Former Premier League striker Darren Bent believes Nick Pope got lucky during Newcastle United’s 2-1 win over Wolves, telling talkSPORT (13 March, 5pm) that the goalkeeper is simply ‘bad’ with the ball at his feet.
When it comes to pure shot-stopping, there is not many better. Unfortunately for Pope, a modern-day goalkeeper is expected to do more than keep the ball out the net.
In the era of Ederson, Manuel Neuer and co, many top-level managers usually demand a decent level of technical ability from their ‘number one’. And Pope’s limitations in the distribution department were exposed once again as Wolves came to town on Sunday, the former Burnley ace somehow avoiding a penalty and another red card after miscontrolling the ball and bundling over Raul Jimenez inside the box.
Bent, the former England international, believes Pope had fortune on his side on another weekend of refereeing controversy.
“He’s bad with his feet,” Bent argues. “His first-touch is appalling.”
Nick Pope gets lucky as Newcastle United beat Wolves
Newcastle are reportedly eyeing a summer move for Porto glovesman Diogo Costa. If Pope is the antithesis of the ‘modern goalkeeper’, then Costa is the opposite. The Portugal star is the only shot-stopper in Champions League history to save a penalty and produce an assist in the same game.
Talk about getting yourself a guy who can do both.
“(Pope) is incredibly lucky. I cannot believe they’ve not sent (referee) Andy Madley to the (VAR) monitor,” pundit Jamie Redknapp tells Sky Sports. “Nick Pope just takes (Jimenez) out with his right shoulder. Watch his right shoulder. He body checks him, there’s no doubt it’s a foul.’
“Because he’s not tried to play the ball, it would then be a penalty and a red card. And a four-game ban.
“That’s how contentious and important this decision is. We’ve got such an advantage with VAR, just go and have a look at it. Go and have a look at it and make up your own mind because otherwise you’re just guessing.”
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