Sutton Named USL Keeper of the Year

[Grizzly]

Very strange decision in my opinion. I think it was well deserved in previous years but to name someone keeper of the year who missed half of his team's game and in those games was replaced by his backup with no change in quality seems a bit of a stretch. In those games I saw him play for the Impact this year he just didn't seem in his usual form even though this did not lead to a lot of goals against. I think part of his success is due to the Impact being a defense first team who probably have the strongest defence in the USL, one of the reasons the goalie chance was almost unnoticeable. I think most of the USL awards are based purely on stats so he got the award purely because he had the lowest goals against average.

Sutton Named Goalkeeper of the Year

Greg Sutton

Canadian Men’s National team and Montreal Impact goalkeeper Greg Sutton was named Goalkeeper of the Year in the United Soccer Leagues First Division for a fourth consecutive year.

Sutton ended the season with the lowest goals-against average (0.500), allowing only seven goals in 14 games and 1,260 minutes of play. He also finished the season second in the league with nine shutouts.

Sutton helped the Impact tie a club record with only 15 goals allowed in 28 regular-season games.

“It’s a great honour but once again I have to give credit to our defense,” said Sutton. “We have been playing together for several seasons so it makes things easier. It’s always great to be recognized for the efforts you put in during the year. Andrew (Weber) did great and it was not easy for a young goalkeeper like him to be thrown in the middle of the action like that.”

Sutton played only 14 games this season due to a fractured index. His substitute, rookie goalkeeper Andrew Weber, ended the season with the league’s second lowest goals-against average — 0.571 in 14 games.

[Daniel]

From the horse's mouth:

"USL First Division Statistical Awards Announced"

http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/148307.html

It was the same old story on the other end of the pitch with Montreal’s Greg Sutton earning the Goalkeeper of the Year honor with the lowest goals against average (0.500) for the fourth straight season behind a stellar defensive back line that also helped guide back-up Andrew Weber to second in the same category at 0.571 as both finished above the minimum 1,000 minute plateau for eligibility. The 2004 league MVP opened the season with five shutouts in the first six games before missing the middle part of the campaign due to a broken finger. Weber posted seven shutouts in his absence with Sutton returning to notch a fourth straight clean sheet in his return and posting three straight to close the season.

Rochester’s Scott Vallow finished third in GAA, but led the league in shutouts (14), wins (13) and minutes (2,520), concluding the season as the only goalkeeper in the league to play every minute. Atlanta defender Matt Bobo was the only other play to not miss a minute in 2006.

[bettermirror]

Sounds like Vallow should have taken it.

[BrennanFan]

damn, best usl keeper 4 years in a row. you think he wouldve moved on from the usl by now. is there a big fish/little pond/landon donovan homesickness syndrome going on here?

[Daniel]

It sounds like their criteria is GAA and a minimum of 1,000 minutes played, that's it.

[Alberto7]

quote:Originally posted by BrennanFan

damn, best usl keeper 4 years in a row. you think he wouldve moved on from the usl by now. is there a big fish/little pond/landon donovan homesickness syndrome going on here?

I really don't know what Sutton is up to. I talked to him in March 2005 and he was very pleased with his trails in England (with Bolton and another team in the Championship I don't remember). He vowed that he would get to Europe a lot earlier that year (immediately after the 2005 season) to have more time to impress the teams over there. So what happens? He signs a three year deal with the Impact in december of 2005. Pretty strange if you ask me. I can only think that he decided to stay in Montreal for personal reasons.

Unfortunately, he is really not improving his skills in the USL. He should at least be playing in MLS. Perhaps he will, with Toronto FC......

[Style]

He was actually offered a contract to be the 3rd keeper at Liverpool after a very good trial but declined the offer because his playing time would have been slim to none. He acknowledges himself as the #1 keeper for Canada and if he does not play on a regular bases at the club level he feels he will lose that job (no matter what club he signs for) ...

[loyola]

Well, he doesn't have to stay 2 yrs on the bench for a big club like Liverpool but he could also try for a lesser team (Championship or Scandinavia, I think he had an offer from Start in Norway).

I agree that playing games is very important for a keeper but I don't feel confident with him starting for Canada in the WCQ if he's playing in the USL (MLS would be OK by CONCACAF standards I think).

[Grizzly]

I like Sutton as a keeper because even though he is not spectacular like Lars or Forrest he is very solid and makes few mistakes unlike Onstad for example. However, since I have been watching the Impact I can't say he has improved very much and if anything he has gone a bit backwards this year although that is probably due to the injury. It is important he takes a position where he has a good chance of starting but he needs to move up a level if he is going to have a chance at being our No. 1 keeper for an extended period of time. At the moment he is only the starter by default due to lack of competition and because Lars hasn't been called for a while possibly because of problems between him and Yallop. If Lars is brought back into the fold and some of the younger keepers get more experience Suttons position will be in jeopardy.