COMMERCE CITY, Colo. ā Many doubted the idea of signing a goalkeeper to a Designated Player contract back in January when the news first broke that Tim Howard might be set to join the Colorado Rapids.
But Howard left little doubt in his performance in the Rapidsā Western Conference Semifinal victory on Sunday; a performance where the Rapids ākeeper came up big with two saves in a penalty shootout, propelling Colorado to the next round of the playoffs in their 3-1 penalty win.
āI think it extends beyond the importance in the shootout,ā Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni responded when asked if the signing of Howard was money well spent. āItās been really what heās brought to the group from a leadership perspective. For me, heās still one of the best ākeepers in the world.ā
The Rapids goalkeeper says heās felt the pressure since putting pen to ink with Colorado.
āI think you have two types of DPs,ā Howard explained. āYou have the guys that come here to collect checks, and thereās been a lot of them. And I think you have a bunch of guys who are whole-hearted, who want to put the team on their back and feel a part of the organization. Thatās where I am, to be honest. It keeps me awake at night.ā
That attitude from Howard hasnāt gone unnoticed by the Rapids head coach.
āHeās just a real team presence, team guy, that wants to win more than anything else,ā Mastroeni added. āThatās the kind of people that we want at this club. People who are willing to give up themselves for the greater good. He brings a lot more than his performance on the field. What he exudes as a human being has been transformational to the group.ā
The difference in experience between Howard and the younger LA Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe, who only became a full-time starter in 2016, was a factor that LA manager Bruce Arena tipped his hat to in Sundayās outcome.
āObviously they have a very experienced goalkeeper,ā Arena said. āMaybe it was the difference today. Maybe it was a good investment bringing Tim Howard here. He saved two of them, right?ā
Despite the credit thrown his way, Howard shrugged his shoulders and chocked it up to chance.
āI think itās a lot of luck,ā He said. āOther teams use technology, we donāt. Penalties after 120 mins are different than penalties after the game. Guys are tired and itās hard to get power. Itās good to be lucky.ā
Nevertheless, Howard remains adamant that goalkeepers are a good monetary investment.
āI think itās a stupid thing that this league doesnāt invest in goalkeepers,ā Howard continued. āEverywhere else in the world that you go, teams are deftly afraid to bring goalkeepers through their ranks because the stakes are too high. They go pay 7 million, 10 million, 15 million for a goalkeeper. Iām excited that Kroenke Sports decided it was a good idea and hopefully we can keep this thing going.ā
Yet despite his success this season in facing penalties, Howard isnāt quick to jump to another opportunity in these playoffs.
āI think weāve had way too much training in penalties this season,ā he said. āHopefully we donāt face any more.ā