Aaron Ramsdale: return to Southampton confirmed

[madras]

Just now, Wolfcastle said:

How many games was he called upon in those days to make save after save though. We were the better team invariably and at home by a distance in most games. The scorelines didn't reflect how much better we were. Man United being the obvious exception.

He played through some shite as well. I remember him being our MotM when Liverpool put 5 past us at SJP. He left because we were shut and getting worse.

[Lush Vlad]

1 hour ago, madras said:

He was, thats why he didnt even try, he just cleared his lines. Less panic.

So does Pope by and large. He is routinely grilled for just launching it upfield or out of play.  But I would argue he is far more involved in the build up than Given ever was. Due to the game evolving. Doesn’t mean he is any good at it. Neither would Given be. 
 

Like I said earlier on. It is one of the reasons I find it hard to compare keepers across eras. Even more so than outfield players. The demands have changed massively. 
 

If this league-wide trend of hoofball and aerial bombardment continues. Then the skillset required is going to have to change yet again. 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2025 by Lush Vlad

[andycap]

Popey is the best keeper the toons had that I've seen. Like I always say we'd of won the league if we had him under keegan in the 90s. Would've been on par with seaman and Schmeichel. 

[The Butcher]

Aye, Pope's the best I've seen for us.

 

If he could kick a ball he'd be top 5 in the World imo.

[andycap]

Just think of his sweeping ability helping our weakish back four. 

[timeEd32]

Ramsdale is an average version of what you want a modern keeper to be. Pope would have been elite a generation ago. I am happy to live in the past for now.

[Wallsendmag]

9 hours ago, duo said:

I thought his positioning for the free kick was suspect - was too far to the left.

 

He was. You could see before James took it that he had gave him too big a target. That's why he was able to score from that range, and without having to strike it with a great deal of power.

[The College Dropout]

5 hours ago, madras said:

He wasn't great with his feet but was there audible anxiety when he had the ball at his feet like Pope ?, he didnt try, he just got decent air under it. Did opposition teams see pressuring him when he has the ball at his feet as a tactic like they do with Pope ?

 

When I said "to feet" I meant diving at attackers feet to get the ball.

 

 

 

Because goalkeepers were less involved in general play and just used to hoof it when they did. 
 

Pope is more involved tha Given was and. Is expected to pass it about a bit. 
 

You rarely see Pope 1v1 against an attacker.  He sweeps up a lot of danger. The same way he punches a lot of danger.  

 

[Optimistic Nut]

4 hours ago, timeEd32 said:

You can debate the benefits of his feet and whether he should have stopped this or that, but I'm not sure how anyone watches the four goals conceded against Spurs and Chelsea and isn't dying for Pope to come back in. 

 

Because I've seen the manner of the goals he conceded against Celtic & Marseille, the goal v Arsenal, the goal v West Ham, the goal v Brentford. 

[timeEd32]

1 minute ago, Optimistic Nut said:

 

Because I've seen the manner of the goals he conceded against Celtic & Marseille, the goal v Arsenal, the goal v West Ham, the goal v Brentford. 

 

Sure, but one could make a longer list of all the goals he's prevented. Ramsdale hasn't given us a howler (though the Romero bike was bad), but he's basically never going to bail us out. This is the story of his career; it's not changing.

[Novocastrian]

Pope would have saved some of the goals Ramsdale’s let in recenty. I truly believe we may have 3 or 4 more points. I still wanted Ramsdale to have a go as Pope’s reckless punching and dubious footwork was driving me mad. We need Pope back in, then a new GK next summer.

[Optimistic Nut]

38 minutes ago, timeEd32 said:

 

Sure, but one could make a longer list of all the goals he's prevented. Ramsdale hasn't given us a howler (though the Romero bike was bad), but he's basically never going to bail us out. This is the story of his career; it's not changing.

 

It's only a few seasons ago he was an ever-present while Arsenal finished 2nd, getting in the Team of the Season (ahead of Pope during his first season here ironically). 

[timeEd32]

43 minutes ago, Optimistic Nut said:

 

It's only a few seasons ago he was an ever-present while Arsenal finished 2nd, getting in the Team of the Season (ahead of Pope during his first season here ironically). 

 

And yet he's never out-performed his post-shot expected goals against, while Pope has done it every year at NUFC. Posted the stats here: 

 

 

 

[magorific]

4 hours ago, Wolfcastle said:

How many games was he called upon in those days to make an above normal amount of saves though?. We were the better team invariably and at home by a distance in most games. Man United being the obvious exception.

 

 

 

He had numerous absolute blinders at Arsenal. 

[madras]

29 minutes ago, magorific said:

He had numerous absolute blinders at Arsenal. 

Just looked that way cos hes shorter.

 

 

Edited December 22, 2025 by madras

[Gawalls]

12 hours ago, Novocastrian said:

Pope would have saved some of the goals Ramsdale’s let in recenty. I truly believe we may have 3 or 4 more points. I still wanted Ramsdale to have a go as Pope’s reckless punching and dubious footwork was driving me mad. We need Pope back in, then a new GK next summer.

Agreed - the last three seasons with out cup and two CL proves pope isn't a hindrence but a help.

[Abacus]

18 hours ago, timeEd32 said:

You can debate the benefits of his feet and whether he should have stopped this or that, but I'm not sure how anyone watches the four goals conceded against Spurs and Chelsea and isn't dying for Pope to come back in. 

 

Agreed. After Marseille, I was one of those who wanted Ramsdale to have a run in the team for Pope's sake to give him a break as much as anything.

 

Ramsdale hasn't done a lot wrong, in my opinion. But I also think he is mainly a capable deputy to Pope with better kicking but less presence in the box. 

 

There's maybe not a lot more Pope would have done with some of the shots Ramsdale's faced. I'd have just felt more confident with Pope in the team instead and wouldn't have put it past him to have stopped at least one of them.

 

At this point probably wouldn't be activating the option for Ramsdale if there are better options out there in summer, which might seem harsh but there we are.

 

 

[Hanshithispantz]

Even Chelsea's disallowed goal rolled past him 

 

As much as Pope has dropped the ball a bit this season I don't feel like he'll throw a game away often, the Marseille mistake was bad but came from him being so aggressive off his line, which is good. He needs replacing with someone who can kick a ball but I'm surprised at just how big the gulf between them is as keepers.

[TRon]

6 hours ago, Abacus said:

 

Agreed. After Marseille, I was one of those who wanted Ramsdale to have a run in the team for Pope's sake to give him a break as much as anything.

 

Ramsdale hasn't done a lot wrong, in my opinion. But I also think he is mainly a capable deputy to Pope with better kicking but less presence in the box. 

 

There's maybe not a lot more Pope would have done with some of the shots Ramsdale's faced. I'd have just felt more confident with Pope in the team instead and wouldn't have put it past him to have stopped at least one of them.

 

At this point probably wouldn't be activating the option for Ramsdale if there are better options out there in summer, which might seem harsh but there we are.

 

 

 

 

He hasn't done a lot wrong, but he hasn't done enough right either. He had a good chance to cement a permanent move, but I don't see that happening now. Eddie can barely wait to bring Pope back in. 

[Rod]

27 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

 

He hasn't done a lot wrong, but he hasn't done enough right either. He had a good chance to cement a permanent move, but I don't see that happening now. Eddie can barely wait to bring Pope back in. 

I can't wait to bring Pope back in. I have zero confidence in Ramsdale.

[The College Dropout]

20 hours ago, Optimistic Nut said:

 

It's only a few seasons ago he was an ever-present while Arsenal finished 2nd, getting in the Team of the Season (ahead of Pope during his first season here ironically). 

As much as he was a part of their success he was also a big reason they crumbled. And that’s why he was replaced straight away.  He’s a soft touch as a keeper. 

[huss9]

We have short memories.

Ramsdale has his issues and as good as Pope has been over the last couple of years (that save in the cup final was as good as a goal), his performances in away games this season have been awful.

Need a new keeper.

 

Was never bothered about ballplaying GK's but watching how relaxed our CB's are with giving the ball to Ramsdale, it is like having an extra player when we are playing out from the back.

We really need a GK who is also comfortable with the ball at his feet. Gamechanger.

[Wallsendmag]

Pope has had a poor last half dozen or so games, he was fine at the start of the season when we kept 6 clean sheets in our first 10 games, and he'll go down as one, if not our best ever GK for me.

 

Ramsdale isn't at the same level at all.

[jack j]

25 minutes ago, huss9 said:

We have short memories.

Ramsdale has his issues and as good as Pope has been over the last couple of years (that save in the cup final was as good as a goal), his performances in away games this season have been awful.

Need a new keeper.

 

Was never bothered about ballplaying GK's but watching how relaxed our CB's are with giving the ball to Ramsdale, it is like having an extra player when we are playing out from the back.

We really need a GK who is also comfortable with the ball at his feet. Gamechanger.

Might be relaxed when the ball is at his feet but they fucking shit themselves when it comes into an area where they'd be used to a keeper coming to collect or punch it

[Pilko]

Absolutely chod.