It is the sole purpose of this blog (outside of cheap entertainment) is to localize world footballing events. Meaning, when something happens that does not concern Toronto FC, it is my duty to find out how it might.
Manchester United winning the Carling Cup at Wembley Stadium on Sunday in no way concerns TFC. But the manner in which the Cup was raised, does.
On a field that included current FIFA Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo, the age-defying Ryan Giggs and two English monolith managers on the touchline, it was goalkeeper Ben Foster who stole the show. The DayGlo understudy of the incumbent Edwin van der Sar seized the day and cemented what many inside the United training ground already know: Foster is a back-up by circumstance only.
Van der Sar has experience and a resume as long as the Dutchman's wingspan is wide. But on Sunday in front of a announced crowd of 88,000-plus Foster penned the first line of what looks to be a resume ready to challenge the No. 1 job at more than just the club level. To cite Daniel Taylor of The Guardian: Ferguson now knows that Foster also has the mentality for the big occasion. His catching was immaculate, his punching was decisive and, when it came to Tottenham's best chances, it was Foster's quick reflexes that denied ...
Now, on to the localizing. If Van der Sar is to Toronto FC's Greg Sutton is Stefan Frei to Foster? I acknowledge the presence of second-year shot-stopper Brian Edwards too, but in all honesty, the sophomore has failed to blip on the tri-keeper radar this offseason.
Anyone who tuned in to the Footy Show on Sunday morning heard TFC talisman Danny Dichio laud Frei as the top player at training in Florida. Not the more-established Dwayne De Rosario, Rohan Ricketts or Chad Barrett.
(As an aside, yet an interesting one, Frei lists van der Sar as the player he'd most like to face in a game.)
Frei has been a regular in the local lexicon since Mo Johnston got lucky and ordered Frei at No. 13 in the '09 MLS SuperDraft. A collegiate standout with international experience at the U15 level, the Swiss-born 'keeper has the chops to supplant Sutton and stake claim to a job neither Sutton nor Edwards held with both hands in 2008.
John Carver has mused on several occasions that three goalkeepers in camp is a blessing, as it creates a competitive glove triangle.
"I have seen a great competitiveness," Carver said of the situation in camp. "If people are comfortable and not pushed then they tend to relax a little bit."
One of those aforementioned monoliths of English management, Sir Alex Ferguson, had the confidence to put an unheralded goalkeeper ahead of a No. 1 in a Cup final at Wembley.
Carver (minus the Cup final) has shown he has the moxy to do the same.
