FOR someone who wears the No13 shirt, perhaps Roy Carroll should have known he'd suffer his fair share of misfortune.
But United's keeper is now hoping his hard work will bring him luck and see him hang on to the senior gloves at Old Trafford.
The 26-year-old Northern Ireland international could consider himself unlucky that having wrested pole position from World Cup and European Championship winner Fabien Barthez to guide the Reds over the line in last season's Premiership title, he then lost out at the start of this campaign to an unknown American in Tim Howard.
The topsy-turvy nature of life in the goalkeeping department at Old Trafford is summed up by Carroll's experiences.
Brought in as No2 to Barthez in 2001 from Wigan Athletic, Carroll was then demoted to third choice when eccentric Spaniard Ricardo joined the club.
But when Barthez slumped last term against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter- finals, the Irishman was rushed back to finish the title job.
He was called up for the critical match at Spurs with three games to go and kept a clean sheet to all but finish off Arsenal in the championship battle.
However, the arrival of Howard from New York MetroStars and his shock impact in pre-season saw Carroll's nose again pushed out.
Carroll, though, has refused to let the punches floor him.
Taken on the chin
"I thought at the end of last season after making a breakthrough that I may have had a chance at the start of this one," he said.
"But Tim Howard came in and he has done fantastic. I have to hold my hands up to that.
"It was hard but I just took it on the chin.
"I never felt let down. That's football. You always have up and downs. I was up at the end of last season, down at the start of this and now I am up again. That's how it works.
"You just have to come back stronger. What else do you do? Where do you go from Manchester United?
"OK, I am not happy when I am not playing but the only way is down from here. I am only 26 so you don't give up.
"When Tim was given the spot at the start of the season it was up to me to keep my head up and work hard. That's the way I am, I don't let anything get me down.
"It's about pride. I know I am good enough. It was a disappointment but nothing surprises me at Manchester United. A big club is like that, players are always battling for places and you never know what is around the corner."
Fight back
Indeed, one-time rival Ricardo has been back in Spain on loan at Racing Santander and this week Barthez's Old Trafford contract has been written off to the tune of £2m for the Frenchman.
It has taken Carroll eight months to fight back from the body blow of Howard's elevation to first choice.
"Tim has been fantastic. The Press and the experts were rating him highly and so did I because what he did was fantastic," added Roy.
"He was an American coming over here and did well, so it was a big story. It was tough for him coming from America to English football but he was great. He kept so many clean sheets it was fantastic.
"But it is tough to keep on top of the ladder at United because the TV cameras are always there, the Press are always watching.
"Having praised him, when we started letting some goals in the Press were then blaming Tim. It's always the keeper's fault though! That's why it is hard staying on top of that ladder. It's hard when you are changing defence in front of you but I thought Tim did well in that period.
"However, it was the manager's choice to start with him at the beginning of the season and his choice to put me in in the last two games. I've had my chance to prove I am still ready to play for Manchester United and prove I am good enough.
"The gaffer trusted me at the end of last season and he's shown trust again. I just hope I can get more games.
"My contract is up next year and I would love a new one, but I am not worrying about that at the moment."
Carroll challenged Wes Brown for the man of the match honours last Sunday at Highbury in the league against Arsenal.
Now he hopes his Premiership performance in London will stretch his sequence of matches to three.
Movement
"The game at Arsenal was one of my best for United, but it was a great strike by Thierry Henry for their goal.
"Henry got some power behind it. I got myself behind the first shot then it moved in the last six yards but I blame these new footballs!
"With all the TV angles these days you can't get away with anything but at least they helped me this time because it showed just how much it did move. People don't normally see that.
"I hope we can go one better at Villa Park. This is the biggest game of the season for us. It is probably the only trophy we can win."
Could Carroll become the Reds' number one? Have your say.
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Carroll has done well for is in the last two games but it doesnt change my assesment that he is only an ordinary goalkeeper who doesnt inspire me with confidence especially when the ball is at his feet, I for one have got my fingers crossed that Howard gets the nod for the big one tmoz.
I agree with Gaz, Carroll is only an ordinary goalkeeper and I will be very surprised if he is ever promoted to No.1. I think he is (most of the time) an able deputy when he is required, but he can't kick for toffee and doesn't seem to have the confidence that Howard has. I also hope that Howard is in goal tomorrow, and not Carroll, as, unfair as it sounds, I can foresee him making a mistake that will cost us the tie.
Carroll is pretty good at crosses and one on one against a forward, but he's not got the quick reactions of Howard nor is he as good with the ball at his feet. Tim gets my vote.
Roy Carroll is a good keeper, has good all round ability and is always a safe bet between the sticks, but i think he's got Ole Solsjkaer syndrome! That's being great when called upon but will never be a first choice. Even for his country he's only an able debuty to Taylor so I don't think he should get too carried away with being the No 1 keeper at Old Trafford. Howard on the other hand is a bit special. He was an unknown before he arrived and has shown he's got everything needed to become the best in the business. With a regular solid back 4, Howard had a very impressive first half of the season, but he can only do so much and with Rio missing and the ever changing back 4 since then along with Brown's shaky come back from injury, Howard had too much pressure on him to keep up his form. Next season with a few new faces and the return of Rio I think we'll see that Howard really is the best at OT and Roy will be back doing what he does best, warming the bench.
Not good enough to wear the shirt,ship him to wigan asap.
Carol is not an ordinary goalkeeper at all you all talk rubbish,he is an excellent keeper and should be number 1 he does not get caught out on crosses.
sorry mates, Roy Carroll got my vote to start. I might be biased, but I've always liked Roy. Yes, he may be just an ordinary keeper, but I really like him though, don't know why. I hope he can be the no. 1 keeper for United. Hope he can improve further. ;)
Carol is not an ordinary goalkeeper at all you all talk rubbish,he is an excellent keeper and should be number 1 he does not get caught out on crosses.
I think Roy has done well in two games, but he is prone to make mistakes and always has. He doesn't have near the promise that Tim has, nor does he have that "special" quality. He's solid but not spectacular. Tim had dip in form for two or three games, but remember he's single handedly won five or six for us this year and it's his first year. If not my word, take Schmeical's word for it--Tim's the guy long term, and will be one of those incredible buys we'll be talking about for years to come.
As a Yank, I was disappointed that Howard was dropped from the first team. Don't know much about Carroll but he seems to have done an able job so far - United's defense this year after Rio-gate hasn't been all that good.
I am impressed, however, at the kind comments Carroll made about Tim; very similar to what Tim made about Fabien Barthez. I don't know if its just empty praise but the keepers do seem like they have a good relationship with each other and want each other to succeed. That attitude seems out of place with some of the other nasty and snide comments (e.g., Saha slamming Ruud) I've read of late.
Can't wait till United come back to the States for Champions World this summer - best of luck in the cup semi-final this weekend.
T-Ho may be better, but the reason the team keeps more than one keeper on the squad is for times like these. It's inevitable Howard was going to slump. The guy has played an incredible number of games. It's got to be though for him physically. No big deal if Roy has to play clean up man at the end of every season. He's always ready to do so and proves his value when called upon. Hopefully he's got a great game in him tomorrow.
I think Carroll is a good keeper, but also only a good keeper. He would be a good nr 1 for many teams in PL but he should never be nr 1 for a team of Uniteds quality. Look at his games this season. He played against Fulham, didnt have much to do in that game, but the shot he had to save he didnt, he let it through his leg. Then Spurs a clean sheet. Then Arsenal had a good game, but again the shot he should take he didnt, And i dont care what u guys say, it was in the middle of the goal, a world class keeper would not let that one go in. He doesnt give me the confidence like a world class keeper does. I vote for Howard not that he si world class yet, but he is closer than Carroll ever will be. It is not that I dont rate Carroll and I think he proberbly deserved his chance, but a team like United should have a world class keeper. And Carroll is not. I fear that if chosen today he will prove my point.