EVERYONE HATES YOU FOR SOME REASON. IT HURTS
England keeper Pickford’s remarkable response to critics after latest blunder. . .
IN NORMAL circumstances, the reaction would have told you enough. Jordan Pickford had just been asked about the pressure Dean Henderson was applying to his England place when his brow furrowed, his eyes narrowed and he took a step backwards.
‘ Doesn’t really affect me,’ Everton’s goalkeeper said firmly. ‘He’ll do what he’ll do and I’ll do what I’ll do.’
Pickford had welcomed the discussion about England and understood why the questions had come his way. Gareth Southgate, who holds him in high regard, had been in Goodison Park’s directors’ box for Crystal Palace’s visit but saw him concede a soft goal. Pickford accepted the blame.
Then came a remarkable couple of minutes. Pickford is usually someone who smiles and jokes and can find optimism in difficult moments, but this was different. The man who became a national hero 18 months ago now sees things in a new way.
‘The press and everybody, the punters — look at Gary Neville,’ Pickford began. ‘They just want to come for England players. Everyone gets stick. That’s part of being an England player. You have to live with it, you’ve got to learn.
‘You just keep it away from your head as the only person who can sort things out is yourself, on the pitch and in training. Every England player gets stick. Some get a lot more praise than others. Look at Joe Hart when he was No 1. He got pelters every week.’
Pickford’s demeanour changed and his voice lowered as he continued with a remarkable assertion: ‘It’s easy to see. Everyone hates you, for some reason. I just get on with it. I know what I’m capable of and I know what I’m good at. Yeah, it hurts.
‘I know I have been good for England. It’s funny because everyone raves about you when you are with England, but then you go back to your club and everyone wants to slate you. I don’t let it affect me. But it does p*** you off.’
The fact Pickford introduced Neville’s name was significant. Neville criticised Pickford’s reaction following a mistake against Manchester City last September, and it has preyed on his mind. Here, then, was his opportunity to come out fighting.
By his own admission, Pickford’s form has not been as consistent as he would like. His numbers are not as good as those of Sheffield United keeper Henderson or Burnley’s Nick Pope, but the thing that sets Pickford apart — and why he must start Euro 2020 — is temperament.
He doesn’t dwell on moments in matches and that was proven in the 61st minute. Everton had retaken the lead with a glorious Richarlison goal but a lapse at the back handed Palace scorer Christian Benteke the chance to double his tally.
The Belgian’s header was firm and on target but Pickford spread himself like a starfish to make a brilliant save, then followed up by plucking the ensuing cross back into his area from the sky.
The roar of approval from the Goodison crowd was as loud as for any of Everton’s three goals.
‘I think it just shows my mental character,’ Pickford said. ‘People probably doubt me week in, week out. But I know what I am capable of and I know what I can do. I will keep pushing. I have reached a certain level and I don’t want to stop.’
Those sentiments apply to the Everton team as a whole, who have been revitalised by Carlo Ancelotti. They have climbed 11 places in two months and are within touching distance of the top four.
Against Palace, one of only three teams not to win in 2020, Richarlison was the standout performer. His speed and energy left Gary Cahill chasing shadows, but others caught the eye, too, such as the creative Bernard, scorer of the opener, and Dominic CalvertLewin, who finished the job.
Everton, finally, are looking like a progressive team. ‘We are not the finished article but we will keep pushing to climb the table,’ Pickford said.
EVERTON (4-4-2): Pickford 6.5; Coleman 6.5, Mina 7, Keane 6.5, Digne 7; Walcott 7 (Sidibe 26min, 6.5), Schneiderlin 6, Sigurdsson 7 (Holgate 86), Bernard 7.5 (Davies 65, 6); Calvert-Lewin 7, RICHARLISON 8.
Subs not used: Stekelenburg, Baines, Iwobi, Kean. Scorers: Bernard 18, Richarlison 59, Calvert-Lewin 88.
Manager: Carlo Ancelotti 7. CRYSTAL PALACE (4-5-1): Guaita 5; Ward 6 (Kouyate 79), Tomkins 5 (Dann 61, 5), Cahill 5, Van Aanholt 6; Ayew 6, McArthur 6, Milivojevic 6, McCarthy 6 (Meyer 68, 6), Zaha 6; Benteke 6.5. Subs not used: Hennessey, Townsend, Mitchell, Riedewald. Scorer: Benteke 53. Booked: McCarthy. Manager: Roy Hodgson 6. Referee: David Coote 6. Attendance: 38,987.