Nick Pope to Bristol

Newcastleclaret93 · Post by **Newcastleclaret93** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 10:44 am

Reports that Nick Pope was on his way to Bristol City until the clarets pulled out of the deal.
Thought this young lad would eventually replace Heaton. Must have fallen down the pecking order.

Quicknick · Post by **Quicknick** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 10:47 am

Big step from League 1 to the EPL. Maybe too much for him. Permanent move?

Newcastleclaret93 · Post by **Newcastleclaret93** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 10:51 am

Permanent move apparently.
Rejected after initially agreeing a fee.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:02 am

Has anyone seen anything on this other than from one person on twitter?

Tall Paul · Post by **Tall Paul** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:03 am

I saw a thread about it on UpTheClarets.

DAVETHEVICAR · Post by **DAVETHEVICAR** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:05 am

How can he have fallen down the pecking order when there is only Tom Heaton above him.

boatshed bill · Post by **boatshed bill** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:08 am

DAVETHEVICAR wrote:How can he have fallen down the pecking order when there is only Tom Heaton above him.

He can't have, he's our N02 'keeper.
However, he could be really brassed off at never playing football; it's a short career.

ExistentialWanderer · Post by **ExistentialWanderer** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:08 am

A bit bizarre! He's number two to a current England International. This just seems like so far out there even ablueclaret couldn't make it up!

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:10 am

ExistentialWanderer wrote:A bit bizarre! He's number two to a current England International. This just seems like so far out there even ablueclaret couldn't make it up!

Oh he could - believe me.

Dublin7Claret · Post by **Dublin7Claret** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:16 am

Being such a specialist position it must be hard to be a keeper when you know your no 2 choice, just picking up scraps of games if Heaton is injured/suspended. Wouldn't blame him if he wanted to move on, although I like what little seen of him so hope he does stay and its just unsubstantiated rumours

ksrclaret · Post by **ksrclaret** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:17 am

Hasn't he actually moved up the pecking order, having graduated from number 3 to number 2 towards the end of the season?

I can well understand if he wanted to get away and play some football, but he must have signed up last summer knowing how the situation would play out.

elwaclaret · Post by **elwaclaret** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:19 am

ExistentialWanderer wrote:A bit bizarre! He's number two to a current England International. This just seems like so far out there even ablueclaret couldn't make it up!

That may be the point - he's too good to sit on the bench and not good enough to shift the number one. The leagues are full of players that left bigger clubs due to lack of opportunity.

Don't know if there is any truth in this but had it been a season loan with a call back option it certainly would not have surprised me. Especially as I half expect another keeper to arrive this summer (just gut, no rumour).

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:20 am

He's too small to ever be a top, top keeper.

Cleveleys_claret · Post by **Cleveleys_claret** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:22 am

Can kind of see the sense in this if the present no3 is a decent standard and progressing. With Robinson gone, Dyche might not think Pope is an adequate no2. We would be able to bring in someone of a higher standard as we would have lost 2 wages. Not saying they were on a massive wedge each but it would allow Mitchell to vacate the role Pope currently holds in the squad and improve on a no2 which as we saw at Swansea if we need to cover for Tom it has to be better than Robbo.

But not having seen Pope much I dont know where he is at. Hoping that maybe he has impressed Dyche on tour causing him to think yeah we have an adequate no2 here hence the turning down of the offer if true

Murger · Post by **Murger** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:25 am

Diesel wrote:He's too small to ever be a top, top keeper.

Eh?

quoonbeatz · Post by **quoonbeatz** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:25 am

boatshed bill wrote:He can't have, he's our N02 'keeper.
However, he could be really brassed off at never playing football; it's a short career.

amusingly, stuart taylor has just signed a one-year extension with Southampton.

Sidney1st · Post by **Sidney1st** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:26 am

elwaclaret wrote:That may be the point - he's too good to sit on the bench and not good enough to shift the number one. The leagues are full of players that left bigger clubs due to lack of opportunity.

Don't know if there is any truth in this but had it been a season loan with a call back option it certainly would not have surprised me. Especially as I half expect another keeper to arrive this summer (just gut, no rumour).

Heaton left UTD for more opportunities, despite Fergie wanting him to stay.

IAmAClaret · Post by **IAmAClaret** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:31 am

As a '2nd' keeper, the only ones who will be 'happy' are:

1) A young U21 from the Dev Squad - Ie. Mitchell
2) Stuart Taylor.

Nick Pope broke into the first team at Charlton, is now 25 and isn't playing football, I can see why he would want to go - he needs to be playing.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:33 am

quoonbeatz wrote:amusingly, stuart taylor has just signed a one-year extension with Southampton.

He's had a hell of a career

UpTheBeehole · Post by **UpTheBeehole** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:37 am

Most top clubs now have an undisputed first choice keeper with an experienced, older guy on the bench for emergencies, with a young 3rd choice as backup.

That's the model we were following, however Robinson looks to have left the club and Pope is now a bit too old to be that promising understudy.

We need to pick up a keeper regardless of whether Pope is leaving, as he should probably do.

turfytopper · Post by **turfytopper** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:38 am

Quicknick wrote:Big step from League 1 to the EPL. Maybe too much for him. Permanent move?

He was a Championship regular at Charlton when we signed him. Albeit in a relegated side (similar situation to Tom Heaton).

Sleeping Cat · Post by **Sleeping Cat** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:39 am

Heaton is obviously No1. but we should be looking to keep Pope & keep telling him that he is only 1 red card or a muscle strain from starting in the premier league.

Perhaps we could guarantee Pope the cup games so he know's he's getting at least a few games & to keep him match ready in case he does need to come on at any point. It must be frustrating being a No.2 goalkeeper and more top teams are doing this in order to accommodate 2 good keepers on their books.

DCWat · Post by **DCWat** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:43 am

Diesel wrote:He's too small to ever be a top, top keeper.

Assume a poor attempt at funny, considering he's bigger than Heaton.

skibum84 · Post by **skibum84** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:56 am

I've just looked up Stuart Taylors Wikipedia, WOW!! An 18 year career with 75 league appearances. His money earned/minutes played ratio must be amazing.

ExistentialWanderer · Post by **ExistentialWanderer** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 11:57 am

ClaretTony wrote:Oh he could - believe me.

Ok fair enough, you're about right

ExistentialWanderer · Post by **ExistentialWanderer** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:00 pm

elwaclaret wrote:That may be the point - he's too good to sit on the bench and not good enough to shift the number one. The leagues are full of players that left bigger clubs due to lack of opportunity.

Don't know if there is any truth in this but had it been a season loan with a call back option it certainly would not have surprised me. Especially as I half expect another keeper to arrive this summer (just gut, no rumour).

This is exactly the point I was making yesterday.We've taken our young U23 to Ireland. Surely Pope knew the score with Heaton though?! Trying to find a happy number two, let alone a number three is a job I am glad I don't have!

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:05 pm

Maybe we'd had another keeper lined up and that deal fell through. It would be risky selling our number 2, unless we were very confident of bringing in somebody better.

ExistentialWanderer · Post by **ExistentialWanderer** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:09 pm

FactualFrank wrote:Maybe we'd had another keeper lined up and that deal fell through. It would be risky selling our number 2, unless we were very confident of bringing in somebody better.

I hope not. Keeper was the last place I expected to have to replace.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:11 pm

ExistentialWanderer wrote:I hope not. Keeper was the last place I expected to have to replace.

The order of replacing doesn't worry me, as we can make multiple signings at once. But it does seem odd to sell your number 2, unless it's forced due to contracts.

ExistentialWanderer · Post by **ExistentialWanderer** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:15 pm

FactualFrank wrote:The order of replacing doesn't worry me, as we can make multiple signings at once. But it does seem odd to sell your number 2, unless it's forced due to contracts.

Contract isn't an issue. All very strange if Pope thinks he'd dislodge an England International from his spot just a year after being relegated. Either he, or his agent has delusions of grandeur or it's B**llocks

elwaclaret · Post by **elwaclaret** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:29 pm

ExistentialWanderer wrote:Contract isn't an issue. All very strange if Pope thinks he'd dislodge an England International from his spot just a year after being relegated. Either he, or his agent has delusions of grandeur or it's B**llocks

It could be that he saw the move to Burnley to work with better keepers and training as something right for him experience wise... but now it is time to be number 1 again. That would make perfect sense to me; and would probably be something I'd look to do myself given his career.

ExistentialWanderer · Post by **ExistentialWanderer** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:33 pm

elwaclaret wrote:It could be that he saw the move to Burnley to work with better keepers and training as something right for him experience wise... but now it is time to be number 1 again. That would make perfect sense to me; and would probably be something I'd look to do myself given his career.

Ok. I can get that but just seems odd.

claretspice · Post by **claretspice** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:33 pm

Apologies if I've missed it, but is there actually any evidence that Pope wants to leave and is engineering for a move?

Is he in Ireland with the team?

taio · Post by **taio** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:34 pm

ExistentialWanderer wrote:Contract isn't an issue. All very strange if Pope thinks he'd dislodge an England International from his spot just a year after being relegated. Either he, or his agent has delusions of grandeur or it's B**llocks

I'd say more like B**llocks or he just wants first team football

Quicknick · Post by **Quicknick** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:36 pm

ExistentialWanderer wrote:A bit bizarre! He's number two to a current England International. This just seems like so far out there even ablueclaret couldn't make it up!

He probably thinks, Tom's captain, it doesn't look like he's going to leave; I'm not going to ever get a game. I can understand him.

ExistentialWanderer · Post by **ExistentialWanderer** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:36 pm

claretspice wrote:Apologies if I've missed it, but is there actually any evidence that Pope wants to leave and is engineering for a move?

Is he in Ireland with the team?

He is with Heaton and Conor Mitchell!

claretspice · Post by **claretspice** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:43 pm

ExistentialWanderer wrote:He is with Heaton and Conor Mitchell!

In which case, is everything on this thread implying that there might be an issue not completely premature and speculative?

He's been with us a year, he's moved up to second choice from third choice, he's still only 25 so not that old in keeper terms, and he's still learning lots. He might be attracted to first team football if it were offered; there again he might feel that its worth giving it another year to see what happens with Heaton.

ExistentialWanderer · Post by **ExistentialWanderer** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:46 pm

claretspice wrote:In which case, is everything on this thread implying that there might be an issue not completely premature and speculative?

He's been with us a year, he's moved up to second choice from third choice, he's still only 25 so not that old in keeper terms, and he's still learning lots. He might be attracted to first team football if it were offered; there again he might feel that its worth giving it another year to see what happens with Heaton.

It's a football forum (draw your own conclusions from that). God only knows where some of this comes from but last I saw he was in Ireland training with the boys.

Devils_Advocate · Post by **Devils_Advocate** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:48 pm

ExistentialWanderer wrote:Contract isn't an issue. All very strange if Pope thinks he'd dislodge an England International from his spot just a year after being relegated. Either he, or his agent has delusions of grandeur or it's B**llocks

Or in the background it could have become obvious that Dyche and his coaching staff dont rate him as a future Burnley No1. Pope might even feel in himself he is not going to make it as Burnleys No1 in the next few years if we stay in the Premier league and therefore wants to reignite his career with a move lower down.

You are right that it might be ******** but if it isn't b**llocks then rather than delusions of grandeur it could be a very sensible grounded decision from a young lad keen to play first team competitive football

ExistentialWanderer · Post by **ExistentialWanderer** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:49 pm

claretspice wrote: premature and speculative?

Ahh this reminds me of my first sexual experience...

ExistentialWanderer · Post by **ExistentialWanderer** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:52 pm

Devils_Advocate wrote:Or in the background it could have become obvious that Dyche and his coaching staff dont rate him as a future Burnley No1. Pope might even feel in himself he is not going to make it as Burnleys No1 in the next few years if we stay in the Premier league and therefore wants to reignite his career with a move lower down.

You are right that it might be ******** but if it isn't b**llocks then rather than delusions of grandeur it could be a very sensible grounded decision from a young lad keen to play first team competitive football

He's included in the initial squad announcement. I'd suggest, if and a big IF he is after a move, it'd be ill advised. But he'd be entitled to look for first team football.

Devils_Advocate · Post by **Devils_Advocate** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:56 pm

Just to clarify i wasnt suggesting Dyche and the club dont want him but that they might have made it clear they only see him as a No2 and should we need to replace Heaton longer term they dont see Pope as the answer.

In that scenario I could understand a keeper wanting to move on to try and find his level as a first choice keeper

ExistentialWanderer · Post by **ExistentialWanderer** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:58 pm

Devils_Advocate wrote:Just to clarify i wasnt suggesting Dyche and the club dont want him but that they might have made it clear they only see him as a No2 and should we need to replace Heaton longer term they dont see Pope as the answer.

In that scenario I could understand a keeper wanting to move on to try and find his level as a first choice keeper

Or, and I know it's a radical scenario. Fight for your place.

quoonbeatz · Post by **quoonbeatz** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:59 pm

i don't think pope will ever be our first choice keeper.

Devils_Advocate · Post by **Devils_Advocate** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 1:01 pm

ExistentialWanderer wrote:Or, and I know it's a radical scenario. Fight for your place.

Like Heaton and Keane did at Man Utd.

Diesel · Post by **Diesel** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 1:02 pm

DCWat wrote:Assume a poor attempt at funny, considering he's bigger than Heaton.

He doesn't smile enough then, I'll have him for something that's nonsense if it kills me.

ExistentialWanderer · Post by **ExistentialWanderer** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 1:05 pm

Devils_Advocate wrote:Like Heaton and Keane did at Man Utd.

Really? That's a poor example. Man Utd have form for losing out. Look at Pogba and Keane as just two.

ExistentialWanderer · Post by **ExistentialWanderer** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 1:07 pm

quoonbeatz wrote:i don't think pope will ever be our first choice keeper.

He won't if he leaves. There's no stamp on a persons talent. It depends on if they have it and put the work in. I happen to think he has potential, but in no way is first team material. Experience of course is key.

claretspice · Post by **claretspice** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 1:07 pm

So - what we know is that there's no reason to believe Pope wants a move or is throwing his toys out of the pram to get one.

There's no more reason to believe burnley have decided he'll never be good enough to be first choice, or that they want to sell him imminently.

Its as likely as either of the above that both parties are perfectly happy, but Bristol City have come along with an offer that is attractive to all parties, and that has prompted the parties to give it due consideration.

So absolutely ridiculous jumping to conclusions, and those conclusions rapidly attaining the status of fact, on this thread. I suggest everyone calms down.

RocketLawnChair · Post by **RocketLawnChair** » Fri Jul 14, 2017 1:11 pm

He could probably do with donning a wig and signing for Manchester City Ladies. He could end up with the same wages as Claudio Bravo then!