Nick Pope dropped a clanger at Marseille in the Champions League - and it now feels like the right time to turn to understudy Aaron Ramsdale.
Time is up, you know it and I know it - if we’re true to ourselves, we’ve known it for some time. The end has to be nigh, surely. In normal circumstances smoke would be seen rising from the Vatican.
It isn’t though, and, nor do we expect it. Pope will remain, and so too will the calls for a changing of the guard. Because at the end of the day just one man’s opinion on the biggest Newcastle United talking point this week matters - and he doesn’t sound like a bloke ready to change the narrative.
Nick Pope’s Marseille catastrophe
Tuesday night in the south of France was a catastrophe.
As a body of work it was far from Newcastle’s worst this season, it wasn’t even close to their worst in the last few weeks. It started bright, they largely frustrated the home side, even if they really failed to gain any proper control of the encounter following Harvey Barnes’ early opener.
Had lethargic Anthony Gordon capitalised on a few first half opportunities, we might not even be talking the incident that, in reality, decided the fate of this Champions League encounter. The incident in question was Nick Pope’s post-half-time head loss.
Football is a team game, so no man can really win or lose an encounter alone. But one man’s actions can swing the tide, suck away belief and momentum, and with one error of judgement, Pope poured three potential Champions League points down the drain for United, as well as any headwind built up after the weekend return to form v Man City.
With a rush of blood to the head, and a bizarre attempted chase down of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, despite defensive cover being there, Pope flipped the game on its head, just seconds after Newcastle had emerged for the second period, having navigated to half-time unscathed.
Without that moment of madness, the second goal, just minutes later, which hardly painted Dan Burn and Fabian Schar in glory, doesn’t happen either. And from then on, a team with hope draining, drawing blanks at every turn had something to hold, and hold they did as one of the most expensively assembled, yet seemingly toothless attacking groups the top flight has ever seen had no answer to the resolute, spirited white defensive walls in front of them.
Nick ‘sweeper keeper’ Pope lacks skills to fill his self-defined role
One mistake does not define a player. One mistake can be brushed over as an anomaly. Just one and we wouldn’t be here. But we all know it’s not one. It’s no anomaly, and it’s costing NUFC dear when points and goals are at a premium.
Just in the last few weeks, some poor executing opened the door to a West Ham revival, then again at Brentford, Pope cost Newcastle goals. Roll the clock back years and sweeping up has caused him more messes than he would like to remember - Mo Salah and the cup final ban being the cherry on the top.
He’s a sweeper keeper, I get it. And I like it, as a concept. But, if you don’t have all the skills to sweep, surely you have to adapt? Reactions, the ability to read the game, speed, mobility and footballing ability are key components here. Pope falls short in too many to keep charging out. He can read it, mostly, has good reactions yes, but when it comes to the other three, he lacks speed - shown up in Marseille - lacks mobility - again highlighted by said error - and does not have the modern flourish of poise and confidence with the ball at feet.
Someone in Newcastle’s squad DOES - and that’s where Tuesday night has taken us.
Time for Aaron Ramsdale at NUFC
Aaron Ramsdale is the masses’ choice to replace Pope - and do so immediately. Never have Newcastle had a more able deputy in their ranks under Howe. There’s even a case to say he’d be going to the World Cup ahead of Pope, had he been given more opportunity to shine for the Magpies this season.
Is this situation not, ultimately, what any football manager builds a squad for? One man in said position falls short, another comes in to take his spot. Simple as that, right? Well, I’m not sure it is with Newcastle and Howe.
Surely you want good players in the same position, pushing each other on to higher levels with the fear of losing your spot. Without that, you may as well have a kid in the reserve jersey, eh?
What even is the point in signing Ramsdale - who is on significant wages and commanded a £4million fee just to lend him for the campaign - if he is not trusted to play, when the man with the shirt is failing the team?
Eddie Howe and ‘loyalty’ to his Newcastle United players
Loyalty is a good thing, it builds confidence and can lift players up to levels they previously thought not possible. But it can also have the opposite impact on those vying to break into the side. Loyalty can equally stifle competition and drive, and create a ‘favourites only’ mood in camp.
Howe has to tread this line carefully, because you do start to wonder, with Pope’s recent error-strewn performances, what Ramsdale has to do to get an opportunity in the major competitions, not just a Carabao nod or two.
Howe has been accused of showing too much loyalty to certain players in the past - the likes of Callum Wilson, Matt Ritchie, even Dan Burn at times - but has always found a way of navigating tricky situations.
Pressure is certainly building re Pope and Ramsdale - the crowd, who have been less warm towards Pope in recent seasons, will have all eyes on who the manager selects between the sticks.
Howe has the power to stick or twist. Stick with Pope through thick and the recently thin, or opt for one of his tried and tested of old in Ramsdale. It’s clear the tide has turned with the crowd, they want the former Arsenal man trusted, but Howe is a very different beast in these situations, his previous actions prove that. And I wouldn’t be holding my breath that the head coach will deliver what the masses - who aren’t daft - want.
Newcastle have been crying out for a modern, footballing keeper for a long time and no matter how many saves Pope makes, he won’t convince he’s ever going to be the man to fulfil that want long-term on Tyneside. The crowds want change, they want Ramsdale. It’s time for Howe to listen.
Eddie Howe addresses Nick Pope error - and calls for change
He said: “I think it's a concern when we concede goals, regardless of who's at fault.
“I think we have to look at everything with a balanced head. He has saved us many, many times. He made some really good saves against Manchester City just two days ago. That's the life of a goalkeeper. But I'll certainly back him.
“I think every defeat has been annoying. That was particularly painful because, as you say, we worked ourselves into a strong position and played really well in the first half. It was about 10 minutes at the start of the second half. It cost us the game. It's difficult to know. They scored so soon after half-time and a poor goal from our perspective. That's rocked us and we haven't responded well.”
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