Tim Howard has set out to silence the critics, claiming that having been in the Premier League for 13 years he knows what is needed to succeed.
The American has come under criticism from fans in the past two seasons, with the Arsenal game being the final straw for some. Joel Robles was recently played in goal when Norwich City visited Goodison Park for their Capital One cup tie, and seemed to have impressed the Goodison faithful.
Roberto Martinez then claimed that there was ‘no doubt’ that Howard would return to the team following that game, a claim that angered many fans due to the managers reluctance to drop his star keeper.
In an interview with the Liverpool Echo, Howard claimed that criticism does not mean much to him, while the most important factor is that the manager and the team believe in him.
This is my 13th year in the Premier League I have been criticised every week,
There is a belief within the team and the belief of the manager and that is what people miss.
Criticism means nothing to the players as long as you have the backing of the manager and your team-mates and that is what we have in the dressing room, so right away it doesn’t bother me.
It’s the Premier League, it’s blood and thunder, it’s rough and tumble and criticism is part of how you make a living.
Speaking about the game at West Ham, the shot stopper explained that it was a difficult game and the Blues defended well.
I thought we handled their aerial threat brilliantly, we didn’t give them anything and any cross that came into the box was dealt with,
It was a good point. It was a tough game, it was a scrappy game, a bit of an ugly game so that was a good point away from home.
I was looking straight down the move from the other end of it and it was a brilliant disguised pass from Deulofeu and Romelu got himself pinned up against the centre-halves and then he went through and did the business.
Once we get Romelu clean through we know it will be a goal.
