Tim Howard: I bleed Blue

A bit over the top and the type of stuff some fans will lap up. IÂ’d prefer if he just cut the drama out and said he was happy and looking forward to the new season.

Tim didnÂ’t say that he bleeds blue since he signed the contract but is simply saying he loves the club and was happy to sign for the rest of his career.

That does nicely for me!

I get that lots of people - me included - are slightly skeptical of footballers proclaiming loyalty. But this critiquing everything they say is getting kind of silly.

Seems to me that the implication was that signing a new contract is a two-way street. IOW, Tim Howard is saying that he wants to play only at Everton, but if he had been unable to sign a new contract (i.e., if the club didnÂ’t want him), then he would have considered plying his trade elsewhere until retirement age.

If Everton either didnÂ’t want to extend his contract, or only wanted to extend it for 1-2 years, he would have considered a move back to the MLS after fulfilling his final contract, because heÂ’d still have a desire to play even though Everton no longer required his services.

Because the contract extension takes him to an age of 39, he probably thinks heÂ’ll be ready to retire at the end of it, so there is little to no chance heÂ’d end up back in MLS.

I donÂ’t think there was any chance Howard was going to leave Everton before they wanted him to go. I deeply suspect any move was contingent on how long *Everton* wanted to keep *him*.

The pattern of EPL players going to MLS has been that they only make the move when they are no longer wanted by their current employers.

DonÂ’t you?

Are players not allowed to be true Evertonians?

Maybe, occasionally people should just accept that some of our players would prefer to be at Everton than anywhere else. Including Old Trafford.

What does worry me, like I have mentioned in previous posts, Tim canÂ’t be expected to play every game on four fronts this coming season.

I am still not convinced about Robles being a dependable understudy, should they be Â’rotateÂ’ or, god forbid, Tim ever got injured!

But I have a right to comment too – and I happen to disagree with you. That is (also) what the comments section is for!

Imagine if heÂ’d said "never say never".....!

Damned if they do; damned if they donÂ’t.

Good on you Tim... and by the way – your new girlfriend isn’t a bad looker!

Honestly, these guys can’t win – they show loyalty and still get criticised. We’re lucky to have this guy on balance and lucky he thinks so much of the Club. The more players we have with that attitude, it can’t help but rub off on others.

Thank you, Tim Howard.

Tim Howard doesnÂ’t have a very outgoing personality but heÂ’s a legend in my eyes. A true ambassador for the club! And not a bad keeper either!

The fan is here by choice. The money, in most cases is, flowing the other way.

As has been stated above, some players become Evertonians, but they are relatively rare, and all the more precious because of it.

I still believe Rooney is a blue at heart, even with all his badge kissing bullshit. Howard is a blue!

I think youÂ’re absolutely right. I also think thereÂ’s a lot more than the average club too.

Also, I believe Tim is a steady goalkeeper; he has his faults, like all players, but overall heÂ’s consistently been a top 4/5 goalkeeper in EPL. Great news, in my opinion.

I'll point it out to Lyndon and see what he says.

Clearly Tim Howard is a great asset to Everton at this time, on and off the field, and I am not convinced that — even if he keeps playing for the United States Mens National Team (USMNT) — that it will really benefit Everton. In a nutshell, we've arguably the highest profile and most universally popular US sportsman of 2014 playing for us — and I mean across all sport, not just soccer.

It might benefit Howard (commercially) more to stay with USMNT, but frankly he's earning enough money to not worry too much about that really, and I think he's got value even if he retires from USMNT, or, per Landon Donovan, he takes a break (which I doubt Klinsmann would take kindly to given how he dropped Donovan, albeit perhaps with justification given the soulless TV appearances that the jilted player punished us with over here).

So perhaps we could have a TW poll: Should Tim Howard (A) quit while he's ahead in US terms, and give up USMNT, to focus on Everton for the rest of his career? Or should he (B) stick it out as long as he can to cement his legacy and enjoy (possibly) another World Cup?

As for "bleeding blue", seems like a very harmless metaphor to me, and not necessarily meaning being "of blue blood" which has a different meaning. Much like being a "bluenose" or actually being "a toffee". We're neither yet we identify with both easily enough!!

Decent gag I thought .... not overly offensive

Gutted when good comedy material like this gets rejected.

Oh well back to the day job.

But we do seem to be losing a few at our end, so probably our fault — though in this case, not intentional.

I know we have some very sensitive souls but they are hopefully not repulsed by Blue pee...

[Hmmm that didn't come out quite right!]

Jesus wept.

I know, I know. We can’t really comment on others when England finish bottom of a rubbish group in the World Cup