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Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe faces deciding Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka for the Carabao Cup final.
Martin Dubravka should start in goal for Newcastle United in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool (kick-off 4:30pm).
That’s the view of our writers Jordan Cronin and Liam Kennedy. Nick Pope has started the Magpies’ last three Premier League games, including Monday night’s 1-0 win at West Ham United, but the opinion is he looks short of his best.
Dubravka, meanwhile, had previously started 14 of the last 15 matches while Pope recovered from a knee issue. The Slovakian helped United win nine games on the bounce, and played both semi-final wins over Arsenal.
Martin Dubravka or Nick Pope?
Debating Eddie Howe’s big selection call on the Geordie Journos YouTube channel, Liam said: “I think there's more holes in Pope's game at the moment than there is in Dubravka’s.
“When Pope signed, his shot-stopping was so much better than anything Dubravka could produce that you forgave the problems that he had with the ball at his feet. That level has dropped significantly, it could be injuries, it could be confidence, it could be the fact he hasn't played, it could be anything, I don't know.
“Dubravka, for me, is actually a better all-round goalkeeper because he can do everything. I'm not saying he's the answer to any questions, but he can do everything better. There isn't a glaringly obvious thing in Dubravka’s game, it is glaringly obvious Nick Pope isn’t comfortable with the ball at his feet, there isn't any of that in Dubravka’s game.”
Jordan said: “I don't think Dubravka has done a lot wrong but it’s clear that Eddie Howe prefers Nick Pope - I don't think that's a secret. Eddie Howe can say in press conferences there isn’t a number one goalkeeper but at near-enough the first opportunity when he thinks Nick Pope is ready, he puts him straight back in.
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“Look, Eddie Howe might be playing a massive game of poker, and he might put Dubravka in against Liverpool but tonight [vs West Ham], I think that was the nod to Nick Pope.
“I think Nick Pope, on his day, is a better goalkeeper, but we haven’t seen the Nick Pope from the first half of last season and the season before. He just doesn't inspire confidence like he did, whereas Dubravka does give you that, certainly with the ball at his feet anyway.
“Nick Pope's a better goalkeeper, so as much as I would lean towards Dubravka, I do understand why Pope would start if he's on top form, but I don't think he has been.”
“If you’d asked me two years ago, and he played that final, I'm not saying they would have won but I was confident he makes saves,” Liam added. “He potentially makes a save in a game two years ago where you go, ‘every game he'll make a save to save Newcastle points’. I have little confidence standing here today that Nick Pope does the same in a game where he's going to have to do that.
“Even if Liverpool have an off-day, he’s going to have a game like he two years ago and I've got little confidence that that'll happen. I would have more confidence Martin Dubravka could produce something like that in the way the two are playing at the moment.
“But Dubravka's not perfect. He's not as good a shot-stopper as Nick Pope was two years ago, but he's always alright.”
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