The Kansas City Star this morning has quotes from Peter Vermes that confirm my thoughts that I posted last night about Kevin Hartman. According to the article from the Star, Vermes basically said that Hartman no long figures in the team's plans. It sounds like a bitter ending for a keeper that started every league game over his 3 years with the team, in all competitions, Hartman didn't play in only 4 games (all Open Cup) over that time frame. By the sounds of the article, the Wizards did indeed offer Hartman a new contract, which means that the team will hold his MLS rights for the next two years. That is, unless what appears to be the final sticking point in the current collective bargaining agreement negotiations go the way of the players and they get some form of free agency within MLS.
I'm not totally happy about this. I'm willing to give Jimmy Nielsen a chance, but this move seems like lateral movement. From everything I've seen, Nielsen has the same issues controlling his box in the air as Hartman did. He also couldn't help keep a team from being relegated from the Danish top division. All the highlights I've found of him are from his time with Aalborg, which was a few years ago now. Granted he is hitting the prime of his goalkeeping career, but with the number of keepers that the US seems to produce I'm not a fan of using a foreign slot on a keeper.
Friday, February 12, 2010
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8 comments:
Right on Mike. Well said. Again, the experience factor is big in a league as transient as MLS. Hartman was calm, cool, and professional.
Without Hartman and Lopez our experience factor takes a big hit and I say it costs us. I don't want it to, but it will in some way.
Finally, it would have been nice for KC to give Kevin a proper thanky you and farewell. From a fan perspective this sucks. I have a little 7 year old boy who thinks Kevin and Claudio were great. He does'nt get it.
Trust me, Jimmy Nielsen on goal is one big step up compared to your previous keeper. He has got plenty of experience, from Danish, English and European games. If he can control his gambling addiction while he is in the states, he will be one of your best players...Just do not let him near a casino:)
I agree with almost everything Mike, except faulting him for being relegated. If you play behind a poor team there is not much a GK can do to keep a team up. Peter Shilton, David Seaman, Casey Keller.
Anon -- Jimmy never, played in england, although he certainly did fail there. Two clubs, 0 games. Get your facts even slightly straight.
I'm guessing the Wizards are spending their money and effort on offense this year. Offer the older (but still quite good) keeper less money and get a more aggressive offense.
Concentrate on scoring. I like Lopez also, but he might not be a good mix with the playing style this year. The Wizards look like they are going to storm the goal this year - not the patient set up like last year.
It's always a bit of a let down when a player leaves; especially a guy who was a highlight in a dismal year. But that comes with the pro ball territory. I hope he gets on somewhere else and continues.
"Granted he is hitting the prime of his goalkeeping career, but with the number of keepers that the US seems to produce I'm not a fan of using a foreign slot on a keeper. "
AGREED
Kamara, Lopez or Hartman.. If I was given the choice of 1 to resign I think I would have done the same thing that the FO apparenlty did. Though I am sure this isnt/wasnt the issue/how it was decided.
Anon - so what exactly IS his experience in English football again? Zero appearances in either of his stops at English clubs, and a contract that was voided by mutual consent at the most recent? That's something to hang your hat on....
A 32-year-old keeper with evidence of a poor work ethic and a gambling addiction is NOT a step up from a 36-year-old keeper who holds a number of league records.
wasn't hartman our team defender of the year? and i don't recall goalkeeping being our issue...-i read that kc is getting this keeper for more than what hartman stood to make this year -it really sucks on kc's part to leave him out in the cold with no team - not a class act in my book and for all kevin's done he deserves better - i wish him the best and thank him for his time here!
Anon, by the fact that you say previous keeper instead of saying Hartman points to the fact that you have zero clue who our previous keeper was and you know zero about him.
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