Fresh off the first week of MLS action, ISN columnist Philippe Chauveau continues his rating of MLS goalkeepers. Chauveau, a former collegiate keeper himself, will be completing this weekly column so ISN readers gain a better understanding of the goalkeeping profession.
Biggest Mover – UP: Andre Blake – 8th to 4th
Biggest Mover – DOWN: Andrew Dykstra – 16th to 20th
Best Save: Evan Bush vs NY Red Bulls’ Bradley Wright-Phillips
Worst Mistake: Tyler Miller* vs Real Salt Lake’s Jamison Olave
*He’s not in the rankings individually, but is mentioned on Stefan Frei’s entry.
1. David Bingham – No change
Bingham once again looked confident in the matchup with the MLS Cup champions. Even though he did look a little more on edge, it did rain a good amount in San Jose, and he opted to punch a couple of balls that he should have caught. However, he made at least two saves where he came off his line extremely quickly, and the same thing happened on Jack McInerney’s lone goal for the Timbers – he just couldn’t get a hand to that before McInerney got there. Still No.1 in these rankings though.
2. Luis Robles – No Change
Yes the Red Bulls lost 3 x 0, but if anyone watched this game you know that if it weren’t for Luis’ heroics, it could have been more. At least two signature Robles reflex saves get his team in the game until very late. Also, Gideon Baah has shown that he isn’t bulletproof with a couple of costle mistakes in the back.
3. Adam Kwarasey – No change
Quincy Amarikwa scored the goal of the season as he chipped Kwarasey. Do I expect Kwarasey to save that? Not even a little bit – but I do expect to a look a little less helpless. He barely got off the ground, and he is looking more and more like a heavy goalie who will save anything around his arm length, but has a hard time when scrambling for high shots and crosses. Evidence of that is an excellent save on a Chris Wondowloski low shot – In the rain, with a wet surface, an extremely strong hand is needed to keep those out, and Kwarasey did very well to parry it to the side. Not flashy, but extremely difficult.
4. Andre Blake – Up 4
The best performance of the round goes to the Jamaican out of Philadelphia. Columbus Crew SC is known for being an offensive team, especially at home. He dealt with that pressure extremely well and showed his incomparable athleticism as he saved a Cedrick Mabwati shot from inside the box. Blake is looking like a legit contender for the top spot – and he’ll see a lot of shots too.
5. David Ousted – Down 1
Ousted again looked like a shade of his 2015 self. Nothing too bad or spectacular, but he almost made a bad mistake as he waited for the ball to cross the 18 yard box line and almost got chipped and rounded by Dom Dwyer.
6. Jesse Gonzalez – Down 1
Dallas got absolutely ripped apart by Houston. The game was 4 x 0 before the 30 minute mark. One goal did stand out though, and it was Matt Hedges’ own goal. The communication needs to be better, that’s for sure, and Gonzalez has shown he is usually good at that, especially for a 20 year old – but this time the blame is on Hedges. Gonzalez is coming out to grab the ball with his hands since it was a deflection, Hedges needs to have that awareness. Also, never pass the ball back to the goalie on frame, because a bad touch or lack thereof becomes fatal.
7. Nick Rimando – No change
Good ol’ Nick and his tendency to overcomplicate what should be rather straightforward saves. I think that this is due to his size. Because he is 5’9, he has to find other ways of saving shots that would be within the reach of taller goalkeepers, and he’s made a living out of it. Yet, on shots like Seattle’s first goal, that header could probably have been parried with both hands and without the need for leaving his feet. He did a poor job parrying that ball right back into the box, and RSL was down one. Later on in the match, he had a couple of good one on one and reaction saves, and his communication skills are invaluable for the RSL backline.
8. Bobby Shuttleworth – Up 1
A little bit of a shaky effort, but Shuttleworth does enough to keep his team in games. Still lacking on crosses, a couple of good reflex saves were good enough to qualify his game as a good performance.
9. Tim Melia – Up 3
He isn’t quite the most inspiring goalkeeper between the sticks, but he has been getting the job done. He looked completely in control and confident in the first half, cutting down the angle aggressively on Vancouver’s strickers. However, sometimes being too aggressive leads to mistakes – he committed a PK on the edge of the box on a ball that he did not need to come out to get.
10. Josh Saunders – No change
Saunders again made many savings in the NYCFC goal, but this time he let Giovinco get the best of him with a less than stellar effort. That’s weird to say because Giovinco is usually good for a laser of a shot anywhere within 25 yards of the goal, but his shot was low and basically in the center of the goal. Saveable to say the least, especially for a goalkeeper quick on his feet like Saunders.
11. Evan Bush – Up 3
Bush is still displaying an unnerving inability and unwillingness to come out on crosses, but he is also showing to be a much better one on one goalie than anticipated. He made a save with his face on a one on one against the Red Bulls, and that’s getting him to move up a few spots. Those hurt, A LOT, and Bush is getting rewarded for putting his face, and not just his body, on the line.
12. Stefan Frei – Down 1
Downgraded from the starting lineup after that huge mistake in the opening weekend, he watched from the bench as his replacement, Tyler Miller, made an even worse mistake by getting beat to a lofted ball inside the six yard box by Jamison Olave.
13. Steve Clark – No Change
Clark once again had a lackluster showing. Another Columbus defensive breakdown was the cause of the first goal, and I believe he should have gotten a hand to Chris Pontius’ low near post effort – mostly because it really wasn’t that close to the corner, it was almost in the middle of the goal.
14. Clint Irwin – Up 1
See Steve Clark – lackluster. Irwin looks lost sometimes in goal for Toronto, but he benefits from a couple of new goalkeepers entering the rankings to move up a spot.
15. Brian Rowe – New
In his first full game for LA, Rowe did well to hold his own. A couple of good near post saves(its easy to be lazy and cheat to the other side, and get embarrassed on your near post) and perfect positioning on crosses has him start above a few of the goalies already on the list.
16. Zac MacMath – Up 3
Did very little in Colorado’s win over the Galaxy, but he did look more comfortable than last weekend’s game against San Jose – it would be very hard for him to look less comfortable, his first game was a disaster.
17. Joe Willis – New
This was Willis’ second start in as many games, for the still injured Tyler Deric. Houston was on the offensive all game, and Dallas never really threatened Willis’ goal – not many chances to show why he deserves a higher spot.
18. Joe Bendik – Down 1
A long ball is played in between the 18 yard box and the midfield line. Centerback expect the goalie to come out, and goalie doesn’t. Center Back starts running late against a speedy attacker. It’s like the perfect recipe for disaster. Not only did Bendik not communicate, but he needs to be on his toes and get to that ball before anyone else, he definitely had enough time.
19. Matt Lampson – Up 1
This time, Lampson did not contributed directly to Chicago’s result. Nothing great, but nothing horrendous – a definite step up from opening weekend.
20. Andrew Dykstra – Down 4
He was demoted to the bench after a terrible first game. It could be the motivation he needs to recover some of the form he had last year when he covered for Hamid for 10 games.
