Nixon says Heaton might go

ClaretAndJew · Post by **ClaretAndJew** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 9:35 am

And Pope is looking to double his wages.

Thought he'd only just signed a new deal?

cutsy123 · Post by **cutsy123** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 9:36 am

Id have pope over heaton

Pearcey · Post by **Pearcey** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 9:38 am

Heaton for me. Will be hard to keep both happy now.

claretandy · Post by **claretandy** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 9:38 am

ClaretAndJew wrote:And Pope is looking to double his wages.

Thought he'd only just signed a new deal?

He signed a new one in November, when he signed from Charlton as a young understudy you could see him being on about 10k a week so the new deal in November might have been 20k a week, so doubling it could see him up with our highest earners.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 9:40 am

**** stirring. Think both will stay. If we absolutely had to just keep one though would be Heaton for me

cutsy123 · Post by **cutsy123** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 9:41 am

Whos to say heaton will come back in the best form. Popes younger and jus as good

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 9:43 am

cutsy123 wrote:Whos to say heaton will come back in the best form. Popes younger and jus as good

Nobody. But then you could say who is to say Pope can keep it up.

Popes looked good this season and has never let us down. But if Heatons arms recovered then he is the better keeper.

CFS · Post by **CFS** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 9:45 am

Pope for me Heaton reached his peak as for pope he has loads to come still.

BroadIslandClaret · Post by **BroadIslandClaret** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 9:48 am

cutsy123 wrote:Id have pope over heaton

First of all, neither of them should accept being a back-up keeper and won`t, in my opinion.

Pope over Heaton for me too but (even though he looks and sounds a really grounded chap) SHOULD have the ambition to play at the very top and if his current form continues, some time down the line, will be sold. Heaton, on the other hand, is a magnificent keeper and I feel, at the stage of his career, IF Burnley maintain their competitiveness in the Premier League (and being a Burnley fan) would turn down overtures from other teams and stay with us.

My prediction, Heaton will be our keeper next season and Pope will be sold to Arsenal (1 year only behind an ageing Cech) for 25 million pounds.

PaintYorkClaretnBlue · Post by **PaintYorkClaretnBlue** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 9:49 am

It’s very unusual for a club to have two outstanding keepers and almost impossible to keep them both happy, especially when they have both performed well over numerous games.
If I had a gun at my head and had to chose one to leave it would have to be heaton I think.
Having said that, Heaton could be more loyal due to his family ties with the club.

I’m just glad it will never be me who has to make that decision!!

Jamesy · Post by **Jamesy** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 9:51 am

Pope has done exceptionally well between the sticks but his distribution is not as good as Tom Heatons, especially his kicking.
Needs to improve in this area which I am sure he will. He is definitely the best keeper in England squad on current form, however I doubt he will get a look in for next two friendlies.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:00 am

I wouldn't want either to go and I'll leave selection to SD.
If one was given PL and the other given Cups and Europe could it be enough to keep them both?

Jel · Post by **Jel** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:08 am

How about playing them both alternately? As in one in, one on the bench.

PaintYorkClaretnBlue · Post by **PaintYorkClaretnBlue** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:12 am

Jel wrote:How about playing them both alternately? As in one in, one on the bench.

No, the back four need to get used to the keeper behind them and what his strengths and weaknesses are.

kaptin1 · Post by **kaptin1** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:14 am

Both keepers are of a similar standard for me, albeit with different attributes. Pope is by far the bigger of the two and better on crosses and high balls into the box. Heaton is more of a natural organiser and has better distribution. Both are similar shot stoppers.

Pope would command a much higher transfer fee given his age. On the assumption that it will be difficult to keep both, I would be inclined to cash in on a Pope if a good offer comes along (noting Everton paid £25m for Pickford last year with similar experience) and keep Heaton.

We can then look to reinvest the money in our front line as it is scoring goals and not preventing them where we are still lacking.

Moorite · Post by **Moorite** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:14 am

Heaton for me is our captain and number 1. More experience and a better shot stopper.

Firthy · Post by **Firthy** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:15 am

When fit they are probably the two best English keepers at present. Both capable of playing for their country and I'm sure they'll both have ambitions in that direction.

If Heaton does get back to his best then one will go because neither will want to sit on the bench. I have a feeling it might Heaton purely based on age.

Jel · Post by **Jel** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:16 am

PaintYorkClaretnBlue wrote:No, the back four need to get used to the keeper behind them and what his strengths and weaknesses are.

I'm sure even a footballer can remember a week.
(Plus training)

Jakubs Tash · Post by **Jakubs Tash** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:17 am

First of all, there seems to be a lot of people with short memories; let’s not forget just how good a goalkeeper Tom Heaton is. Easily the best goalkeeper we have had in my lifetime.

Secondly, given the market, what values do people think both Heaton and Pope would command? It’s got to be pretty substantial, surely??!

cutsy123 · Post by **cutsy123** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:18 am

We cant let Pope go to a prem rival so for me he has to stay and develop. Hes prooved himself to be very valuable. How can he be dropped when heatons fit

kaptin1 · Post by **kaptin1** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:19 am

Jakubs Tash wrote:First of all, there seems to be a lot of people with short memories; let’s not forget just how good a goalkeeper Tom Heaton is. Easily the best goalkeeper we have had in my lifetime.

Secondly, given the market, what values do people think both Heaton and Pope would command? It’s got to be pretty substantial, surely??!

Pope £25m plus add ons

Heaton £15m

mdd2 · Post by **mdd2** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:20 am

The real unknown now is how well Heaton will be 1) in his head regarding his shoulder 2) on the ground when he bashes that shoulder repeatedly.
I noticed Krull was keeping goal for Brighton yesterday and seems over his dislocated shoulder from 2013 but he seems to be number 2 at Brighton now
For me if one had to go it would be Tom sadly

Dyched · Post by **Dyched** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:24 am

Heaton for me. Id doubt him being poached given his age and its up to us when he leaves or he’s he till he retires.

Let him go and keep Pope then we’d be without both within a year.

kaptin1 · Post by **kaptin1** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:25 am

Problem with letting Heaton go is that another good season from Pope will undoubtedly see him move on, thus leaving us needing to find a new first choice keeper.

If Pope goes and Heaton stays and has good season for us I doubt he would leave, so not giving us that headache and maintaining the continuity.

kaptin1 · Post by **kaptin1** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:26 am

Dyched wrote:Heaton for me. Id doubt him being poached given his age and its up to us when he leaves or he’s he till he retires.

Let him go and keep Pope then we’d be without both within a year.

Looks like we just made the same point at the same time ... haha!

Milltown1882 · Post by **Milltown1882** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:26 am

In a perfect world we’d keep both for me. I’d rather keep Pope if we had to keep one purely for age. It’s a nice sign of where we are now compared to dishing Mike Pollitt out on loan.

taio · Post by **taio** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:27 am

This will surely be Dyche's biggest dilemma in the near future as neither would be happy as a number 2. Can't see them both being here longer term. Both have different strengths but for me Heaton just about edges Pope. Pope is 6 years younger which has to be a consideration too.

IndigoLake · Post by **IndigoLake** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:28 am

kaptin1 wrote:Both keepers are of a similar standard for me, albeit with different attributes. Pope is by far the bigger of the two and better on crosses and high balls into the box. Heaton is more of a natural organiser and has better distribution. Both are similar shot stoppers.

Pope would command a much higher transfer fee given his age. On the assumption that it will be difficult to keep both, I would be inclined to cash in on a Pope if a good offer comes along (noting Everton paid £25m for Pickford last year with similar experience) and keep Heaton.

We can then look to reinvest the money in our front line as it is scoring goals and not preventing them where we are still lacking.

I'm inclined to agree with you. I like Pope but Heaton is our captain and likely still has several good seasons in him yet (he's 31). If one had to go, I'd cash in on Pope and simply bring another up-and-coming keeper for Mercer to work with.

cricketfieldclarets · Post by **cricketfieldclarets** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:29 am

This is clearly a madeup **** stirring story by a journo putting 2 and 2 together. Dont know how anyone cant see that.

Dyche is the best man manager in the league. Theres no way he would tell Heaton he can go with Pope so in demand. Nor would he have told Pope he can go not knowing how Heatons shoulder is. Both will be contracted to Burnley next season.

Lowbankclaret · Post by **Lowbankclaret** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:33 am

kaptin1 wrote:Pope £25m plus add ons

Heaton £15m

Too cheap, need to add at least 10 million to those prices.

Blackrod · Post by **Blackrod** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:35 am

Very difficult decision. Tom won't dislodge Pope until form changes or injury. This decision might have to be made at the end of next season or next Jan window not at the end of this.

taio · Post by **taio** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:37 am

To be fair to Nixon I suppose he's just recognising that it will become an issue and it will be a big dilemma for Dyche.

bodge · Post by **bodge** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:38 am

I'm sure it will have not gone unnoticed the job that Billy Mercer is doing as well, his reputation will now be at its peak and rightly so.

We need to keep hold of him.

BennyD · Post by **BennyD** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:39 am

If Butland is worth £40m to Liverpool, Tom should be worth something similar. However, I’m hoping he will stay, as strength in depth in the keeper position is worth its weight in diamond encrusted gold.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:40 am

Kaptin has it at post 24. Sell Tom and in 12 months, with another great season behind him, the big boys will be sniffing around Nick Pope. If he goes we are scratting around for a new man.
Keep them both to their contracts and put the decision of for 12 months. By then we'll know how Toms shoulder is holding up.

taio · Post by **taio** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:48 am

piston broke wrote:Kaptin has it at post 24. Sell Tom and in 12 months, with another great season behind him, the big boys will be sniffing around Nick Pope. If he goes we are scratting around for a new man.
Keep them both to their contracts and put the decision of for 12 months. By then we'll know how Toms shoulder is holding up.

That sounds a simple and ideal solution from a supporter's perspective, but of course the club would have to consider broader factors, for example significant depreciation of the value of whichever one does not play. If we were to get in the Europa League there would of course be more opportunities for the second keeper to play.

mdd2 · Post by **mdd2** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:55 am

taio wrote:That sounds a simple and idea solution from a supporter's perspective, but of course the club would have to consider broader factors, for example significant depreciation of the value of whichever one does not play. If we were to get in the Europa League there would of course be more opportunities for the second keeper to play.

Only for two matches (being a glass half empty)

bfc1984 · Post by **bfc1984** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:57 am

Let’s be honest one will have to go both are too good to just play in the cup.They are not warming the bench at old Trafford,it’s still Burnley.Pope could be our no 1 for years to come and youth is on our side.Heaton as been the most outstanding our best no 1 in my time watching,but he will probably have to go to get the 1st team football he deserves and moving forward sign a young understudy.We would all love both but it just won’t work I doubt.

Holtyclaret · Post by **Holtyclaret** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:57 am

Journos putting an obvious 2 + 2 together.

I think pope is fully aware and comfortable with his position as number 2 to Tom, it’s why he was signed and like so many players recently he must be thrilled with the development his career in the short time he’s been with us.

It’s far from certain whether Tom will be the keeper he was but as club captain and senior pro it’s only right he returns to the first xi as soon as he’s confident to do so.

If it came to selling either, we’d get a lot more for pope so I’d sell him and buy whoever the championships best young keeper is in the summer. UTC

Bigvince · Post by **Bigvince** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 10:58 am

Some players never fully recover from a dislocated shoulder, look at Brian Robson, how many times did he dislocate his shoulder. If we cash in on Pope, and Tom has a reoccurrence of his injury after a couple months into next season it would be a massive blow for the team.
I think we’ve got two fantastic keepers, but for me if one were to leave it would have to be Tom. I’m just glad it’s not my choice
UTC

taio · Post by **taio** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 11:01 am

Holtyclaret wrote:I think pope is fully aware and comfortable with his position as number 2 to Tom, it’s why he was signed and like so many players recently he must be thrilled with the development his career in the short time he’s been with us.

Do you really think after the season Pope has had and now is recent call-up to the England squad will mean he'd be comfortable to return to number 2? I don't. Seems like wishful thinking.

Firthy · Post by **Firthy** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 11:03 am

Holtyclaret wrote:Journos putting an obvious 2 + 2 together.

I think pope is fully aware and comfortable with his position as number 2 to Tom, it’s why he was signed and like so many players recently he must be thrilled with the development his career in the short time he’s been with us.

It’s far from certain whether Tom will be the keeper he was but as club captain and senior pro it’s only right he returns to the first xi as soon as he’s confident to do so.

If it came to selling either, we’d get a lot more for pope so I’d sell him and buy whoever the championships best young keeper is in the summer. UTC

The problem is if Heaton gets back to his best. Pope will no longer be happy as number 2 now he's been picked in an England squad. Both potential England keepers and I can't see either being happy as number 2.

MDWat · Post by **MDWat** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 11:05 am

Pope plays Europa League, League Cup and FA Cup. Heaton the league.

IndigoLake · Post by **IndigoLake** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 11:09 am

MDWat wrote:Pope plays Europa League, League Cup and FA Cup. Heaton the league.

Then he won't get many games based on our cup record under Dyche

karatekid · Post by **karatekid** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 11:11 am

Keep both. You need quality in every position, pushing each other to perform better each week. Goalkeeping position is no different to any other, you should never assume you are an automatic choice. Competition for places is essential and players should relish the challenge.

Reecey1987 · Post by **Reecey1987** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 11:15 am

claretandy wrote:He signed a new one in November, when he signed from Charlton as a young understudy you could see him being on about 10k a week so the new deal in November might have been 20k a week, so doubling it could see him up with our highest earners.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football ... ssion=true" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; says he his on 15 k a week now which wont be that much . I bet kevin long will be on more

fidelcastro · Post by **fidelcastro** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 11:17 am

MDWat wrote:Pope plays Europa League, League Cup and FA Cup. Heaton the league.

Europa League?

Getting a little ahead of yourself, me thinks.

claretandy · Post by **claretandy** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 11:19 am

Reecey1987 wrote:https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football ... ssion=true says he his on 15 k a week now which wont be that much . I bet kevin long will be on more

"around 15k a week" so purely guesswork, just like my guesswork.

bfcmartin · Post by **bfcmartin** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 11:22 am

It's a bit like the time when Jerry Payton came in for Alan Stevenson in the mid 70's. Payton played well when he came in only to be sold to Fulham at the end of the season. I'll always remember those two penalty saves he made against Man city off Tueart

NottsClaret · Post by **NottsClaret** » Sun Mar 18, 2018 11:29 am

Lowbankclaret wrote:Too cheap, need to add at least 10 million to those prices.

I’m not sure anyone will be paying that much for Heaton until he gets the chance to prove he’s over that injury.

A keeper over 30 constantly landing on a shoulder he’s dislocated doesn’t bode well.