Tim Howard

[davek]

I certainly hope so. If he has dropped him in this way I have to say it has been tactfully done. Clearly Howard is well liked and respected around the club and has had his pride hurt enormously. Being dropped unceremoniously would have been a final insult. He was never my cup of tea but he has been a good servant for the club and hopefully could still be an asset going forward.

I love Howard Kendall but the way Southall left was a bit of a tragedy really and wasn't handled very well.

A lot of people hate Howard. I have come close to that at times. I think he's played a central role in messing up particularly this season but also last season. However nobody deserves some of the hatred that is coming his way. I also think had he been dropped lots of fans would justifiably want to rub his nose in it. The injury ruse is a nice way of fazing him out and cushioning the blow and a nice touch overall.

Overall, Howard has been one of our better GKs. But the way in which his decline has been met was nonsensical. I can understand not going with Robles at the start of the season because when he had an extended run last winter in Howard's absence he wasn't that impressive. But early in this season in the cup games he showed a lot of good form and maturity at a time when Howard was stinking the place out. There has to be serious competition in all positions, GKs included. If one is not performing then the other has to go in. I think most managers are loathe to make the decision but most in the PL would have made it way before Martinez has.

Unless JR loses form over a few games Howard has to be benched until the summer and his departure.

 

[ijjysmith]

Overall, Howard has been one of our better GKs. But the way in which his decline has been met was nonsensical. I can understand not going with Robles at the start of the season because when he had an extended run last winter in Howard's absence he wasn't that impressive. But early in this season in the cup games he showed a lot of good form and maturity at a time when Howard was stinking the place out. There has to be serious competition in all positions, GKs included. If one is not performing then the other has to go in. I think most managers are loathe to make the decision but most in the PL would have made it way before Martinez has.

Unless JR loses form over a few games Howard has to be benched until the summer and his departure.

I thought you'd have liked clean sheets mate.

 

[Pittsburgh Footy]

Or he's just injured.

No way. reading the Roberto tea leaves, he's been dropped, mate

 

[bluestevon]

Overall, Howard has been one of our better GKs. But the way in which his decline has been met was nonsensical. I can understand not going with Robles at the start of the season because when he had an extended run last winter in Howard's absence he wasn't that impressive. But early in this season in the cup games he showed a lot of good form and maturity at a time when Howard was stinking the place out. There has to be serious competition in all positions, GKs included. If one is not performing then the other has to go in. I think most managers are loathe to make the decision but most in the PL would have made it way before Martinez has.

Unless JR loses form over a few games Howard has to be benched until the summer and his departure.

Errrm what Dave, 3 clean sheets in a row before being dropped for Howard, 2 let in during his last 5 league games during that run, no losses in the last 5 he started, Howard came back in the next 4 league games we got 1 draw three losses and conceded 7.

I know you love Martinez mate, but trying to re-write that as an understandable thing for him to do is a bit daft

 

[madden95]

I certainly hope so. If he has dropped him in this way I have to say it has been tactfully done. Clearly Howard is well liked and respected around the club and has had his pride hurt enormously. Being dropped unceremoniously would have been a final insult. He was never my cup of tea but he has been a good servant for the club and hopefully could still be an asset going forward.

I love Howard Kendall but the way Southall left was a bit of a tragedy really and wasn't handled very well.

A lot of people hate Howard. I have come close to that at times. I think he's played a central role in messing up particularly this season but also last season. However nobody deserves some of the hatred that is coming his way. I also think had he been dropped lots of fans would justifiably want to rub his nose in it. The injury ruse is a nice way of fazing him out and cushioning the blow and a nice touch overall.

i agree been a great singing and is well liked, some of the abuse people give him is uncalled for he's one of our players and doesnt pick himself, should always support him, i agree if this injury is fake its the right way to get rid of him

 

[Coffee and TV]

I think it's partially this, and partially standing up for a guy that's given a lot to the club over the years. I guess we can disagree whether Tim deserves any respect, but most would say objectively he's been good for the club generally, thanks for the good years of service, now it's time to move on. And i'm sure behind closed doors that's the conversations they've had this season. Now that Robles has proven he doesn't have those apocalyptic errors in his game any more during the Cup runs, he's earned the right to get a run of games see if he's the future. I think Bob's just protecting whatever legacy Tim might have left and giving him a soft landing out the door. Which is why he's saying things like Tim was the first person to greet Joel upon learning Joel is starting at Stoke, showing he's a team player, etc

I agree with everything you've said but I do think that Martinez has let it go on too long and so something must have happened to change his mind. Howard wasn't picking himself all season and Martinez's insistence to play him has risked damaging the relationship between him and the Everton fans.

Just wondering if there's a reason that he wasn't dropped earlier and what's led to him being dropped now.

 

[Pittsburgh Footy]

I agree with everything you've said but I do think that Martinez has let it go on too long and so something must have happened to change his mind. Howard wasn't picking himself all season and Martinez's insistence to play him has risked damaging the relationship between him and the Everton fans.

Just wondering if there's a reason that he wasn't dropped earlier and what's led to him being dropped now.

In retrospect Joel was ready before now, but I think in the back of RM's mind he remembered some of the shocking displays he had in the past and had enough faith in Tim to turn it around. Once Joel left no doubt he had left those errors in the past through his Cup play, saw how he commanded his area, his distribution, etc, I think he realized Joel was ready to take the next step.

 

[BlueToff]

Errrm what Dave, 3 clean sheets in a row before being dropped for Howard, 2 let in during his last 5 league games during that run, no losses in the last 5 he started, Howard came back in the next 4 league games we got 1 draw three losses and conceded 7.

I know you love Martinez mate, but trying to re-write that as an understandable thing for him to do is a bit daft

Yeh I was baffled by it at the time, though put it down more to Martinez not wanting a player to fully lose their place due to an injury.

So I half-understood the decision last season. This year has been stupid though, one of the few things (well, only thing really) I can't think of at least a reasonably valid reason why Martinez has kept him in the side.

 

[sageyefc]

In retrospect Joel was ready before now, but I think in the back of RM's mind he remembered some of the shocking displays he had in the past and had enough faith in Tim to turn it around. Once Joel left no doubt he had left those errors in the past through his Cup play, saw how he commanded his area, his distribution, etc, I think he realized Joel was ready to take the next step.

Nothing Joel has ever done has been even close to being as bad as starjumps.

 

[ijjysmith]

No way. reading the Roberto tea leaves, he's been dropped, mate

 

[bluestevon]

Yeh I was baffled by it at the time, though put it down more to Martinez not wanting a player to fully lose their place due to an injury.

So I half-understood the decision last season. This year has been stupid though, one of the few things (well, only thing really) I can't think of at least a reasonably valid reason why Martinez has kept him in the side.

the thing about not losing a place through injury only works as long as their is the chance they will lose it due to form mate, else it means a player is undroppable, which should rarely ever be the case with any player.

HOPEFULLY Martinez has finally seen the light - and we have seen the last of Tiny Tim in goal

 

[BlueToff]

the thing about not losing a place through injury only works as long as their is the chance they will lose it due to form mate, else it means a player is undroppable, which should rarely ever be the case with any player.

HOPEFULLY Martinez has finally seen the light - and we have seen the last of Tiny Tim in goal

We can only hope!

 

[neil999]

would we really risk having an u21 keeper on the bench by pretending howard is injured?! unless there been a big falling out ala distin...

imagine he plays last game of season as a farewell and everyone boo's him lol

 

[abelard]

imagine he plays last game of season as a farewell and everyone boo's him lol

that seems embarrassingly plausibly.

"please stay forever, stones, lukaku, and barkley, at the club that petulantly shrieks at you, despite years of service, after the first hint that you've inevitably aged"

the way distin's entire career with us has been written off by some was already bad enough

 

[sageyefc]

would we really risk having an u21 keeper on the bench by pretending howard is injured?! unless there been a big falling out ala distin...

imagine he plays last game of season as a farewell and everyone boo's him lol

Our u21s are better than him