Tim Howard

carolinablue232 · January 19, 2016

arbok said:
4th

Howard is poor but we'd be nowhere near 4th with any other keeper. Our defense is responsible for just as much of the mess.

kithnou · January 19, 2016

arbok said:
4th

Correct.

kithnou · January 19, 2016

carolinablue232 said:
Howard is poor but we'd be nowhere near 4th with any other keeper. Our defense is responsible for just as much of the mess.

Disagree with that. No lower than 5th easily.

BluePeadar · January 19, 2016

lancs blue said:
We could sign Neur, de Gea, Shilton etc tomorrow and Howard would still be number one. If Robles saved five pens in a match and dribbled to the other end and scored hed still be dropped due to Howard's experience as Martinez puts it

I think Howard could be Martinez' Vietnam.
He refuses to drop him despite consistent poor displays.
He is losing respect of more and more fans by the week on this.
So many of managers in all walks of life are done in by their own stubborness and refusal to change Howard will be Martinez', ultimately the rot has set in with him sticking with Howard.

carolinablue232 · January 19, 2016

kithnou said:
Disagree with that. No lower than 5th easily.

Think you're grossly romanticizing. We give away far too many chances to be challenging top four regardless of who is in the nets. Those thinking it's a quick fix are just desperately looking for something specific to blame for our place in the table. Our problems at the back are beyond a quick fix. Our back line, and Stones in particular, despite all his obvious talent, has defended very poorly.

kithnou · January 19, 2016

carolinablue232 said:
Think you're grossly romanticizing. We give away far too many chances to be challenging top four regardless of who is in the nets. Those thinking it's a quick fix are just desperately looking for something specific to blame for our place in the table. Our problems at the back are beyond a quick fix. Our back line, and Stones in particular, despite all his obvious talent, has defended very poorly.

I take your opinion. Disagree with it but take it.
I'll assume you are in Carolina right? Any bias in your opinion?

ijjysmith · January 19, 2016

carolinablue232 said:
Howard is poor but we'd be nowhere near 4th with any other keeper. Our defense is responsible for just as much of the mess.

We'd defo be a bit nearer at least.

carolinablue232 · January 19, 2016

ijjysmith said:
We'd defo be a bit nearer at least.

Surely we would. But just as surely we wouldn't be 4th.

ijjysmith · January 19, 2016

carolinablue232 said:
Surely we would. But just as surely we wouldn't be 4th.

Maybe, hard to tell. Howard is awful (obvs), who knows where we'd be with a keeper who can organise a defence hey?!

Zatara · January 19, 2016

carolinablue232 said:
Think you're grossly romanticizing. We give away far too many chances to be challenging top four regardless of who is in the nets. Those thinking it's a quick fix are just desperately looking for something specific to blame for our place in the table. Our problems at the back are beyond a quick fix. Our back line, and Stones in particular, despite all his obvious talent, has defended very poorly.

Look at Butlands stats this season. Alot of people talking about there outfield players but hes been key for them.

We would be top 4 with him in the side.
Easily.

carolinablue232 · January 19, 2016

Zatara said:
Look at Butlands stats this season. Alot of people talking about there outfield players but hes been key for them.

We would be top 4 with him in the side.
Easily.

Haven't you learned not to use stats in this thread yet? Also, you know they've beaten us 3 straight times, right? Before Butland even. Their squad really isn't that bad. What I'd give to have a Shawcross for the last 30 minutes of every match.

carolinablue232 · January 19, 2016

ijjysmith said:
Maybe, hard to tell. Howard is awful (obvs), who knows where we'd be with a keeper who can organise a defence hey?!

Nobody knows. If we did we'd have nothing to argue about. That wouldn't be any fun at all.

arbok · January 19, 2016

carolinablue232 said:
Think you're grossly romanticizing. We give away far too many chances to be challenging top four regardless of who is in the nets. Those thinking it's a quick fix are just desperately looking for something specific to blame for our place in the table. Our problems at the back are beyond a quick fix. Our back line, and Stones in particular, despite all his obvious talent, has defended very poorly.

I can agree with that. Howard has been bad, but Coleman, Jags/Funes Mori, Stones, Baines/Galloway has not been so hot either. It's been a pretty unsettled back four thru the whole season, but I think the real reason is the lack of experience. Perhaps as supporters we shouldn't be so high on these young lads and hype them up so much. I know Evertonians love their youth and exciting young players, but 10 years ago, we trotted out Hibbert, Stubbs, Weir and Valente and got 4th place. Those guys put in a shift, have an abundance of experience and can manage a game. Right now, one little bit of chaos and the opposition come roaring back.

Not only has the back four changed quite a bit, McCarthy has been pretty much injured the entire season, i think he had hamstring problems early on but played with it. He's been really key as he does a lot more of the dirty work than Barry.

I think honestly right now, the team needs to get back to defending. Play 4-3-3 with Barry, Besic, Cleverley in the midfield. Play Barkley, Mirallas, Lukaku up top. But they need an extra body back there, a disciplined one too to toughen up the defence. When Everton get ahead they need to focus on defence by making appropriate substitutions based on the opposition. That's what I'd do anyway.

Donald Twain · January 19, 2016

sageyefc said:
Whens it going to end

My ban? Today I'm allowed back in here! Where's Doug?

cduff · January 19, 2016

carolinablue232 said:
Haven't you learned not to use stats in this thread yet? Also, you know they've beaten us 3 straight times, right? Before Butland even. Their squad really isn't that bad. What I'd give to have a Shawcross for the last 30 minutes of every match.

According to the same stats, Howard is 7th best GK in the EPL. So, his stats are better than the team's.
I know that TH has made some errors but fundamentally I believe that the main issue is the overall team's defensive structure (or lack of).
As a team we commit the lowest no. of fouls per game (too nice?) and concede the 6th highest shots and 3rd highest shots on target per game. Statistically, if we allow other teams more shots on target then we will concede more. How is that TH's fault?
Sorting out how we defend is a much higher (short term) priority than TH in my view.