Tim Howard

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mlyons said:
Yes, if we had a goalkeeper that only conceded 5 goals in 11 matches with the defense we've had, we'd definitely be top four. Of course, the goalkeeper capable of doing that does not exist.

Just for comparison, look at Manuel Neuer, probably the best keeper in the world playing for probably the best team in the world. He's conceded 9 goals in 17 matches with a far better team in front of him. You seem to think Howard should be doing better than that.

No keeper in the world will be mistake free. Howard makes his share of mistakes and manages to look silly a lot of the time, but he's not making more mistakes than the average Premier League goalkeeper.
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Of course I don't expect Howard to have let in fewer goals than Neuer and all keepers will obviously make mistakes. Joe Hart made an absolute howler last week-end. The point is, Howard is making far too many, has been for some time and it's costing us too many points. I've only highlighted the mistakes which have lead to goals, but he's made plenty of other mistakes that he's got away with.

I think most of us on here would expect us to finish in the top 7 with the squad we have, but is Howard one of the best 7 keepers in the league? He's more like bottom 7, or worse.

A lot's been said about stats, but stats can be misleading. In the same way that a high pass success rate can make a player who constantly makes two yard passes sideways and backwards look better than they are, the number of shots Howard's saved and how many shots Everton, as a team, have conceded can be misleading. For example, how many of those shots conceded were from crosses that Howard never claimed or resulted from us losing possession due to Howard's woeful distribution. I prefer to use my own eyes to judge.

I genuinely hope that Howard goes on to have a good season and proves me wrong. I'd be delighted if that was the case because we all want Everton, and therefore Howard, to do well. I just can't see it.
 

What alarms me most about those stats is the number of shots we are allowing the opposition. Is that down to the goalkeeper not getting off his line quick enough, are players getting caught out of position too often, or are they allowing the opposition to much time and space on the ball in the final third. All of the above in my opinion.
 
Scolari said:
What alarms me most about those stats is the number of shots we are allowing the opposition. Is that down to the goalkeeper not getting off his line quick enough, are players getting caught out of position too often, or are they allowing the opposition to much time and space on the ball in the final third. All of the above in my opinion.
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I think you cant seperate either, its easy to say the defense should do this and that but they are obviously told to play to a system, whether its to hold a line of four or to keep the shape, persoanlly i think Martinez likes to keep a four shape for solidity and likes McCarthy and Barry to sweep, decision making does come into it, but you would have to say teams are targeting Howard whether by shots or crosses, i can see teams trying things VS Howard that they simply wouldnt Vs Cech, De Gea etc.
 


Scolari said:
What alarms me most about those stats is the number of shots we are allowing the opposition. Is that down to the goalkeeper not getting off his line quick enough, are players getting caught out of position too often, or are they allowing the opposition to much time and space on the ball in the final third. All of the above in my opinion.
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a decent keeper who commands their box will pluck the majority of crosses out of the air - something we're now peppered with - so that probably would cut out about a 3rd of those shots!
 
Neiler said:
I think you cant seperate either, its easy to say the defense should do this and that but they are obviously told to play to a system, whether its to hold a line of four or to keep the shape, persoanlly i think Martinez likes to keep a four shape for solidity and likes McCarthy and Barry to sweep, decision making does come into it, but you would have to say teams are targeting Howard whether by shots or crosses, i can see teams trying things VS Howard that they simply wouldnt Vs Cech, De Gea etc.
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This could partly explain the high number of shots conceded stats. Opposing teams shoot on sight because they know we have a dodgy keeper.
 

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