Neville Southall, Nigel Martyn and former teammate Asmir Begovic weigh in on Everton and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and explain how he continues to impress club and country, and how he has cemented his position as No. 1 and No. 1 of the Three Lions. One of football’s goalkeepers.
The upcoming UEFA EURO qualifiers against North Macedonia and Malta could provide Pickford with the chance to further regain his already complete claim to be Gareth Southgate’s goalkeeper for a fourth successive major tournament.
Under the current England manager, only Harry Kane (64) has made more starts than Pickford (56), who has rewarded Southgate’s confidence with strong and consistent performances in the last 3 tournaments.
Meanwhile, for Everton, Pickford continues to attract attention in normal fashion, combining high-quality saves with perfect distribution – key points that have earned him awards from club and fans since arriving on Merseyside in the summer of 2017.
Pickford: recognised and rewarded for Everton’s good form
Since joining the Toffees, Pickford, who has surpassed 250 appearances for Everton, has excelled for the club, winning 3 of Everton’s Player of the Season awards in his six full campaigns.
Last season, the Everton goalkeeper recorded the third-highest saves (123) in the Premier League, while ranking in the top 10 in save percentage (71. 3).
The campaign also saw Pickford, as expected, save 3 goals thanks to his more precise shooting efforts. This is the sixth-highest score among all Premier League goalkeepers and, per 90 minutes, puts him at the most. five sensible
Neville Southall: no English goalkeeper
NS: “I think the duty that Pickford has taken on is wonderful and I don’t think anyone is more wonderful than him for England. This position is 90% intellectual and 10% physical. So it’s getting more wonderful and it’s doing a smart job. work. employment.
“Obviously, he’s smart under pressure when he’s playing for England because, I think, if you’re English, it’s a completely different game.
“Give me a goalkeeper who is in England, who is English.
“Playing 250 games at Everton is clearly smart, and as a goalkeeper you live and die through your decisions. Let’s be honest, if you look at those 250 games, he had a lot of smart games and I think he’ll get his revenge better with experience.
“With this experience, things slow down. You can see him now that he’s starting to slow down, which is probably a smart thing to do, but you also have to keep in mind that he was a kid in the Sunderland team.
“I felt better at 35 because I knew when I would be put on the field, what the team would be like, what the atmosphere would be like and what the game would be like.
“You can perceive the conditions better. At 35, I think you’re probably a man, you know, physically, you’re in your prime. In terms of experience, you have it all physically. He’s six years old and the six-year-old, it’s up to him. “
England’s No. 1: Consistent on stage
At the 2018 World Cup, only two goalkeepers made more saves than Pickford (16), who helped England triumph in a first festival semi-final in 28 years.
Subsequently, at the 2021 European Championship, the Toffees goalkeeper recorded the highest number of blank sheets of the tournament, with five, and also recorded a save percentage of 88. 9%. His performances helped England on their run to their first primary tournament final since 1966. .
At Qatar 2022, no goalkeeper has recorded more blank sheets than Pickford, who has controlled 3 in matches.
Asmir Begovic on “One of the best in the world”
Pickford’s Death: A Reliable Asset
A vital facet of the fashionable goalkeeper (and a requirement of England’s dominant taste for ownership), Pickford proved comfortable with the ball at his feet.
Known as a hard kicker, he excels at many distances. So far, in the 2023/24 Premier League season, he ranks first in long passes completed (passes over 30 yards) for any player, whether outfield or goal, with 125. .
Last season, David Raya had scored more than Pickford, who finished 342 long passes for Everton.
If the range is shortened, the Blues goalkeeper’s mistake is rare. Since making his Premier League debut for Everton, Pickford has attempted 798 short passes (five to 15 yards), failing four.
Nigel Martyn explains how Pickford earned Southgate’s trust
NM: “He makes big saves in vital games where a blank sheet was kept or a result was stored, and those saves have helped Everton in recent years.
“His shot prevention is his biggest advantage, but his distribution is also very good. Hit the ball far and accurately.
“He’s preparing very well for the shots and that’s very important. When someone hits the ball, your feet are on the ground, and he’s very smart to be in a position when the shot happens.
“It’s a technical thing that you have to work on, for him to identify when the shot is most likely to be and that helps him with his reflexes and other attributes that he has.
“For England he turns out to be an intelligent person who is compatible with foreign football. He has the full confidence of the coach of the Club and the country.
“He’s the number one player, that’s how Gareth (Southgate) sees him, and that’s based on his performances. Since he’s been number one, he’s played really well and Gareth is aware of what he’s capable of. “and trust him to act.
“I think he’s improved year after year at Everton, and I think the improvement will continue as long as he’s compatible and needs to keep playing at the highest level. “