Heaton

[Cleveleys_claret]

So what do we think will happen with Tom? Will he still be here after the next transfer window. Pope has said he is hopeful of a return by year end. Will Tom be offloaded as Hart in my opinion is our new number 1 for the season unless he throws several in which I doubt if our defence gets back to the levels of last season

[dermotdermot]

Sorry, but I still prefer Tom.

[fidelcastro]

Well.. you were forever telling us that Defour was leaving, so I guess it's someone else's turn now.

[MRG]

I feel for Heaton

[Hibsclaret]

I feel for Heaton

But he’s not first choice. Are you sure he’s not past it?

[theroyaldyche]

Hel be off

[Cleveleys_claret]

Well.. you were forever telling us that Defour was leaving, so I guess it's someone else's turn now.

I wasnt always saying Defour was leaving. There was a period where he was leaving and his relationship with Dyvhe had broken down. Dyche and Defour have both mentioned they had a chat and cleared things up in a roundabout way and Dyche told Defour to give him a preseason.

Defour did and I think trust grew from that. Defour who worries about his injuries had a new found confidence in the manager and his ability to play through injuries. This was proven when he was willing to carry on playing last year but Dyche made the decision for him really to have an operation. For Defour to have listened and took that advice shows the respect that he now has in SD

[Down_Rover]

I prefer Heaton to Hart.

[FactualFrank]

Heaton is currently number 2 and knows if anything happens to Hart he'll be back and it will be HIS place to lose. This is what us as fans want - or should want. It doesn't matter which of the 3 come in, we have a top keeper. Not many teams can say they have 2 top keepers, let alone 3.

[Cleveleys_claret]

I think Heaton could get himself a nice juicy contract at somewhere like spurs if he wanted it. I hope not as it would be another one of the originals leaving. Will always be a legend regardless but Hart has the shirt and Pope is a better future prospect

[fidelcastro]

I wasnt always saying Defour was leaving. There was a period where he was leaving and his relationship with Dyvhe had broken down. Dyche and Defour have both mentioned they had a chat and cleared things up in a roundabout way and Dyche told Defour to give him a preseason.

Defour did and I think trust grew from that. Defour who worries about his injuries had a new found confidence in the manager and his ability to play through injuries. This was proven when he was willing to carry on playing last year but Dyche made the decision for him really to have an operation. For Defour to have listened and took that advice shows the respect that he now has in SD

Are you remarkably well informed or just guessing?

[Cleveleys_claret]

I dont really want to get into it as it has been done to death but if you speak with anyone close to the club or lets say someone whose son played for Burnley and is always linked with a comeback and is friends with Brendan Flood then they will tell you.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Personally i think if pope is fit in december we will sell heaton in january. And rightly so for a number of reasons.

Firstly from a selfish point of view we could still get good money for him.

Secondly he is the oldest keeper of the three.

Thirdly he has had a significant injury and may never come back to the level he was at. Hes barely played in a year and at 32 after being out so long hes unlikely to get better.

Fourthly Hart has been outstanding. His confidence and shot stopping in particular is another level. He also has by far the most pedigree.

Fifthly Pope could be the future. Hes the youngest. Did very well when he came in and dominates his box the most.

Finally Heaton deserves to be first choice. Hes a top pro. Who has been excellent for us and if fit a great player.

Heatons one of my favourite players. But like Ward the future and most important thing (the club) is what we have to think about. Comes a time for all to move. Look at united under fergie. Beckham. Keane. Stam. Van Nistelrooy. Schmeichael all went when the time was right.

[Lancasterclaret]

He's guessing.

He's a fantasist who thinks he's in ITK.

The fact he posts about it on here is the biggest hint you can have that he's FOS.

[fidelcastro]

I dont really want to get into it as it has been done to death but if you speak with anyone close to the club or lets say someone whose son played for Burnley and is always linked with a comeback and is friends with Brendan Flood then they will tell you.

Oooooh I like a good guessing game!

[Bordeauxclaret]

IF Heaton is the same keeper he was before his injury then he’s our best keeper.

I suppose Dyche and Mercer will know that better than anybody though.

[cricketfieldclarets]

I dont really want to get into it as it has been done to death but if you speak with anyone close to the club or lets say someone whose son played for Burnley and is always linked with a comeback and is friends with Brendan Flood then they will tell you.

Is Chris Scott still a copper on turf?

[fidelcastro]

He's guessing.

He's a fantasist who thinks he's in ITK.

The fact he posts about it on here is the biggest hint you can have that he's FOS.

Just what I was thinking!

[cricketfieldclarets]

IF Heaton is the same keeper he was before his injury then he’s our best keeper.

I suppose Dyche and Mercer will know that better than anybody though.

But if Harts still same keeper he was when he won 5 keeper of the year awards and several league titles hes not.

[Lancasterclaret]

He's a superb keeper.

Problem is so is Joe hart

And so is Nick Pope.

One is certainly off in the january transfer window one would think, and whichever one it is the team he goes to have got themselves a cracking keeper.

[Cleveleys_claret]

He is pretty open about it

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.mirr ... 239250.amp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Hibsclaret]

Heatons one of my favourite players. But like Ward .

Don’t mention the Ward.

I did it once but I don’t think I got away with it....

[mdd2]

Problem is we do not know 1) how good the shoulder will be 2) even if the shoulder is fine, how good is head will be after such an important injury for a keeper

[Hibsclaret]

One needs to go unfortunately. It’s a shame but looks likely to be Heats

[FactualFrank]

Look at united under fergie. Beckham. Keane. Stam. Van Nistelrooy. Schmeichael all went when the time was right.

Yeah, they were pi$$ed off with him!

[Bordeauxclaret]

But if Harts still same keeper he was when he won 5 keeper of the year awards and several league titles hes not.

I suppose the problem with judging that is one keeper has had about 3 games since then, the others had, what, about a hundred.

Harts done well this season, shot saving anyway.

[Vintage Claret]

It's a tricky one.
Tom has done nowt wrong, just unlucky to pick up a bad injury then of course Pope stepped up and played out of his skin and couldn't be dropped.
Pope then got injured, Tom wasn't quite ready and Hart has come in also doesn't deserve to be dropped at the moment.
Big dilemna for SD when all 3 are fit and probably not one many managers have faced as far as goalkeepers go and let's not forget our 4th and 5th choice keepers aren't exactly duffers either!

[Cleveleys_claret]

Think Hatt is also slowly starting to build up an understanding with our back four. But I think coming into such a tight unit even established players like Hart can be a little timid. A few times he has come for a ball and not given a shout. Maybe not used to players putting themselves into the firing line all the time. Saw it with the Mee header today and earlier on with the poor defending from set pieces. Maybe just now finding his voice agai after such a torrid time in the last 2 years

[Blackrod]

Doubt we will ever have such a choice of quality goalkeepers to choose from again. Whoever has the shirt and is keeping such good goalkeepers out has to be under consideration by Southgate.

[AlargeClaret]

He needs 1st team action so surely off at jan window ? If the top clubs weren’t so blinkered they could have signed a fantastic keeper , he’d be great at Arsenal/pool/Utd. Feel for him but that’s the life of a keeper

[Ooogeorgeorgeoghani]

I can see Hart moving on , he has taken a big pay cut to play , once he gets his chance to play at a bigger club once more he will go , don't know why but that's the impression I get from the whole deal in the summer, it's win win for all parties we get a decent fee for him after he has helped us through a tricky patch , he gets the game time to prove he is still a top keeper and gets the cash he is used too

[JohnMac]

What a nice dilema for us but there have been International keepers sat on the bench at other clubs who don't just leave because they aren't first choice.

I'm guessing it's not sustainable to have Tom, Nick and Joe around longer term but having Joe Hart now isn't doing any harm whilst he pushes himself back into the shop window. We don't know for certain how long before Nick is going to to be back to full fitness.

I suspect one of them may be made available after the season has ended but hopefully not before.

[boatshed bill]

Tom Heaton has the safest hands of all our keepers.