Steve Howey believes Ederson Moraes’ distribution is the best out of any goalkeeper in world football.
In November, Garth Crooks claimed that the 30-year-old has managed to raise “the standard of goalkeeping to another level.”
Last year, Alan Shearer also claimed that Ederson is “as good as half the outfield players” while describing him as “one of the best-ever footballers.”
Steve Howey says Ederson Moraes’ distribution is the best in the world
The treble-winner’s uniqueness has often been a talking point, with Simon Jordan claiming that a decade ago, a goalkeeper like him did not even exist across football.
As goalkeepers around the world emulate Ederson nowadays, Steve Howey believes he is the best distributor in the world.
“He’s a very good goalkeeper, shotstopper. His distribution, for me, is by far the best. There’s goalkeepers that are good at it, he is the best”, he said on Manchester City’s pre-match show [via YouTube].
“I think he wouldn’t look out of place playing outfield. That’s how good he is on the ball.”
Ally McCoist once went as far as to claim that the £35 million (BBC Sport) man is the best goalkeeper he has ever seen with the ball at his feet.
The odd scares that come with how Ederson plays the game have to be embraced
As Steve Howey explained, with Ederson being such an elite distributor of the ball, the scares that come with his risky style of play are part and parcel of having a goalkeeper like him at one’s disposal.
As a result, when the Manchester City number one breaks the lines by playing a pass that is on the verge of being intercepted in and around the box, Pep Guardiola is not caught by cameras reprimanding him.
Ultimately, Ederson’s fearlessness to try playing such passes and executing them is why City can beat the opposition press seamlessly and go on the attack, as was often the case against AFC Bournemouth as well.
Sometimes, the Brazilian even makes mistakes in possession, such as when he attempted a throw against the Cherries, which was intercepted before he caught the ball.
Even if that moment of madness would have led to the concession of a goal, one must accept the rough with the smooth when it comes to Ederson because overall, he remains a huge net positive to this Manchester City side.
