The Rumour Mill

Howard needs more competition

26/11/2012 |

Comments (22)

The Daily Mail claims that Everton will step up their search for a new goalkeeper with David Moyes concerned that a lack of competition is harming Tim Howard's form.

With Howard's deputy Jan Mucha out of contract at the end of the season, former Arsenal keeper Alex Manninger, ex-Celtic No.1 Artur Boruc, the Philadelphia Union's Zac MacMath and Egyptian Adam Mansour are among those to be given a trial in recent weeks as Everton look to bring in someone who will push the 33-year-old American harder.

Asked if that would benefit Howard, Moyes said: ‘Yes, you need competition for every position and everybody has got to make sure they're at the top of their game. We have to make sure we're not continually making mistakes that lead to goals.'

Original Source: Daily Mail Rumour source ranking:
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Reader Comments

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Franny Porter
331 Posted 26/11/2012 at 17:31:01

He's just not good enough, he gets beat too often from distance and nowadays seems glued to his line. I don't this goalie has been a priority to change for the past few years but now I think we are in a position to start looking at the position. Personally, I'd like Butland to come in, he could have the potential to be our keeper for ten years or more. I also like Al Habsi at Wigan, despite the fact he threw one in on Saturday!

Mark Lennon
337 Posted 26/11/2012 at 18:14:11

Butland all day. Pull out the stops and get him in!

John Keating
348 Posted 26/11/2012 at 18:51:55

I don't think Howard needs competition. I think the team need a goalkeeper who dominates the penalty box, certainly in the six-yard box. Howard has never dominated the area.

I was right behind him second half, sitting in the Park End. He never acted or looked comfortable. When the free kick came in in the last minute, I thought it might go straight out, maybe he did too cos he never made an effort. Mind you, defensively it was a nightmare and nobody came out with full marks

Mark Tanton
354 Posted 26/11/2012 at 19:40:12

I've not got any confidence in him - bring back Richard Wright, all is forgiven.

How are we going to afford a new goalkeeper anyway? Is the club awaiting a PPI claim?

Brian Bates
356 Posted 26/11/2012 at 19:42:28

According to Sky Sports we're about to sign Craig Gordon.
Out of contract so available on a free, bit injury prone but got to be better than Mucha

James Stewart
358 Posted 26/11/2012 at 19:51:10

Gordon is quality. Hope that happens. Never rated Howard personally

Mark Tanton
360 Posted 26/11/2012 at 19:59:12

Craig Gordon? That could be another Moyes gem to be fair. He's disappeared a bit, but once a highly rated and very expensive footballer. Goodison is where people like him revive their careers. Howard is toast if someone like Gordon comes in. I hope...

Sam Hoare
364 Posted 26/11/2012 at 20:36:51

Craig Gordon could be a good shout if he's fit. Think most agree that Howard has been unreliable this season and a stronger keeper could really have won us another 5 or 6 points. That would put us in 3rd with the title in our sights!

Terry Myers
366 Posted 26/11/2012 at 20:47:56

For me, Howard is a disaster waiting to happen in every single game he plays in.......just like Coleman.

Patrick Murphy
372 Posted 26/11/2012 at 21:10:48

Whilst in agreement that Howard has not looked as comfortable this season, I don't understand the Manager publicly pointing it out. Howard's confidence will be shot and opponents will pile more and more deep crosses into our box, Whilst there is a need to address a long-standing problem, maybe it would be wiser to keep it in house.

Sometimes you wonder if BK and DM are in fact in everyday talks and if they are what exactly do they discuss. Every utterance by DM in recent months seems to be a cry for help to his employers.

Noel Early
392 Posted 26/11/2012 at 23:26:00

Finally light at the end of the tunnel. I've been anti Howard for 3 years now. Stuck to his line and distribution is piss poor. Gordon would be better but I'd love Butland, the lad is going to be a top keeper for a long time.

I'd sell Johnny if need be and use it for Butland in January. If it's the only business we do id be delighted.

Jim Harrison
397 Posted 27/11/2012 at 00:31:53

Sorry, I can understand the criticism aimed at Howard this season, but he has been good for the club over the majority of his stay.

Paul Ward
406 Posted 27/11/2012 at 02:11:29

At last the penny has dropped, Tim Howard has finally been found out as the poor goalkeeper he is. It is not competition Howard needs — it is a transfer.

He has hidden behind a solid defence until recently, but now the fans can see he is wanting. His ineptness at corners and / or commanding his area have always been in his game; he has only ever been a reflex shot-stopper but Moyes has never looked elsewhere.

Marcus Choo
407 Posted 27/11/2012 at 02:42:22

Not sure about Gordon. I remember all the hype when he signed for was it Sunderland?? Didn't impress then if I recall. Butland could be promising, but I doubt Moyes has gained a ruthless enough streak to drop Howard his favourite. On a lighter side, isn't Lloris moaning about lack of games at Spurs? :)

Marcus Choo
408 Posted 27/11/2012 at 02:57:18

Something else to bring to discussion. I read an article where Schmeichel made some comments on "modern-day" goalkeepers and it sounded to the effect that today's keepers tend not to come for aerial balls because it's not necessary? Not sure the full context of his thinking but his quotes I include below:

"I was a different goalkeeper to David. I wouldn't mind fighting for the ball in the air. But that is not what goalkeepers do these days. There is no need for it. The accent on football has changed. Striking the ball has changed. David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo started that.

They have shown a way to strike a ball differently, so that means the quality of what comes into the box is different, which makes goalkeeping more difficult. If you look at the world's top young keepers, I would say (Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper) Manuel Neuer is the only one who actually comes for the ball. Generally, that is not the way it is."

Full read at www.teamtalk.com

It seems much of Howard's criticism is that he doesn't command his area aerially à la Southall or even Schmeichel. I wonder if that's valid at all. I would think it's more a matter of concentration affecting the whole team – right now though, I'd toss a confidence issue into the mix as well...

Anto Byrne
409 Posted 27/11/2012 at 04:29:47

Is Chris Woods the goalkeeping coach? Howard has been a good keeper and is just going through a form slump. Does he not have the most clean sheets in a season or does that still belong to Nev?

Against Norwich, the central defenders were to blame; had Howard stayed on his line he would have caught the ball. For the other 89 minutes he looked okay; the last minute giveaway is bad but we do have a lot of games to put this right and even though we have been playing nice football, our best football is always after Xmas.

Sam Hoare
413 Posted 27/11/2012 at 07:21:56

My problem with Howard this season hasn't just been that he does not come for crosses or dominate his box but is simply that I don't think he has made enough good saves. In far too many matches this season the opposition have scored as many goals as us from half as many shots on target. No doubt Howard is a decent keeper but we need better if we are going to aspire to top 4.

Mark Tanton
415 Posted 27/11/2012 at 07:27:56

Marcus, I really like the idea of Butland too but he would involve a transfer fee which makes it difficult!

Tom Owen
471 Posted 27/11/2012 at 15:15:50

I think there has been an over-exaggeration over this goalkeeper issue. I agree he's not been his best recently. He made a obvious mistake at Norwich, but has everyone forgot the string of saves he made earlier in that game to keep Norwich out? Also, the defense hasn't been all that great either.

When I think of other keepers in the Prem I would much rather have, there's not many. OK, he's not the best in the league, but he's probably somewhere around the top six. Good goalkeepers are hard to come by, especially for little sums. One question I would raise is allowing John Ruddy to leave for such a small fee. He was clearly a very good prospect. I know he left because he wanted to play, but there are things like season long loans, like how Man City developed Joe Hart.

It's also a bit premature to start saying "let's bring Butland in". The lad has little experience and hasn't been tested at the highest level (Premier League). He would also cost at least £10million + and it would be foolish to spend such a large sum on a goalkeeper of that pedigree. You get nowhere making knee-jerk decisions.

However I do agree with our manager publicly criticising him. It puts him under a bit of pressure now, something he hasn't had. He's a top level-headed professional and he will only respond in trying to improve his performances.

I think some people need to lay off him a bit. Maybe look at other areas were players are not performing, e.g. Johnny Heitinga and Steven Pienaar. They've got away with a lot recently because there crowd favorites. I won't say no more.

Marcus Choo
478 Posted 27/11/2012 at 15:26:08

That's probably true Mark (415). Well, here's hoping whatever happens, Howard will up his game no matter...

Ray Robinson
482 Posted 27/11/2012 at 15:37:16

Gordon? The key is that he WAS a good keeper although didn't he concede 7 against a certain team not so long ago (not necessarily his fault!). My regret is that we missed out on Begavich when he went to Stoke. He was clearly a good keeper playing for an unfashionable team and understudy to a big name (James). Perhaps we should be looking at proven keepers (a la Martyn) or younger promising keepers (once rated Stockdale but where is he these days) rather than go for keepers who appear to have seen better days. Gordon was making far more mistakes than Howard in his latter appearnaces for Sunderland.

Andrew Mahon
228 Posted 01/12/2012 at 20:49:47

Tim Howard's reluctance to come off his line and especially punch has cost us dear over the last few years. Jan Mucha I believe wants to move on which I can understand.

What about Paul Robinson who is on a free in January? At the very least he is steady and reliable and will teach Tim a thing or two. As we have no money, he would be worth a chance.

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