Jack Butland showed no sign of close season rustiness as he chucked in a howler in the pre-season friendly against Ajax.
Super Jack ended last season out of the England squad and nursing the memories of presenting Adam Idah with the winning goal in the Scottish Cup Final when he parried a shot from Paulo Bernardo into the path of the striker.
Seven weeks on from that gift Butland was back in action against Ajax today in a pre-season friendly.
Ajax took the lead midway through the first half, Tom Lawrence equalised from a free kick then Nicky Raskin gave away a free kick 25 yards from goal.
Super Jack lined up the wall with an inviting gap at his left hand post, Branco van den Boomen took up the offer, curling his shot round the wall and a yard inside the post. What happened next was Comedy Gold.
Butland anticipated the incoming shot, got over to stop it but decided to dive over it to give den Boomen a goal to celebrate and a video clip that quickly went viral.
Here is your Super Jack Butland 😭💀
Genuinely some of the worst goalkeeping and commanding of his area I’ve ever seen😂 pic.twitter.com/l44S8Dz79T
— FTK (@IW_1967) July 13, 2024
Branco! 2-1! 🤭#PreSeason pic.twitter.com/TscCYY00z7
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) July 13, 2024
Today’s howler was far from a one off from the former Crystal Palace reserve who was the subject of an incredible media campaign in the first six months of last season.
Showing the same sort of enthusiasm over phantom transfer interest in Alfredo Morelos it seemed as if Butland was on course to play for England in the European Championships.
Not just be in the squad but in the Starting XI, Jordan Pickford was toast as the Daily Record and BBC Scotland got on board a bizarre campaign to add to the nine England caps that his career stalled on. For added impact Barry Ferguson, Graeme Souness and Kris Boyd signed up without flinching.
Butland had been decent no more, he had thrown in a few in the defeats to Kilmarnock, Celtic and Aberdeen that saw Micky Beale bundled off the premises with Phil Clement installed as the new saviour.
The supplement and pull-outs were all prepared for the England squad announcement for the March friendlies against Brazil and Belgium when Gareth Southgate did the unthinkable.
Pickford was joined by Aaron Ramsdale and Dean Henderson, when Henderson got injured Burnley’s James Trafford was called up. On a good day Butland was fifth choice for England.
Being diplomatic Southgate attended the Glasgow Derby on April 7, the visiting goalkeeper probably impressed him more with Butland having a day to forget.
In the first minute James Tavernier hammered a clearance off Daizen Maeda with the ball flying past Super Jack into the net. Matt O’Riley popped in a Paneka from 12 yards out before Idah fired a low shot straight at Butland that he managed to to avoid.
A week later Ross County fired in another three goals as Butland’s season went into freefall, with England reaching the final of the European Championships the former Crystal Palace reserve is stuck training with Connor Goldson and Ben Davies.
If Butland’s decline continues he could be in for the ultimate humiliation with Liam Kelly taking his place on Clement’s team-sheet.
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