Aaron Ramsdale: return to Southampton confirmed

[Skeletor]

Its a conundrum because Pope has been brilliant but Ramsdale's distribution adds another dimension to our play in helping us dominate more.

[nufcjmc]

2 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

Don’t think he should be our next number 1, but he’s more than good enough to be backup.

I guess it comes down to the numbers in total to bring him to the club permanently as his loan was already 4m?

 

Hes younger than pope but if we need to spend 25m total say to make it permanent its probably too much to invest in a good enough back up. 

 

Pope getting 2 or 3 more years but moved to backup with a new number one sounds a better idea. 

[Chicken Dancer]

1 hour ago, Vinny Green Balls said:

you said he was absolute shit. Hardly reserving your judgment.

Yes I did. I still don’t rate him, but can acknowledge he had a good game. I also rate Pope a lot higher than my match day party as well. It’s the beauty of football - we all have different opinions. Sometimes we’re right, sometimes we’re proven wrong. 
 

I hope he gets a decent move next summer but I wouldn’t want him as our long term #1, no. He seems a very decent bloke and a likeable character, but I’ll hold off crowning him as Pope’s successor for now. 

[Danh1]

1 hour ago, oldtype said:

Ideally we would rotate between him and Pope depending on opposition, but that's just not how this seems to work when dealing with real human beings and their emotions. Someone needs to be "first choice."

 

That said, I still wouldn't rule out the possibility that he usurps Pope at some point this season. We signed him for a reason. And if you had asked me two months ago, I would have said it's completely unthinkable that Thiaw would be first choice CB by October.

 

 

 

Was going to say the same as this. In an ideal world you alternate depending on what we need. If it’s a game where we’ll be pezzled with set penises then you go Pope. If it’s a game where we need to control possession you go Ramsdale. Doesn’t seem to work like that with keepers. 

[Vinny Green Balls]

11 minutes ago, Chicken Dancer said:

Yes I did. I still don’t rate him, but can acknowledge he had a good game. I also rate Pope a lot higher than my match day party as well. It’s the beauty of football - we all have different opinions. Sometimes we’re right, sometimes we’re proven wrong. 
 

I hope he gets a decent move next summer but I wouldn’t want him as our long term #1, no. He seems a very decent bloke and a likeable character, but I’ll hold off crowning him as Pope’s successor for now. 

Why do so many of you resort to this whenever someone points anything out? And opinions work both ways.   You are the one who just said that you'll reserve judgment after saying he is shit. 

[KaKa]

4 hours ago, Chicken Dancer said:

 

What's your point exactly? At that point in the summer it was embarrassing. We were being held hostage by our star player whilst being knocked back for basically every replacement we were trying to bring in. I can't remember many people being overjoyed with signing Ramsdale on loan ffs  

Thankfully, we landed Woltemade who's been a revelation and 'saved' the summer somewhat.

 

Ramsdale had a good game but it would be madness to suggest he's going to be our long term #1. He's played 180 minutes of football for us, I'll reserve judgement until there's a larger sample size.

 

I still think paying £4m for a year of a backup goalkeeper isn't the best use of resources, when we could have spent 3/4 times that on a younger goalkeeper with the intention of him being our #1 long term.

 

[woody]

3 hours ago, Skeletor said:

Its a conundrum because Pope has been brilliant but Ramsdale's distribution adds another dimension to our play in helping us dominate more.

The back line looked a lot more comfortable with him coming out to play the ball as well

[Conjo]

Should be rewarded with another start this weekend. Hopefully lights a fire under Popes ass to put more work into his ball control and passing.

[TheBrownBottle]

7 hours ago, Chicken Dancer said:

I still think paying £4m for a year of a backup goalkeeper isn't the best use of resources, when we could have spent 3/4 times that on a younger goalkeeper with the intention of him being our #1 long term.

Who is out there that would be able to compete with Pope, is young, and can be signed permanently for £12-16m?

 

£4m isn’t a huge sum for PL-experienced keeper who can compete for no.1 slot.  It’s the equivalent of buying a £20m player on a five year deal. 

[IndonesianToon]

1 hour ago, Conjo said:

Should be rewarded with another start this weekend. Hopefully lights a fire under Popes ass to put more work into his ball control and passing.

Recently Pope just made an excellent assist with his throw from his own box.
Not many GK could ever done that in their entire career.

Not to mentioned he has excellent record to date.
No need to put anything under his ass.
He is in a good form already
 

[Lush Vlad]

4 hours ago, IndonesianToon said:

Recently Pope just made an excellent assist with his throw from his own box.
Not many GK could ever done that in their entire career.

Not to mentioned he has excellent record to date.
No need to put anything under his ass.
He is in a good form already
 

 

Exactly. Pope’s kicking has been shit his entire career. Not sure playing Ramsdale in his place is going to mean he can suddenly strike a ball cleanly  

 

I’ve mentioned it on here before. But James Scowcroft and the Bury Town manager had to teach him how to take a goal kick properly (still not mastered it) in his teens. That’s how bad he has always been on the ball. Charlton still signed him not long after. 

 

He’s been one of our best and most consistent performers this season too. So he shouldn’t be getting dropped full stop. 
 

He is still the superior ‘goalkeeper’ to Ramsdale IMO. Not sure Ramsdale is going to fare well longer term, either. Not under this new aerial barrage route the league seems to have gone down. 
 

I can sort of see the argument, however. As his distribution is just that much better than Pope. It does change how we can play a bit. 

[Chicken Dancer]

7 hours ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Who is out there that would be able to compete with Pope, is young, and can be signed permanently for £12-16m?

 

£4m isn’t a huge sum for PL-experienced keeper who can compete for no.1 slot.  It’s the equivalent of buying a £20m player on a five year deal. 

I hate that argument as I’m no scout,  but the keeper the mackems signed seems to be doing ok. 

[Chicken Dancer]

10 hours ago, KaKa said:

 

Is something funny?

 

Shall we have a look through your posts from summer in the Elanga thread? Or are we going to reserve judgment until he’s played for us for a lot longer?

[nufc4eva]

1 hour ago, Lush Vlad said:

 

Exactly. Pope’s kicking has been shit his entire career. Not sure playing Ramsdale in his place is going to mean he can suddenly strike a ball cleanly  

 

I’ve mentioned it on here before. But James Scowcroft and the Bury Town manager had to teach him how to take a goal kick properly (still not mastered it) in his teens. That’s how bad he has always been on the ball. Charlton still signed him not long after. 

 

He’s been one of our best and most consistent performers this season too. So he shouldn’t be getting dropped full stop. 
 

He is still the superior ‘goalkeeper’ to Ramsdale IMO. Not sure Ramsdale is going to fare well longer term, either. Not under this new aerial barrage route the league seems to have gone down. 
 

I can sort of see the argument, however. As his distribution is just that much better than Pope. It does change how we can play a bit. 

Ramsdale is not exactly short at 6ft3 but get Pope dominates area more, but in distribution that could be a extra goal creations and take pressure off more leading to less chances against us.

 

When Pope kicks it out it goes straight to opposition player 90% of the time, also how slow he is to release the ball and the opposition then put us under pressure straight away or have organised themselves so doesn't help a quick counter. Being able to play it with accuracy could help us in attacking more with trade off that from set pieces against certain teams we are more vulnerable. I would be happy to take that risk as think we need to evolve our distribution. Ramsdale also looks like he has good/quick reactions and doesn't brick it when ball at his feet.

[Lush Vlad]

5 minutes ago, nufc4eva said:

Ramsdale is not exactly short at 6ft3 but get Pope dominates area more, but in distribution that could be a extra goal creations and take pressure off more leading to less chances against us.

 

When Pope kicks it out it goes straight to opposition player 90% of the time, also how slow he is to release the ball and the opposition then put us under pressure straight away or have organised themselves so doesn't help a quick counter. Being able to play it with accuracy could help us in attacking more with trade off that from set pieces against certain teams we are more vulnerable. I would be happy to take that risk as think we need to evolve our distribution. Ramsdale also looks like he has good/quick reactions and doesn't brick it when ball at his feet.

I mean. It’s not even close when it comes to dominating the box. Pope is at the top.
 

I noticed on Wednesday Ramsdale looked stuck to his line a lot and a bit shaky coming for it. 

Pope releases it quickly out his hands when it is on. His kicking out of hand or off the deck is absolute wank, for sure. 
 

If you think the trade off for distribution vs having a keeper that is better at almost every other metric is worth it. Then fair enough. But I don’t. 

 

 

Edited October 31, 2025 by Lush Vlad

[KaKa]

2 hours ago, Chicken Dancer said:

Is something funny?

 

Shall we have a look through your posts from summer in the Elanga thread? Or are we going to reserve judgment until he’s played for us for a lot longer?

 

  

[joeyt]

Woltemade wants the ball to his feet rather than head high so would be interesting to see if Ramsdale helps the team further in that regard

 

Harsh to drop Popey though

[black_n_white]

1 hour ago, joeyt said:

Woltemade wants the ball to his feet rather than head high so would be interesting to see if Ramsdale helps the team further in that regard

 

Harsh to drop Popey though

I personally think the team dynamic is better with Ramsdale on it, same can be said for Schar. That doesn’t mean Pope and Botman should be dropped on Sunday though. What great options we have at the minute.

[Conjo]

12 hours ago, IndonesianToon said:

Recently Pope just made an excellent assist with his throw from his own box.
Not many GK could ever done that in their entire career.

Not to mentioned he has excellent record to date.
No need to put anything under his ass.
He is in a good form already
 

 

His kicking is so poor, i refuse to believe such a talented and smart player is unable to improve it noticably with some focused training. 

 

He's good, but I think he can be better if he wants to with not much extra effort. I'm not expecting hum to suddenly become Ederson with his feet, just better than he is now.

[Kanj]

With the increased emphasis on long throws, corners and set pieces in the PL - our best defense to that are our giants in defense + Pope. 

[huss9]

7 hours ago, Chicken Dancer said:

I hate that argument as I’m no scout,  but the keeper the mackems signed seems to be doing ok. 

he signed up on the promise of being number one.

[Wallsendmag]

The only way Ramsdale is getting in is if Pope gets another injury as things stand. Once Ramsdale does it in though I think he stays there. Can't drop Pope on this seasons form though.

[relámpago blanco]

30 minutes ago, Wallsendmag said:

The only way Ramsdale is getting in is if Pope gets another injury as things stand. Once Ramsdale does it in though I think he stays there. Can't drop Pope on this seasons form though.

So your saying he will get in then based on recent history. The only thing on my mind is when we broke our shit form last season and went on a great run it was because Dubs was in nets and he's better than pope at distribution. He's not the best but it did help us

[joeyt]

[Wallsendmag]

1 hour ago, relámpago blanco said:

So your saying he will get in then based on recent history. The only thing on my mind is when we broke our shit form last season and went on a great run it was because Dubs was in nets and he's better than pope at distribution. He's not the best but it did help us

 

What I'm saying is that on Pope's form this season there's no way Howe is dropping him. Ramsdale is our League Cup (and probably our FA Cup Keeper) and that's how it will stay unless Pope gets injured or has a major collapse in form.