Pope vs Heaton

[cricketfieldclarets]

Although I suspect one will be used in league and the other in cups and europe anyway, Heaton could have a very good opportunity to reclaim the shirt at the expense of Popes good luck.

The Europa League starts midway through the world cup so Pope will either still be out there or given extra time off ss a result of the world cup. So expect Heaton to start.

Will he keep the shirt? Should he?

I actually think we will keep both. And happy to have both. But got a feeling Heaton will make number 1 his own again.

[KRBFC]

I'd have Pope ahead of Heaton simply because he dominates his own penalty box unlike Heaton.

[starting_11]

More swayed towards Pope at the moment.

Probably because it's been a long time since Heaton last played but Pope seems to do everything Tom can and a bit more.

[Dyched]

It’s a tough one. I think we’ll have both at the start of the season.

If either of them get dropped to the bench, is it that bad?? Pope from relegation to league 1 to Europa league in a year or 2, Tom from relegation to league 1 to the Europa league after an incredible journey with us.

[ElectroClaret]

Simply continue where we left off last season, didn't work out too badly, did it?

So Pope carries on, for me. Up to Heaton to push him.

[South West Claret.]

I’m just happy to see how things pan happy in the knowledge that we have two very good goal keepers.

[Billy Balfour]

I think one of them will be going, unfortunately. I can't see either one of them wanting to play second fiddle when it comes to our EPL games.

[starting_11]

It would seem that way but it depends who comes knocking.

We're currently best of the rest and no one above us is gonna come in for either of them

[tiger76]

Depends on how much progress we make in Europe and the other cup competitions,it's unlikely but potentially we could have 60+ matches next season
and of course international call-up's.The added caveat is nobody knows how Tom's comeback will pan out,he could break down again,if possible we should at least keep both keepers till January.

[KateR]

personally will be happily surprised if both are with us still at the beginning of the season or closure of the transfer window.

I like both but would continue with NP at No1 for the start if they are, think he has earned it and TH needs to push him hard

Am also surprised at some of the GK's mention in the press in regard to joining PL Clubs and ours are not but I like it

[South West Claret.]

Calm down everyone they ain’t going anywhere just yet.

[Down_Rover]

Hope we can keep our options open by keeping both until at least January.

If Heaton is fit I would sell Pope. We will get more money and last season just might turn out to be a flash in the pan. Or, if he maintains his form we may face a fight to keep him every window.

tom is more likely to be loyal in the longer term and I have a feeling will be Englands number one come Euro 2020

[FactualFrank]

I’m just happy to see how things pan happy in the knowledge that we have two very good goalkeepers.

This. I can't say I'd mind which of the two stayed, if one was to leave. There are benefits in keeping either.

[whiffa]

If I was forced to choose, and they were both 100% Dyche fit and ready... I'd go for Heaton.

But as above, we're in a great position with great competition.

[LoveCurryPies]

I am happy with both players. Long may they stay!

[d1sc0]

Remember when this debate was Jenson v Grant. I think I'll just leave it to Sean and just be grateful

[Vegas Claret]

Mirror reporting Pope to Liverpool for 18 million (zero chance at that price)

[MyRightFoot]

Make it £25 mill and as sad as I’d see to watch him leave, it still leaves us with a world class keeper in Heaton and I’d hope a bigger pot of cash for Dyche to go and get the targets he wants. We have grown massively as a club, but for a club like ours it is still huge money.

[houseboy]

It would seem that way but it depends who comes knocking.

We're currently best of the rest and no one above us is gonna come in for either of them

Don't agree with that entirely, Liverpool badly need a goalkeeper and we have two better than anything they have.

[houseboy]

In the proper scheme of things it is Pope's position to lose. He has been nothing short of brilliant for us since he came in and only a serious loss of form should see Heaton back. I hope we can keep them both but it is hard to see either sitting on the bench. Heaton is/was magnificent but we have to see what the injury has done to his confidence and the possibility of any recurrence. I would give him games in the Europa and League cups then see where we are from there. It's almost a sad position to be in as a manager, goalkeeping is the only position in football where this problem really occurs but that is the way of things.

[starting_11]

Don't agree with that entirely, Liverpool badly need a goalkeeper and we have two better than anything they have.

Ageing potentially knackered keeper and a new blood who's had a great season but is still a little unproven

Or spend £Xm on anyone you want.



Not personally knowing Jurgen Klopp, I could still have a guess which way he'd go.

I could be wrong though.

[summitclaret]

Alternate it. Simples.

[ElectroClaret]

BBC...Arsenal to confirm the signing of Bernd Leno,
goalkeeper from Bayer Leverkusen today. (£22 million)

So no bid from them for ours.

[wilks_bfc]

And West Ham are close to signing Fabianski so they are out of the question

[houseboy]

Alternate it. Simples.

That would be the obvious solution but there are a couple of difficulties. The first is consistency, the back four need to know how the keeper plays and rely on him and to keep changing that would possibly cause some uncertainty. They are both great keepers but they do have different strengths and ways of playing. The second and possibly biggest problem is we all know that Dyche is NOT a squad rotation manager (thank goodness) and it would be against his nature to keep changing players to keep them happy.

Either way if we manage to keep them both (hopefully) it will be a very interesting season. One thing is for sure, whoever is the current keeper will definitely make every effort to be on top of his game.

[Murger]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football ... e-12740332" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TomtheClaret]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football ... e-12740332

If Butland worth £30m Pope Worth £40m plus. Butland always looked a bit injury prone.


New song for Pope "Nick Pope was a milkman, he wore a milkmans hat. He came along to Burnley and won a England a cap. He saves them with his left hand, he saves them with his right. And when we win In Europe, we will sing this song all night!" Repeat until bored or CFS go to fast!

[ElectroClaret]

Unfortunately, I feel the Liverpool link with Pope won't go away.
We saw in the Champ League final how badly they need a keeper, but
£18million shouldn't even move the needle. Worth a lot more at going prices.

Hope he stays, though.

[houseboy]

Unfortunately, I feel the Liverpool link with Pope won't go away.
We saw in the Champ League final how badly they need a keeper, but
£18million shouldn't even move the needle. Worth a lot more at going prices.

Hope he stays, though.

I'm not worried as yet about the Liverpool thing as my colleague (a dyed in the wool Red) says Liverpool are being linked with just about every decent goalkeeper around right now. They have also apparently done background checks on Kasper Schmeichel among others. So it seems to be paper talk at the moment.

[TomtheClaret]

A gobby scouser on facebook, claiming Liverpool trying to hijack move for Buffon. I thought he had signed for PSG?

Another day another GK linked (Rumoured) Hopefully he is the suns source.

[claretblue]

Dean Ashton (on Sky News) has just referred to

....Tom Pope!

easy mistake to make I suppose!

[cutsy123]

Pope

[Devils_Advocate]

I doubt we could pull it off but after his brilliant World Cup we should look to sell and get good money for Heaton and Pope and bring in Pickford who is an improvement on both

[dsr]

I doubt we could pull it off but after his brilliant World Cup we should look to sell and get good money for Heaton and Pope and bring in Pickford who is an improvement on both

Devil's advocates are supposed to put forward intelligent, rational arguments against received wisdom.

[Dyched]

I doubt we could pull it off but after his brilliant World Cup we should look to sell and get good money for Heaton and Pope and bring in Pickford who is an improvement on both

There’s more chance of melting down Pope and Heaton and making one colossal goalkeeper

[tiger76]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football ... e-12907215 doesn't look like Tom or Nick are going to Anfield
in this window anyway.