Simon Jordan leaps to Jordan Pickford defence after Everton star blast by Roy Keane for Manchester City goals
Simon Jordan has stuck up for Everton keeper Jordan Pickford in the face of a scathing rebuke from Roy Keane over his role in the Manchester City defeat, calling him “incredibly good”.
Speaking on Sky Sports on Sunday (14 May) after the 3-0 loss the former Manchester United captain had said: “Pickford for the goal, my goodness. He looks so small in there. There’s no spring, he’s not anticipating. Micah [Richards] said before the game he’s a top goalkeeper. He’s not.”
But Jordan has leapt to the England number one’s defence, despite questioning him at times previously, and claims he doesn’t know what Keane’s issue is.
Speaking in his Monday edition of One-2-One with Simon Jordan for talkSPORT the former Crystal Palace owner said (2m 40s): “Jordan Pickford single-handedly kept Everton in the Premier League last year, and at times during the course of this season has been incredibly good.
“I’m not quite sure what [Keane’s] points were in terms of his stature because I’m not entirely sure what he could have done about the bulk of the goals.”
While suggesting that his temperament is sometimes too much Jordan pointed to Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale, Pickford’s main rival for the England position, as potentially being at fault for some goals too.
He went on: “I think Pickford, despite my previous observations on him, is a top-quality goalkeeper. And to suggest he’s not, I don’t know where Roy’s coming from on that one.”
Surprise defender
Jordan is rarely one to be so effusive in his praise of anyone so it is a turn up for him to have emerged as such a staunch advocate of the Everton leader.
The dramatic dives that the 27-year-old made in vain at Goodison Park drew more negative attention to him than was really warranted, when both Ilkay Gundogan’s goals were of the highest quality and could have beaten most keepers.
Erling Haaland’s header which put the game out of reach at 2-0 before the break was the only one that he might have done better with after getting a hand to it, but it was directed back across him when his momentum was carrying him the opposite direction.
Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and admit you’ve come up against a better outfit, which is what happened with Pep Guardiola’s side, and since they are on course for a fifth Premier League crown in six seasons the Toffees are hardly alone in that.
Keane was obviously unimpressed on Sunday but even if Pickford isn’t at the ultimate elite level in world football he is a long way above average and has earned plenty of Everton points with his work.
Any keeper will make mistakes, and one under as much pressure as he has been during two relegation battles will have more opportunities to make them than most, but should reported transfer interest in him materialise in a big way this summer the club will certainly be aware of how much he brings if they are tasked with replacing him.