Brad Friedel

[philthebar]

I think Friedel is past his sell by date - trouble is they are all shot stoppers now, not goalkeepers.  Need someone who can command the area, the only one I can see is Manuel Neuer at Schalke, ain't way he's coming to us though.

[Merv]

I keep hearing rave reviews about Peterborough's Joe Lewis but all their fans I talk to in my part of the world say his only weakness is that he will not come off his line.

That's about right. Peterborough drew 3-3 with Bournemouth on Friday night; my best mate's a Posh regular and watched the game (on Sky) and said Lewis was badly at fault for two of the goals. He's been saying the same things about him for the last three years - he's a tall bloke but is weak at coming for crosses, off his line, etc.

[Chris Smith]

From Sky:

"We are in talks over a new contract, Brad is very happy at Villa," his agent Tony McGill confirmed to skysports.com.

"If Brad was not happy, he would not be talking over a new contract.

"I have spoken with chief executive Paul Faulkner and talks are going very well indeed."
 

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Mistake, in my opinion.

Unless they're bringing somebody in who he will mentor.

[Concrete John]

If we were to sign a new first team keeper and Big Brad stayed on as 2nd choice, that would be a very good result, IMO.

[Merv]

Can't be No.1 choice next season. An extra one-year deal with coaching input - fine. Ideal, in fact. But we need a new first choice 'keeper*

* If we're in the Championship, Guzan could do that job.

[VillaAlways]

Looks like it may well be happening

http://http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/aston-villa-fc/2011/04/04/brad-friedel-lines-up-new-villa-deal/

[Shrek]

We cannot keep him as number 1 surely?!

[Holtenderinthesky]

If Friedel is our number 1 next season then we expect to struggle again.  Ditto if GH is manager. 

[WikiVilla]

FFS how is this oap getting a new deal ??
Madness

[The Left Side]

I think we should see what division we are in before giving him a new contract or let him know he isn't guaranteed to be no.1

[eamonn]

If he's offered a new deal he'll be number one I imagine. Strikes me as a top professional who wants to play as much as possible so he's probably been given assurances as to remaining number one. A mistake I fear, we need better.

[Salsa Party Animal]

He can stay as back up to no 1 and help out coaching goalkeepers. But I don't want him as first choice no 1 this season.

5 clean sheet in 38 games this season and one clean sheet in 2011 is unacceptable. I don't care how hard he work or train. The facts speaks for this. 

[SoccerHQ]

Don't like the sound of this really.

[JJ-AV]

When he signed the deal I'm sure it was announced that it was a 3 year deal with an option of coaching afterwards. Maybe the negotiation is involving that.

In an ideal world I'd replace him, but maybe Houllier has looked at it and thought he doesn't want to change every area, and considering the defence and midfield is due an overhaul he wants to keep someone who knows the club around.