18 Mar 2018 06:16:18
Before yesterday's game, I put on a post suggesting Pickford costs us quite a few goals and although he is a fantastic shot stopper, his ability to claim high balls pumped into the box was poor. Especially on free kicks and corners. Most posters disagreed with me (except for one of the Eds who wholeheartedly agreed and said that Pickford seems to get rooted to his goal line) . Yet again yesterday, he made some outstanding agile saves. and then undid his good work by conceding at a free kick by not coming off his line and claiming a curled free kick by Joe Allen. When the Stoke City player finally made contact with the ball to score, Pickford was probably 2 yards off hisline and the Stoke player 3 yards out. I had suggested that Robles would be a better bet and even expected Crouch to score a couple of goals because of Pickfords reluctance to claim high balls or be rooted to his line. I have seen this numerous times this season. Van Dijk scored when he was slow out. Last week he was slow out against Burnley for one of the goals and I know he has done it more times. Yes he is a great shot stopper, but as Shay Given pointed out last night. there is more to goalkeeping than stopping shots. We have the worst defensive record in the Premier League and yet are 9th. That says something in our goalscoring ability and something about how safe we are at the back.


1.) 18 Mar 2018
18 Mar 2018 06:26:04
Oh I meant to add, I don't know why we defend on free kicks the way we do. We should step out and leave the opposition's forwards offside if they go too soon and thus leave Pickford with more space to come and claim the ball.


2.) 18 Mar 2018
18 Mar 2018 07:06:53
I agree about what you said about pickford but he is head and shoulders above Joel, and i don't think swapping a goal keeper due to a threat from set pieces is a good idea at all. Its something that can be coached into a player, especially a young one like pickford. Ye, the tactics from defensive corners baffles me and we have been awful at them since Moyes left.


3.) 18 Mar 2018
18 Mar 2018 07:37:38
I have to agree with Blue tit. The goal keeping coach should be working on that and improving his game. That is why it is important we get a manager and coaching team who can improve our youngsters.
Joel is not the answer, it is just another shuffle of the back 5 again when we have just got it settled.
Just look across the park at what happens when you rotate goal keepers to suit opposing teams.

He may have cost us 2 or 3 goals this season but boy, has he saved us a lot of lost points aswell.


4.) 18 Mar 2018
18 Mar 2018 07:50:49
I take your point about rotating and disruption. and I agree. but it is more than 2 or 3 goals. I can only think of recent ones (probably due to may age) . but I remember thinking about this earlier in the season. It also happens at every set piece and that includes corners and free kicks. We look like we willconceded a goal every time. It definately needs sorting one way or the other. Our conceded goals tally is the highest in theleague and whilst a lot is down to Williams/ Keane and their poor form. and Kenny's inexperience and Martina's inability. the keeper is also at fault. I have put it partly down to his physique. He is I think the shortest Premier keeper and I am sure other teams are targeting us in that area. Our ability to score has increased with the 2 recent signings. we just need to tighten up at the back.


5.) 18 Mar 2018
18 Mar 2018 08:54:57
We look dodgey under pressure this season, and almost defensless against high balls, so pickford taking the pressure of the defenders by coming out would be massive. May instill a bit of confidence in the back 5 as well. I think confidence may be an issue as well. As a gk you need to feel like that ball is your god given right to pluck it out of the air and keep tight hold like its made of gold. As well as goals conceded whether its 2 or 3 or more, it would have a more broad advantage to come out and collect as i believe it would improve the cohesiveness and confidence of the back 5 as a unit. I feel like the defense hasn't always stuck together and at times we have a group of defensive individuals and not a solid unit. Mentally I think it helps.


6.) 18 Mar 2018
18 Mar 2018 09:15:54
the only defence I will give for Pickford is he is still very young and already one of the best GK in the premiership if he is still making these mistakes next season then have a dig at him but you have to remember a gk is only as good as his def and he has been let down massively this season.


7.) 18 Mar 2018
18 Mar 2018 11:14:38
To be fair, I wasnt having a dig at him. It was just an observation that I made and other people seemed to be raving about him. Ed001 agreed with me but Others tended to disagree so I left it. then blow me the very next game and the same thing happens.

{Ed001's Note - I still agree with you. Nothing wrong with picking out weaknesses in a player's game. The idea isn't to drag them down but to point out what they need to work on. You even pointed out what he did well, so how could it be seen as a dig?}


8.) 18 Mar 2018
18 Mar 2018 12:41:28
Agreed.


9.) 18 Mar 2018
18 Mar 2018 16:24:14
I think we will see an improvement in pickford decisions once the back four are settled and capable.


10.) 18 Mar 2018
18 Mar 2018 16:45:08
Totally agree with the Pickford stuff Degsy but we haven't got the worst defensive record in the league. 4 teams have conceded more. Its still awful though.


11.) 18 Mar 2018
18 Mar 2018 18:43:32
Pickford has bags of skill and potential. He's still quite raw though, and needs time to develop. He's still very young for a keeper and can only get better. Shame he didn't come off his line for the goal, but he'll learn from that and let's face it, he was confused by attacking Choupo-Moating's low flying balls. If you can't stop a goal, at least a smack in the opposition nads takes the edge off!


12.) 18 Mar 2018
18 Mar 2018 19:39:55
I agree with that smit.


13.) 18 Mar 2018
18 Mar 2018 20:50:18
somebody was telling me a few days ago that Pickford is apparently high on Man Utds list to replace De Gea. I fear we may never get his best years here at Everton.


14.) 19 Mar 2018
19 Mar 2018 12:49:06
Not sure you can rotate a goalkeeper based on one area of his game. Just because a team has an aerial threat doesn't mean they won't shoot and the other way around. However he's much better than anything we have in the rest of the squad.

Pickford has a weakness but then everyone has a weakness. He'll learn and get better over time.