Howard sounds off on criticism of U.S. defense

Tim Howard has heard the criticism. He knows that there is a segment of U.S. soccer fans and media that have criticized the U.S. national team's starting center back tandem of Carlos Bocanegra and Oguchi Onyewu. He knows it is out there and considers it misguided.

The U.S. goalkeeper and former MetroStar has never been shy about expressing his opinion. Last weekend he spoke to SBI and sounded off about the criticism of Bocanegra and Onyewu and he even giving his take on the Jozy Altidore Fever striking U.S. fans everywhere.

Here is what Howard had to say:

On criticism of Bocanegra and Onyewu:

“I hear and I see all the same criticisms and I just think it’s a case of the grass always being greener,” Howard said. “You hear people say, ‘Play Jay DeMerit. Play Jimmy Conrad. Play Michael Parkhurst. They’re all good players. I’ve played with them and like them all, but you know what? If it was Gooch and Michael Parkhurst or Conrad and DeMerit, they’d be saying the same things. ‘Play this guy, play that guy.’ ”

“The one thing I took from the Gold Cup was that you just have to take this stuff with a grain of salt,” Howard said. “People were killing Carlos and killing Gooch but when you looked at our games from the China game to Mexico, our goals-against average was something like four goals in seven games.

“You’ve got to be doing something right there,” Howard said. “Now, if we were bleeding goals and giving up three goals a game then I’d say, ‘Yeah, you’ve got a point,’ but come on. I don’t see where the issue is. Do I think we all need to get better? Do I have some things to work on? Do they have some things to work on? Of course we do, but everyone does.

"I don’t see it and I think it’s just nitpicking,” Howard said. “I think it’s easy because it’s a new cycle and playing different players. Bob doesn’t have McBride, Claudio and Eddie Pope to just plug in. It was easy then. This is new and it’s going to take time. We can’t be bothered by all that stuff.”

On suggestions that Bob Bradley has not given a fair shake to some top players:

We have got the best players in America right now,’ Howard said. “There’s not better players out there so I don’t know where the problem lies.”

On general criticism of national team players:

“I’m sure that the same issues aome have with Gooch, me, Carlos Bocanegra or Landon Donovan they had the first time we stepped on the field but they just chose not to see it,” Howard said. “You’re telling me the first year (with the national team) Gooch didn’t probably get some yellow cards for physical play? Of course he did, but you know what people chalked that up to? ‘Oh, he’s a tough and physical person,’ but now it’s an issue.”

On growing sentiment that 17-year-old Red Bulls forward should be called into the national team:

“Of course (Altidore) is the new flavor of the month because he hasn’t played yet,” Howard said. “(People say) ‘Why isn’t he here? We’ve got no striking options.’ Give Jozy his first cap now and I can fast-forward three years from now and you’ll be hearing, ‘Oh, this guy is terrible.’ That’s just how it is though and it’s nothing new.”

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I have yet to get word on Howard's status for this weekend's match-up between Everton and his former club, Manchester United. Unless examinations turn up a broken finger you can expect Howard to play through the pain. Not because he will face his former team, but because his team needs a result.

"Honestly I don't want to beat Manchester United any more than any other club because I played there," Howard said. "I want to beat them because it is an accomplishment and not something many teams in the league can do."

Here's an interesting take on Howard's injury from former Everton goalkeeper Nigel Martyn.

So what do you think of Howard's comments? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[markspence02]

"Though I have never dislocated a finger like Tim has done, I have – if you pardon the expression – had plenty of balls fly into my hand, which have subsequently popped the joint. And yes, it is as painful as it sounds." - Nigel Martyn

I don't think even the Pope can pardon this expression.

[Jason]

props for tim howard defending bb, gooch, boca, and the rest of the team.

[Gilbert]

Keep speaking the truth, Timmy.

[sublicon]

who can argue with that? nobody...spectators and critics, that's all a lot of these fools are. i think a lot of times, even we have to take things with a grain of salt, and we don't.

oh well.

[tfina]

I don't think Conrad or DeMerit or any otf the rest right now are any better than Gooch or Boca. That said, I'm not comfortable at all with the pairing going forward against non-CONCACAF teams. Sadly, there is a dearth of WC quality experienced central defenders in the US player pool

and shouldn't this pic be in your "Caption This"?

[fcphillyboy19]

His willingness to speak up and defend his teammates (whether right or wrong) demonstrates a leader that the US needs right now.

overall, im impressed by Tim and think that in time, he will leave a stronger legacy than Keller and Friedel, two great US goalkeepers.

[Derek]

Brad arrives to bash Gooch in 3...2...1...

[Nick]

I'm a huge T-Ho fan and I feel that if there is anyone out there that can comment on our center backs it is the guy that has to have their support all game long and not some guy that comments on message boards. If he feels confident that they are the best we have and they will help him keep goals out of the net better than anyone else you have to believe him. Respect.

[Ryan]

Doesn't criticism of the national team just mean that we have passionate fans who want to see victories? It's not as if anyone is rooting against Gooch or Boca, at least not that I see.

[jtk]

smart guy ... but i still say call up altidore! :-)

[Tony M]

Nothing earth shattering – but that is often the case with rational judgments. Still, I don’t think he has a grasp of how good Josy has looked. He is hardly a flavor of the month. Nor do I think the desire to see him play for the Nats is irrational. In fact, it’s the opposite – many of us want to see him get as much seasoning as possible to prepare him for 2010. At least that’s the case with me. It isn’t impatience. It’s a long term view.

[Adam]

did anybody expect he would say anything different than this?

[Tyler]

I'm just glad we have options in the backline. And I hope all the Jozy supports dont backslide if he turns out like Eddie Johnson.

[Nick]

@Adam: It's not that I would expect him to say something different than this, because he isn't going to bash his teammates no matter what he thinks, but if he believed they weren't meant to play, I don't think he would have said anything at all.

[LAJames]

Tyler:

I don't see that happening seeing as how he is already a more complete player than Johnson at such a ripe young age. I can say with certainty that if you put Jozy in for 3 or 4 friendlies he wouldn't get blanked as Johnson has.

[ct]

I don't think anyone is saying those players flat-out suck, I just have massive issues with Gooch being a lock to start every game back there. His play has not warranted that, regardless of what Tim Howard thinks.

Yeah, we played great against Trinidad & Tobago's B team, that proves Gooch is an untouchable superstud.

[Eric]

I feel that Tim has addressed what I call the "BigSoccer Syndrome" that a segment of USMNT fans ascribe to, i.e."this or that player is a better option than the one playing at the moment."Yeah, Tim's not going to bash his players in the media, yet, its refreshing to actually hear from a player who has to play in front of these two. Now, having said that, the fact that these two maybe the best we can offer at this position, doesn't bode well for us vs. the stronger sides from Europe or South America.

I think all of us are passionate about wanting the 'Nats to succeed - it's just a matter of whether we let our passion get in the way, and shed more heat than light, which, in my opinion, happens too often on many internet sites devoted to soccer in the U.S., this board having some of the more intelligent commentors around, and the exception to the rule.

[eastlachiva]

Is bashing the same as criticizing?

How many chances do you get before someone else takes your place?

Be real Tim, we love to see grit and effort, but will not accept token measures that never improve the quality of play. Gooch needs to step aside and let someone else try. If he sucks too, then we'll expect a crap defense. If there is an imporvement, then Gooch should try harder to win his place back.

Gooch needs to reference Maldini, R.Carlos, and C.Puyol.

[inkedAG]

Tim Howard: The King of East Rutherford!!!

[andy b.]

Ives-
Does Tim read the blog or what? I've agreed with your comments to this effect in that past (despite being guilty of the sort of criticisms Howard complains about) and I'm glad to hear a member of the team step up and say it.
Interesting to me is that Howard himself is, in my mind, another great example of a player we US fans have been guilty of 'writing off' prematurely in the past. Remember back when he started riding the pine at Man U? All the talk was that he was all skill, no positioning or smarts, and he'd never become a true #1 keeper. Suddenly this season he's back and looking fantastic in the early going. Patience, people. Patience.

[George H.]

Howard stinks...the USMNT would be so much better with Guzan in the nets!

;)

[DMee]

T-ho. Who ever came up with that one is brilliant. I'm not sure why T-ho is lumping gooch and boca together. Boca is a proven player who had a bad run recently, but is coming back into form. I have complete confidence in him and conrad back there. The gooch is another story. He wasn't good in WC 06 and hasn't done anything since. Did anyone see him play a game at Newcastle?? It's not new that people are criticizing him. I just want BB to give DeMerrit/Parkhurst/Simik a look rather then having to put up with the atrocity that is Gooch 100% of the time. Why couldn't we have seen someone come in for Gooch the second half of Brasil? That's what's most frustrating to me.

As for Jozy, people who say he's going to be awesome on the full national side need to settle. The kid will play when he's ready.

[CD]

Gooch is not progressing at the club level I don't think he is worthy of a lock on the national team. In my opinion Jay DeMerrit should be playing in that spot. The best I can tell Gooch keeps getting the opportunity because of his size.

It is great to see a European Club with Champions League aspirations seriously concerned about the health of a US National Team player. Congratulations Tim Howard for earning such high accolades from the discerning football fans in Northern England.

[Lloyd Heilbrunn]

Two different issues here:

1.Are Gooch and Boca actually playing well against good teams??

2.Do we have anyone better??

Tim seems to be assuming 1 because of 2. Some watching the games disagree.....

[jkr]

i guess the goals allowed average was pretty good from china to mexico. but, then again we were not playing top shelf teams (other than mexico). the real problem: ussoccer not sceduling more matches with top 20 teams OUTSIDE the usa.