Everton fell 4-1 today in the FA Cup Quarterfinals to Arsenal. Roberto Martinez stuck with backup goalkeeper Joel Robles, who received less than stellar reviews: http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/thematch/id/2103?cc=5901
I am not sure if this has been posted and I am not sure if this should be posted here. But, I finally got around to read Alex Ferguson's latest autobiography and I was surprised by how little Howard was mentioned since he was the #1 GK for about a season. He was only mentioned twice both in passing. Ferguson talked more about Djemba Djemba than Howard. I wonder why is that? Is it because Howard was such a low maintenance player that there was not anything interesting to say about him?
I actually just finished that chapter last week. I was wondering the same thing. I think you're right though, he was low maintenance and had a pretty low profile.
In that case wouldn't he still have said something like "we picked up a really good GK for cheap from MLS. And believe it or not, he's a Yank" And I'm sure if Howard had played in the FA Cup match and they still lost 4-1, some would have said how unfair it was for Martinez to drop Robles despite he not doing anything wrong. Sucks for Everton and Howard. He's the kinda athlete you feel that really deserves to have way more medals than he currently has.
I don't understand why Martinez has Everton setting up so deep inside its own box on free kicks. The goal they allowed today was swung into a sea of bodies at the edge of the six and took an unstoppable deflection. Howard did make one excellent save in the first half, helping Everton win 2-1 (the opposing keeper was phenomenal).
3-2 win over Swansea today, Howard saved the day. Both goals were unstoppable, but two tremendous saves ended up making the difference.
3-0 today, sounds like an easy one. With eight games left to play, Everton are now up to 57 pts. Barring a late collapse, it will post the highest point total it has achieved since the Premiership began in 1992-93. Howard's eight seasons all rank in the top ten. 65 pts 07-08 (Howard in goal) 63 pts 12-13 (Howard in goal) 63 pts 08-09 (Howard in goal) 61 pts 09-10 (Howard in goal) 61 pts 04-05 (Nigel Martyn in goal, 23 caps for England) 61 pts 95-96 (Neville Southall in goal, Wales' most capped player of all time with 92) 58 pts 06-07 (Howard in goal) 57 pts* 13-14 (Howard in goal) 56 pts 11-12 (Howard in goal) 54 pts 10-11 (Howard in goal)
So it's fair to say Howard just might be the best keeper Everton has ever had? Or by the time he leaves the club right? Last year, wasn't he close to breaking a goalkeeping record before his injury?
Everton fans aren't likely to see it that way. Southall is a club legend and was there for an incredible number of years, including a brief run of glory in the mid-80s (back when it was possible for a club the size of Everton to win titles). But after Everton's current run of good-but-not-greatness fades, I expect we'll see some nostalgia for it. For a long time now, they've done a great job of punching above their weight.
It was quite a while that they were a big club right, but hasn't Howard's time with the club coincided with them playing in Europe and challenging for domestic trophies? Not saying this is all on Howard.
Is it due to the lack of trophies or just his stats don't compare to Southalls? I'm sure some regard must be made to how Everton is now as a club.
With Arsenal's current form and dropped points last night... Everton are now 6 points behind Arsenal with a game in hand, and a home game coming up against the Gunners... Arsenal's next game is against City, although to be fair Everton also have to play City, but Goodison has been a bogey side for the Citizens.... but anyhoo, what I'm saying is that Everton could be back in the mix for a champions league place... would love to see Timmy back in the UCL next season, if not the Europa League which it looks like they are going to qualify for...
Not much time right now, but I'll say he had exceptional positional command and was a good communicator to his back line. His shot reactions were also quite good. Not sayin' Tim's bad, he does have great physical tools, but we've all seen some of the errors he makes,errors Neville didn't make typically.
3-1 against Fulham. 4 points behind Arsenal for the final CL spot, though they have a game in hand. It seems very possible that Everton just might finally reach the Champions League.
Arsenal @ Everton next Sunday is an absolute must win. Arsenal's other five remaining games are all very winnable for them, so Everton isn't likely to have many opportunities to make up ground.
5 saves and a clean sheet as Everton demolish the inferior North London side known as Arsenal. That moves Howard up to 13 clean sheets on the year and now Everton are only a point back of Arsenal for 4th place with a superior GD and a game in hand. Here are two of his finer saves.
One of the best seasons for Howard but Cech has the lead in clean sheets and lots of praise for Szczęsny and Begovic.