Alan Shearer rips into ‘stupid’ Newcastle star, claims Eddie Howe has ‘big decision to make’
Alan Shearer has been critical of Nick Pope for his poor Champions League performance and insisted that Eddie Howe has a huge call to make in terms of dropping him this weekend.
Newcastle fans have been critical of Nick Pope’s performances so far in this campaign, and the uncertainty around him in-between the sticks has only increased after what transpired in their 2-1 loss to Marseille in midweek.
The England international kept the hosts out in the first period, but undid his side’s hard work mere seconds after half-time as he rushed out of his goal to try to close Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang down.
There was nowhere near enough time to do so and the Gabon striker took the ball wide before finishing into an empty net, while Pope also finished the game with just five accurate passes of 13 attempted.
Eddie Howe has Aaron Ramsdale waiting in the wings for his chance to stake a claim all season, and Newcastle fans have called for Pope to be dropped against Everton this weekend with Alan Shearer now weighing in with his verdict.
Shearer criticises Pope as Ramsdale waits for Newcastle chance
Ramsdale has only made three appearances so far this season, with two EFL Cup starts and one Premier League cameo as Pope was injured late on against Brentford on 9 November.
His quality is undoubted from his time at Arsenal, and Magpies legend Shearer has hinted at Howe needing to choose Ramsdale over Pope against Everton while slamming the latter for his Champions League showing.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast on Friday (28 November), he said: “Another error from Nick Pope, that’s not the first this season.
“He’s got a big decision to make now, this weekend, Eddie (Howe), because Pope has done three or four mistakes that have cost Newcastle…stupid errors again.”
What Howe has said about dropping Pope for Ramsdale
Pope has been a safe pair of hands for Newcastle over the last few seasons that they have risen to compete at the top of the Premier League, but his form has taken a real hit so far this term.
As Shearer alluded to, the mistake against Marseille was not his first this season, after he allowed Lucas Paqueta’s shot to squeeze in when facing West Ham, was beaten in the air twice for two Brentford goals and also allowed Gabriel to score late on for Arsenal at St James’ Park as he failed to claim a high cross.
Howe was asked about the potential of rotating his keepers when his side play Everton on Saturday (29 November) in his pre-match press conference, as he replied: “Changing a goalkeeper is an option of course but it is a big decision to make. It is something for me to consider.
“All options are on the table. I need to think long and hard about who I pick and I will try and do that on merit. I think Nick is vastly experienced and a very level character. He is very relaxed and absorbs it all.
“Of course I discuss things with all my players but Nick is a top class professional and an outstanding goalkeeper and he has made a number of top class saves for us this season.“