Ex-Premier League coach blasts ‘extremely average’ Everton star Jordan Pickford
Former Chelsea goalkeeping coach Christophe Lollichon has branded Everton star Jordan Pickford as “extremely average” for his World Cup performances.
The England shot-stopper kept three clean sheets in five appearances at the World Cup, but has been criticised for his role in both France goals as they crashed out at the quarter-final stages with a 2-1 defeat.
Pickford has been linked with a move to Chelsea in the summer after his impressive performances over recent seasons, but Lollichon thinks it is “absolutely ridiculous” that people are judging him as a good goalkeeper based off a few eye-catching saves.
“I saw the controversy started by English journalists who preferred Jordan Pickford to Hugo Lloris,” he told Eurosport (12 December).
“But the English journalists who judge the goalkeepers are as good as the English goalkeepers. It’s absolutely ridiculous.
“Pickford is extremely average and that shows the level of specialists in England.
“As soon as one of them makes four saves and multiplies that over a few matches, he is selectable. On Giroud’s second goal, Pickford is almost behind his line when Griezmann crosses.”
Ouch
Obviously this is someone who knows what they’re talking about when it comes to goalkeeping a lot more than you or I, but this seems very harsh.
Pickford’s performances over the last two seasons in particular have shown real growth from his erratic and animated days in his younger career, and he has developed into a top shot stopper.
He gets down quickly, he makes big, important saves, he claims crosses and is vocal to his defenders to get everyone organised.
Yes he could do better for the first goal which comes from a long way out, or the second goal where he’s too deep on his line again which invites the cross into a dangerous area, but to be so harsh with his words is just disingenuous really.
Not being better than one of France’s best ever goalkeepers in Hugo Lloris is absolutely not something to be ashamed of, and Pickford’s form is likely the reason Everton are still a Premier League club.
He is far better than “extremely average” and while he may not be world class, he’s closer to that than what Lollichon says he is.