The Top 5 MLS Goalkeepers
By Aaron Rench
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Not many people are willingly crazy enough to stand between the posts as the last line of defense. It takes a special mix of insanity and bravery to face the oncoming shot and be the only one responsible for what gets into the net. The goalkeeper is a rare breed.
Here we take a look at the Top 5 MLS Goalkeepers. It’s not the definitive list on the matter, but hopefully it will education you on who to watch in the coming season. A year from now may have five completely different players. Young guns, guys coming into their prime, and oldies still fighting off father time, there are so many potential candidates to storm the rankings of one more sports blog.
Honorable Mention – Tally Hall, Houston Dynamo
When making this list, the Top 5 originally contained Tally Hall. He is absolutely one of the best MLS goalkeepers, but when looking at his 2013 stats, it just didn’t match up with the others on this list. Hall blocked 67.4 percent of the shots faced, which is the lowest percentage on this list. Just know that if someone else does their own Top 5, Hall is likely to be on it.
#5 – Zac MacMath, Philadelphia Union
I feel bad for MacMath. Since being selected 5th overall in 2011, MacMath makes 73 starts for the Union, including a 2013 where he stopped 68.7 percent of shots faced and totaled 12 shutouts, but in return the Union draft top prospect goalkeeper Andre Blake in this years draft with the first overall pick. It’s a clear sign that MacMath’s days are numbered. He’ll be forced to play out his days with the Union knowing that the best he can hope for is to be trade-bait someday soon. Whoever ends up with MacMath will get a better than average goalkeeper, who would be an improvement on most teams.
#4 – John Busch, San Jose Earthquakes
Busch is could be the player that receives the least amount of credit for the work he does. Playing for a team that had injury and scoring problems kept him out of the playoffs by goal differential alone. Saving 71.1 percent of anything headed into the net and starting all but one game for the Quakes, Busch was a bright spot for the San Jose area. At 37-years-old Busch is wise in the ways of the MLS, he’s been playing in the league since 1999. Some day down the road, when the MLS Hall of Fame opens up, Busch should be considered to eventually get a plaque, or bust, or whatever form of semi-perminant marker of greatness the Hall chooses.
#3 – Luis Robles, New York Red Bulls
Of all of the players on this list, Robles faced the most shots per game averaging 13.4 per game, and of those shots he saved 70.1 percent. A city like New York demands success, and it isn’t often that a player can last without some one calling for his replacement, but Robles has done an exceptional job in between the posts. The goalkeeper position always seems to allow older players to thrive in their later years. This gives Robles plenty more time to impress us. He’s 29 now and has so much more left to show.
#2 – Donovan Ricketts, Portland Timbers
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The 36-year-old Jamaican keeper is astounding. He’s big, old and bold, and frankly, there isn’t a more frightening MLS net-minder. His 2013 season earned him the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award, which was the second in his career.
Most players at his age would be starting to decline in production, but Ricketts isn’t even thinking about slowing down. He blocked 73.0 of shots faced and helped the Timbers become the biggest turnaround in MLS history while becoming the Western Conference champions.
#1 – Nick Rimando, Real Salt Lake
When I got to the last two spots on this list, it was difficult to determine who was better between Rimando and Ricketts. Both had exceptional seasons in 2013, both were nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year, but where the deciding factor came from their physical size. Listed as 5-foot-9, Rimando is a whole 9 inches shorter than Ricketts, but somehow produces slightly better stats. For what Rimando has to work with, he definitely gets the most out of it.
In 2013, Rimando stopped a league-high 73.2 percent of all shots on goal while his RSL teammates allowed only 11.6 shots per game, the fourth lowest in the league. Reflexes are a necessity when you play goalie, and no one has better reflexes than Rimando, and it’s a good thing too, because RSL allowed the highest percentage of shots from within the 6-yard box. Nine percent of all shots were taken from point blank range, and yet Rimando still has the best stats in the league.