Mucha could be playing for new Everton contract

Lyndon Lloyd , 21 March, 22comments | Jump to most recent

He looked set to leave Goodison this summer when his contract expires but Everton could yet offer Jan Mucha a new deal should he continue to impress in place of the injured Tim Howard.

The Slovakian goalkeeper joined the Blues in the summer of 2010 but it wasn't until this month's game against Reading that he made his first Premier League start for Howard after the American was sidelined by broken bones in his back just a handful of games short of breaking Neville Southall's record for consecutive starts for the club.

Mucha had spent so much time as an inactive number two at Everton that it was all but decided he would move on in the summer.

Having deputised impressively so far, however, particularly in last weekend's win over Manchester City in which he made two vital saves, Mucha may have played his way back into David Moyes's thinking.

Indeed, former Blues keeper, Thomas Myhre, says that Mucha won't be willing to just hand back the first-choice gloves back to Howard when he recovers from injury.

"The thing for Jan is that Tim has hardly ever been injured," Myhre told evertonfc.com.

“Tim performs well season in, season out and it's been hard to see how he could be rested.

“David Moyes said earlier this season that maybe he needed another keeper to keep Tim on his toes, but Jan has done well since he came in. He made some very good saves against City and I'm sure it was a relief for him.

“Maybe Jan will be thinking about playing so well he gives the manager something to think about when Tim is fit.

Quotes or other material sourced from Liverpool Echo

Reader Comments (22)

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Liam Reilly
1 Posted 21/03/2013 at 22:34:20

If he's got the shirt and doing well, he deserves to keep it.
Will be interesting when Howards fit, but I suspect he'll be straight back in.

Phil Sammon
2 Posted 21/03/2013 at 22:39:27

I don't know where they've for the 'New Contract' headline from.

He's done well and long may it continue. I do still think we could do with a good keeper in his mid 20's to really grab the jersey for the next ten years...though that may be asking a lot. Butland was perhaps a missed opportunity.

James Stewart
3 Posted 22/03/2013 at 00:36:00

Still unsure about Mucha although he was first class against city.

What I am sure of though is that Howard is not the answer. Liability who does not command his area or distribute quick enough.

Phil Walling
4 Posted 22/03/2013 at 06:58:53

Howard is one Moyes's real favourites so Mucha will go straight back to bench work.

I'm not sold on him yet, anyway, and think he will be moved on.

Drew Shortis
5 Posted 22/03/2013 at 10:18:39

I think Mucha has done well to seize his opportunity so far and looks capable of challenging Tim for the jersey. Look at how long it has taken De Gea to settle in at Man Utd. There's no guarantee that if we got a youngster in to deputize they would be able to challenge Tim Howard for years. Personally I would stick to the two we have and look to strengthen other parts of the squad.

Steavey Buckley
6 Posted 22/03/2013 at 13:58:32

If Mucha could come out and catch the ball, he would be superb. But all he appears to do is punch at the ball. That does not relieve pressure on the goal.

James Marshall
7 Posted 22/03/2013 at 13:58:40

I thought he was infinitely more commanding of his area than Howard has been for years, and his distribution was way better as well. He can clearly make good saves, and he's really quick off his line to close players down - lots of good attributes from the couple of games he's played.

Personally I've been really impressed and would love to see him keep his place. He deserves it, and to drop him again just because Howard is fit would be bad management if you ask me.

Ray Robinson
8 Posted 22/03/2013 at 15:11:41

Personally, despite his obvious faults, I think Howard is streets ahead of Mucha, well though he played against City. Mucha hasn't played often enough for us to know what he's really like but if you watch his kicking action, he clearly isn't comfortable with a ball at his feet. Also, he punches where Howard would obviously catch (yes, that's right, despite Howard occasionally flapping where he too could catch).

Given a run of 10 games, I think people would take a more balanced view of Mucha's capabilities. I don't even see him being here after Summer anyway.

Barry Stevens
9 Posted 22/03/2013 at 16:24:02

Do people not remember Mucha's games in the league cup. Shocking he was. I agree Howard isn't perfect but in my opinion he is one of the better goalkeepers in the division. I'd go as far as to say he's the best wev'e had since big Nev.

James Stewart
10 Posted 22/03/2013 at 16:39:06

Ray when does Howard ever come and catch? I'm not saying Mucha is the answer but Howard's command of his 6 yard line let alone the box is piss poor.

Ray Robinson
11 Posted 22/03/2013 at 16:50:00

James, it's a fallacy that Howard doesn't catch. He's poor under pressure but he has one of the safest catching hands in the league when he can cleanly attack the ball. He would have caught both the ones that Mucha punched at the Park End last weekend. One of those two mis-punches was quite frankly embarrassing.

Tony Cheek
12 Posted 22/03/2013 at 19:56:45

Barry Stevens #192...."One of the better keepers in the division"?......WHAT!....you must be watching the wrong games. He costs us at least 10 points every season, a good keeper earns you 10 points. Incredible that you remember Muchas mistake in the league cup, but have trouble recalling Howards blunders this season. United got rid of him because he made too many mistakes. We will never win anything with him in goal!
Keep Mucha in, I will be the first to admit I was wrong after he has cost us as many points as Howard has!

Tony Cheek
13 Posted 22/03/2013 at 20:05:25

.....and Ray, maybe Howard had have caught those balls, but he wouldnt have saved either of those shots....which is best?

Barry Stevens
14 Posted 22/03/2013 at 20:13:42

Tony Cheek.

You don't think Howard has gained us any points since he joined the club? And as for the assumption that he wouldn't have saved those two efforts? That is crazy. The were not great saves. They were standard saves.

And re my statement about one of the better keepers, I stand firm. Other than Czech, Reina, Hart and maybe Bergovic, I'd rather Tim Howard.

Mark Frere
15 Posted 22/03/2013 at 21:47:58

Barry Stevens. you say our best goalkeeper since Big Nev. You can't've rated Nigel Martyn that much then?

Ian Smitham
16 Posted 22/03/2013 at 23:18:59

James, I am firmly with you on this. One of Howard's weaknesses is his not coming for the ball which is either part of some sort of defensive plan, I.e. the defenders do, or whatever. James #154, again I agree, with all your points, Ray #177, I thought his kicking better than Tim's and a t least his punching was clear and decisive, though I appreciate the comment Ray makes at #200. Tony #249, maybe, but he would not have attacked the ball ink the first place.

Anyway, this is a debate that will go and rightly so. People have been moaning that Howard is a bit slack ashen as no competition for his place, I say he now has and will be disappointed if TH is ashore intothenext game he is available for. Jan impressed me against Citeh.

Finally, Howard best goalie since Nev. what about Nigel Martin, solid as a rock?

James Stewart
17 Posted 23/03/2013 at 04:54:38

Nigel Martyn was a class act. Howard is nowhere near his level.

Tony Cheek
18 Posted 23/03/2013 at 06:49:27

Barry...

Yes, Howard does make some great saves, as would be expected of "one of the best keepers in the division". But unfortunately he has his more than his fair share of mistakes and I am quite sure that we would have a top 4 position now if he had done his job properly.

Cech and Hart are good keepers, but how can you put Reina in that list? Christ, he is worse than Howard, who isn't in the top ten!

Tony J Williams
19 Posted 23/03/2013 at 07:41:23

Sorry Tony, just can't see how Howard is stopping us from getting a top four place.

Susong Hermawan
20 Posted 23/03/2013 at 08:25:35

Yes indeed: Tim is a catcher, Jan is a puncher... but not the ball, of mistakes! I'd rather choose a puncher, that's simple IMO.

Barry Stevens
21 Posted 23/03/2013 at 15:13:35

I must admit I forgot about Martyn. I hold my hands up to that mistake.

This whole Howard/Mucha thing reminds me of when I was a kid. We played QPR away and Nev was sent off. A young Aussie kid called Jason Kearton came on and made a few good saves. On the train home and at school on Monday, loads of people saying he should be our new Number 1. I think some people just like change, to be honest.

Vijay Badhan
22 Posted 23/03/2013 at 23:54:53

Barry Stevens (#192).
Sorry but Nigel Martyn was the best goalkeeper since Big Nev.

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