Nick Pope

[Sibierski]

Pope situation is a quite reminiscent of a lot of our squad. Players that have been good for us, but players that are on down slope, players that are still liked by Howe, players that we can’t get away with keep rolling out if we are to remain at top end consistently.

 

There’s so much that needs doing to this squad and I’m fearful we won’t get it right after the money wasted last summer on such average players. Can’t afford for any of our next 3-5 buys to be duds / players that need time. Because our top stars won’t tolerate it if there are suitors elsewhere and we end up in a contentious cycle of a step forward, step back.

[KingArthur]

He really needs to be dropped. What is the point of having competition if it doesn't matter what kind of mistakes he makes? He is Howe's favorite clearly, but his kicking and mistakes cost us too much.

[Lush Vlad]

Ramsdale must look really bad in training or something. As I thought he should have started at the weekend. 
 

Not going to tear him down. Like we seem to do in every player thread after a defeat. But Pope needs to come out the team for a bit. Almost for his own sake, as well as for the team’s. Going to end up a bit toxic with the fans if he keeps playing. 

[Groundhog63]

Can't remember who said it but it would've been better if he just wiped the kid out. Mightve got away with a yellow, with Thiaw covering but even a red would've given us a chance to close shop for 45 fucking minutes 😂

Having said that, I'm done with the cunt. 

Good at doing shot stopping but doesn't command his box, couldn't punch the skin off a rice pudding, can't kick and his emotional fragility causes too many bad decisions. 

 

Yesterday's has tipped me over. 

 

 

I've got PTSD 😂😂

 

 

Edited November 26, 2025 by Groundhog63

[Menace]

It's honestly mental there was people in here that said he's still good enough to be our starting keeper.

 

These mistakes he makes are the thin line in us finishing 10th or making Europe. He's a fantastic shot stopper - that's it. The rest of his game is bog standard.

[r0cafella]

2 minutes ago, Menace said:

It's honestly mental there was people in here that said he's still good enough to be our starting keeper.

 

These mistakes he makes are the thin line in us finishing 10th or making Europe. He's a fantastic shot stopper - that's it. The rest of his game is bog standard.

He's the prime example of simply us having too much work to do in one window. Like Trips we thought we could rely on them for another year and we were wrong. 

[Menace]

Sods law really. Bring too many players in and it'll probably rock the dressing room.

[r0cafella]

To add on to this, this is actually where those 3 windows of doing nothing due to PSR are really biting us. I mean don't get me wrong we haven't helped ourselves at all but the lack of consistent squad movement has been an issue for awhile. We are and do hold on to players for too long and take too long to integrate new players. 

[Andy84]

He’s been absolutely brilliant for us but it’s time to move on now and replace him.  It’ll make us a better side

[Dr Venkman]

On 16/04/2023 at 09:03, Dr Venkman said:

I do think he’s a target for an upgrade for a team playing in the CL though.

2.5 years later

[Aiston]

1 hour ago, andycap said:

If Barnes has a couple of dry games you can bet eddie will have gordon straight back in at leftwing. 😂 

 

Had him straight in last season when Barnes was in form, never mind a couple of dry games

 

[TheBrownBottle]

I’ve just rewatched the goals after getting home and the first just gets worse every time l rewatch it.  How many brain farts does the lad get to have before he’s dropped?

[Dr Venkman]

I don’t think there’s much chance at all of him being dropped this weekend. Eddie will double down I think as backing/supporting players is a key part of his coaching philosophy.

[Andy]

 

It's almost hard to believe how "in the middle of nowhere" he actually is. 

[Rich]

15 seconds

[Gallowgate Toon]

Aside from the mistakes this season, he's a player who can't kick a ball. It's a big test of how Howe wants to evolve. So far, we're not seeing it.

 

We don't need an Ederson, but a 'keeper we can vaguely trust to play the ball to feet & who can play a decent long pass would be big. It'll help with our control of games.

 

Ramsdale likely isn't the answer long-term, but he played well in a very good team not too long ago. He can be productive here.

[Mattoon]

More like Nick Poop. am I right??

[RUHRLYASLEEVESUP]

3 minutes ago, Andy said:

 

Dan Burn doesn't get a pass on this one either like 

[Kid Icarus]

He definitely needed to Martinez him if he's made that mistake. I do think Ramsdale is probably imminent but I also think it'll be followed by a clamouring for Pope to come back in. 

[gbandit]

4 minutes ago, Mattoon said:

More like Nick Poop. am I right??

Sadly yes, you are right. Not so much the decision making, across a season he probably makes a few ricks but also makes some important and good decisions. It’s all about the kicking. If we were a massively fluent side with the ball maybe it wouldn’t be such an issue but when we struggle with possession it’s horrific to give it away 8-10 times each game 

[Dr Venkman]

7 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

He definitely needed to Martinez him if he's made that mistake. I do think Ramsdale is probably imminent but I also think it'll be followed by a clamouring for Pope to come back in. 

Big one for you personally if he does get a few games 

[Myleftboot]

13 minutes ago, Andy said:

 

It's almost hard to believe how "in the middle of nowhere" he actually is. 

26 seconds into the second half and what sort of defensive shape is that? 😂

[r0cafella]

12 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

He definitely needed to Martinez him if he's made that mistake. I do think Ramsdale is probably imminent but I also think it'll be followed by a clamouring for Pope to come back in. 

This wouldn't be surprising given Ramsdale was primarily brought in as a relative low cost option. Hes not someone im pinning my hopes on at least. 

 

Our approach for a keeper should be simple. Get the best we can afford. 

[Dr Venkman]

17 minutes ago, Myleftboot said:

26 seconds into the second half and what sort of defensive shape is that? 😂

In isolation that's not the issue, we were pressing very high, including the centre backs. It's 100% a Pope error, it's not about team shape.

[TK-421]

2 minutes ago, Dr Venkman said:

In isolation that's not the issue, we were pressing very high, including the centre backs. It's 100% a Pope error, it's not about team shape.

Exactly.

In that situation, he gets past Pope (as he did), open goal, albeit a tight angle.

Pope stays in his box, he has to get past Thiaw, and potentially another defender arriving, before having a chance to take a shot and maybe beat Pope.

100%, nee way Pope should be where he is in that situation... Thiaw is alongside the forward, FFS, and making up/covering ground.