A Good Move For Howard?

Everton recently signed American goalkeeper Tim Howard to a 5 year deal. Howard started the season at Everton on loan from Manchester United. The terms of the deal weren't disclosed. Howard was purchased by ManUtd for £2.3 million in 2003. Will this turn out to be a good move by Howard? During his time at Manchester United he only made 45 appearances. And just when it looked as though Howard had won the job, Sir Alex brought Edwin Van der Sar into the team. A loan move to Everton this year seemed like a good move with Van der Sar holding down the #1 spot. Edwin will be 37 this October. How much longer can he continue to play at the level Manchester United needs and expects? SAF had to scramble to bring Kuszczak in on loan from West Brom to be his #2. It's not clear at this point if he's shown enough in training (after all, he's only made 3 appearances for Manchester United) to earn a permanent move, let alone be good enough to the team's #1in the future. Ben Foster, on loan at Watford this year, has shown a lot of promise. But it's hard to judge a goalkeeper playing for a team doing so poorly. Just a couple years ago Russel Hoult was being mentioned as an England national team player while playing for West Brom. But that talk looks like just that, talk. He wasn't good enough recently to be starting for WBA in the Championship (England's 2nd division) and went to Stoke on a free transfer during the winter transfer window. Ben Foster very well could go the way of Hoult or ex-ManUtd GK Roy Carroll (West Ham). SAF had left the door open for Howard. Is Tim passing up a chance to win back the #1 spot at Manchester United?