Always worth having a nosey in the lower leagues for keepers. With keepers not getting much match time at bigger clubs (just end up bench warming) they tend to go to lower league clubs more readily than outfield players. Westwood from Coventry is a good shout. You've got Loach (Watford), Camp (Forest), Schmeichel (sp? - Leeds), Lewis (Peterborough) all still young but experienced and talented. After all, Man City got Hart from Shrewsbury Town......
It's a bit unfair to compare Friedel's goals against with Gomes'. Villa's very good manager had left them and the wrong man was in charge. They were in transition whereas we were stable with Harry. With a good defence in front of him I think we may have made a good signing here. I would never feel safe with HG in goal again.
Although it's not a 'marquee signing' I still think it's a shrewd bit of business, any competition for Gomes has to be a good thing, even if we only get a year out of Brad.
No idea, to be honest. Possibly not, if Gomes is heading back to PSV, which is the rumour. Bringing in Loach as an understudy to Friedel, with Cudicini as back-up would probably work out very well, to be honest. He'd get games in the cup competitions and be working alongside two very experienced and well travelled goalkeepers.
I'm surprised that Arsenal wasn't in for Brad, since I think they need him more than we do. He's a top goal-keeper, and has produced some top quality saves in his time. We should be flattered that he wanted to come to us, when he has two very good keepers ahead of him.
Friedal obviously doesn't see himself as being the third or even second choice keeper here, or he wouldn't have joined. He's still up for the fight which is good. As he and Van Der Sar have proven this season, goalkeepers can go on long beyond 40. A good compilation of Friedal's saves this season here. http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/brad-friedel-201011-10184733/
