In an interesting interview with Fulham goalkeeper Kasey Keller, US SoccerPlayers.com talks to Keller about his life in London which he calls his second home. He speaks about his frustrating injury, his time with Lawrie Sanchez as well as his new manager Roy Hodgson. He also laments the quick out of the U.S. World Cup team and what the future may hold for him. He’s also questioned about the newest American to come to Fulham.
Yes, it’s a wide ranging interview.
On London:
I’ve had a great life in London over three different teams now, in three different regions of London, so I feel very comfortable now in this city – this is really my second home.
On the Americans at Fulham:
Fulham is a very friendly club, and the American guys have taken to it very well. The fans have taken to the American players, to Brian obviously, and Carlos [Bocanegra] starting it off, and Clint [Dempsey] coming in and scoring a good goal to keep them up last year. So I think there’s a good affection, and I think because of that there are a lot of American ex-pats in London who have really taken to Fulham as their club.
On Eddie Johnson:
I’ve talked to Eddie lots of different times throughout his National Team career about the possibility of coming here, and I’m just glad it’s finally happened and that the work permit came through. Now it’s just up to him to prove that he’s the player Fulham hopes he is, and that he hopes he is. The opportunity’s now here for Eddie, and it’s one I’m sure he’ll take with both hands.
great interview, guys. Thanks for keeping us in the know.
Heh — I’m just happy someone else (besides me) is still harboring bad feelings about that bs penalty in the US-Ghana game. I remember thinking at the time that the ref was trying to get back at us for the whole Iraq thing. I still wonder…
The most sensible thing I’ve seen said about the Sanchez regime from a player:
USSoccerPlayers: There were reports that some players were unhappy with Sanchez’s training and disciplinary methods. What’s your view on that?
Keller: Oh I don’t know, at every club you’re going to have people who like the manager and people who don’t like the manager. Some people see a new manager as a new chance, and some see it as a chance gone, so it depends on who you talk to.
Which strikes me as being about right.
Rich, from what I’ve seen he was in the minority. Don’t remember where I read it but they claimed he had even lost the N. Ireland players. Keller has always been very laid back in his approach like that. He didn’t sound too excited about Hodgson either.
bkdunn, and if the ref was trying to get back at us for the Iraq thing who could blame him? But yes, it was a bogus call. We did receive some bad breaks, some bad management decisions by Bruce Arena and some horrible defense.
I was talking to a former MLS player recently, and they said that Bruce just loved Reyna and played him in situations and positions on the field that he had no business playing him anymore.
But this is a whole other discussion for another forum. So back to all things Fulham!
Oh right, didn’t know that. McBride said something positive in the programme about how popular Lawrie had been so I figured it was mixed as Keller suggests. But we heard around the time that he’d lost the dressing room, didn’t we, so I guess that tells its own tale.
bqf — Er, yes, I think it’s fair to hold a ref in lower regard if he punished the USMNT because of Iraq. I mean, the invasion wasn’t exactly Gooch’s call.