Richard Keys has ripped into Everton’s No 1 goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in his latest blog post.
Everton’s shot-stopper, like the rest of the squad, are not enjoying the best of times this season, with the Toffees still well and truly in a relegation scrap, sitting just three points above the bottom three with a whole load of tough fixtures on the horizon.
Should Everton replace Pickford?
Yes!
Yes!
Pickford has been Everton’s undisputed No 1 ‘keeper since they splashed out £25.6 million to bring him from relegated Sunderland, but it appears that he now has some doubters, which isn’t surprising given he has the fourth-worst save percentage in the league (FBRef).
Keys did not just lash out at Pickford for his club form, but also urged Gareth Southgate to drop the shot-stopper as he wrote: “Here’s your first big call – drop Pickford. He’s not good enough. This isn’t a recent conclusion – I’ve said it for some time now. I said it going into the Euros. In my opinion, he was one of many reasons that England weren’t going to win it. He makes me nervous. Imagine playing in front of him.
“He doesn’t make my top 6 PL ‘keepers. One who does isn’t even playing – Henderson. He’s better. Pope would be ahead of him in my view – but Ramsdale is the best available. Southgate has got to get him in and stick with him. Right now. Pickford has had his turn. He simply isn’t good enough at the very highest level.”
TIF Thoughts on Pickford…
It may be understandable for Keys to claim that Pickford hasn’t filled him with confidence in the past considering in every season he’s played for Everton, the ‘keeper has been at fault for at least one error that led to an opponent getting a shot on target. However, this season, that has not been the case, so it could be that he’s starting to mature.
Everton’s backup is a 34-year-old Asmir Begovic, who kept a clean sheet in his last match against Newcastle United, however, given Pickford’s stature within the Premier League and how regularly he starts for England, it’s unlikely that Keys’ opinion will affect Gareth Southgate or Frank Lampard’s when it comes to staring the ‘keeper.
In other news: ‘I’m sure’ – Pete O’Rourke claims Lampard now facing huge blow at Everton