Pickford signs six-year Everton deal

Very positive news for once.

What does please me is the message this sends out. England's number 1. In demand after the world cup, Chelsea came sniffing and were told where to go. now he's signed a new deal. It's a message of Everton holding onto their stars.

That said, £50m in the bank and Jack Butland as a replacement would have been very tempting.

Top goalkeeper and still young enough to improve.

COYB

Are you still acting as MS's mouthpiece or have you come to these decisions yourself?

This fella is the real thing - fear not Ferns.

Jason - believe in your own ability and you will be the best - even rubbing shoulders with our Nev. I can pay you no greater compliment than that.

Well said, mate.

Good luck to Jordan as well as Jason.

@Tony Abrahams - and you think that's his fault?

James Marshall said we're going to be playing three at the back on Saturday, which will obviously mean Mina is going to make his debut?

We have been short defensively, and I personally think that this change of tactic will really benefit us in the short-term, which is not something I want to look past right now, because it's really important that the crowd get right behind Silva and his players right now?

For those worrying about his height- he is the same as the great Nev... 6'-1". A wholesome lad with bags of talent and a super attitude. I am chuffed.

What are we a 'selling' club?

Why would you, the apparent Evertonian version of the 'Sage of Omaha' want to sell him?

Stick to your day job, mate!- and stop playing Soccer Manager!!

Players are now taller. He's a good keeper but not the best.

The cornerstone of all good sides is the keeper.

Well done, Brands (presumably), for getting this done.

As John #1 says, he will benefit greatly from having a stable back 4 in front of him.

Jordan has the opportunity to become one and I don't think he will disappoint us.

Jordan last season was pissing me off a bit with his goal kicks. He often - read frequently - "out-kicked his coverage" as we'd say over here to borrow an NFL reference. He'd over-cook the shit out of his punts and goal kicks straight to the opposing defense or keeper.

This summer at the World Cup, he played the ball out from the back and was much, much more accurate with his goal kicks and punts.

He's improving his distribution, and he's one hell of a shot stopper.

This kid will be a brick wall for us for a long time to come. And he's clearly working on his game diligently.

Good egg too. Seems to have his head screwed on straight.

Very, very good signing. I'm thrilled.

His butt looks like it's the strongest part of his body. And it must be because he reacts with that leg and lower body strength faster than any keeper I've seen.

His ass could win an arm wrestling contest against Mike Tyson.

Sometimes I digress.

Great move and an excellent guy!

Nonetheless, regarding this height business, surely while being taller helps in many situations, in others (such as getting down quickly to make saves when the ball is on or near the ground) it is better not to be the CN tower?

He is the same height as Southall and taller than the World Cup winning keeper Captain – Dino Zoff

So, unless the goals have increased in size and I haven't noticed, the pundits can suck my shrivelled tessies.

I was a goalkeeper myself for many years, and at 6'-2", I was a decent blend of tall (ish) and agile. Pickford is only 6'-1" so he is quite short for a pro keeper these days, but again so what?

Some of my favourite keepers have been shorter. Southall: 6'-1". Jose Luis Chilavert: 6'-1". Rene Higuita 5'-9". Lev Yashin 6'-2". None of them giants but all of them giants of the game.

No doubting he will get even better, done well to tie him down to a 6 year contract, not that it will stop others chancing their arm should they wish to sign him.

A tall, well-built goalkeeper is a must these days because the outfield players are enormous. When Southall, Zoff, and Shilton etc were playing 30 years ago, they didn't come up against players every week who were 6ft-5in plus. The outfield players in today's game are monsters. Just walking around the streets these days, kids are all huge. People are getting bigger.

Pickford is tiny for a keeper – really small. I don't think Pickford makes himself big enough between the sticks either. West Ham's 3rd goal two weeks ago should've been kept out. Pickford is definitely too small for the modern game.

He's really poor coming for crosses, doesn't flatten enough players clearing his lines because he is not very imposing, parries shots back into open play too often... Just not very good.

Jordan's stock did rise for a short while due to saving penalties for England but who cares about that?

I think it's a bad move by the club, this 6-year deal for Pickford. As per usual EFC are to over-generous and too kind. What happens if Pickford's decline this season continues and he becomes the next Joe Hart?? We end up stuck with a dud once more on a massive contact... We never learn.

I've always coached my keepers to move and follow the play and to be off their line as it narrows the angle and gives a smaller target to aim at for the attacker, now how far off the line is down to judgement typically, but in training situations, I have always tried to guide this.

The fact that he is on one side for a freekick, yes that's where he should be and is the reason for a wall.

I don't remember this being a trait of Southall's; if it was then I'd put that down to amazing judgement some luck and him being a bit of a one off!

Re, Southall being a one off, Pat Nevin came to speak at the London Supporters' meeting last year.

He told a story of the players pissing themselves laughing because at the end of training they would all try to beat Nev from a distance with shots.

They hardly ever could. And it was with Nev holding his arms by his side and not using them. Apparently his anticipation was so fantastic he would be able to save with his feet, head etc.

However although my early 60's team with West was my favourite without doubt the 80's team with Nev was the luckiest.

Not lucky in what they achieved but lucky in having one of the greatest goalies in living memory.

I bet there are very few people alive today who can honestly say there wer loads better keepers that Nev.

So why all of a sudden to we have to have these 6'5" giants to be par for the course ?

Great to see the Club, after so many years, taking steps to keep our better players and getting rid of the crap.

Have we therefore just doubled his wages (since his England campaign and Chelsea's overtures) for a 12 month extension? Did the geniuses insert a minimum fee release clause too?

I won't be proverbially slapping Marcel Brands or anyone else on the back just yet.

I think it's a sensible move by the club; it was a promise made by Steve Walsh when he was signed, apparently, that his contract would be reviewed if he did well. I agree that, for some of us fans, he could have done better. Let's see if he does improve with this kind of security and statement of confidence behind him.

Tony Marsh... "really small"!!! Your innate ability to spout incomprehensible hyperbole never disappoints.

We have a dynamic DOF and a young hungry manager who is committed to the project who says he needs a long term job building a great team.

The building blocks are being laid on stable foundations, it bodes well for the future of EFC. We are gradually getting back to being a proper well run and competitive football club.

I have no problem at looking at Liverpool and how they started rebuilding when Klopp came. I'm not sure but I think only Sturridge and Henderson were first team players, from when Klopp arrived, that played in last Saturday's team against Southampton.

It has taken the Liverpool manager over three years and quite a few mistakes to get Liverpool into the very good position that are in now. Brands and Silva have been here four months, just think about that... they deserve a lot more time I think.

I'm not sure he would always play on his goal line though in games.

I get told by fellow TWers and pundits (usually ex RS players) how his distribution is outstanding but I just don't see it. Admittedly, there were times last season where he caught the ball and launched an attack with a low-trajectory ball but other top keepers do this regularly. I see Neuer as the ultimate goalkeeping-distributor.

A lot of times with Pickford, he finds touch or an opposition player. He gave the ball away the other week against West Ham which resulted in a goal. Maybe it's a case that I'm only remembering the miscues but I might start taking more notice of how many times he actually finds a blue shirt. My suspicion is that it isn't as often as his reputation suggests.

The other criticism I would have of him is that he palms shots away across goal. I remember during the World Cup, Ryan Giggs was a pundit and he recounted tales of Southall practising palming the ball out for a throw-in. Southall is still the best goalkeeper I've seen at Everton, closely followed by Nigel Martyn.

And it doesn't tie the player to the club at all – as soon as the agent smells more cash, they are off!

Yeah I don't think it's a bad thing and I'm certainly not one of his critics just not leaping with excitement at what is clearly a wage hike disguised (at least to some) as a masterstroke.

I hope he's with us for many years to come and is paid handsomely in the process, preferably by way of performance related bonuses!

Another really positive contribution. Do you think there is anything positive about the club? If you do perhaps you could let us know what it is?

Other than coming for crosses I don't see how height wouldn't have been a factor facing shots 30 years ago versus now. If he could have done better against West Ham surely that is a technical issue rather than height related. The goals have gotten larger.

Also on the height thing, I don't see that many 6'-5" players but, even if there are, Pickford is 6'-1". He is four inches shorter, but he can use his arms which actually gives him a couple of feet advantage over the tallest of blokes if they are competing in the air.

That being said, as a keeper he doesn't even have to connect with the ball these days. All he has to do is jump in the vicinity of an opposition player and the ref will automatically give him a free kick.

Seeing all the awful players on huge salaries signed by the club over the last 2 years, forgive me If I feel a bit uneasy about giving Pickford 6 more years. Pickford isn't a world beater, he is just okay. Have we learned nothing from the Klaassen, Sandro and more recently Gana deals??

Pickford has been poor this season and gets rewarded with a massive long-term deal. I don't believe he deserves such an incredible gesture from the club. If it does go tits-up, then we are stuck with another highly paid dud we can't shift. We can't afford to be so casual dishing out long-term contracts any more.

Just my opinion but, if you are 6'-1" and have arms, you should still have a strong advantage against a 6'-5" attacker.

The dimensions of the goal posts have not changed so I don't see any reason why Pickford can't protect them like the 6'-1" keepers of the past.

I am not totally convinced by him, and a 6-year deal does seem overly generous but he certainly has talent.

Enjoy spending silly money on a ticket to get into the ground so these greedy fuckers can drive Ferraris and live in mansions after playing 5 minutes in the top leagues. Clearly I'm skint and jealous but still, takes the piss. :P

To much to soon. He's a good goalkeeper but I certainly can't back him yet as being top class never mind amongst the best in the Premier league.

He has no competition at Everton nor does he have much for England because the other lads can't use their feet even though I'd class Butland and Forster better keepers.

#19 Kieran the idea that Casillas is 6'1 always made me laugh, 5'11 tops.

Watching Everton, out of left field my partner announced Pickford has legs like a woman! I was honestly speechless!