The Mail Bag
Are ALL Goalkeepers mad?
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Some of our younger fans will not have heard ths but there used to be a theme running along the lines that all Goalies were crackers.
From Gordon West with his handbag to Big Nev staging a halftime sit in against the post in protest at how poor we were that day.
Well, I saw it first hand today...
The Yak, Big Vic and Tiger Tim all go off and Tim Howard starts hoofing the ball up the pitch... To who?... FFS How much is he on?? Professional? Footballer?
You couldn't make it up.
But to make matters worse then Jags starts it.
I would like to know who the imaginary "Peter Crouch" was that they were hoofing it to!!
A match we should have won in a canter and didn't because we've lost our MoJo.
We CANNOT keep clean sheets because we keep inviting pressure!!
IMO, Howard has a lot to do with this because he's a "panic" merchant and lives on his nerves.
Excellent shot stopper, very good reactions (usually!!) but does not keep a defence calm and certainly does not command his area.
The first two positions on my list for Summer shopping are goalkeeper and centre-forward (and yes, Crouch would be good).
Jay Harris, Posted 14/03/2010 at 00:31:06
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Good post, Jay, I agree whole-heartedly. If we could have swapped goalies before the start, we would have been out of sight at half time. Howard is one of the worst goalies we've ever had for commanding his penalty area.
How has this been pinned on Howard? He’s the goalie? Do you want him to dribble the pitch with the ball. It’s called a goal kick.
Can you imagine what awful shite we’d play if we did have Crouch in our side. I really hope we don’t. I also don’t think its Howards fault that we bottled it again on Saturday and started the usual hoofball bullshit. If the players don’t show for Howard and ask for the ball, he’s just going to lump it up field. Its pretty sad when the goalkeeper gets blamed for the shockingly bad football we played in the second half. Also to blame Moyes and say ’My real wonder is if they were doing this because this was what they were being instructed to do by Moyes’ is laughable. Try blaming the idiots on the field. 2-0 up and cruising, they get a soft goal and our arses go!!! Same old shite.
In Tim Howard's case, yes, I think he is mad. Also, look on the Daily Mirror's website at Jens Lehmann's top 10 mad moments and make a decision.
Reina is pretty mad but there are some insightful keepers such as Van der Sar, Freidel, Nigel Martyn, Paul Robinson. Gomes for Spurs is totally mental.
Some interesting points, Jay. I think Andrew Flanagan is right though. With the possible exception of Heitinga we really don’t have anyone with the confidence and ability to bring the ball out of defence. Frankly, I’d rather see the ball hoofed into the stand than rolled out to Jags, Neville or Distin. We need a defender who’s comfortable on the ball. How about Coleman or even Gosling?
As much as i like Howard, I have to agree he is not commanding in his area.
Pity we couldn’t get Joe Hart when we had the chance. The lad is a star..
Pity we couldn’t get Joe Hart when we had the chance. The lad is a star..
I dont rate Howard anywere near the top 10 goalies in the prem. I think the quality of our defence in season’s gone by have helped him a lot. This year we are nowhere near as solid and he has looked a very very poor keeper at times. Howard along with Neville and Distin do not inspire me with any confidence at all. In fact all three looked a liability at times.
That was a good post, Jay, right up to the "(and yes, Crouch would be good)".
Let yerself down there, my son.
Let yerself down there, my son.
I agree that Howard has his significant faults major being his lack of command in the box, weakness against long range thunderbolts and his refusal to throw the ball out to start a counterattack, the latter really gets on my nerves as I love that trait in a good keeper. Thanks god we don’t rely on Plug from the Bash Street kids (Crouch) as hoofball would be on the cards every single ball.
On a humour side I must admit Howard sometimes strikes me as "The Monk" in Mean Machine.
On a humour side I must admit Howard sometimes strikes me as "The Monk" in Mean Machine.
Have commented ad nauseum on Howards tendency to refuse a quick counter by throwing to a team-mate and holding on to the ball until all, opposition & Everton players have assumed their positions. He then rolls the ball to the edge of his area and hoofs it over the heads of our midfield. He does this every week. We all see it.
He is not the only offender as we know as Jags, Yobo, Neville all do it even when there is no pressure on them. My question is would they do it on a regular basis if they were told that the manager did not approve?
Andrew,
I wasnt talking about Goal Kicks. I was talking about when he had the ball in his hands and on every single occasion booted the ball up the pitch only for Birmingham to get possession and play it straight back on us.
I’m not saying he was responsible for the loss of two points but it was crass stupidity to boot the ball up when we had already shown we could play around Birmingham using passing and movement.
I wasnt talking about Goal Kicks. I was talking about when he had the ball in his hands and on every single occasion booted the ball up the pitch only for Birmingham to get possession and play it straight back on us.
I’m not saying he was responsible for the loss of two points but it was crass stupidity to boot the ball up when we had already shown we could play around Birmingham using passing and movement.
Joe harts agent is also ossie n hibbos. City have given, imo best keeper in the world, Hart surely aint gonna wana be a bench warmer. lets snap him up
Simon, got to disagree with your rating of Given, I personally think Hart is a better keeper.
A word about Crouch.. Good player. Mobile, good first touch and lay-offs, an eye for goal (eg strike record for England). None of this with his head - all on the ground, which is where his skills are. He is a poor header of the ball because he never had to learn how to do it.
The general level of ignorance about football among the commentators of the media (including former players) is well illustrated by their assumption that because he is tall he must be good in the air. Even worse perhaps, coaches who should know better have assumed the same.
Having said that, you could just imagine the stream of wasted hopeful non-crosses from Neville and co if he was up front for us. I’m glad that at least that will never happen.
The general level of ignorance about football among the commentators of the media (including former players) is well illustrated by their assumption that because he is tall he must be good in the air. Even worse perhaps, coaches who should know better have assumed the same.
Having said that, you could just imagine the stream of wasted hopeful non-crosses from Neville and co if he was up front for us. I’m glad that at least that will never happen.
Howard like the majority of keepers today can make a mistake and perhaps he’s not as commanding as he could be. But we’ve been spoilt most Everton fans compare any goalie we have with Neville Southall and apart from Martyn none of the goalies we have had are anywhere near as good. As for Hart he is enjoying a fantastic season but he’s also add a few howlers to go with great saves but we dont see them as they are not on TV as much. I’ve seen crosses come into his box and he’s gone flapping too.
Must agree with Stephen Kenny about that back three lacking any quality & vision. Of course it’s Moyes’ fault - being happy with that kind of mediocrity. Also agree that we have quality and potential in Coleman, who doesn’t get a show because of the ’seniority’ of Neville.
"A match we should have won in a canter and didn’t because we’ve lost our MoJo."
Maurice Johnstone is past it!
Whats happened to Saha?
Maurice Johnstone is past it!
Whats happened to Saha?
Totally agree, I personally have never liked Howard as a keeper, yes he makes a few good saves, but gets beat to often from long range. Also against Sporting Lisbon he got beat on his near post for the first goal, criminal in goalkeeping circles. Spurs 2nd goal last week was his fault. Wolves at home, while you expect a striker to score a one-on-one he star jumped in the air allowing Kevin Doyle to slide the ball under him into and empty net. Equaliser on Saturday he didn’t even try to save it while it bobbled into the net.
Paul Robinson, Robert Green and maybe even Joe Hart could be available for next season with Green my preferred choice. Moyes seems to like Howard though so I don’t expect a change
Paul Robinson, Robert Green and maybe even Joe Hart could be available for next season with Green my preferred choice. Moyes seems to like Howard though so I don’t expect a change
The goalie is not responsible for the way we play, if he rolls it out to Jags, Distin, Yobo, Neville the all generally hoof it anyway. If the players do not show for the ball what is he supposed to do? I agree he has his weaknesses but Im happy with him in goal for us. I rate him as the best Ive seen in a "Blue" shirt after the two Bigs, Nev and Nige.
RE the Doyle goal. Howard made a great save against Garcia of Hull with the exact same "star jump". Most strikers will attempt a lob but Doyle had the nouce to slide it under Howard making him look a bit daft.
RE the Doyle goal. Howard made a great save against Garcia of Hull with the exact same "star jump". Most strikers will attempt a lob but Doyle had the nouce to slide it under Howard making him look a bit daft.
Ahh Big Nev.
Now where does he rate in the list of greatest goalkeepers?
Ill never forget I think it was Barry Davies before the 95 Cup Final: "Neville Southall, always looks as though he has already played a game of football before kick-off."
Now where does he rate in the list of greatest goalkeepers?
Ill never forget I think it was Barry Davies before the 95 Cup Final: "Neville Southall, always looks as though he has already played a game of football before kick-off."
Spot on Danny. The satr jump was a favourite of old rudolph Schmeichal (sp), I wouldn’t say he was too bad a goalie.
He does have the propensity to hoof the ball but then again i was actually screaming at the screen in the pub to not roll it out to Neville, which he actually did quite often but that doesn’t fit in with this thread, does it?
He does have the propensity to hoof the ball but then again i was actually screaming at the screen in the pub to not roll it out to Neville, which he actually did quite often but that doesn’t fit in with this thread, does it?
Take your point Dan, with the Garcia save the ball was bouncing and he no choice but to lob it, with Doyle the ball was at his feet on the deck Tim made his mind up for him. Personally I think he’s OK, I just think we could get a better keeper.
I was a goalkeeper for 3 years, albeit at a low level and I can assure you that the ’mad’ things keepers do, are part & parcel of the position. Everything you do is highlighted and you often find yourself having to make snap decisions in the blink of an eye.
Howard is an excellent keeper and personally I think he’s doing a fine job.
Howard is an excellent keeper and personally I think he’s doing a fine job.
Blaming Howard for that performance is comical. The usually solid Jags was poor, as was Distin. Cahill vanished early and Arteta & Pienaar lost the midfield battle. Anichebe never tracks his runner which exposes the weakest link we have-Capt. Pip. Gosling looked lost and slow. Yakubu is not back, is still clumsy and has lost more than a step. Apart from that, we were brilliant so lets get rid of the Keeper.
I thought Ruddy did a good job at well.. IMO, he should be given a chance as well..
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1 Posted 14/03/2010 at 04:57:21
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