Silva doesn't think Pickford was distracted by hostile Newcastle crowd

Lots of things and mistakes have repeated themselves this season; problem is the manager unfortunately hasn't learned from them.

Maybe we should keep Silva as manager, let him plan strategy and keep him off the training pitch in an office at Finch Farm.

Get rid of all his hangers-on coaches, who few of us even know their names, including home grown ones and employ top class coaches who can actually coach!

Starting with goalkeeping.

4 wins in 17 matches. 4 victories since November 24th.

If, as I expect, we don't beat Chelsea, West Ham or Arsenal (our next three matches in order) then that's 4 wins in 20.

I say I don't expect to win any of them because we have barely beaten a team of much standing all season. Our wins since the end of October are Brighton, Cardiff, Burnley, Bournemouth, Huddersfield and Cardiff again.

I can't see how this team can inflict hurt on better teams up the table right now.

So, Marco, that stat of 4 wins in 20 games is a distraction on the near horizon I can't ignore — and I don't know how anyone can ignore our woeful results since November.

Why do we seem to have 3-4 players almost every week having zero positive influence on a game? You got it wrong, Silva – again!

In our current form and position, we are not going to attract the top managers so who does a team like Everton attract? I rack my brain on that one and can't really think of anybody really – may be Mikel Arteta as a long-shot.

If the likes of Simone are beyond us then at least get another Silva type level who actually knows how to defend and maybe even change a game. Straw clutching as usual.

Dropping that cross for the penalty was utter schoolboy stuff. It won't do him, or the team, any harm to be dropped. They can't get any worse (can they?) and the overpaid underperformers need a kick up the arse.

Silva knows his future is very much on the line. Perhaps we will learn even more about him from his decisions over the next few weeks. Like many, I struggle to see where any points will come from unless there is radical change.

No public dressing down or words of warning... it all points to a lack of discipline that runs deep through the club under Silva for which he has no answers. That's got to be very worrying.

He had little form or success at previous clubs and he is following his previous trends, which beggars the question: Why did we employ him in the first place???

But if you want to give a young guy a confidence wobble what better way than to set the Everton pitchfork brigade on him? Barkley, Lukaku, Schneiderlin, Calvert-Lewin, Coleman, Jagielka – I could go on – there is always one singled out.

He surely needs a bit of mentoring, steerage, guidance, counselling – call it what you will, but he will be well aware of his various faux pas. Credit to Silva on this occasion for stepping up for him. Whether or not he plays him next game/s remains to be seen but, fuck me, I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of this mob.

You can point your finger at Pickford if you like, but he really isn't the problem in our team – the problem in our team is exactly that, the team. It isn't any one player in my view. We lack direction, and purpose, don't score enough and concede too many – the latter being the real root of our problems.

Look at the top 2, Man City & Liverpool, yeah they both score loads, but they also have the 2 meanest defences in the league which is a telling stat and one which underpins all good football teams. If you can't defend, you'll get murdered, and we can't defend. Silva's team can't defend.

Until he learns how to coach them as a defensive unit, we're going to continue to struggle.

It might also be an idea to buy a fucking striker as well. Just sayin'.

Surely Silva can't condone behaviour like that? He needs to be told to get a grip – that's the manager's job after all to maintain discipline.

It's not as if Pickford had a great game – he was out of control and we paid the price with another defeat.

Silva is right to focus on the coaching methods and tactics because that is where the problem lies. Pickford seems not to be coached properly or be tactically informed.

Pickford comes across during the match as being arrogant. I have always thought that arrogance was the manifestation of ignorance. In this, case it seems correct.

Kim, I suspect most fans can accept mistakes made by one of our players who just gets on with doing his job, putting his body on the line, without any bravado or sense of self-importance. Mistakes made by a player who seems to have less humility invite more criticism.

Examples of the former range from, for example, Sandy Brown in the 60s (limited talent, errors not unusual but a big heart, busting a lung to get a crunch tackle in, willing to play in every position (literally?) – but without an ounce of self-importance) to today's Jonjoe Kenny (ditto all – had a far worse game than Pickford at Newcastle but who gets no flack here, quite rightly).

Silva seems generally to have that type of professional style, whereas the likes of Koeman and Allardyce lacked it.

Chances are Pickford is getting a bollocking in private if his attitude is wrong. But I don't expect to see any bollockings in public, and nor should we.

Neither will feature in our list of great club servants but, in a microcosm, exemplify what is wrong currently.

The 'vilifying' of the 'keeper isn't sudden — he's been shit all season. From that idiotic mistake at Anfield in injury time, to being rooted to his line for nearly every game, he's a liability!

And he's England's keeper because mystifyingly Southgate has kept faith in him... Why, I'll never know, because there's at least two or three keepers well better than him.

Pickford's problem at Everton is he's got no-one pushing him and, reading between the lines, Silva isn't going to drop him any time soon.

It would do no harm to give the kid Virginia a go because, let's face it, we're not going down or getting a European spot. But I've no doubt he won't.

All that moron Pickford was interested in on Saturday was getting involved with them numbskull Geordies. Well he looked great at the end of the game, didn't he?

The lad is full of his own worth but, in my opinion, he is just a very ordinary keeper. And to think some on here used to give Howard grief... This clown isn't good enough to lace his boots!!

I, for one, applaud him for defending his player in public. Whatever managers do these days, they are castigated.

With regard to the game, playing Devil's Advocate, I'd say that the manager can be responsible for much of what goes on, but he can't be criticized for players' individual mistakes, which have been the cause of many goals conceeded.

I don't have to list the goals we have conceeded this way. You have all witnessed them. While I have yet to be convinced that Marco is the man for us, and I really do want him to succeed for the sake of our club, I am equally frustrated by some players who make the same mistakes game after game.

I've coached players myself, who try as I might, I could not change their bad habits. Yet other players learned quickly (so not just down to my coaching!). Maybe Marco is suffering the same problem, which is why he changes the team?

Martinez was criticized for not changing to a defensive set up, to see out a win. Silva tried to do that on Saturday, by bringing on another defender. Yet, still apparently, he got it wrong??? Or ..... just maybe the players did?

Routine crosses: he might drop one. Long balls down the middle: he might race out to confuse his defenders. An up and under into the 6-yard box: he might flap at it. A pot shot from 25 yards: he might palm it out to a forward following up.

We have seen all of those scenarios this season, not to mention wayward distribution and an apparent inability to keep a defence organised and alert to danger.

Last season I thought he was a work in progress. This season he has gone backwards.

Catterick had no hesitation in dropping Gordon West when he was in poor form. Kendall had no hesitation in dropping Southall.

Silva should do likewise with Pickford to give him an opportunity to refocus. It won't happen of course because he is ‘England's Number One'. Over to Gareth Southgate for a decision.

I don't think our defenders are bad players as individuals but they seem to lack direction and cohesion. Do we have a specialist defensive coach? If not, we need one... If so we need another one.

It's not as if we can happily concede a couple of goals, knowing that we can outscore opponents at the other end cos that ain't case. Calvert-Lewin works hard and is developing quite well but he will only ever be a supporting act to the main event. We badly need a headline act up front.

Maybe we should look closer to home instead of splashing millions on foreign players. Many top players have come from lower divisions or Scotland... Sharp, Vardy, Rush, Keegan to name but a few. Going back further Ball, Law and, (I think) Doogan.

Do we even scout the lower leagues any more or are we obsessed with "top" players?

The cross that Pickford dropped that then lead to the penalty was very routine stuff. As was Almiron's shot that he then palmed back out for their crucial equaliser.

A goalkeeper has to get the bread and butter stuff right. Pickford needs to show over the next 8 games he can be relied on or else a new goalkeeper could soon become one of our biggest priorities.

It seems to me that Pickford is making more gaffs this year than last - at very least he seems no better.

The big problem with Saturday was that at a point in the game when we were still leading, our manager made a substitution that effectively waved the white flag and handed the initiative to a shrewd opposition manager. Newcastle took over midfield and from that point on we were beaten. If the 3rd goal had been ruled out they'd probably have scored another.

I wonder if Brands is having a serious conversation with Silva this morning or does this not happen because Silva is Moshiri's man? Be nice to know...

This is going to be a regular event now at Newcastle games. Ridiculous.

It was madness and it swung the momentum in Newcastle's favour, I can understand that substitution if you are playing Barcelona away in the Champions League but why should Everton, who have spent triple what Newcastle have, be scared of Newcastle?

It's all about mentality as per usual and we still prove that we don't have a big boys mentality.

It will be the same on Sunday against Chelsea, they are in Ukraine on Thursday night but you just know we won't try and attack them and take the game to them, we will sit back and wait for the inevitable 1-0 defeat to a below par Chelsea side.

Pickford was definitely reacting to the crowd, the Geordie - Mackem antagonism, which was not only unprofessional, but it obviously had a major impact on his concentration, or should I say lack of it?

Others have mentioned too that Kenny, who didn't expect to play, had probably his worst performance for us, yet has gone for the most part without a mention.

It was all too convenient for Silva, with whom my patience has worn to paper-thin, to effectively use Jordan as a scapegoat for the last 30 minutes of the game, as an extended brainfart, but conveniently deflecting any flak which should be directed at both him, and his useless entourage.

He is coming across as an arrogant wildcard. He has regressed since the World Cup instead of that being a springboard for him.

Both the coaching staff and Pickford himself need to get a grip of the situation and turn it round fast.

He is a terrific shot-stopper as he proved last week against Liverpool, but the mistake he made against the same opponents in December raises serious questions over the choices he makes at times.

Look, every goalkeeper makes mistakes and its how they react to those mistakes, and what changes they make to try and eradicate them in the future. I am not convinced that Jordan has learned from the mistakes.

He seems to push a lot of shots back into play rather than preferring to turn the shots over the bar or round the post for a corner. The very simple cross he failed to hold which led to the Newcastle penalty was a schoolboy mistake, but his reaction to bring down Rondon was stupid, and he was lucky not to be sent off.

We have seen a lot of poor decisions from Jordan in quite a few games, and unless he improves his decision making I fear those mistakes will keep on happening. He should be maturing as a goalkeeper, but I don't see that happening — he is just as erratic with his decisions as when he first joined us which is very worrying.

James inevitably got stick, goalkeeper for Liverpool and added fuel was that he was prone to ridiculous errors. However, he regularly laughed and joked with the fans in the Gwladys Street behind the goal, the odd thumbs up etc just to basically say “I know what's coming lads let's just enjoy the banter”.

Pickford however on Saturday became far too engrossed in it all rather than just holding a thumb up to the Gallowgate as acknowledgment that what came his way he would lead by example on the pitch.

It's not the first time these big occasions seem to rattle him, he's flunked two Anfield derbies on the spin now.

I appreciate what he did at the World Cup but also believe that at times there's too much hype over basic saves, I remember the madness surrounding Tim Howard in the 2014 World Cup, people not realising that most of the shots were poorly struck attempts hit straight at him.

Pickford was at fault for several goals we conceded at the back of last season, two he conceded at West Ham on the last day were dreadful but then along game the World Cup and that elevates his status before he's actually really achieved anything noteworthy.

This season has been a massive bounce back down to earth and hopefully it's going to be the wake-up call desperately needed.

Doesn't seem the brightest, doesn't dominate the 6-yard box, spreads insecurity throughout the team, is a decent shot-stopper but rarely wins us a game.

He won't get dropped because of his asset value; we drop him and his value plummets. We should try and get our money back; we should have bought Fabianski last season.

You have summed up the situation perfectly though I would prefer Butland.

Let's not forget we finished reasonably last year and spent another hundred million in the summer, he's taken a third team and is stinking the place out for a third time.

He needs to head off with the £16 million he's taken during his wild ride in England these last three years, and laugh all the way to the bank.

He's an over-confident egotist who believes his own publicity. He should be dropped at the weekend and not be on the bench either. Give him time to reflect. If he continues to act like a kid we should consider moving him on – no time for fools at Goodison.... we have too many already!

Clearly two big time charlies who think they've done it all and have arrived at the top table of footballers.

I've never been 100% about Pickford, he's a fizzing bundle of nerves. Always talking about "taking it on the chin" and "not letting mistakes get him down". Well I for one think that is a big pile of bollocks. I think everything affects him as much as commentators say that it doesn't.

Not wanting to sound too Sky Sports but he "has everything he needs to be a top goalkeeper", everything except a cool head and an ability to collect crosses.

Maybe he is why Sunderland got relegated? I remember seeing loads of shots go under him when he played for them but everyone raved about him because of the amount of shots he faced.

Well, he wouldn't face so many shots if he came out to collect fucking crosses!!!

We have still only had two top-class goalkeepers in my time of supporting the Blues: Southall and Martyn.

DK #28, it has been commented on in several threads and we talked about it even during the first half on the Live Forum, but after all he wasn't responsible for any of the goals.

Mike #32, no thank you. Fumbles Fabianski would have been the last keeper I would have bought after ten years of Premier League howlers. This season, at 33, he's finally having a good show with West Ham. First time.

That said, over several threads now since Saturday, some posters are simply going in for personal vilification of the lad, which is unmerited, and much of it founded on wild speculation.

In the last 3 days he has been described as:

"a fool who cannot concentrate or focus on his job"
"a cocky unhinged idiot"
"an over-excitable cretin"
"arrogant"
"a clown"
"cocksure"
"crazy"
"madcap"
"a hysteric"
"a hyped-up personality"
"a narcissist, eager to be the centre of attention"
someone with "ADHD"
"an arrogant fucker!"
"definitely not a full shilling"
"weak-minded"
someone who "goes into scared mode"
"an ego bigger than his ability"
someone who "needs bringing down a peg or two"
someone with "a mental disorder"

And there is plenty more of the same.

To echo Peter Mills from another thread, I consider there are some pretty harsh comments there, overly concerned with subjective character assassination of the lad, rather than a more objective assessment of his skills, limitations and perceived failings.

This is a player who last year swept up all three end-of-season awards:

The fans' Player of the Year.
The players' Player of the Year.
The Young Player of the Year.

He had an outstanding World Cup and has had some fantastic moments, even in this current bipolar season Everton is experiencing.

Overall, he is not maintaining the same standards to which he played last season. Why not?

Judging by some of the listed comments above it is primarily down to a failing of his personality traits. I don't buy that.

Yup! I agree there are moments when he needs to be 'quieter', 'more still' in games to be more effective. That does not equate to demanding he should undergo a complete personality transplant and change the person he is by being 'calmer' and Pat Jennings Buddah-like.

As for the 'banter' with the home crowd, it can go one of two ways: Pickford's confidence and facing down of them could act as an inspiration to the team to do likewise: not to be intimidated and to play with a swagger. Of course, if you concede or lose, it can make you look foolish.

Alan Ball was the Master Windup Merchant. Personally, I want more players with confidence and swagger, with the ability to carry it off... as long as it doesn't impact negatively on their performance. Despite some claims to the contrary, I'm not convinced that Pickford's interplay with the home crowd did.

I still see him doing a lot of good things in his position. I honestly do not recall from last season much discussion or questioning of Jordan's ability to command his area or organize his defence. Just some doubts about his height.

On the contrary, he was often praised for the fact it was his voice that was most vocal to live attendees at the game and that he was no respecter of reputations, giving Rooney some grief, for example, when he tried to be too cute on the edge of the penalty area, bringing unnecessary pressure on the defence.

This season, for the most part, he has tended to leave incoming balls to his centre backs. Now some folk on TW have reliably informed us he does so as a direct instruction from Silva, his manager. He is playing to orders.

Ironically, I thought against the Barcodes on Saturday he was coming out to high balls much more than he has shown this season. I see no evidence that he shies away from the physical and he has a good punch on him to clear his area.

His drop from an unchallenged routine cross that led to the penalty was dreadful. He was a very lucky boy to stay on the pitch, but – as he often does – he redeemed himself by saving the penalty.

I think the goal he is most culpable for on the day was the second one. It was an extremely fiercely hit shot which allowed him little reaction time. For me, he gets the angles and movement of his hands wrong. He would have been better palming the ball over the bar, rather than attempt to beat it away to the sides, and certainly not in front.

The ball doesn't hit his still hands. You can actually see downward (rather than angled upward) hand and arm movement which will result in one thing: angling the ball back into the ground in front of him, as happened, presenting Perez with his chance.

Is he a talented goalkeeper? Undoubtedly.

Is he the finished article? Far from it.

Are their aspects of his technique and temperament he could improve? Most definitely.

It seems implausible to me that the player himself, or his coaching staff, are not aware of his shortcomings and work on them daily to improve them.

I will close on one further observation, two actually:

1) He and his (note) 'childhood sweetheart' just last month gave birth to their first son. That he remained faithful to his 'childhood sweetheart' rather than go hunting for a WAG is possibly indicative of a loyal, well-balanced lad unaffected by his new-found fame, rather than the "arrogant narcissist" some label him as.

2) Parenthood changes everything in a father or mother's life. You cannot separate the personal from the professional. None of us have any idea if or how the new-born is affecting Jordan's sleep patterns, etc.

In conclusion, I won't be jumping on the bandwaggon of condemnation of presumed character and personality failings being thrown at our goalkeeper.

You can call me just 'Jay'.

So, to summarise, he's a bit shit?

If there is anywhere we need a calm confident head its the keeper. But when Pickford's brain stalls its catastrophic.

Look at Spurs where we were 1-0 up then cue a Pickford brain fart where he decapitated Zouma and we then get murdered. Look at West ham where a Hollywood kick out was intercepted and spanked back into the net. Errors such as these set us back and change the flow of the match.

He's been the catalyst for so many defeats and poor performances

However, on reflection he could come in and hopefully sort the whole bloody mess out that we are currently in from top to bottom!

I believe/understand he was a half decent defender when he played for Rangers, before a knee injury ended his career.

A few home truths wouldn't go amiss!!!

Pickford has been terrible all season. The odd penalty save keeps him his place. He won't be England's Number One much longer — you can bet on that! He needs dropping and selling. He's simply not good enough at this level. Never mind he plays for England — they always have managers who make shocking decisions.

The truth is Jordan Pickford is now officially a dodgy keeper and is definitely too small for the modern game. Those of you saying silly things like Gordon Banks was the same height as Jordan Pickford have me in stitches. Banks wasn't in goal up against the outfield giants of today's game, was he? Pogba, Fellaini, Crouch etc...

Most outfield players now are bigger than Gordon Banks was. Banks was probably the biggest guy on the pitch when he was playing. Look at the 1966 World Cup squad. Alan Ball, Nobby Stiles etc... Joke statement.

I can't believe Silva is still here today after Saturday's diabolical shambles. What will it take to fire the bullet? Our form since last October is criminal — no other club in Europe that professes to be ambitious would put up with this shit and this gormless manager a minute longer. Bottom half of the table going backwards and utter shite to watch... yet Silva keeps his job. It's reminiscent of the last days of Martinez — where we all knew it was coming but Kenwright dragged it out.

Sack Marco Silva now and put Rhino in charge untill the summer. We can't go down so what's the point keeping Silva stinking the out the gaff? Time to be ruthless and cut Silva loose.

Who amongst us would trust Silva to keep us up next season? I certainly wouldn't. The laughing stock of England is what we are. It sickens me.

Mind you, the language would be a trifle unsavoury, and would 'braise' an eyebrow or two.

Yeah, I'm the one who mentioned Gordon Banks.

You didn't notice that I also listed Bravo, Casillas, Navas, Schmeichel, Oblak? Are they not modern keepers? Or is their mention "silly" as well?

The "joke" statement is that Pickford is too small. He's not. His poor judgment and footwork on high balls has nothing to do with his height. Watch Navas, Schmeichel or Ter Stegen on high crosses and watch how they handle 'em. And they're the same size as Pickford.

Pickford didn't drop that cross or punch all those clearances straight to opponents because he's too short. That's you pushing one of the excuses you claim to dislike.

Alan Shearer sends brutal message to Everton’s Jordan Pickford – “It’s ridiculous & bizarre”

And he will! Jesus [Jay] (had to throw that in there, funniest comeback ever @46) it happens to all of us. The only positive to getting old is the knowledge you acquire on the journey, and the improved perspective that knowledge brings.

It's clear to me we're witnessing a "TW Mob Mentality Syndrome" with Jordan.

You should all be mad at the freaking Manager!

"...we have to have enough experience to take the right decisions at this level..."

Aye Marco, aye!

We lost a game because the manager changed the complexion of the game with the worst substitution I've seen in over a decade from my barstool in 'Merica. That's been done to death on here.

After being livid yesterday, and trying to reflect, the only thing I can think of with Silva is the same criteria is applicable to him as it is Jordan.

He's a young coach. He'll also mature and learn. He made a massive mistake yesterday, as immature and over-reactionary for a manager as Jordan's antics were.

I only hope he realizes this, because he's not saying the right things in my opinion. That, or someone has a very, very strong word with him inside the organization, Mr. Brands.

But this vilification of Jordan Pickford borders on ridiculous.

Link

How many times do we see this every season? A regular occurrence. How many managers are charged? Was he swearing or being abusive? Wenger carried on like this after every defeat.

I’m still waiting for someone else to be banned like Niasse was for diving to win a pen. Has anyone else ever been charged with this?

Pickford hasn't been as consistent as last season but he is still a very good keeper.

The goalie's role has developed over the last few years, they now have to play like an extra centre-back whilst dealing with a ball that swerves more than ever.

Whilst the emphasis is on playing around with the ball more at the back and taking chances, every goalie is going to look like a fool every now and then. De Gea on Sunday made a howler; one of the best ever in Buffon made a howler midweek.

I just hope it's Alisson's turn this week.

I said on here a while back he's always rooted to the line, whether that's what he's been told is required (I would hope not) tends to be countered by the 1st goal. Maybe they know he can't catch so he is told to stay back!

He definitely needs coaching on that aspect and soon from Big Nev!!!!!

But the defence was collectively to blame, there were good numbers back but they did not appear to know how to organise themselves with no-one taking control.

We've seen this for 4-5 months now... clock's ticking for Silva.

It is Pickford's behavioru that is ridiculous, not the reaction on TW. At any age, we all expect any keeper to have the odd error but self-inflicted wounds through lack of awareness, maturity and downright stupidity when you are Everton's and England's goalkeeper deserves all he gets, I am afraid. It is time for him to demonstrate he is not a boy doing a man's job>

The manager's reaction at the end of the game, hinted to me at least, his current mindset, he's under great pressure. We've had some stinkers this year from the officials, but Silva hasn't felt the need to confront the referee. Has he?

Moreover it said he was grasping at straws to justify a record which is at best stagnant but most likely tells me what Silva is: in over his head.

All that's left this season is watch the death throes of another failed appointment.

I'd rather we kept Joel Robles, as everytime the ball comes into our box I fear the worse, and I feel the defenders have no faith either. The Millwall game was an absolute shocker, but the match at Newcastle was a disgrace.

The endless shite that Everton have served up for decades, just keeps being served season after season. May 1995 was a long time ago and May 1987 will never be repeated.

He needs to start with learning how to catch a ball for starters. The defenders are on edge because they have little confidence in him when the ball is crossed into the box.

How many times have we seen him command his area when the ball is in the air? Almost never. If he doesn't get dropped, he will cost us big time. If he spits the dummy out, fuck him off. He ain't that good.

TW is a cauldron for taking players apart. Sneids, Macca, Williams, Mina, Coleman, Keane, Martina Walcott, Barkley, Davies, Calvert-Lewin to name but a few.

Consistently on TW it is said that we badly need a centre forward, we badly need a creative midfield player. Yet we scored two goals away from home on Saturday and managed to lose. This is madness. We lose because we concede more goal than the opposition.

Our midfielders do not provide protection for the defenders when the opposition have the ball and our defenders are disorganised. Every player on the pitch has been dropped at some stage during the season except one, Pickford. It is about time that he took his share of responsibility for the state that Everton are in instead of berating his teammates every time we concede a goal as if he had no hand, act or part in it.

When he obviously is at fault he takes no responsibility for the error but instead takes us all for fools by asking us to believe that it was a freak event when hitting the crossbar with his hand. I believe he is a destabilising influence on the team.

I am blue in the face pointing out Pickford's faults (see multiple threads for the past two years (Kicking the ball to touch, parrying ball back into play and clattering Williams). It has already been mentioned that his erratic behaviour didn't start at Everton but was already evident at Sunderland. Macca has constantly been vilified because he came from a team that was relegated. Why not the same standards for Pickford?

He needs to be dropped to give others an opportunity to show how they perform without him and if there is an alternative. Why should Jordan be exempt from criticism, everybody else isn't.

I thought on Saturday that, when we were 2-0 up, we had turned a corner. Silva will live or die (more likely the latter) by his decisions over the next few weeks and he needs to make big calls to survive. Dropping Jordan Pickford has to be one of them. There are others but it would dilute my point to an already long thread.

Pickford cannot catch a ball, cannot parry a ball wide and certainly cannot command his area.

He needs someone to come in and coach him, forget the blunders yesterday and in both Anfield derbies, time and time again this season, he has pushed the ball back out to oncoming players to tap the follow up in the back of the net.

The sooner we get the guy to be able to catch a ball, or at least push it away from danger, the better.

I think it's totally normal.

What I can't believe is you positing a view as you have on numerous threads that it is 'no coincidence' that the 'common factor' of Everton being shite for the past two seasons is the presence of Jordan Pickford.

Personally, I find that a nonsensical, contrived opinion and not a 'coincidence' at all.

You don't like Pickford. That is evident.

Others do, whilst also recognizing his shortcomings.

Nothing unbelievable or strange at all that opinion is so diverse across the very broad church that is TW.

Your point is taken, and it's a fair one.

Here's my issue. Pickford is 25 years old, and he's between the sticks against his craddle-born, native arch-enemy in Newcastle.

The kid is hyped up beyond belief he wants to win so bad against "that lot." He probably had enough adrenaline coursing through his veins to kill a small farm animal.

Does he need to mature and focus on the game? Of course. But is it somewhat understandable for him to get a bit carried away? I'd argue yes.

I'd prefer to see someone on the field acting immature because he'd rather walk through hell in a gasoline suit than lose. That's what I saw. He simply didn't want to lose to "that lot". He got carried away a bit, but it was getting carried away in a hyper-competitive manner.

I don't see his "antics" as some massive, snatching-loss-from-victory, as others have. My finger is pointed squarely at Marco for the loss to Newcastle. I'm not as bothered by Jordan acting passionately, albeit immaturely, as most.

He needs to grow up a bit when he feels that emotional tidal wave coming. He will. In the meantime, I'd suggest that despite his flaws – and there are a few to be sure as his distribution sends me over the edge at times – he's a good, good young keeper.

He's got another 15 years possibly at the highest level. Keepers can play well into their late 30s and can hit 40 and still perform. I for one hope he plays for the next 15 years, ages, matures, and improves during his career. With us.

He's an outstanding shot-stopper and for me, that's the most important thing. The gray matter between his ears, the commanding his area, the distribution, all of it, can and will improve.

For all his "mistakes" that Jordan makes, how many goals has he saved us conceding?

I don't have the time or patience to go back and review game film and come up with a number, but my guess is the litany of times he's saved our bacon due to defensive gaffs not of his doing, far, far outweighs goals you can blame him for directly.

He's made a hell of a lot of crucial, ridiculous saves in his time here. So I don't understand the response of many who seemingly only want to focus on his mistakes. Most of which didn't lose us the game!

Sans that horrific derby moment admittedly. But even in that game I remember him stopping a 1 v 1 against Salah to keep us level!

There's criticism – fair criticism. But to say he's shite, or he cost us this last game etc, to me isn't accurate. Or fair.

If he didn't want to lose against that lot or the other lot when we played them I would suggest he concentrates more on good goalkeeping practices rather than verging on lunatic behaviour.

There is not a Premier Leaqgue goalie that would have gifted Origi that goal and very few would have punched the ball straight into the path of oncoming players besides the erratic behaviour that led to the penalty and one that Rondon ended up putting just wide.

We can't even say it was a one-off because he has consistently been like this all season.

I put my comments on Lyndon's opinion article. As this thread was about Marco's opinion on Pickford, I thought that the better place to continue a conversation solely on Pickford and his strengths and weaknesses.

I will say you and I have a vast difference on what constitutes "lunatic behaviour".

I was honoured enough to meet him and he is Seamus Heaney in goalkeeper's gloves. The timbre of his voice could stop a penalty.

It is a serious point; I believe he could offer Jordan some good advice on how to spread calm through a defence. Neville Southall is the best goalkeeper I have seen. Pat is next. He didn't need histrionics, his defence could just not face his disapproval.

Top player, top man. Make him your role model, Jordan.

About time we had officials from the continent in charge in the British Game. The fat and unfit jokers passing themselves off as officials here should consider a change of career. Trolley-pushing at supermarkets or lollipop men may be more their bag.

I can't believe how many comments on here are asking for better coaching to help our £30 million signing to become fit for purpose.

It is not that I don't like Pickford, but I do have a problems that for two years I have questioned his exalted position and outlined the flaws which have concerned me many times. I have watched TWebbers slate every outfield player on the pitch while Jordan's role is never questioned until now.

All I ever want is to see us win the games we should win. I do believe there is a making of a reasonable team in the squad but Jordan to me does not seem to be a team player and that doesn't help. The other piece fo the jigsaw missing is whether our manager has the ability to get the best out of the squad. Me thinks at present that is unlikely.

Also, did anyone see Richarlison's twitter post of his blue heart and of him celebrating scoring a goal? I honestly don't get these modern players. We just lost, pal, and you go celebrating your goal, brilliant.

I'm sure the whole football world can't wait for his next comic outburst, should be fun on Twitter.

He shows the faults of a schoolboy but what is worse is why hasn't someone at the Club pulled him up about his faults?

He can have coaching to sort out his distribution (which was lauded on here by some on his arrival) and his tendency to parry back into danger. Those problems can be solved.

His main problem is his emotional instability, his poor reading of situations, and his communication with his defence. Add to this his eagerness to be involved and you see an accident waiting to happen.

Maybe he will calm down. I wouldn't try and sell him, but I would drop him for a few games. Let's see if he shows signs of learning anything.

So those who defend this player, examine the facts and statistics:- this goalkeeper is currently the worst in the Premier League.

An afterthought... Everton deserve to have him.

How can you ignore facts and statistics? The Liverpool, Spurs, West Ham, and Newcastle games immediately come to mind.

He's too short, he's a coward in the air, and cannot command his own area. England have finished with him, and I predict in 18 months he'll be a distant memory.

Let's face it, he's rubbish, and has probably cost us 12 points this season.

Come the summer he'll believe money grows on trees and that splashing 10's of millions in players is a necessity when in fact it simply proves most modern managers are not good enough to get the most out of players at their disposal.

However, I am prepared to give Silva another 9 months to prove we are on the up and, with a little more time, a bit of luck and possibly a top quality player and leader, we can be challenging for European places.

The talent and potential of our recruitment last summer was very good. Other than Mina I think they have all improved the first team so keeping some stability with Silva makes sense.

Mina should now be starting the remaining games to prove if he can cut it in the Premier League.

Pickford needs a few games out so he can reasses his poor form and silly decision making.

I'd like to see Bernard central with Lookman on the left. Give Sigurdsson a little rest. Little to play for so Silva should take advantage and experiment.

But yeah, it would be a good idea once we have won another game or two. I would more go the route of trying some of the Under-23s out though if we have the luxury.

Unprofessional of the highest order... terrible attitude. We don't need all this ego caper right now – we need LEADERS.

In a short space of tim, he went from Sunderland and being relegated, to Everton and England Number 1, he was linked as a replacement for Man Utd's De Gaye and has believed his own hype.

Needs to be dropped like Gomes, Richarlison and every other Everton player has been, take it on the chin, buckle down and get over himself.

We need a keeper, not a clown.

I agree with a poster that Pickford mistakes have probably cost at least 12 points in the Premier League and contributed to the FA Cup exit at Millwall this season and that does not factor in the resulting cost of the all-important loss of momentum and confidence amongst the team, players and fans.

I do not see his personality as an issue – the issue is his basic goalkeeping skills are not good enough. He has massive weaknesses in key areas that are compounded by his relatively short stature for a modern goalkeeper.

Hopefully, the manager (whoever he is) will recognise this and we can sell Pickford this summer and recoup some cash but I can't see who would buy him now and for what price???

It was on various online sports news sites, mate.