ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

Tim to equal record?

After another solid performance and clean sheet against Chelsea, Tim Howard and the rest of the Everton defence have managed to keep 14 clean sheets this term. Neville Southall is the current record holder of the highest number of Everton clean sheets in a season with 15, so hopefully Howard and the rest of the team can equal and then go on and break that club record this season with 5 games remaining.

Howard kept 14 clean sheets in each of the past two seasons, and was only denied the chance of equalling Southall?s record by a Michael Owen penalty on the final game of last season and by a dubious Didier Drogba goal in the campaign previous to that when Paulo Ferreira blatantly fouled Mikel Arteta in the build-up to the Chelsea equaliser.

So let?s hope Howard and the rest of the defence can keep up the great work and equal the record this Saturday against Man City. COYB
Adam Wightman, Manchester Posted 22/04/2009 at 21:44:30

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Mike Gaynes
1 Posted 23/04/2009 at 06:22:36

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I firmly believe that Howard is now the #2 shot-stopper in the world, behind only Iker Casillas. He’ll never be a great distributor, and his work in the air is less convincing than it should be given his height and athleticism, but if he has a clear look at a shot he is almost impossible to beat. The grasscutters that go in past other keepers’ dives simply don’t get past Howard.

Paul O'Hanlon
2 Posted 23/04/2009 at 08:27:16

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Uh oh, not that damn 15 clean sheet record again! I remember Howard has 5 games last season to equal Southall?s record... and conceded in every game! Let?s hope no one tells him about it this year!!!

Noel Early
3 Posted 23/04/2009 at 09:38:03

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Bit of a contradiction there, Mike: "he will never be a great distributor and his work in the air is less convincing than it should be." Surely with flaws like these he can't be considered No 2 in the world?

In my opinion, he has never convinced me; his clean sheets are more down to his defense and being a keeper myself I would say his biggest flaw is communication. Look at the semi-final against Utd. I would totally blame Howard for the penalty incident, Jags obviously never got a shout to clear the ball, and I could think of at least 10 goals were he should have done better: Liverpool cup match, and Villa in the league spring to mind. I would love us to sign Arthur Boruc as competition to Howard.

Gary Creaney
4 Posted 23/04/2009 at 10:52:04

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Noel,
what I believe Mike means is that the when it comes to the ’shot stopping’ aspect of goalkeeping he believes TH is the world’s no2. I don’t think he means he’s the second best goalkeeper in the world.

Surely Stonewall Southall would have had more games to achieve this feat in??

Dave Wilson
5 Posted 23/04/2009 at 11:16:52

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Some of the older Blues will go will go bananas at this statement... but Hibbert, Lescot, Jags, and Baines are a much more solid unit than, Stevens, Mountfield, Ratters and Psycho Pat. Howard receives much greater protection. Big Nev's clean sheets were very often all his own work.

Good luck to Tim, I hope he gets the record; however, there really is only one Neville Southall

Duncan McDine
6 Posted 23/04/2009 at 12:54:05

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Dave Wilson - I completely agree... our defense and work ethic under Moyes’ management limits even top teams like Chelsea and Man Utd to very few chances, or even half chances. If only the midfield and strikers were as good as in the 80’s!

Derek Wadeson
7 Posted 23/04/2009 at 12:38:00

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Talking of records and maybe not one as such, but the eleven players who finished extra time on Sunday consisted of eight Englishmen, a Yank, Aussie and South African. All English speaking.

Maybe just maybe this is one of the reasons why this clean sheet record can be broken.

If you break Nev’s record Tim you will be worthy of being mentioned with our great past keepers. I remember being at Goodison once and laughing because the Ipswich supporters were jumping up and down going mad and thinking ’ you’d think they had just scored a goal’ and then Nev got up and picked it out the net, I had just presumed and taken for granted that he had turned the shot around the post.

Noel Early
8 Posted 23/04/2009 at 13:59:46

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I don't care if Howard breaks the clean sheet record, he will never be as good as big Nev. Truly outstanding keeper who could ave graced any stadium at the height off his powers. It annoys me that younger folk only remember Nev coming towards the end off his career when lets be honest he went on for 2/3 too long. Blue bias aside he is amongst 10 best keepers off all time easily.

Mike Gaynes
9 Posted 23/04/2009 at 16:14:06

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Noel, Gary is correct... I’m not advocating Howard as the #2 keeper in the world overall, although I would certainly put him in the top 10 based on his shot-stopping alone, which after all is a keeper’s most important job.

And if you’re seriously recommending Boruc as competition for him, you must not have seen Poland’s recent World Cup qualifiers. Boruc has been a complete disaster. He’s a talented keeper who absolutely cannot handle pressure. He’s built a fine reputation at Celtic, where he rarely has to deal with pressure, but he would fold like a tent in the Prem.

Agreed also with the general sentiment that Howard would properly share credit for the shutout record with his defense. Lescott and Jags are superb in the middle, Hibbert has amazed me and Baines just continues to grow in his role. His clearing goal-line header over Drogba in the final minutes yesterday was awesome.

Noel Early
10 Posted 23/04/2009 at 16:50:54

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I seriously recommend boruc ahead off Howard.ok he had a howler against N.Ireland but did ya see the pitch comical to say the least.Good at crosses great talker and has a presense about him,knows how to wind up the opposition fans,I know Rangers fan hate him more than any other player .He is on his way outta Celtic and to say he doesnt deal with pressure you obviuosly have never been to Celtic Park on big league matches or indeed champions league nights that place has more noise than any ground in britain FACT