England: Gareth Southgate selects first choice goalkeeper
Today’s papers claim the England manager has chosen his World Cup goalkeeper. Is the young stopper England’s best option?
Although yet to be confirmed, it is strongly rumoured that a new England number one has been chosen. One of Gareth Southgate’s biggest conundrums is the fact there are three similarly rated options.
Jack Butland had a decent game on Tuesday, conceding only to a late Italian penalty. The Stoke-stopper has recently overtaken Joe Hart in many fans’ opinions. However, this may not be enough to ensure his starting place for the Three Lions this summer. Today’s talk from Daily Mail has given a slight surprise to some.
Everton’s Jordan Pickford has been given the nod from Southgate, according to Mirror. He kept a clean sheet on Saturday in England’s victory in Amsterdam.
Jesse Lingard’s goal was the difference against Holland. While the United starlet was also ingeniously involved in Jamie Vardy’s strike at home to Italy.
Goalkeeper options
Jack Butland, Stoke’s number one, is a fine goalkeeper. He has saved the most shots in the Premier League this campaign. That particular statistic can be deceiving, in regards to defensive frailties as his club struggles.
The Potter has made only one glaring error this campaign to my mind. That was the own-goal at Leicester. Usually confident, conscientious and calm in performance, he would be my personal first choice goalkeeper.
There is only one year between Pickford and Butland. The latter goalkeeper being just 25 himself. Although I see slightly more maturity in Butland’s demeanour, it is a truly tough call.
Joe Hart, simply put, is West Ham’s ageing, out-of-form second-choice goalkeeper. That’s not a good description for anyone wanting to be on the plane to Russia. The former England number one has only kept three clean sheets in 15 attempts for West Ham this season. For this reason, I would take a different option.
In regards to Nick Pope, I think the 25-year-old has done enough to be included in the World Cup squad. If I was Sean Dyche, I would honour Pope’s form there too. He has kept out the opposition on 11 occasions for Burnley.
The Clarets lost their first choice Tom Heaton to injury earlier this season. He may push his replacement further down the pecking-order now as he returns from injury. There may also a recall from Southgate for the 31-year-old.
Number one
So, Everton’s highly-rated shot-stopper has apparently been given the coveted England number one shirt. His club form is good, being third on the list of saves for the league.
And while he has kept a clean sheet only seven times, it is two more in the league than Butland. Pickford is a firm favourite at Everton and is often cited as vastly helping remove them from relegation candidates.
Gaining Europa League experience this season was invaluable to his development. However, Southgate’s chosen man did not have one clean sheet in the competition.
In the two matches he has competed in for England, he has not conceded. The Washington-born player has impressed, especially as those shutouts came against World Champions Germany, and the always-dangerous Holland.
Next: Player ratings vs Italy at Wembley
Which safe pair of hands would have your vote to be the Three Lions’ number one?