‘Erratic’: Paul Scholes and Michael Owen slate Everton player despite Toffees winning last night

Add as preferred source on Google

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has been slated by Paul Scholes and Michael Owen for his performance at Goodison Park on Saturday night, despite helping Carlo Ancelotti’s Toffees to a clean sheet.

The 26-year-old has been an ever-present in the Everton starting XI since his move from Sunderland in 2017, clocking up 142 competitive appearances in all competitions for the Blues.

However, the Toffees custodian has come under criticism at times over the past few seasons due to errors in some of his performances.

On Saturday, Pickford put in a good performance overall as he helped Everton beat Chelsea 1-0, pulling off several smart saves including a great fingertip stop to deny Reece James.

That said, the England man did experience some nervy moments, slipping as a back pass rolled to him and coming a long way out to make a punch which nearly led to an equaliser by the visitors.

Neither led to an opposition goal as Gylfi Sigurdsson’s 22nd-minute penalty proved decisive in earning three points against one of the Premier League’s early title contenders.

However, Scholes and Owen – pundits on Optus Sport – were still critical of Pickford.

“He is slightly emotional,” Scholes said on Matchday Live. “He’s a little bit erratic, made a few mistakes a little bit all over the place at times and is capable of stupid mistakes.”

Owen added: “I think that is the key word: ‘emotional’ and I don’t think you can be emotional as a goalkeeper.

“It can’t be part of your makeup to be so emotional. You’ve got to be very cool and very calm. All the best goalkeepers are calm.

“As much as he’s got a lot of talent and that first save proved it touching it onto the post, he makes far too many mistakes because of that emotion. And that feeling he’s got to always be part of the game.”

TBR View:

It’s a tricky one – while Pickford did put in a good performance against Chelsea and he seems to be heading in the right direction in terms of form, there were still those nervy moments which could’ve cost the team dear.

On his day, he’s a quality keeper, and hopefully he will continue on the same trajectory in the coming weeks, building back his form and with potential errors becoming fewer and farther between.