Former boxer and lifelong Evertonian Tony Bellew has been speaking on Blues matters, including Lee Dixon's remarks about Jordan Pickford
Tony Bellew (inset) has been responding to Lee Dixon's remarks about Everton and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford
Tony Bellew (inset) has been responding to Lee Dixon's remarks about Everton and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford
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Tony Bellew has told Lee Dixon to mind his own business “and leave Everton alone” as he launched an impassioned defence of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The former Arsenal player, 61, who was subsequently spotted at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday for Everton’s game against Tottenham Hotspur, prompted the club to hit back at comments he made on punditry duty for ITV, questioning why Pickford – who was on the cusp of announcing his new contract with the Blues – had not joined a “bigger club.”
Taking to social media, Everton’s official account on X (formerly Twitter) tagged in Dixon to their post, which read: “9 top-flight titles, 5 FA Cups, 1 European title, one of football’s most-passionate fanbases, a world-class new stadium. Everton FC – a big club: past, present & future,” a tweet that has now been viewed over two million times.
Lifelong Evertonian Bellew, 42, who was a professional boxer between 2007-18 and held the WBC Cruiserweight title from 2016-17, was chosen by the club to be one of the hosts, alongside television presenter Gethin Jones, for the End of an Era ceremony following Everton’s final game at Goodison Park on May 18.
Speaking via Footballblog, the 42-year-old Scouser told the ECHO: “First and foremost Lee Dixon was a fantastic right-back in his time and he’s entitled to his opinion. But to say that Everton isn’t a big club is ludicrous.
“We’re the fourth biggest club in the country. Only four teams in the country have won more league titles than Everton and the club is really building now.
“I think Jordan Pickford knows just how important and how vital he is to a football club and he feels at home there. He’s a diamond of a lad.
“He’s England’s number one and he’s breaking records for the longest amount of time without conceding a goal. He’s setting records all over the place.
“So, I just think for Lee Dixon, mind your own business and leave Everton alone. Everton are a big enough club and pick on someone your own size.
“You’ll struggle finding someone, but just pick on someone your own size!”
Bellew also doesn’t believe that Pickford, who has now won 80 England caps (twice as many as any other player for the Three Lions while at the Blues with Phil Jagielka, the previous record holder) and has broken Peter Shilton’s record for the most clean sheets in major tournaments, receives the recognition that his talents deserve from the country at large. He said: “No, he does not get the credit he deserves.
Tony Bellew while hosting the 'End of an Era' ceremony following Everton's final game at Goodison Park
Tony Bellew while hosting the 'End of an Era' ceremony following Everton's final game at Goodison Park
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“People are all well and good having a go at Jordan Pickford, but they just don’t give him the recognition he deserves. The amount of clean sheets he’s had… without a shadow of a doubt, Everton Football Club would’ve been relegated in two seasons had he not been the goalkeeper.
“He’s the backbone for that defence. He is massive for us.
“He’s a bit nuts, I agree, but also one of the greatest footballers to have come out of Sunderland, if not the best by the time he’s finished.
“Trust me, he probably will be the best. We’ve just got to try and get a couple of trophies to his name now.”
At the other end of the pitch, Bellew has backed goal-shy strikers Beto and Thierno Barry to eventually come good. The pair have netted just once in the Premier League all season – Beto's header in the 3-2 win at Wolves on August 30 – after they both drew another blank in Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
He said: “I just think we need a couple of goals to go in for them to be honest and once a couple go in a hatful will follow. We saw towards the end of last season Beto was given his chance and once one went in, he went on a run and was scoring against the likes of Liverpool, he’s quality.
“It's not for the want of trying. He works so hard and so does Thierno Barry.
“They are pushing it. It’s not like these guys are standing up top of the pitch and are not moving, not asking the ball, not wanting the ball.
“These guys are running, they’re working the socks off. It’s just going to need that little moment to stay composed in front of goal and finish your chances. And it will click eventually. I believe it will.”
There is another member of David Moyes’ squad who Bellew believes deserves praise though having shown his versatility so far this term. He said: “An unsung hero is James Garner, he’s absolutely phenomenal.
“He’s been played everywhere. He’s been all over the park, right-back, left-back, central midfield, he’s been so important to us.
“James Garner has been a shining light. There’s so many unsung heroes amongst the lads, James Tarkowski, since he’s come to the club, has been absolutely phenomenal.”
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