Troy Deeney should be ashamed of some of his recent comments made about Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
England’s World Cup campaign has got underway with an impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia, which saw Pickford pick up another cap for his country.
Some in the media criticised Pickford’s performance against Croatia after conceding twice inside the opening 45 minutes.
What did you make of Jordan Pickford during England’s opener against Croatia? 😬
However, Deeney has crossed the line with the extent of his criticism on the back of the three points over England’s old foe.
Troy Deeney owes Everton’s Jordan Pickford more respect after England criticism
Gary Neville has backed Pickford to win the Golden Glove this summer in a clear vote of confidence for the England goalkeeper.
Despite this, Deeney has taken a different stance, taking his criticism of the 32-year-old to the extreme.
‘There’s just that feeling when I watch Jordan…there’s a shot from 50 yards and it trickles to him and he’s screaming at everyone, “Do your job! Don’t let any shots come in!”,’ Deeney said on CBS Sports.
‘We’re trying to win a World Cup. That’s why we’re here. In my opinion, and respectfully Jordan, because you know I like you. We can’t win it with that guy in goal. He doesn’t give you any confidence.’
After watching him for England vs Croatia, I’m convinced he’d be the perfect right-back signing this summer! 🔥
Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but this level of negativity towards a player who has served both club and country so well over the years just feels wrong.
Pickford is set to break his own clean sheet record for England in this summer’s World Cup, yet it is apparently time to uproot him for Dean Henderson or James Trafford?
There is an argument that Pickford could have done better with Croatia’s first goal, but to suggest that he does not provide the England defence with confidence is just not correct.
Perhaps Deeney is just trying to make a name for himself in the media by throwing out a controversial opinion, but players like Pickford should be shown a lot more respect.
This is not to say Pickford, Harry Kane and players of that experience are not allowed to be criticised, but they’ve got way too much credit in the bank to be called out to this extreme.
Deeney did not have an international career, having failed to reach the levels required to even get a sniff of the England squad.
Paul Scholes believes Pickford is good enough to start for France, yet it seems Deeney thinks England need better.
If the biggest worry about Pickford is him barking orders to the England defence then Thomas Tuchel will be able to sleep easy at night ahead of the game against Ghana on Tuesday.
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