Howard

[Azzurri]

At least he's not Reina.

 

[blaggerblue]

Mucha is just not good enough either...We need anew purchase or loan.

At least Howard can be a great shot stopper..Jan the man looks strictly average on all counts.

 

[billycopper]

Solid points. Mental tiredness could definitely be factoring in, especially with the fact that he is literally our last stand in so many of those international games he plays. Automatic starter. Won't change either - he has WC qualifying this year, WC next year (hopefully), Gold Cup year after that, and then a potential combined Copa Americas the year after that. So essentially he's entering into another period with an international tourney every year. Brad Guzan is pushing him though - so will be interesting to see how that shapes up.



I don't agree with chunks of your list, but to each his own.

There will be all the international travel too. I think we maybe think differently about the physical and mental demands placed on a goalkeeper compared to an outfield player. Pienaar is younger than Tim and had to give up being a key figure for his national side to prolong his Premier League career. When you think about it Howard must have played more top class football than anyone to be a (virtual) ever-present for club and country for the last 5 years!

Maybe it's time for him to start winding down his commitments?

 

[Kurt.]

We have a yard, its like 6foot by 6.

Couldnt even kick my cat around it.

Honestly mate, I could have a fantastic time trying if you like,,,,, I hate cats.

 

[carolinablue232]

There will be all the international travel too. I think we maybe think differently about the physical and mental demands placed on a goalkeeper compared to an outfield player. Pienaar is younger than Tim and had to give up being a key figure for his national side to prolong his Premier League career. When you think about it Howard must have played more top class football than anyone to be a (virtual) ever-present for club and country for the last 5 years!

Maybe it's time for him to start winding down his commitments?

He considered international retirement after the last World Cup but ultimately decided to come back for another cycle. I don't think it's mental fatigue for him at this point. I think it's a lack of confidence. He looks so indecisive on what to do all the time now. He's thinking far too much instead of just following his instincts.

 

[Neiler]

Except for the fact that he faces this type of barrage on his national team - if not worse - and usually comes out with unicorns and rainbows.

His form this year I will give you - you're right. Over history, still a no for me.

EDIT: Neiler, out of sheer curiousity - just asking, not with ulterior purpose, how would you explain the difference in his Everton vs. national team performances? Just wondering.

I don't think it's as good as is made out mate, I've seen him make mistakes for the U.S. team - but I wont pretend to watch as many mins as you guys. I'm not a huge fan of the standard of international football over all mate, there are very few games of signifacance, I think that suits his tolerance level for pressure or decision making. I'm not singling out the US here either mate International football has been a damp squib for years for me and generally of low quality.

You know I don't think he's the best USNT keeper either.

 

[evertony]

Fair Do's. IMO he punches when he can catch, gets outmuscled by players who get in his face from set pieces, clings to his line when he should come and clatter the forwards and dives behind his line instead of across it to avoid impacts with the goalposts and is ridiculously indecisive when coming off his line for through balls. The exact opposite of the top keepers.

Cowardice in footballing terms I should have added.

With the exception of the last sentence that is a damn near perfect summary.....I couldn't have put it better myself. spot. On.

 

[evertony]

Didn't get the credit it deserved.

 

[evertony]

I wish you could go in goal

This.....didn't get the credit it deserved^^^^^^^

 

[evertony]

Plenty of loan options to put pressure on TH to improve......Shay Given, Carlo Cudicini, Kieran Westwood, Paul Robinson, Fraser Forster, Gordon Banks, Peter Shilton

 

[Allezfan]

Just to go back to Billy's shot stats. I think it's a mistake to say that if one keeper faced 2 shots and saved one while another keeper saved 8 out of 9 then the second one is better.

Because 1) stopping the opposition shooting is part of a keepers job so them having less shots often means they're doing something right rather than simply that their job is easier and 2) not all shots are equal, some are harder to save than others.

Howard isn't in better form than Friedel this year, end of argument.

 

[billycopper]

Just to go back to Billy's shot stats. I think it's a mistake to say that if one keeper faced 2 shots and saved one while another keeper saved 8 out of 9 then the second one is better.

Because 1) stopping the opposition shooting is part of a keepers job so them having less shots often means they're doing something right rather than simply that their job is easier and 2) not all shots are equal, some are harder to save than others.

Howard isn't in better form than Friedel this year, end of argument.

Here's the criteria that was used to judge who is the most consistent goalkeeper in the top flight so far this season.

"Along with Opta we have rated the keepers in line with our points system:

2pts for a save from a shot inside box
1pt for a save from long range shot
5pts for a clean sheet
-1pt for a dropped cross
This, we believe, takes into account that some keepers will face more shots, but still rewarding the better sides with clean sheets.

When keepers get the same points - saves to shots ratio is taken into account".

 

[DanEFC92]

The only goalkeepers that I think have been worse than Howard have been Federici, possibly Al-Habsi and Reina.

 

[toffeejack]

watched the stoke highlights again yesterday and when watching the match i didn't realise how bad howard did when jones hit the post. All good goalkeepers make themself big spread their body, but howard did a weird cowardly sideways roll on the ground and had the angle not been too tight that would have been 2-1. he just looks too scared to do anything positive atm

 

[Zatara2]

Howard needs to be sold in the summer. Butland needs to be signed in Jan to give him a few months to integrate.

No point paying Howards salary from summer onwards. No idea why Moyes gave him such a long contract at his age. Mental.