by the end of the campaign, he and agent Richard Motzkin decided not to extend his soon-to-be-ending contract at Villa Park.
Motzkin reflected on his client’s situation with Ravi Ubha in the New York Times in 2013: “It had been multiple years that Brad didn’t have the chance to play game in, game out, which obviously takes its toll. For a keeper it’s particularly difficult.”
On May 23, 2012 Aston Villa’s official website announced that Guzan would be leaving the club. According to Stuart James in The Guardian, “Guzan had already cleared his locker, bid farewell to his teammates, and was back in the United States wondering what the future held.”
As AVFCforever1981 wrote on Villa Talk on May 24, 2012, “I still think we should give him first-team football. Really do rate him.”
By June 2 Villa had yet another new manager in Paul Lambert, replacing McLeish who was sacked on the final day of the season. Guzan had another chance.
“For me this was a big point in my career, the national team picture was starting to fade away, I hadn't played consistent club football for four years, so that [journey] was the least I could have done to give myself the best chance to make the right decision. At the meeting the manager said to me: 'Listen, everyone starts fresh. I don't make the decisions, the players do in terms of performances.' All things considered, I felt I could give it a real go," Guzan told The Guardian.
Villa Talk user PieFace sounded less than enthused, “Guzan has always looked very average to me. I really hope he is willing to sit on the bench. Welcome back all the same.”
After two games of the 2012-13 season Lambert dropped Given and gave Guzan an opportunity to show what he could do. He rose to the challenge and remained between the sticks for the rest of the season, playing every minute of every game.
In March 2013, Pelle typed on Villa Talk, “Guzan, for me, has been the most consistent player of the season. And at a very high level. There's no contest for me."
Lambert was equally impressed. As he told the Birmingham Post, “He’s been absolutely colossal for the football club. I wouldn’t swap him. He’s a really good guy as well, which is important, he’s always bubbly and is a good character.”
I think Brad Guzan is ready to start for the US this week. Crazy saves for Villa.
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) March 16, 2013.@bguzan now joins @friedel_b as the only #USMNT goalies to record a clean sheet against Mexico on Mexican soil in a World Cup qualifier.
— Over There (@socceroverthere) March 27, 2013Congratulations to @bguzan for being voted Aston Villa Player of the Year. It’s a huge compliment for a great season!
— Jürgen Klinsmann (@J_Klinsmann) May 8, 2013.@TimHowardGK is taking a #USMNT break (but not retiring!) until Sept. 2015 to spend more time with family. pic.twitter.com/ov5DriWTox
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) August 21, 2014Tim Howard has earned his break from the #usmnt, but reality is the starting job will be Brad Guzan's to lose next fall.
— Doug McIntyre (@DougMacESPN) August 21, 2014Whether he’s being humble or just purely exhausted, Tim Howard just told @dpshow he’d expect Brad Guzan to be #USA GK in 2018. Interesting.
— Avi Creditor (@AviCreditor) July 2, 2014We may not have @TimHowardGK in goal but we still have one heck of a beast in between the posts with @bguzan #USMNT #USAvCZE
— Eric Ulloa? (@ericulloa16) September 3, 2014Klinsmann on Rimando and Guzan: "They were both perfect" though he admitted Rimando "shined a bit more" due to more shots faced. #usmnt
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) September 3, 2014
