My dad was a non-league goalie (for St Domingo no less). I was a goalie too. I like to think I know what I'm talking about when it comes to goalkeeping.
I'm going to say it - Tim Howard isn't the worst goalie in the world. Actually, he's ok. The problem, I feel, is that goalies aren't taught to catch anymore, they punch and parry. While these techniques are fine if that's all you can do in a particular situation, I was taught to always catch if possible. It's endemic of goalkeeping and I wonder if the coaches should be scrutinised on this point.
His positioning is ok, and this is what makes him a decent shot stopper but his distribution could do with some work. Neville Southall (and Peter Schmeichel) could set up goals from just their throws.
I went to the U21's game the other night, with my focus on watching not Kone, but Joel Robles. And you know what? He did ok. He certainly didn't do any worse than Tim Howard. He also seemed to be absolutely massive, with a good 'presence'. I'm not saying he's a world beater either, but he certainly deserves a go against Krasnodar. He's also Martinez's man FFS! Who knows, he may even keep the place.
I'm not slating Howard here, he's been good and may just be in poor form like the whole team. But I like confidence at the back. Southall style confidence. Nigel Martyn was superb, the closest we've come to the big fella, and Howard has done a good job but I feel that at the moment, if someone shoots against us, it's going in.
I grew up on Neville Southall, and I don't accept that we should settle for a lesser goalie than his standard's set - we're Everton, we had the world's best in the big fella, and rather than feel spoilt we should just go and get the best goalie going. We spent loads on Lukaku, so why is the #1 shirt skimped on by all clubs these days?
