Howard

[Bruce Wayne]

Howard could have done better with the goal today but jeez, he's been fine this season, give him a break.

[little curly alan ball]

Originally Posted by billycopper

What's going on with Tim Howard this season? I've mentioned this in another thread. Whereas last season he kept a club record number of clean sheets, was authoratitive and pulled off atleast one wondersave per game, this term he's looked average at best.

He should have been concentrating on the incoming corner today rather than Kuyt's positioning.

There was a clip on MOTD a couple of weeks ago where Pienaar left the ball for Howard to claim and rather than smother the ball he launched it into row Z.

He just doesn't seem like he's concentrating on his football. Perhaps it's fatigue after playing the Confederations Cup last summer and being pretty much an ever-present for us? If he was at one of the top 4 clubs he'd be rested. It's a shame that we can't afford to do the same.

I never have never fancied him . Liability waiting to happen .
Jaaskelienen every day for me .

[little curly alan ball]

Originally Posted by Bruce Wayne

Howard could have done better with the goal today but jeez, he's been fine this season, give him a break.

Bruce , it don't happen often , but I disagree , mate .

[Bruce Wayne]

Jaaskelienen is a fine keeper so wouldn't mind him, but I don't think we do badly at all with Howard.

As with most keepers these days he's much better at shot stopping than coming for crosses. He's good with his feet and his distribution is generally good, looking to build from the back rather than hoof it long.

Not the best in the Prem for sure, but to put things into perspective, if he was English he'd be in our starting lineup.

[Lao]

Commanding the area and having confidence in the back four is all about communication. There have been too many changes so far this season for Howard get a consistent system going. Yobo, Lescott, Distin, Heitinga, Neill, Hibbert, Senderos - how many combinations has he had at CB so far? - and that's without taking into account the numerous names at RB, and situations like Coleman at LB v Benfica. Defensive organisation has been a shambles.

That's the plain and simple reason why we are not keeping clean sheets this season.

Having said that though, this.......

Originally Posted by little curly alan ball

I never have never fancied him . Liability waiting to happen .
Jaaskelienen every day for me .

[kenada_blue]

Originally Posted by little curly alan ball

I never have never fancied him . Liability waiting to happen .
Jaaskelienen every day for me .

He's prone to shocking keeping too though. Good shot stopper but he's involving in plenty of misscommunication own goals and gaffs with his defence

[gedefc]

i thought bluekipper was bad, christ.

hes a really good keeper, our most consistent performer this season, very rarely makes mistakes, has been playing with a different CB pairing for the majority of the season ffs.

[gkpaul]

If you want a keeper who commands his area then Jussi's not your man

[little curly alan ball]

Originally Posted by gkpaul

If you want a keeper who commands his area then Jussi's not your man

Mate , with respect ,neither is a goalie with Tourette's- he can't shout !!!??? - , whom not only does not command the area , but even a yard under the bar is open to question - see yesterday - . Also , see how many goals , this season and last - this year's home Derby . Exhibit No. 1 - , have come from him pushing relatively inoccuous shots back onto on-rushing forwards ??? A good few . All cause he can't / won't catch .
HE'S A GODDAMN GOALKEEPER , FOR CHRISSAKES !!!
Jaaskaleinen is a lot better goalie and should he have played in a side as good as ours - can be - , would have done at least as good as ,
" Pete " . Ahem , Wakners !!!
Don't mean to get personal , but I'm still very , very pissed .

[Gazelle]

We wouldn't benefit at all from getting rid of Howard and bringing Jussi in.

Howard is a far superior keeper, and he DOES command his box more than not.

[GhostOfDixie]

Originally Posted by Khalekan

Howard was 100% at fault today......trying to blame Neville is to ignore the obvious.

The other issue I have is with Moyes.

Chucking a lightweight ball player into that bearpit today, having played only half a game in the past year, was lunacy, IMO

The system was working well with Felliani breaking up every move they made.....Neville should have been pushed into that role and Coleman fetched on to bomb up and down the right, giving a hand to Donovan who had his hands full escaping the attentions of Inua.

Okay, so the distribution wouldn't be as good as the big lad's, but the destructive side would have been there and Phil wouldn't have been bullied out the game by Mascherano.

Behave yourself will you.

Neville was not goal side. It's not up to Howard to mark the front man, it's down to the defenders. Neville is goal side we have no problem, so for you to say that Howard was 100% at fault just shows what little knowledge you have of football.