Early U.S. goalkeeper report from England

American goalkeeper Brad Guzan is doing nothing to damage his standing around Villa Park, ably managing his part of a 2-0 win Saturday over Swansea City.

Guzan wasn’t overly taxed in this one, but did earn his money with two swell saves. One was a reaction effort off a header from in close and one was a big-stretch into the corner to reach Nathan Dyer’s shot from 20 yards, one earmarked for the upper reaches of Aston Villa’s goal.

Along with the 1-1 draw against Newcastle, Guzan has done everything needed in two starts since replacing veteran Shay Given for Paul Lambert’s club.

Meanwhile, Brad Friedel has a day to wait before his surprisingly wobbly Spurs meet Reading on Sunday. Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas is already dealing with personnel drama, defending his choice to stick with the 41-year-old American as starter in goal.

Hard to say if this is media-created drama or if French international Hugo Lloris really is getting huffy-puffy about this one already. Either way, it was all as predictable as breakfast arriving at Denny’s; once Spurs signed Lloris for, some degree of controversy was more “when” than “if.”

Friedel will definitely be in the net at Reading on Sunday … but one slip of the glove and it looks like he’ll be out of a starting job.

Everton and Tim Howard are away to Newcastle this week, but that one doesn’t go off until Monday.