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2018/19 Jordan Pickford

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I think some of the criticisms of Pickford are fair enough but it was the sinister timing of them that frustrated me. They were definitely readying him for the scapegoat role, with the likely transfer of Jack Butland to a top 6 team being the media's first choice as England number 1. Pickford's display in the tournament so far have been of the highest calibre, particularly the last 2 games so thats been knocked on the head. The goal conceded against Belgium was also not his fault.

Yes he is a bit small (and yes I appreciate lots of historical goalkeepers were the same size/shorter but the players have grown substantially since even Southalls day) but he does have a great spring and power to compensate this. His biggest attribute though is not his reflexes, agility, power or distribution (which is really underrated) but his mentality.

In consecutive seasons he has played for teams that have been shambolic. Sunderland were nosediving towards league 1 while Everton went from being a side supposedly making a play for top 4 to one in a relegation scrap conceding goals and shots all over the place. In both teams he was probably the one player who maintained his performance. It says a lot about him as a person, that even under such pressure he thrived. As does his route to the top, going through the leagues and having to fight every step along the way for a chance. Unlike say a Butland who has been heralded from a young age, he wouldn't have got to where he is now without it.

He is a real winner and is now beginning to produce his best in the biggest games of his career to date. I don't think that comes as a surprise to anyone who has watched him for Everton (and Sunderland). Someone said the other day you can tell a lot about what a player is like be what fans of the club he has left say about him. They raved over him and in truth if he were to leave us Evertonians would be very positive about him too.

I think he will gain enormous confidence from this tournament too. The exposure it will give him and the confidence that will come from it will be enormous. For me Pickford has two levels he can (and needs) to improve by. So far he has been a good goalkeeper capable of making wonderful saves who is a little suspect in terms of commanding his area.

The first level of improvement is to start reflecting his ability more consistently through a season. We still conceded a fair amount of goals last season. It is about putting in those performances every week and ensuring even less gets passed him. Essentially skewing the X goals table in his favour.
When he has done that it is then to develop his presence as an elite keeper, produce in the biggest matches and really hold himself with the gravitas great goalkeepers do. Southall had it, Schmeichel had it, De Gea has it, you simply don't expect to score past them and they won their teams big games. I think if he does the first thing, the second will come easily to him due to his mental strength.

In the mean time we should enjoy him. He has the strongest mentality of an Everton player I've seen since Cahill. You look at how lads like Barkley, Baines, Jagielka all shrunk at international level but this lad flourishes. He's a real winner and we will get the benefit of that next season.
 
Nyhus said:
Its obviously a lot easier to keep a clean sheet against Sweden than Spain, but I guess you dont agree?
If I somehow fire a ball into the left corner, that shot would be as dangerous as a shot from Ronaldo fired into the left corner?

Dont make me laugh, dude.
Click to expand...
Yes. It depends how well you hit it really. If you struck yours sweetly in off the post and he scuffed his and it trickled towards the goal then yours would be better.

What you are confusing here is chance and ability. You might manage it once, but he will do it consistently.
 
onlyme said:
That's football mate, same with 90% of goals scored, ie you would expect a professional footballer to score them. It is all about anticipation and positional play. That's the difference between top class and average whichever end of the pitch you do your stuff.

P S unless you're name is Karious
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But the poor dear had a bump on his head and bumps on his head effect him differently
 

 
LostLegend said:
Here we go again.
An Everton player starts to play well and half the forum comes out to tell us how crap they are :rolleyes:
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Again, noone is saying that. Alls said is, hey, dont worry about Barca coming after him
JEBUS_LIVES said:
Yes. It depends how well you hit it really. If you struck yours sweetly in off the post and he scuffed his and it trickled towards the goal then yours would be better.

What you are confusing here is chance and ability. You might manage it once, but he will do it consistently.
Click to expand...
My point was, there is noone in the Swedish team able to strike that ball the way Ronaldo would. The best strike of the ball any swedes could get wont be close to what Ronaldo could do. In other words, its a lot easier to keep a clean sheet against Sweden than a good team like Spain.
Luck/chance could be a part of it like youre saying, but even the luckiest of bad striker wouldnt be the threat a real quality striker would be.

That said, Ive never said Jordan is a bad keeper. He’s a good goalie, he’s just a little error prone at times, which is natural for a young goalie.
 
Nyhus said:
Again, noone is saying that. Alls said is, hey, dont worry about Barca coming after him
My point was, there is noone in the Swedish team able to strike that ball the way Ronaldo would. The best strike of the ball any swedes could get wont be close to what Ronaldo could do. In other words, its a lot easier to keep a clean sheet against Sweden than a good team like Spain.
Luck/chance could be a part of it like youre saying, but even the luckiest of bad striker wouldnt be the threat a real quality striker would be.

That said, Ive never said Jordan is a bad keeper. He’s a good goalie, he’s just a little error prone at times, which is natural for a young goalie.
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I agree. I said early on in his thread last year that he will make mistakes, his passing will go awry but he's a very good keeper.
 

The Italian press and TV adore him. They think that for a nation that used to be respected for its great keepers he's the best since Shilton.
I'd be more worried about Juve trying to replace Buffon than Utd.
 
catcherintherye said:
I think some of the criticisms of Pickford are fair enough but it was the sinister timing of them that frustrated me. They were definitely readying him for the scapegoat role, with the likely transfer of Jack Butland to a top 6 team being the media's first choice as England number 1. Pickford's display in the tournament so far have been of the highest calibre, particularly the last 2 games so thats been knocked on the head. The goal conceded against Belgium was also not his fault.

Yes he is a bit small (and yes I appreciate lots of historical goalkeepers were the same size/shorter but the players have grown substantially since even Southalls day) but he does have a great spring and power to compensate this. His biggest attribute though is not his reflexes, agility, power or distribution (which is really underrated) but his mentality.

In consecutive seasons he has played for teams that have been shambolic. Sunderland were nosediving towards league 1 while Everton went from being a side supposedly making a play for top 4 to one in a relegation scrap conceding goals and shots all over the place. In both teams he was probably the one player who maintained his performance. It says a lot about him as a person, that even under such pressure he thrived. As does his route to the top, going through the leagues and having to fight every step along the way for a chance. Unlike say a Butland who has been heralded from a young age, he wouldn't have got to where he is now without it.

He is a real winner and is now beginning to produce his best in the biggest games of his career to date. I don't think that comes as a surprise to anyone who has watched him for Everton (and Sunderland). Someone said the other day you can tell a lot about what a player is like be what fans of the club he has left say about him. They raved over him and in truth if he were to leave us Evertonians would be very positive about him too.

I think he will gain enormous confidence from this tournament too. The exposure it will give him and the confidence that will come from it will be enormous. For me Pickford has two levels he can (and needs) to improve by. So far he has been a good goalkeeper capable of making wonderful saves who is a little suspect in terms of commanding his area.

The first level of improvement is to start reflecting his ability more consistently through a season. We still conceded a fair amount of goals last season. It is about putting in those performances every week and ensuring even less gets passed him. Essentially skewing the X goals table in his favour.
When he has done that it is then to develop his presence as an elite keeper, produce in the biggest matches and really hold himself with the gravitas great goalkeepers do. Southall had it, Schmeichel had it, De Gea has it, you simply don't expect to score past them and they won their teams big games. I think if he does the first thing, the second will come easily to him due to his mental strength.

In the mean time we should enjoy him. He has the strongest mentality of an Everton player I've seen since Cahill. You look at how lads like Barkley, Baines, Jagielka all shrunk at international level but this lad flourishes. He's a real winner and we will get the benefit of that next season.
Click to expand...
But then he needs to produce that next season.

Is it a one off or can he maintain this level for a whole season. The likes of coutois de gea and cech (in his prime) saved their clubs around 10 points a season, compared to other keepers in the league.

Is he like one of those or is he another Joe Hart, we will find out next season.
 
I've got a few mates who are united fans who say he reminds them of schmeichel, in the fact that he's been really commanding at this world cup. Berating the defence every time a shot comes his way...even if sometimes the defence has done nothing wrong.

He must surely exude and inspire confidence in and around that team.

I must admit he seemed to go quieter once gravy tatties arrived...so hopefully this is the real Pickford we are seeing again.
 

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