At the beginning of the summer, all the signs meant that Nick Pope and James Trafford are the big battle between the sticks about who would be Newcastle United the next season.
Of course the plans have changed and the arrival of Aaron Ramsdale on loan from Southampton, in addition to the departure of Martin Dubravka to Burnley, offers an interesting new dynamic for our stacked goalkeeper situation.
Ramsdale has already expressed his excitement about what he has said is a “great, exciting year for the football club”, and plays with the former World Cup teammate Pope.
And now the 33-year-old has responded the next season to the intense keeper struggle for the duo and it seems to be a bit more reserved about the coming season compared to Ramsdale.
Speaking with The Chronicle, Pope has praised the club for signing Ramsdale as a welcome improvement of the team, as a positive character: two characteristics of a classic signing by Eddie Howe.
“I know that Aaron from England, he is a good boy and a good keeper. He comes in to improve the team. He is a good character, and the last few years that is what we have been built on, that is our team. So we welcome him as we do with all the good players. He will get a good initiation.”
However, Pope has rejected every idea that Ramsdale has joined the club to use it as the choice of How no.1 “Let’s hope!”
“With keepers there is always someone who plays and someone who doesn’t do that. I just look forward to working with Aaron again.”
When Nick Pope arrived at Tyneside three years ago, he practically walked in the starting goalkeeper Slot prior to the then incumbent Dubravka. And even when he was injured earlier last season, he was introduced into the starting point at his recovery, despite Dubravka’s excellent form that was used for him.
So when it comes to a certified favorite from Eddie Howe, Nick Pope is definitely on the list. However, could he also suffer the same fate from Dubravka with another how -favorite that comes in the form of Ramsdale?
Ramsdale was impressive in the 2-2 pre-season draw against Espanyol, in particular a fine in the first half. And for an intense match against a more Fanie-Aston Villa-side on the opening day, it would be no surprise to see that Howe Swift Tellers is part of his strategy, something he would definitely go to Ramsdale.
However, Pope is a big game artist. And Howe is notoriously robust when it comes to making changes to his starting XI and general team. It would be an even bigger surprise if Pope did not start in Villa Park on August 16.
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