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Town Targeting Kuszczak Wednesday, 18th Apr 2012 11:44
Manchester United’s Tomasz Kuszczak is the man Paul Jewell is hoping to bring in as Town’s new number one for next season. The 30-year-old Pole is out of contract in the summer and is set to leave Old Trafford.
The Blues are desperately in need of a regular first choice keeper with loanees David Stockdale and Alex McCarthy both having been recalled early by Fulham and Reading respectively this season. Arran Lee-Barrett has another year on his current deal but is only viewed as a back-up, while Richard Wright would appear likely to move on when his contract is up at the end of June.
Town haven’t had an established number one since Wright came in for his second spell in 2008/09, a situation Jewell has said he intends to resolve this summer.
Born in Krosno Odrzańskie, Kuszczak played youth football with Śląsk Wrocław and German side Uerdingen before joining Hertha Berlin in 2000 and playing for their reserves side in the lower leagues but failing to make an appearance for their senior team.
In 2004 Gary Megson took him to West Brom where he attracted the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson, who brought him to Old Trafford in 2006 for a fee of £2.125 million, a deal which also saw young keeper Luke Steele and defender Paul McShane move in the opposite direction.
Kuszczak agreed a contract which would keep him with United for four years, an initial season on loan and then three further campaigns as a permanent signing.
The deputy to Edwin Van Der Sar for much of his time as a Red Devil, Kuszczak, who extended his contract until June 2012 in September 2008, has made only 61 appearances in his six years at Old Trafford, none this season.
In February, the 10-times-capped Polish international joined Watford on loan and so far has played 12 games for the Hornets, including the recent 2-1 defeat of the Blues at Vicarage Road. Kuszczak hopes his spell with Watford will give him a chance of making the Polish squad for Euro 2012.
Sir Alex Ferguson has already confirmed that Kuszczak will be leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season with his contract up and Town are unlikely to be the only interested party.
While at United the 6ft 3in tall keeper has won three Premier League winners’ medals as well as two League Cup, three Community Shield, one Champions League and one FIFA Club World Cup.
Photo: Action Images
Photo: Action Images
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Lowstblue, I'm not sure too many Watford fans rate Loach and Kuszczak has been there on loan and playing ahead of Loach, although I am to stand corrected if someone says he went there because of injury to Loach. ALB is also an Ipswich lad and whilst I rate him as a perfectly decent keeper I would prefer a better number one, confident that ALB plays at his best when he comes into the team, I'm not so sure that Loach is that much better than ALB.
Just seen on some Watford Forums this is being talked about too, also they're saying we would pay up to four times the amount they are prepared to offer him (don't know where they get the figures from) and it seems they rate him higher than Loach.
Chris_ITFC: in that clip you linked he made a couple of good saves. It also mentioned it was his first game, he'd probably be pretty rusty so I can fogive him an error.
LowstBlue: since when is 30 too old for a keeper? You fool.
Naa...thanks for your comment - but you miss the point.
We should be trying to build a side with more young, hungry players who want to prove themselves collectively (PJ's words not mine). Kuszczak is older, on Premier League wages, and was happy to warm the bench (he did after all sign for Man Utd knowing Van Der Sar was No.1).
Oh and Naa......YOU'RE A CLOWN!!!! Think before you write next time.
Not what i'd be hoping for! I'd rather a money bid for Keiren Westwood. Right age, good experience, current bench warmer, they've got Mignolet to replace him at Sunderland....Martin O'Neill is a reasonable man!!?
god we have some idiots on this board. At 30 goalkeepers are reaching their prime. Complaining he is too old shows you for the fools you are. As for itfc1981 we already know you're a fool you don't have to keep proving it.
Lowst: sorry for being slightly offensive, was out of order.
However, 30 is not old for a keeper. It's about the equivalent of 25 for an outfield player, exactly the age we should be aiming for. Jewell has said he wants younger players but there's no way he's going to get a young keeper, young centre back, young fullback and young midfielder. They'll be in their mid-twenties, with maybe one of them being 'young'. If he did replace the spine of the team with young 'hungry' but inexperienced players we'd be in a lot of trouble.
too many poeple on here think young players are better than experienced ones for some reason. they're not. Any team needs a blend. We already have Cressy, JET, Hyam, Drury (in experience terms if not age), Smith and Carson in the first team squad. Jewell won't want too many more very young players in the 16.
I do agree to an extent that maybe Kuszczak is out of our league on wages and his desire may be questioned - though to be fair to him Van Der Sar was ancient and he may well have thought he was going to take over as number one at Man Utd in a year or two after he joined. I think we can forgive him that can't we!?
Im not so sure he is our man. Wages would be big issue, plus I'm sure lots of Premier League teams will want to snap him up on a free, ala Ciaran Westwood last season.
Good news is that Reading are promoted so they could well go for Kuszczak allowing McCarthy to move on to us!!
Not sure about this fella, havent seen enough of him. Certainly dont see a problem with him being 30 though. Have to say i would agree with Keaneish, Westwood is quality. (The keeper not the DJ that is).
I think the mangment team are on the ball here parden the pun... they are targeting a keeper early on as a priority for next season as it will take time to build relationships with the defence...come on youve got to admit the mangemnt team are spot on if you doubted there comitment and there ability to want to be contenders this is a little indicator that there finger is out and they are already building the team that goes up next season!!!
I'm guessing the negative comments on here are from anti Man Utd people. He's a premier league quality keeper, before united signed him he was very highly rated from WBA and at 30 he easily has 5-10 years left. If he's interested in signing on reasonable wages, he'd be a very good player for us...
Kuszczak - Man U - defo leaving Man U it would seem Guzan - Villa (if they go down assume Given will go and he'll stay there tho) Westwood - Probably available from Sunderland Gordon - Probably available from Sunderland McCarthy - Depending on what Reading do when they start spending.....
Any of these 5, on a 3 year deal in at the end of this season would be great in reality...... there will always be the few who think PJ / SC have let us down if they dont sign Hart / Cech / Reina, so i wouldnt worry too much about that........
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