2020/21 Jordan Pickford

[Parker]

It's mad what one brilliant performance can do to a player, I genuinely believe this is entirely down to the most recent Anfield Derby. There were demons to be exorcised at that gaff and Jordan did it brilliantly. Since then he's been faultless and it's down to that.


...oh and the hair too. Definitely the hair.

 

[Toffeelover]

Top keeper showing some consistency. A lot of people eating their words but also waiting for a mistake to say 'told ya so'

Depressing isn't it.

 

[Eggs]

Top keeper showing some consistency. A lot of people eating their words but also waiting for a mistake to say 'told ya so'

…it really isn’t that. i genuinely hope his gaffs are a thing of the past, but we’ve had these periods of stability before. I watch the England games, I watch Everton games hoping he’s safe. I don’t want to say ‘I told ya’ because it’s uneccessary.

Regardless of the gaffs, i’m not a fan of Pickford. I much prefer a keeper who commands his area & I don’t think he does that.

Long may this maturity last, I’m sure I’m not the only one of his detractors who feel this way but the lack of trust is down to him.

 

[micknick]

…it really isn’t that. i genuinely hope his gaffs are a thing of the past, but we’ve had these periods of stability before. I watch the England games, I watch Everton games hoping he’s safe. I don’t want to say ‘I told ya’ because it’s uneccessary.

Regardless of the gaffs, i’m not a fan of Pickford. I much prefer a keeper who commands his area & I don’t think he does that.

Long may this maturity last, I’m sure I’m not the only one of his detractors who feel this way but the lack of trust is down to him.

fair enough mate, I've just always felt hes a very good keeper that maybe lacked maturity and dare I say intelligence at times.

With pace in our team I also feel he can be a real asset to turn defence into attack.

 

[Eggs]

fair enough mate, I've just always felt hes a very good keeper that maybe lacked maturity and dare I say intelligence at times.

With pace in our team I also feel he can be a real asset to turn defence into attack.

….I’m not overly bothered if he can knock a 50 yard pass, I’d much prefer it if he could come out and consistently catch crosses.

 

[windymiller]

…it really isn’t that. i genuinely hope his gaffs are a thing of the past, but we’ve had these periods of stability before. I watch the England games, I watch Everton games hoping he’s safe. I don’t want to say ‘I told ya’ because it’s uneccessary.

Regardless of the gaffs, i’m not a fan of Pickford. I much prefer a keeper who commands his area & I don’t think he does that.

Long may this maturity last, I’m sure I’m not the only one of his detractors who feel this way but the lack of trust is down to him.

fair enough mate, I've just always felt hes a very good keeper that maybe lacked maturity and dare I say intelligence at times.

With pace in our team I also feel he can be a real asset to turn defence into attack.

….I’m not overly bothered if he can knock a 50 yard pass, I’d much prefer it if he could come out and consistently catch crosses.

I think there is a lot in what both of you are saying. I think people forget that in goalkeeping terms Pickford is still quite young and if he isn't now he certainly was when he signed. I think the sports psychology stuff seems to have had an effect he is definitely rushing in to weird decisions less frequently and sticking his tongue out and laughing after he makes a mistake seems to have disappeared, which is good. I also agree that he sticks too close to his line on crosses and he isn't giving his defenders the confidence that he will mop up high balls but I would also say that other aspects of his game that I thought he wouldn't be able to improve upon have improved markedly in the last 6 months so I am hopeful he can continue to improve his game. It will be interesting to see how he performs when big, noisy crowds return, including hostile home crowds when things are going against us.

Overall, I am now happy with him in goal which I wouldn't have believed I would have been saying even just a few months ago.

 

[Gabe Lackmann]

Love him. Has preserved many a point for the team. Sometimes I think he is the only one on the pitch with any fire in his belly. Most play like they are waiting for the dryer to finish.

 

[Bluetintedspecs]

I have to eat a bit of humble pie here. I'm probably quite harsh on our keepers, and I've never been a fan of Pickford. Up until the Anfield Derby last season his performances had been dodgy for some time, and not just last season. He also seemed to be too hot-headed, which affected his decision making.

But since the Anfield derby, he's been brilliant. Something I never thought I'd say. As our team performances went from bad to worse towards the end of the season, he was turning in man of the match performances practically every game, and was far and away our best performing player in the latter part of the season. He seems so much calmer, too. Another poster mentioned he'd been seeing a sports psychologist, so that's clearly helped him a lot.

He deserves a lot a credit for working on his weaknesses, and his upturn in form was one of the few real positives from a disappointing season. Long may it continue.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Love him. Has preserved many a point for the team. Sometimes I think he is the only one on the pitch with any fire in his belly. Most play like they are waiting for the dryer to finish.

The work he has been doing with psychologist is now paying dividends... The only coincidence is it takes a maturing adult to reflect and want to change.

Everton star Jordan Pickford working with sports psychologist to ‘get through sticky patches’

Jordan Pickford has revealed that he has been working with a sports psychologist for the last six months, in a bid to improve himself.

www.thefocus.news

 

[PhilM]

fair enough mate, I've just always felt hes a very good keeper that maybe lacked maturity and dare I say intelligence at times.

With pace in our team I also feel he can be a real asset to turn defence into attack.

I'm happy to admit that while I've always thought Pickford as a good reactionary keeper I've raised a fair few concerns on here regarding the latter two points.

Nor are they traits that can be purely taught on the training ground, so I've been pleasantly surprised to see how he appears to have turned the corner.

He seems more assured and composed, with much better communications; the rash and often reckless decisions appears to be have been quelled.

So credit where credit is due: he was one of our best and most reliable players in the second half of the season and long may it continue.

 

[Terrarian]

I'm happy to admit that while I've always thought Pickford as a good reactionary keeper I've raised a fair few concerns on here regarding the latter two points.

Nor are they traits that can be purely taught on the training ground, so I've been pleasantly surprised to see how he appears to have turned the corner.

He seems more assured and composed, with much better communications; the rash and often reckless decisions appears to be have been quelled.

So credit where credit is due: he was one of our best and most reliable players in the second half of the season and long may it continue.

Well said Phil, like I said, anyone willing to work on their weaknesses deserves support.

 

[PhilM]

Well said Phil, like I said, anyone willing to work on their weaknesses deserves support.

Thank you, but in reality I feel the default position should be to be fair and objective. It's cringe worthy when you see some of the abuse players get unfairly.

It's also okay to question poor performances; it's fine to critique any player in the general sense and question whether they're good enough for what we need.

However, it has to be a balance where you praise their strengths and do well. But look at the abuse Tosun and others get for not being good enough - it's vile.

Pickford has played well as of late and as a result should get praise, but you know there'll be some who will be entrenched with their views regardless.

Scepticism about him maintaining his form would be natural too, but there's no need to spout it at this point.

 

[Terrarian]

Thank you, but in reality I feel the default position should be to be fair and objective. It's cringe worthy when you see some of the abuse players get unfairly.

It's also okay to question poor performances; it's fine to critique any player in the general sense and question whether they're good enough for what we need.

However, it has to be a balance where you praise their strengths and do well. But look at the abuse Tosun and others get for not being good enough - it's vile.

Pickford has played well as of late and as a result should get praise, but you know there'll be some who will be entrenched with their views regardless.

I try my best not to use disparaging remarks, I probably let the odd one slip through but by and large, I try not to insult players, I won't call Benítez a FSW or such no need really. Mind you it's probably an age thing, you mellow out don't you.

 

[PhilM]

I try my best not to use disparaging remarks, I probably let the odd one slip through but by and large, I try not to insult players, I won't call Benítez a FSW or such no need really. Mind you it's probably an age thing, you mellow out don't you.

Age is probably a common factor as it's a cycle: we've seen players come and go; we've seen the highs and lows. You have a wider experience base.

Nevertheless, there's some people who simply see things in the here and now and very little rationale thought: grown men and women ranting and raving etc.

We'll all make disparaging remarks from time to time, however it's when it becomes the norm that's the issue. I worry about how some people see the world.

Pickford is comfortably England's number one and quietly put Olsen back into the number two spot here all without kicking up a fuss - good on him.

 

[micknick]

Thank you, but in reality I feel the default position should be to be fair and objective. It's cringe worthy when you see some of the abuse players get unfairly.

It's also okay to question poor performances; it's fine to critique any player in the general sense and question whether they're good enough for what we need.

However, it has to be a balance where you praise their strengths and do well. But look at the abuse Tosun and others get for not being good enough - it's vile.

Pickford has played well as of late and as a result should get praise, but you know there'll be some who will be entrenched with their views regardless.

Scepticism about him maintaining his form would be natural too, but there's no need to spout it at this point.

What I hate Phil is when even if a player plays well people will say hes had a poor game because they've made their mind up on him.

Pickford was shaky for a while, I dont think think that was his ability more his mental state.

Watch him chuck one in on Tuesday now.