Nick Pope For England

[SalisburyClaret]

I love it when we play teams that play out from the back - only the teams that have spent billions are remotely competent at it - and even then it’s usually their biggest weakness.

[Giftonsnoidea]

Nick Pope is much better than that spiderman midget, he’s tall and can save shots for a start, Southgate needs to sort himself out.

[Tricky Trevor]

Only Liverpool have Alison and Becker, city have Ederson

Oops! I caught myself out wondering whether to call him Allison or Becker.

[dsr]

I can't understand how people can't see the distribution thing. It's been something that's been absolutely paramount to success in the modern game. Like it or not the reason Pope isn't considered is because of his poor kicking accuracy.

The reason that Man City and Liverpool are the best sides and have been for two or three years, is not because they have goalkeepers that can play short passes. If we had Allison Becker (or Becker Allison) and Liverpool had Pope, we would stll be where we are, and they would still be top of the league.

Liverpool and Man City have the best sides because of two things - they have the best players, and they have managers who know how to make them play. If their goalkeepers kicked every ball over the halfway line, they would still be the best sides.

The short passing thing no doubt makes their team better. (Though it does nothing for Norwich.) But it's very far from paramount.

[dsr]

The only English Pope in the Vatican was also called Nick. Nicholas Breakspear, but he used the name Adrian IV as pope.

[IanMcL]

Vote for Nick as player of the month (see other thread)

[scouseclaret]

I can't understand how people can't see the distribution thing. It's been something that's been absolutely paramount to success in the modern game. Like it or not the reason Pope isn't considered is because of his poor kicking accuracy.

But you can tell he's working on distribution. His kicking isn't that much better but his throwing and reading of the game when he turns over the ball is much improved.

I hope he'll make it but it will probably benefit Burnley more if he doesn't. It will be pretty tragic if Henderson gets the shirt instead though. His kicking is just as bad.

When Pickford passes long, he's not a great deal more accurate than anyone else.

I reckon Pope can make a 5-yard pass as accurately as anyone, it's just that at Burnley, we generally don't like placing ourselves under needless pressure by pretending we can score goals by passing around our own penalty area.

[martin_p]

When Pickford passes long, he's not a great deal more accurate than anyone else.

I reckon Pope can make a 5-yard pass as accurately as anyone, it's just that at Burnley, we generally don't like placing ourselves under needless pressure by pretending we can score goals by passing around our own penalty area.

Precisely this.