Everton and England's Number One, and Rightly So

Jordan Pickford. So often England and Everton's saviour, but more often the whipping boy in the media. 

Many have been desperate to see Pickford replaced for England for many years now, but with very little logical or factual analysis behind it. 

The media and many fans have been clamouring for Pickford to be replaced as England's number one, often pointing to his club form to try to back up their claims that he's a mistake waiting to happen. 

The reality is Pickford has been phenomenal for Everton and England for many, many years now. 

The 32-year-old is erratic, noisy, animated, and energetic, and that can sometimes rub people up the wrong way. His personality as a goalkeeper can be quite irritating for opposition supporters, but that's clouded people's judgement on his actual ability. 

Many wanted James Trafford or Dean Henderson to replace Pickford at this tournament, but he has once again answered his critics. Pickford should have done better for the goal against Panama in the final group stage game for England, but it feels like fans have just been waiting for that mistake in order to jump on his back. 

We can't forget the huge moments he's produced for England and for Everton week in, week out. It's time to show Pickford the respect he deserves. Instead of waiting for that mistake and jumping on him, how about we focus on what he is so excellent at? 

Pickford was criticised for his involvement in Panama's goal against England earlier in the tournament, and rightly so. Watching Pickford as much as I do, being an Everton supporter, of course, I know he's capable of better than that. 

But what often then gets ignored is the build-up to the goal: the defensive mishaps, the lack of structure at the back for England. Joe Hart did some fantastic analysis on Pickford's thinking behind the goal, and when you look at it through the lens of a goalkeeper, you realise these aren't mistakes. 

Let the apologies be as loud as the disrespect. Footballers make mistakes. Harry Kane gave away a penalty against Mexico. Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi’s positioning was all over the place for the Panama goal. Every England player has struggled at times. Mistakes are allowed in football. 

It's how you bounce back. It's how you react to the criticism. It's how you perform consistently over a long period rather than individual displays. 

Against Mexico, Pickford bounced back in a way that wasn't just about making stunning camera saves. In fact, Pickford only made three saves against Mexico, but it was everything about his all-round game, which meant it was a near man of the match performance. 

He produced two huge saves at crucial moments, staying concentrated and aware despite Mexico not having a bundle of shots. Playing for England, Pickford isn't tested as much as, for example, a Panama goalkeeper. It's important that he stays ready and concentrated, ready for that one single moment and that one big opposition chance to prevent. 

Against Mexico, he did just that, producing two excellent saves from headers to help his country 

I'm not naive enough to think Pickford doesn't have weaknesses. Every footballer does. Commanding his penalty area vocally has never been a problem for Pickford. He's one of the loudest on any football pitch he plays on. 

Commanding his penalty area physically is where he has struggled at times, but he showed a new side to him against Mexico. Pickford came for absolutely everything in crucial moments, when he could then alleviate pressure on his teammates. 

Mexico threw everything at England: crosses into the box, set pieces, causing havoc in the penalty area. Pickford did everything he could to try and relieve pressure, coming for crosses, punches, and recoveries- anything he could to get a hand on something and prevent Mexico from creating a chance. 

As mentioned, it wasn't about his saves. It was about the way he stood up to be counted despite recent criticism and ensured England weren't going to lose that game. Knowing England were going to be camped inside their own box with 10 men, Pickford could have easily hid, sat on his goal line, and waited for Mexico to produce shots, but he didn't. 

He wanted to make himself a hero, protecting his defenders and protecting his goal. It was a display of real maturity and a real middle finger up to those who have criticised him in recent times. 

Against Mexico, Pickford equalled England's joint-highest appearances in the FIFA World Cup, making his 17th appearance at the tournament. As a result of that, Pickford has played in some huge games, so why would you want to take that out of the side? 

England are slowly losing some experience from their team as they look to blood in new youngsters. There's no more Harry Maguire or Luke Shaw. John Stones and Jordan Henderson are often watching from the bench instead of playing. 

Like Harry Kane, Pickford has been a constant over these last eight years at World Cups. Despite what people like to say, he has never let England down. There has never been a game where you look and point fingers at Jordan Pickford to say he lost England that one. 

With all due respect to Dean Henderson and James Trafford, they simply haven't experienced moments like this. They are two good goalkeepers in their own right, but they haven't played under pressure on the international stage. 

Henderson has been involved in big games for Crystal Palace, but not on the international stage. Trafford has barely kicked a ball for Manchester City, never mind played in a high-pressure game. 

The atmosphere at the Azteca on Monday morning was absolutely insane. Who knows if a young goalkeeper like Trafford could have handled that situation? Who knows if someone inexperienced at international level like Henderson wouldn't crumble? 

Pickford has been there, done it. He's not fazed by the pressure. He's not fazed by atmospheres. 

He should be keeping that number one shirt on performances alone, but when you take into account his ability to step up in big games, it's unfathomable that people would want to remove him from that position. 

Jordan Pickford is England's number one, Everton's number one, and the best goalkeeper to have pulled on an England shirt this millennium.