Not really fact though is it....... It's you're interpretation of events.
I keep getting sucked in...I really don't care except for the fact that I am accused of bias because i was born over here and so was the keeper, if i used that same argument in every thread about each of our players, it would be laughed at, and as such the assertion that I have star spangled eyes is laughable here as well.
So far this season Tim Howard has played 75% of the minutes with Joel taking the rest.
Howard has conceded MORE than 75% of the goals against. (31 of 37 83% 28 of 34 if you remove PEN 82%)
Howard has faced SLIGHTLY MORE than 75% SOT (73 of 94 78%)
Howard has faced ALL the PKs. (3)
Howard has SLIGHTLY LESS than 75% of the saves (43 of 58 74%)
Joel does have a healthy 11% advantage in SOT/saved. And Howard is far below the standard in this department. (Courtios on the table leaders being the standard I use-though that is also not fair since he sees lower quality chances against him due to skill advvantages on the field Howard AND Joel do not enjoy)
BUT This does not take into account opponent quality. In his run as starter Joel only faced West Ham (FACup) Man City and LFC from the top of the table. He conceded goals to man City and West Ham. He only saw two shots on target against City. Surely Howard could have pulled off a similar 1 for 2 save performance there.(the second being a low shot hit nearly right at him from 20+ yards.) Joel also conceded 3 to NC and 2 to Hull.
My only point is that the "Joel took over" narrative is false. He may very well be coming into form and be ready, and at the very least he needs a shot because we can't have our keeper passing balls to the feet of opponents.(I can't say that last point enough. I want to see Joel, Howard has made too many mistakes all year) but to say he was aces is to remember wrong or to remember a different "interpretation" of actual events because you are frustrated with the events that transpired today.