How quickly they fall.
Even when they were never given the credit they deserved in the first place.
I’m talking about Jordan Pickford.
Let me declare my colours. I’m an Everton supporter. In my opinion, he’s the best goalkeeper we’ve had since Neville Southall, another Everton legend who, despite being the best goalkeeper in the world throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, never seemed to receive the recognition his talent merited. We knew though.
Jordan Pickford is following a similar path.
Look at the facts rather than the opinions. He has more clean sheets for England than any other goalkeeper, more penalty saves, more consecutive clean sheets, and more appearances at major tournaments than any England goalkeeper. He has reached two European Championship finals and two World Cup semi-finals – and he’s still going.
At club level, he has recorded one of the highest numbers of Premier League clean sheets over the past two seasons while playing behind an Everton defence that has spent much of that time battling near the bottom of the table.
Yet whenever England concede, the first instinct of so many pundits and fans is to ask what Jordan Pickford could have done differently.
From Troy Deeney’s cheap “alligator arms” jibe (he should be jettisoned for that) to the familiar chorus from television pundits seemingly waiting for the opportunity to criticise him, Pickford appears to be judged by standards that few other England players have to meet.
Watching England has often been frustrating. We were constantly told that the so-called “Golden Generation” was one of the greatest collections of players ever assembled, yet they consistently failed to deliver. Despite that, many of those same former players now sit comfortably in television studios handing out criticism as though they have all the answers.
Do they?
During this tournament England’s defending has, at times, resembled a sieve trying to hold water. Against DR Congo, Joe Hart was one of the few voices willing to defend Pickford after criticism of the goal conceded at his near post. Then, after England survived with ten men against Mexico, there was almost reluctant praise for the goalkeeper whose saves helped preserve the result.
Against Norway, England’s back four repeatedly made mistakes. It takes a special kind of goalkeeper to remain composed when chaos is unfolding in front of you, yet Pickford’s performance inevitably became the story.
Listening afterwards to the Football Daily podcast was revealing. Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland was treated with sympathy after his mistake gifted England the winning goal. There was understanding because he hadn’t played regularly, and praise because of his outstanding performances earlier in the tournament.
Fair enough.
But where was the same analysis for Pickford?
John Stones escaped the game with more praise despite an error that could easily have cost England dearly. The rest of the defence largely avoided scrutiny altogether. Somehow, the goalkeeper remained the player under the microscope.
We’ve arguably not had an England goalkeeper this consistently reliable since Gordon Banks. And yes, even Banks made mistakes.
One criticism regularly levelled at Pickford is that he doesn’t play for one of the Premier League’s glamour clubs. But when England won the World Cup in 1966, the squad included players from West Ham, Fulham, Blackpool and Leicester City. Gordon Banks himself played for Leicester. Great players don’t suddenly become lesser players because of the badge on their shirt.
Perhaps that’s part of the problem. Modern football has become obsessed with status. If you don’t play for one of the fashionable clubs, your achievements somehow count for less.
Curiously, many of Pickford’s critics never suggest who should replace him.
Because there isn’t an obvious alternative.
Deep down, I suspect they know that too.
So what exactly does Jordan Pickford have to do? Save even more penalties than he did in the European Championship final? Score one himself? Win every match single-handedly?
At Everton, we don’t need convincing. Nor do many football supporters who judge players on performances rather than lazy narratives.
With more than 90 England caps and a record that compares favourably with any goalkeeper in our history, Jordan Pickford has already earned his place among England’s finest.
The English disease used to be building players up before tearing them down.
Jordan Pickford hasn’t even been afforded the first part.
Perhaps if he lifts the World Cup, people will finally give him the recognition he has earned.
Then again…
I still wouldn’t bet on it.
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