This international break with England has sparked the debate as to whether Jordan Pickford should remain number one. Leeds United star James Trafford seems to be his main competitor now.
Thomas Tuchel gave Trafford the chance to start the first two games for the Three Lions in the Nations League.
England conceded three goals when they faced World Champions Spain in the first game. Some of the goals conceded were not great for Trafford’s case, but he bounced back in the next game.
The Leeds keeper kept a clean sheet as they comfortably beat Czechia in the second game.
Former Leeds United star snubs James Trafford in surprise verdict
James Trafford
Credit: Imago
Jordan Pickford returned between the sticks for the final two Nations League games.
The Everton man responded to James Trafford with back-to-back clean sheets against Croatia and Czechia. Those two games seem to have convinced everyone that Pickford is not going anywhere soon.
And former Leeds United keeper Paul Robinson agrees.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he believes that there is no question that Pickford should remain England number one.
”So the goalkeeping situation has become very apparent with England in this international break. Thomas Tuchel choosing to play James Trafford in the first two games and the question has now been asked; Is Jordan Pickford England’s number one.”
”And absolutely, he’s England number one in m opinion. I think he will be 34 when the Euros come around.
”We’ve seen before that England are guilt of taking one heavily capped goalkeeper to a tournament and the two or three goalkeepers beneath him have single-figure caps.
”You can understand why he [Tuchel] has done that in these Nations League games.
”But actually the question whether Jordan Pickford should be number one for me is not a question, he’s England’s number one. Regardless of his age or where he’s at, he’s gone deep into tournaments with England and has never let England down.
”There is only one goalkeeper in the Premier League that has kept more clean sheets than him [Pickford] in the last two years; David Raya.”
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Paul Robinson is right
The former Leeds United man taking a stand against his club’s current player is surprising, but his points are valid.
Jordan Pickford has done nothing to lose his spot as England number one despite what people have said after the World Cup. So James Trafford has no automatic claim to the role.
All the Leeds star can do now is do his best and perform at an incredible level at his club.
This will then get Tuchel to give him more games in friendly matches and qualifiers to assess him more.
But Trafford is well on his way to becoming England number one in the near future.
No surprise there then. Paul is scarcely the most enlightened critic and comparing a 32 year old who once scythed down Van Dijk and a 23 year old approaching his peak is fine if you have no responsibility but Thomas Tuchel certainly has. Mystic Meg has a different perception and a valid track record.
Putting the blame for the loss against Spain at James Trafford’s door is laughable. Perhaps, he could have done better for one of the goals, but the other two were clearly down to abject defending, yet no mention that the said defenders should be ‘dropped’, plus, a missed penalty from a top international striker?
Stick in there James Trafford.