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Sunday People
UK
July 13, 2003 FOOTBALL: HOTLINE:
Fergie's Plea For Howard Sway Works TIM HOWARD will fly in from America in the next 48 hours for his Manchester United medical - after Sir Alex Ferguson's personal plea for a work permit to allow the Yank to join the champions.
I can reveal that Ferguson drove to Sheffield with club lawyer Maurice Watkins on Friday for the Department of Employment and Education hearing to make sure there were no hitches - and the move paid off as the New York MetroStars keeper was given the nod to begin his career with United.
The 24-year-old international will jet in tomorrow to tie up the formalities of his £1.8m move to the Premiership after a series of medical tests at United's £15m Carrington training complex and a nearby private hospital.
Howard, who suffers a mild form of the neurological disorder Tourette's Syndrome that causes occasional involuntary verbal outbursts and facial tics, is rated as one of the best up-and-coming keepers around.
Having scoured the world for a keeper who can become their undisputed No1, United plucked Howard from America's MSL after glowing reports from a series of scouting missions.
Strong, agile and quick, Howard is bigger than United's £8m World Cup winner Fabian Barthez and it is rumoured that the eccentric shaven-headed Frenchman will even start the season as No2 to the American youngster.
Barthez was axed by Fergie during the Premiership title run-in last season and replaced by Northern Ireland international Roy Carroll who kept goal for the final few games of the campaign.
Vote of confidence
Howard can be United's No. 1, says Ferguson
LONDON (AP) -- Newly-signed American goalkeeper Tim Howard has a "great chance" of winning the starting job at Manchester United, manager Alex Ferguson said Tuesday.
Howard, 24, was being officially unveiled by the Premier League champions Tuesday after passing a medical exam and signing a four-year contract.
Howard, of North Brunswick, New Jersey, joined Manchester United after six seasons with the MetroStars of Major League Soccer. The English club said it paid a fee of 2.3 million pounds (US$3.6 million) for Howard's transfer.
Howard becomes the third American goalkeeper in the Premier League, joining Kasey Keller of Tottenham and Brad Friedel of Blackburn.
"I am overjoyed to be signing for the best club in the world," Howard said.
Ferguson told The Associated Press he expects Howard will take over as the team's No. 1 goalkeeper ahead of incumbent Fabien Barthez.
"I think he has a great chance of being first choice," Ferguson said in a telephone interview. "The one thing you can never guarantee any footballer is his place in the team. They do that for themselves. But there is no question in my mind he's got the material to do that. I'm confident he will."
Barthez, the French national team 'keeper and Manchester United's starter for the past three years, fell out of favor after inconsistent performances last season.
Howard has made nine appearances for the U.S. national team, with three shutouts.
Howard's signing comes just days before Manchester United travels to the United States for a preseason tour, with games against Celtic in Seattle on July 22, Club America in Los Angeles on July 27, Juventus in New York on July 31, and Barcelona in Philadelphia on Aug. 3.
Ferguson said Howard will join the club in Seattle for training but probably won't make his first appearance until the Juventus game.
"Because he's been playing for the last three or four months, I'd rather give him a seven-day break," the manager said. "The emotions and the excitement of signing for United -- I think he should have a nice seven-day break."
Barthez will miss the U.S. tour after being given time off following the Confederations Cup in France.
Ferguson also confirmed the club is close to signing Brazilian star Ronaldinho from Paris St. Germain. Negotiations have been going on for weeks, with United reportedly offering between 16 million ($US26 million) and 19 million pounds ($US30 million).
"Ronaldinho is not far away," Ferguson said. "I would think the next two days we'll sort that out. We hope he's going to come. We're trying very hard to get that.
Ferguson also said Manchester United is exploring a deal for another Brazilian, Kleberson of Atletico Paranaense.
"Kleberson is something that's only a germ of an idea at the moment," he said.
Ferguson said Manchester United began monitoring Howard after goalkeeping coach Tony Coton spotted him during a U.S. trip two summers ago. Last year, club officials asked Howard to send them a video of his game performances.
"The coaches all sat there and watched it and we thought it was absolutely magnificent," Ferguson said. "The features of his game, the speed and his reflex action and his courage were there for everyone to see. Tim used to play basketball, so he's got some spring there, as well as agility and mobility and speed."
Howard was born with Tourette's syndrome, a neurological disorder that causes tics and abrupt, involuntary sounds and utterances. This angle has generated substantial interest in the English media, with one newspaper headline describing Howard as "disabled."
"Tourette's syndrome is not a problem," Howard told BBC radio. "It is part of my life. It doesn't affect me one way or another on or off the file. It is unfortunate people are not as educated as they should be but that's the way of the world."
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Tourette's Won't Be A Problem, Says United's New Keeper Manchester United's new goalkeeper Tim Howard has insisted Tourette's Syndrome, which he suffers from, doesn't effect him in anyway while he is playing.
The condition can cause uncontrollable muscle twitches and verbal outbursts, which are often obscene.
The American international is to be unveiled at Old Trafford at 1pm this afternoon after completing his move to the Premiership champions from Major League Soccer club MetroStars.
"Tourette's Syndrome is not a problem. It is part of my life," he told BBC Greater Manchester Radio.
"It doesn't affect me one way or another on or off the field.
"It is unfortunate people are not as educated as they should be but that's the way of the world.
"In the match it doesn't affect me. I need to keep the ball out of the net and it will never affect me doing that job.
"Maybe there are times off the ball but even then it is not much of a problem."
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