Credit where credit is due. From the sky highlights it would seem that pope had a great game today. If Henderson has thrown his toys out of the pram then it would do no harm for pope to have an extended run in the team. I have criticised pope before so I hold my hands up when he proves me wrong. Well done Nicholas.
Pope had an pretty good game, he's still young and he can hopefully improve.
I'm not sure he'll ever be a great championship keeper because he plays like a continental keeper and punches when he should be looking to catch. And sometimes his punches go wrong.
Too much maybe to expect him to command the area and direct the defence yet.
He's fine in a one-on-one. His kicking seems good. His catching is very suspect. But our defence as a whole struggles with crosses and so did Henderson, so it's not going to get any worse.
The thing I noticed most, was how much he has bulked up, since he last played. His top half is much bigger.
Was just about to say the same thing. Watched him closely in the warm up and he seems much more assured than Henderson. Don't understand what goes wrong in games. Seeing a steady improvement though, both yesterday and against Colchester I thought he was decent. Every time a cross comes in, I still have my heart in my mouth though.
I think he would benefit with a sports psychologist (shrink) and also some dancing, yoga, or something else that could help his balance. He always looks SO awkward to me and almost frightened when the ball comes to him, especially when it is a long range shot and he has time to think about it. It looks sometimes he sees 2or 3 balls and goes for the wrong one! It is a real shame though I, like many on CL REALLY REALLY want him to do well and then he goes and throws a couple of 'dollys' in !?!?
Big opportunity this week for him, be interesting to see who starts against Poland
With Pickford missing along with San Marino, and to an extent Albania coming up Southgate could effectively play all three Goalkeepers
Johnstone: San Marino Henderson: Albania Pope: Poland
Unfortunately there is little point of even having a Goalkeeper this evening
Its not like Pope will be able to show what he can do
It's his kicking that will be under scrutiny today. I think everyone including Southgate knows that Pope is a more reliable keeper than Pickford, but Southgate wants someone who can pass out well and start moves. Pope will probably have a good few opportunities to be on the ball given that we'll have a lot of control so hopefully he'll show that he can play out and nail his place down
Nice little story from the Bromley Addicks meeting.
I asked Chris Powell about Nick and he laughed "Are you trying to get me to reveal the team, Ben?" Obviously he took my hint but more importantly he said that they have a tradition that when a player makes his debut they are formally presented with their shirt and there is a little speech made.
Southgate asked SCP to make the presentation and speech for Pope and he spoke about the journey he has made, his loans, etc. Said that he had signed him for Charlton (he credited Ben Roberts and Phil Chapple here).
How things work out! Not meant to be poking fun at the below-cited users or anything, but I had 70 new posts to read on this thread, and these were the first three that came up.
So glad for Pope. He's not a world class keeper by any stretch, but neither are any of the other England keepers and I think he's actually the best of the bunch. Pickford is bang average
Comments
I'm not sure he'll ever be a great championship keeper because he plays like a continental keeper and punches when he should be looking to catch. And sometimes his punches go wrong.
Too much maybe to expect him to command the area and direct the defence yet.
Recently everyone (including Henderson) have just stood their motionless whilst the corner has been delivered
The thing I noticed most, was how much he has bulked up, since he last played. His top half is much bigger.
It is a real shame though I, like many on CL REALLY REALLY want him to do well and then he goes and throws a couple of 'dollys' in !?!?
On comes Nick Pope in nets. Looks nervous.
With Pickford missing along with San Marino, and to an extent Albania coming up Southgate could effectively play all three Goalkeepers
Johnstone: San Marino
Henderson: Albania
Pope: Poland
Unfortunately there is little point of even having a Goalkeeper this evening
Its not like Pope will be able to show what he can do
I asked Chris Powell about Nick and he laughed "Are you trying to get me to reveal the team, Ben?" Obviously he took my hint but more importantly he said that they have a tradition that when a player makes his debut they are formally presented with their shirt and there is a little speech made.
Southgate asked SCP to make the presentation and speech for Pope and he spoke about the journey he has made, his loans, etc. Said that he had signed him for Charlton (he credited Ben Roberts and Phil Chapple here).
I don't think England have named the team yet
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Mercer_(footballer,_born_1969)