U.S. hears Howard loud and clear
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PRINCETON, N.J. – Get him away from a soccer field and Tim Howard is about as mild-mannered an athlete as you're likely to find.
Yet when Howard puts on a United States jersey and his goalkeeper's game face, he turns into a character totally at odds with his customary pleasant persona.
"Yeah, I can be a bully," smiled Howard, who was relaxed as ever in an interview with Yahoo! Sports despite the World Cup being less than three weeks away. "As a goalkeeper it is your job to make yourself heard, to impose your will, to take control."
Much of the USA's hopes in South Africa will hinge upon defensive organization – a structure and a mindset that must be marshaled by the man between the posts. Up to the task is Howard, who has grown in confidence and stature consistently over the last few seasons while establishing himself as one of the finest keepers in the English Premier League with Everton and a core leader with Bob Bradley's U.S. squad.
Although Howard comes across as a gentle giant to all he meets, there are times when he, like every great keeper, must be noisy and irascible and unafraid to bark out orders.
"I can get angry, I can get noisy," Howard said. "I actually enjoy it and it is something I have become most comfortable with over the years.
"It hasn't got much to do with what I am like as a person. And it is not about raising my voice and shouting for the sake of it. It is about being in control and being in command of your area.
"It is about letting the other guy know what you expect of them and where you need them to be. Making sure everyone is organized and on the same page. The guys understand it and respond to it and it is a positive thing for us."
Goalkeeper is one position Bradley has never had to worry about. The USA produces talented players at that position, and three Americans mind the net for three of the EPL's 20 clubs.
Howard is the pick of the bunch, having improved consistently since being snapped up by Manchester United in 2003. He is considered by many to be among the best 10 players in the world at his position.
However, his effectiveness in South Africa and ability to affect the USA's productivity will be about far more than making outstanding saves against the world's deadliest strikers.
"A lot of it is about how we gel as a defensive unit," U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra said. "It is so important to keep our discipline and keep our shape.
"Tim has a really important part to play in that. If we are not doing our job or are out of position he is going to let you know about it. There are times when you are going to have him screaming in your ear. That's just the way it is and the way it should be."
With Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller blocking his path to the starting lineup, Howard had a long wait to take over as the USA's first-choice keeper. Now 31 and at his peak, Howard – who spent five years with the New York Metrostars before moving to England – could not be approaching this World Cup at a better time.
Legendary former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel believes Howard has blossomed into a truly world class player and highlights Howard's increased confidence as a reason behind his development.
"He has got better all the time," Schmeichel said. "He was always a very strong athlete, but he has become smarter and better at organizing his defenders."
Such traits are going to be critical from the very start of the Americans' World Cup campaign. The USA's first game in group C will be against England, which is favored to win the pool and considered to be a legitimate contender to win the trophy.
The English boast one of the world's finest attackers in Wayne Rooney and elite midfielders Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard. Whatever happens, the U.S. defenders are likely to be kept busy and will need to stick to their assignments. Otherwise, they can expect a few choice words screamed in their ears.
