we are missing Pope

[pushpinpussy]

im afraid to say I think Pope would have done better over the last 2 games with the goals the opposition have scored. he makes such a presence of himself in goal and we have missed that. Heaton and Hart don't have the same presence and it has shown

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Bait cast.

[BennyD]

I kind of agree with the OP.

[Ric_C]

Think he'd have had a chance with Watford's 3rd tbh

[colne-claret]

I agree.

[Lord Beamish]

His dominance of his area last season was a great comfort to us last term. He’s bound to be missed.

[boatshed bill]

Pope was certainly at the top of his form .
Form has to be built, it doesn't happen overnight. I think this applies in particular to goalkeepers,
i've read some pretty low ratings for Tom Heaton. What i would suggest is give him some time, he's been out for a season with a career threatening injury. You cannot expect him to come back in the same form as when he got injured

[IanMcL]

Pope is the best keeper, with potential for more.
Heaton is still superb. Had no chance with any of the three goals.

[moaninclaret]

Definitely missing the big fella, Heaton just back from injury and Hart not a player full of confidence just yet, but i think with a few games under his belt, Tom will be his old self again, he was terrific before his injury and once he is 100% he will be as good as ever, but yeah Pope is a brilliant keeper and we will miss his presence from corners and set pieces he certainly dominated his area, get fit soon Nick.

[Down_Rover]

OP is right. Heats is good. Pope is top drawer

[boatshed bill]

I'm not sure that rotation does any good for goalkeepers

[theroyaldyche]

Pope is our number 1. Id even think hart 2nd

[gawthorpe_view]

Pope's injured, no point in hypotheses, move on.

[RalphCoatesComb]

What I like about Tom is his ability to catch the ball when many others, especially Joe Hart, punch. That puts Tom ahead of Joe for starters.

Tom v Nick is more difficult. In fact, I'm torn between the two. It's a toss of a coin and a "fit" Tom usually comes up heads!

All in all, we are not missing Pope.

Tom was not "set" when the Ref blew last night so, from me, he's forgiven.

[KlyBfc]

I’ve said in many discussions with others recently Pope is the best of 3 and not because the other two are poor (neither have made a mistake last 2 games). For me simply because he makes points winning saves that his height and abilities allow him to, and ones that the others can’t. He also comes for crosses with greater confidence and regularity. But all that aside we are blessed that our back ups are of the quality of Hart and Heaton.

[Silkyskills1]

I'm not sure that rotation does any good for goalkeepers

Agreed and it doesn't do any good throughout the rest of the team.

[moaninclaret]

The line up was terrible for the free kick, Tom had no chance with any of the goals, the headed goal was bad defending and the penalty was as good as any, no keeper would have got anywhere near it, i think playing such a club with so much European experience we did really well last night and i haven't give up on us yet, i thought Tom did good.

[DCWat]

Not sire Pope’s height can be used when comparing to Hart, who is taller.

With regard to Tom not being set when the ref blew the whistle - if he wasn’t - he should have been.

[FactualFrank]

I agree with the OP. SD was a bit foolish to drop him. He'd done nothing wrong.

[piston broke]

Not sire Pope’s height can be used when comparing to Hart, who is taller.

With regard to Tom not being set when the ref blew the whistle - if he wasn’t - he should have been.

Well I’m stunned at that but according to the club squad list you are correct.
Hart 1m96
Lindegaard 1m93
Pope 1m91
Heaton 1m88
Pope certainly looks the biggest when coming for the ball or diving. He must have some leap on him. I’d have backed him to save Watfords 3rd and last nights 1st with his stretch.

[Billy Balfour]

we are missing Pope

There's going to be a lot of disappointed people - he's supposed to be in Ireland tomorrow.

[Antmass]

I agree. Pope is far better than Heaton and that's not saying Heaton's not great. Problem is, they've both had the same injury. Heaton looked like he couldn't just thrust that arm out for the first two goals.

[Siddo]

Pope is the weaker of the 3 main keepers. Hart is some way in front of the other 2, and Heaton slightly in front of Pope.
However, we are fortunate to have 3 goalkeepers of such ability, as all of them are Premier league class.

[FCBurnley]

Tom seemed to dive very tentatively for the first goal. At the moment I think he is our third choice behind Pope and Hart in that order

[warksclaret]

We have been dam unlucky-but you know what, goalkeepers is the least of my worries. Even if you go down to Lindgard he looked great in those games v Aberdeen

[beddie]

I like Pope's presence, especially at corners.

[Culmclaret]

Pope the best of the (very good) three. In my time watching Burnley I have never seen a keeper who inspires so much confidence

[Rileybobs]

With regard to Tom not being set when the ref blew the whistle - if he wasn’t - he should have been.

Heaton was still on his post organising the wall when the ref blew his whistle. I was surprised the Olympiakos player didn’t take the free kick whilst there was a whole goal to aim at and it gave away for me the fact that he was going for the left corner.

Not sure of the rules and Heaton had spent a long time organising the wall but I thought it was sly on the ref’s part.

[KRBFC]

I agree, Heaton was rubbish for that freekick, did the exact same against Hull (home game) a couple of years ago. Doesn't seem to move his feet or set up a wall.

[Burnleyareback2]

Not sure the defence has quite reached the standards of last season yet, or the standards we have come to expect each game.

[Steve1956]

im afraid to say I think Pope would have done better over the last 2 games with the goals the opposition have scored. he makes such a presence of himself in goal and we have missed that. Heaton and Hart don't have the same presence and it has shown

I was thing exactly the saw today,we have 4 good keepers,Pope is bar far the best one.

[piston broke]

Morning papers reporting Southgate going to Fulham to check out Hart and Sessegnon.
I thought SD picked OUR team?

[Tribesmen]

Morning papers reporting Southgate going to Fulham to check out Hart and Sessegnon.
I thought SD picked OUR team?

Good news PB , The Pope is lining up in Dublin today , now not sure how many he will save thou

[otto1959]

Pope is the best keeper, with potential for more.
Heaton is still superb. Had no chance with any of the three goals.

Of course he did. Left too much space to aim at for the free kick.

[piston broke]

Of course he did. Left too much space to aim at for the free kick.

But had he set himself? He was certainly very unhappy with the wall and it did go wall side.

[IanMcL]

Yes that was the side the wall has to protect, if possible. Heaton had his side covered. We don't want him doing a Pickford and letting one in, right where he should be standing!