Howard

[faddy the blue]

I rate Howard as a world class keeper. Even Petr cech has had a horrendous time this season for a long time. That doesn't mean he is a shit keeper,he's a class act!

If Howard was a bosman you'll see some real champions league teams battling out to get him!

[gkpaul]

It was a goalkeeping error pure and simple.

But Neville never once tried to get goal side is what some people are trying to point out. Its a big if, but if Howard did mess it up like he did then maybe Kuyt might not have had such an easy task to score. Not saying he wouldnt have scored had Neville been goal side,but it would have been harder than the easy nod in he got.

[AdamTheGreatOneB]

Originally Posted by Khalekan

The problem with blaming Neville is that you ignore the fact that the man he is marking is shuffling about trying to gain the advantage.

The goalkeeper had a much more simple and basic task.

Catch the sodding ball,

Or at the very least punch it away.

Goalkeeping erro, IMO, and any further attempt at apportioning of blame elsewhere is nitpicking.

If it makes you feel any better, yes Howard was more at fault than Neville but the fact remains Nev was not goal side of Kuyt and should shoulder a share of the blame. He didn't even attempt to get goalside as GKP pointed out above. It's not nitpicking, it's bad goalkeeping AND poor defending.

[Grogtank]

Originally Posted by AdamTheGreatOneB

If it makes you feel any better, yes Howard was more at fault than Neville but the fact remains Nev was not goal side of Kuyt and should shoulder a share of the blame. He didn't even attempt to get goalside as GKP pointed out above. It's not nitpicking, it's bad goalkeeping AND poor defending.

I agree. Howard should have just flicked the Dirkshite out of the way, however he shouldn't have had to in the first place... In the end, that situation, Howard needs to assert himself before or after the the corner. This is coming from a biased yank.

[Robert Jarvis]

Howard came to us from Man U because he went down in the pecking order. Why, because he made some mistakes which cost points and SAF was not having that.

Then bought at a silly price what for me was the best goalie in Europe.

[MLS is not quite EPL]

I don't think you can blame Howard too much for that goal. Kuyt was in a perfect position - that he's entitled to - on the absolute best possible corner kick for that situation. I think that is one of those shots where you just have to give Kuyt his due - that was just a great redirection of the CK.

You say Howard failed here, I just say Kuyt was just amazing here.

[chicoazul]

It happens, lapse of concentration from whoever gifted whoever a goal.

See it every week in almost every game.

Luckily Howard is still ace, far to ace to be questioning him being adequate for the role.

[Dutch Toffee]

Originally Posted by chicoazul

It happens, lapse of concentration from whoever gifted whoever a goal.

See it every week in almost every game.

Luckily Howard is still ace, far to ace to be questioning him being adequate for the role.

This and this alone.

[Neiler]

Tim Krul!

[TX Bill]

Not a lot said (save from a very small minority) about Tim's job last year in goal. Then again he had Jags/Lescott in front of him and they did a stellar job.

Tim's fine and one mistake does not a keeper make.

However we do need to get our CB pairing set and get a run with them so that their can be some cohesiveness between the defense and the GK. Something we frankly haven't had at all this year, despite our recent good run of form.

[Khalekan]

Originally Posted by AdamTheGreatOneB

If it makes you feel any better, yes Howard was more at fault than Neville but the fact remains Nev was not goal side of Kuyt and should shoulder a share of the blame. He didn't even attempt to get goalside as GKP pointed out above. It's not nitpicking, it's bad goalkeeping AND poor defending.

It doesn't make me feel any better nor does it give me any pleasure saying it.

Nor do I think Howard has become a bad goalie overnight.

But he was at fault......simple as.

Continuing to try and scapegoat Neville with some soccerspeak about being "goal side" is labouring a point beyond any rational discourse

If you do want to apportion culpability to another player, then Heitinger is your man.......he gave away a needless corner which led to Timmy's blunder.