ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Tim Howard's condition

For the last two years Mikel Arteta has been awarded the Everton Player of the Season. I couldn't agree more but I must say I am surprised by how little Tim Howard has been credited by fans. For me, the big American has been an excellent replacement for Nigel Martyn between the sticks and easily ranks in the top 4/5 keepers in the Premiership. His importance to the team was, of course, no more evident than when Manchester United visited last April.

But one thing has always sparked thought for me concerning Big Tim and that is this: How severe is Tim's Tourrette's disorder? And does it in any way hinder him from instructing his backline? For those of you who are unaware of Tim's condition, he suffers from Gilles de la Tourette syndrome which is a disorder charactarized by vocal and physical ticks that cause the sufferer to often blurt out obsenities. I am just curious to know if anyone has any information on this.
Neil Styles, Dublin Posted 24/10/2007 at 15:50:34

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David Barks
1 Posted 24/10/2007 at 21:47:37

First of all, there are different levels of toutettes. The most severe cases involve the inability to control shouting profanities and things like that. More mild forms of it include the body ticks and movements. I know he does suffer from it but does not have a severe case, as that severely impacts your life. Giving something away about myself, I suffer from mild tourettes as well. Very hard when you are a child, with other kids making fun of you and all that, and can be very difficult when doing public speaking in front of an audience. But I always found that the best treatment was sport. For some reason it took my mind completely away from everything and I only concentrated on what was going on in the game. I believe that Howard does a lot of work for groups raising awareness about the disorder and things with kids when he’s back in the U.S.

Dom Eaton
2 Posted 24/10/2007 at 23:14:53

I watch the boy home and away week in and week out and have to agree Mr Styles (unfortunate last name by the way) that he is one of our best players.

My point...he kicks his sticks regularly.. he bollocks the defence when required and I can hear it all on row M! To me, that shows how passionate a blue he is and I’m proud to have him as our No 24! Please give him the No.1 jersey nest year so I don’t see Hibbert at the top of our team sheet.

Southall in my books is a God, Nigel Martyn..we are i ever indebted to your service’s, but in Howard I trust. COYB

Martin Downey
3 Posted 25/10/2007 at 02:21:32

When Alex Ferguson signed him the joke that did the rounds then was that he was only brought in so Roy Keane would have some one he could talk to! Seriously though, it’s a terrible affliction, though I heard Tim’s not as bad with it as other sufferers. He’s a super keeper, and we’re lucky to have him. I look forward however to the day he plays for us against MU!

Damian Scott
4 Posted 25/10/2007 at 10:49:25

First of all I agree with all of the above. Tim is a super keeper and without a doubt he has earned us a lot of points over the past couple of seasons. He has the potential to be up there with Southall when it comes to goodison goalkeeping legends...

I lived over in the states a few years ago and used to go and watch the NY Metrostars where Tim played, and even then I thought he was a great goalie. I thought then that if he doesn’t make it into one of the big European leagues it would be an injustice!

I don’t know how true this is, but I was talking to someone who knows someone who has tourettes and the ’ticks’ as you call them could affect our Tim on long range shots (not seeing a ball from that distance due to ticks)... and I have to say, Tim has been caught out a few times (vs Portsmouth last year springs to mind) from long range...

I don’t know how true that is. Perhaps someone with more knowledge on the matter could shed some light on it.... But without a doubt, he is one of our best buys of Moyes’ reign

Tony Williams
5 Posted 25/10/2007 at 11:59:16

Having watched him closely at home games Tim’s tics only occur when the ball is at the other end and he is not concentrating as hard as when the opposition attck.

It would seem to be a mild case, as I have seen his interview by Ruddy on Everton TV and there is no sign of it when he speaks.

Wholehearted agree that he was a great aquisition by Moyes and the biggest thing I have noticed is how quickly he gets down to low shots, a thing that caught out Martyn near the end, as he used to go down in instalments.