Goalkeeping

Howard Costs Everton Points

A tough assessment, given that Kone was offside and the goal was nonetheless allowed to stand.  But here's the deal, sportsfans.  If you want to make excuses and blame other people, you'll simply never play at the top level.  It is highly doubtful that Howard is sitting around whining about the referee's decision.  David Moyes griped about it in the post-match interviews, but that's his job; Howard is nowhere to be found talking about it.  Bottom line, he could have played it better, should have done and thereby removed a poor decision from even being a risk.

That said, Howard is still on the top-ten GK list on the international level...and though this is a reasonably simple situation, that he can get it wrong tells us a lot about how difficult a job it is.  Previously on this blog NCAA division I GKs have been taken to task for similar errors on this short service-type situation.

Here's the play in pictures:

 As Maloney receives, all's well.  Howard is rightly relaxed and in a good spot to keep an eye on things.  The backs are holding the line well and have accounted for the runners heading into the penalty area.












But as Maloney makes his move, Howard is too slow to read the danger.  In reality, given Kone's excellent movement in the area (even if he does end up offside) the goal has already been scored.  Howard's position is good here, but a split second later...

Maloney serves and Howard is still where he was when Maloney made his move.  A surprisingly lead-footed moment for the man who was able to pull a complete 180 degree save off against Mexico just a few weeks ago in the Azteca!  With a blocking defender at the corner of the six, and perhaps having not checked over his left shoulder to see Kone so close, Howard may be assuming that the cross, should it get by the defender, will pass through the six without contact.  A poor assumption.

Since he clearly had no idea Kone was coming in, and, even more importantly, that his starting point was a whopping 18 inches from correct, Howard is surprised by the attacker's presence and the header is as easy a goal as Kone has or ever will score.  Undoubtedly, Kone was offside.  But the evidence is plain to the naked eye that Howard could have prevented the whole mess from happening, and in that 18 inches, he cost Everton 2 crucial points (final score, 2:2).


Here's the film: