Season › 2024-25 › Opinion › Talking Points Southall vs Pickford by Graham Mockford | 29/08/2025 44 Comments [Jump to last] Let me just start this post by stating my bona fides. I was a student in 1983. I saw every game for 4 years so I was very lucky. I was at Spurs in 1985 when Neville Southall made that save against Falco. I was at Hillsborough when he literally won the game on his own. The save from Varadi was the best save I’ve ever seen. But then, in 2017, we signed Jordan Lee Pickford. It’s fair to say it took him a while to settle down, the goal he conceded at Anfield was definitely the low point but, in the last 5 years, he’s been nothing short of exceptional. His stats are great but they don’t really don’t do him justice. We would not be a Premier League club without him. So it may be an unpopular opinion… but Jordan is the better keeper for me. He’s just played in a poorer side. Return to Talking Points index : Add your Comments » Reader Comments (44) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Jack Convery 1 Posted 30/08/2025 at 13:18:36 He does play in a poorer side and he's been brilliant. However, Neville is the better keeper. He was World No 1 when he played and worth many a point each season. It was real pity he never got to play in a World Cup or Euros, as that would have enhanced his reputation even further. Les Callan 2 Posted 30/08/2025 at 13:20:17 No comparison Graham. Nev is number one. Greatest ever keeper. Les Callan 3 Posted 30/08/2025 at 13:22:07 Oh and by the way Graham, you saw 4 of Nevs 19 seasons. Rob Hooton 4 Posted 30/08/2025 at 13:25:10 Big Nev was my hero, I was goalkeeper for the school team and I modelled my bravery and much more on Southall. He’s a true great.Pickford has grown whilst he’s been here and is the only keeper we’ve had that comes close to Southall. If we can win a couple of trophies with Jordan then he can take place on the plinth with Neville - we’d all be over the moon if that happened! Southall still pips it for me, mainly because he played in a great team and won lots. He also helped us win the FA Cup in ‘95, he rolled back the years with some stunning saves in the final. Proper legend. Colin Glassar 5 Posted 30/08/2025 at 13:39:58 Pickford has come on leaps and bounds but Neville was unique. The best goalie in the world at his peak.I still maintain that Georgie Wood was better than both of them. Mark Wynne 6 Posted 30/08/2025 at 13:40:31 Nev hands down. Certainly the best British keeper at the time and since. Pickford is good, don’t get me wrong, but not really at the same level. I don’t even have him as the best since Nev, that honour I think has to go to Nigel Martyn. Lee Courtliff 7 Posted 30/08/2025 at 13:45:18 I never saw the '80s, my first game was in 1990 and Nev was still a good keeper for us. Despite a dip in form around '93ish, he was massive during the '95 Cup winning season. But, even then you could tell he was coming to the end and I'll never forget a game against Wimbledon in '96 when he was glued to his line. We lost 4-2 and their keeper, Neil Sullivan, absolutely dominated his box and looked the far better keeper on the day. So, from what I've seen with my own eyes, Jordan Pickford is the best keeper we've ever had. Even though he does frustrate me at times and I absolutely hate the time-wasting (I know every keeper does it).I get the feeling that it's only a matter of time before the rest of the country wake up to how good he is and the Love-In will begin. Our imminent upturn in fortunes will change the narrative.And 15 years from now everyone will be wishing England had a keeper as good as Pickford was. Tommy Carter 8 Posted 30/08/2025 at 13:45:36 Pickford is a tremendous goalkeeper. Without wanting to tempt fate - mistakes are few and far between either at Premier League or International level. The mistake in the derby was colossal but his ability to recover from that shows remarkable character. His excitable demeanour and lack of extreme height seem to act against him when it comes to public opinion. He’s arguably England’s greatest ever goalkeeper. And over the last couple of years in particular he has performed brilliantly with two notably world class performances against Liverpool and Chelsea that stand out. Big Neville however, was better. Robert Tressell 9 Posted 30/08/2025 at 13:46:02 There’s a marked difference between pre and post back pass rule keepers. Very different skill set and role in the team. Makes it hard to judge / compare. Liam Mogan 10 Posted 30/08/2025 at 13:46:20 There's no debate here. Big Nev everyday and twice on Sundays. Christy Ring 11 Posted 30/08/2025 at 15:05:00 Pickford has been brilliant for Everton, but no keeper touches Big Nev, he was the best keeper in the World in his prime. Mark Murphy 12 Posted 30/08/2025 at 17:43:18 I’m still amazed at the negativity towards Pickford from fans of other clubs.I played cricket today with a Newcastle fan, an Arsenal fan, two Spurs fans and Alace and Brighton fans. They were, for no other reason than they know I’m a blue, slagging him off. I said he’s the best keeper in the league and they all claimed their clubs’ keeper was better than him.I know they’re biased but this is common in my experience.Btw - Big Nev was, is and always will be, the best keeper ever to play in the UK.UTFT John Crook 13 Posted 30/08/2025 at 17:56:58 Five or six years ago, there was a narrative created by the likes of Roy Keane, Lee Dixon and a couple of others. During the 15 minutes half-time, they let the country know just how sub-standard Pickford is… and guess what: every man and his dog bought the narrative, hook, line and sinker. Jordan Pickford is not the best goalkeeper in the Premier League but he is without doubt the 5th or 6th best keeper in the league and he is a country mile ahead of all the other English keepers. Yes, that blunder at the end of the derby in 2018 probably destroyed him mentally for a while, but he saw a sports mind specialist of some kind and it clearly paid off. Pickord's distribution is inconsistent but his shot-stopping is first class. But sorry, he is not at Southall's level. Les Callan 14 Posted 30/08/2025 at 17:57:10 Good god Colin ……George Wood ? You must have written that tongue in cheek. Roberto Birquet 15 Posted 30/08/2025 at 19:43:23 I love Pickford. But whenever I saw someone (Rush aside) one on one with Southall, I felt totally calm.Some 40 years later (am realising every day just how old I am), Neville Southall remains the last goalkeeper to win the Football Writers' Footballer of the Year.Southall is the best Colin Glassar 16 Posted 30/08/2025 at 19:47:32 Les, I used to stand in the street end just behind George. He used to share his sarnies with me when there was a lull in the game. Great man. Fantastic goalie.Nev and Pickford are better but I got sod all from either of those two stingy sods. Michael Coffey 17 Posted 31/08/2025 at 07:46:56 Thank you Colin: I’ve always had the impression that rating George wood was taboo on TW, so now I feel I can admit this guilty secret. I suppose it’s because after seeing westie only in his later seasons and then being fed a diet of Dave Lawson and dai Davies he was the first stylish keeper I’d seen at goodison. I shall in particular long cherish his Tomacevski- like performance in a draw at Mordor that the exasperated Guardian described as “a 1-1 massacre” Colin Glassar 18 Posted 31/08/2025 at 08:05:56 People forget, or don’t know, just how good that Everton side of the mid-to-late 70’s was, Michael. We could have gone on to great things. We could have been contenders with players like, George, Lyons, Pejic, Mckenzie, King, Dobson, Thomas, Latchford, etc…. Forming the nucleus of a title challenge. But Everton have been cursed by either mismanagement (board) or bad management (in this case, Gordon Lee) but mostly by both. George was an entertainer as well as a great goalie. He deserves his place in the pantheon of great Everton goalies. Bill Fairfield 19 Posted 31/08/2025 at 08:20:11 If the Everton board had backed Billy Bingham in the signing of Peter Shilton, that 74/75 side would have clinched the title. And we’d have been talking about another great keeper at the club. Ryan Holroyd 20 Posted 31/08/2025 at 08:24:52 Wait Colin….. a goalkeeper for Everton used to share his sandwiches with you ? Colin Glassar 21 Posted 31/08/2025 at 08:26:57 True, Bill. And if we had gotten Bobby Robson we could have dominated the 70’s and 80’s. We’d have the titles and cups the rs have. Lots of ifs and buts, but those of who us who saw the potential know how shortsightedness robbed us of our destiny, time and time again. So frustrating.Just joking, Ryan. George used to have a snack sometimes hidden in his towel and would have a sneaky bite . We used to ask him to share but all we got was a cheeky wink. Liam Mogan 22 Posted 31/08/2025 at 08:32:23 It was definitely sandwich spread on those butties. It was the 70s after all. With George being from north of the border, I'm going for salmon spread. Yummy. Andrew Clare 23 Posted 31/08/2025 at 08:37:16 Agree Colin that ‘70’s team was class.Southall best keeper anywhere ever.Pickford is very good.My favourite when I was a boy was West.. Paul Hewitt 24 Posted 31/08/2025 at 08:41:11 There hasn't been a keeper that I've seen in 53 years that even comes close to Neville Southall. It's not even a debate. Colin Glassar 25 Posted 31/08/2025 at 08:50:07 Nev was probably the best out of a great bunch of Everton goalies. I say probably, because my dad said Ted Sagar was the best. But we’ve been blessed, in my lifetime, with the likes of West, Wood, Neville, Martyn, Pickford. I’m not sure about Tim Howard. He was too accident prone for my liking. Tony Cunningham 26 Posted 31/08/2025 at 09:19:03 To be fair, many times we whinge that the media has a campaign against Everton but regarding Pickford I think we must pay the press millions to continue with their story that he's rubbish.There is no reason on earth that he should have stayed with us and not been bought by a CL playing club over the past 5 years. For us to keep him means we must have been bribing journalists into saying he's crap.He has kept us in the Premier League... but Big Nev is still the best. John Pickles 27 Posted 31/08/2025 at 09:32:47 When a shot comes in, we hope our goalie will save it.When a shot came in with Nev in goal, we expected him to save it. Barry Williams 28 Posted 31/08/2025 at 09:37:48 There mere fact that this conversation is being had, means that Pickford is definitely doing something right. Mick O'Malley 29 Posted 31/08/2025 at 09:44:37 Neville Southall is the best for me, he got less exposure because not all games were televised then, but honestly he was unbeatable one on one and had incredible reactions, we didn't worry about goalkeepers distribution in those days but as an actual showstopper he is the best I've ever seen, very rarely made a mistake Scott Hamilton 30 Posted 31/08/2025 at 09:49:33 What about Tim Howard? I kind of miss having a goalie that shouted “bucket of spunk” as he took a goal kick.Joking aside, Pickford is a huge player for us and has kept us in the PL over the last few years. I’m astonished that we’ve managed to keep hold of him. He’s a bit nuts, just like the very best keepers, and has absolute confidence in himself, another top-goalie trait. I wouldn’t have any other PL keeper over Pickford, he’s essential to us, but……Southall is our greatest ever keeper and possibly the best ever goalie full-stop. James Marshall 31 Posted 31/08/2025 at 10:23:55 You can't really compare them because goalkeeping now is entirely different to goalkeeping when Big Nev played.As a keeper myself, albeit in amateur Saturday/Sunday leagues, he was and is my all time footballing hero (along with Ferenc Puskas but that's another story) so I would plump for Southall every time - no matter who you put him up against. I'm also predominantly Welsh with some English, Danish and a hint of Norwegian, Scottish and Irish according to my DNA so I have a soft spot for all things from the valleys.Neville is also a thoroughly decent human being and champions minorities so my love for him has only grown over the years. Pickford is a good goalkeeper and I have a lot of admiration for him, but Neville is the greatest goalkeeper that ever lived and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise! Trevor Powell 32 Posted 31/08/2025 at 10:24:05 Unless anyone knows of an exact Neville Sothall Mk. II, then all debate is irrelevant. Nev was from yesteryear just like Gordon West and Sagar who perhaps should be included in this debate! Dave Abrahams 33 Posted 31/08/2025 at 19:42:39 Sorry Graham I wouldn’t need more than two seconds to give the nod to Neville — don’t know how how any Everton fan could even consider Jordan to be in the same company as Neville, Nigel Martyn or Ted Sagar. Mind you, got to admit not many will have seen the great agile cat like fearless Ted in the days when goalies were knocked from pillar to post, and Ted never screamed and shouted at his defenders like a demented banshee, he used to give them one of those glaring looks and they got the message. Kieran Kinsella 34 Posted 31/08/2025 at 19:52:09 JamesDidn’t that “thoroughly decent human being,” ditch his wife aged 40 and run off with a 17 year old girl? Peter Mills 35 Posted 31/08/2025 at 20:11:06 We are fortunate to have had Jordan Pickford; he is, and has been for some time, very good, at times outstanding, occasionally erratic.Neville was great. Scott Hamilton 36 Posted 31/08/2025 at 20:17:18 You know, somebody told me that Pickford hates Newcastle and he hates the shite. (Jordan Pickford, he’s dynamite!) Gavin Johnson 37 Posted 31/08/2025 at 20:17:22 For me Neville at his best beats Jordan hands down, but I think Jordan has the longevity of performing at a high level.I can guess that's a controversial opinion but I started watching Everton at the end of the 86 season when Nev was injured...He came back and we won the league and he was still a worldie GK, but come the early 90's I do think his levels had dropped as had the teams.I guess Nev being the better at his best and Jordan's longevity make it a draw. Peter Gorman 38 Posted 01/09/2025 at 01:07:22 Pickford has not even been as consistently class as Nigel Martyn, I agree with Mark W.However, I don't think either Southall or Martyn would have been capable of this!Link Gavin Johnson 39 Posted 01/09/2025 at 01:44:40 You're right Peter. Nigel Martyn was class and consistent, but he was only with us for five minutes.Pickford had a few dodgy moments in the first couple of seasons but he's been consistent for years now. Kieran Kinsella 40 Posted 01/09/2025 at 01:56:51 DaveGavin and Peter have a point. Martyn was here fleetingly. Southall went from bin man to world class to fat fat bloke who ate all the pies in about 5 years. Pickford has been consistent for longer for club and country. Simon Jones 41 Posted 01/09/2025 at 09:32:21 As the years have passed and I think about how good Big Nev was, lately I think he was the best player I ever saw play for Everton, not just the best goalie.Pickford is the best current English keeper by miles and from this list:http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamGkprs/GkprsChron.htmlI'd say he's been the best on that list since I can recall back to the 80s. Dave Abrahams 42 Posted 01/09/2025 at 12:41:06 Kieran (40), Yes, fair enough, Neville made some mistakes near the end of his Everton career that he hadn't made before in his early career. Jordan made plenty of cock-ups in his early career and he is still making them now, along with his world class saves. I don't think you could say he has been consistently good.Nigel Martyn wasn't here long but he was an excellent goalkeeper wherever he played.As ever, it's all about opinions. Dave Abrahams 43 Posted 01/09/2025 at 12:48:34 Peter (38),I think Neville would have been across his goal and headed that out for a throw-in. Not being funny but both Southall and Martyn have made better saves than that. So has Jordan, the two saves off the same move v Chelsea now they were exceptional. Ordinary keepers make exceptional saves so one exceptional standout save doesn't make the goalie an exceptional one. Les Callan 44 Posted 01/09/2025 at 17:39:23 Gavin @37. I don't understand your reference to Pickford's longevity versus Southall's ability. Hasn't Nev played about 300 more games for the Blues? As Dave Abraham has said — there is no comparison between the two. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. 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