Nick Pope has become the second signing of the summer for Newcastle United. Joining from relegated Burnley, the transfer is an example of Staveley and co. taking advantage of a club going down, and with a fee reported in the region of £10 million, it looks to be savvy business.
Heading into the off-season, Goalkeeper wouldn’t have been a priority position for many Newcastle fans. Since he made a Man of the Match debut vs. Man Utd, Martin Dubravka has enjoyed the status of a fan favourite among the supporters. However, after a couple of injury-plagued seasons – the Solvak international played just 39 matches – the club has decided to bring in Pope.
Although it will be billed as a competition between the two men, Pope will start his NUFC career as the first-choice Goalkeeper. He has a more well-rounded game than Dubravka and since the start of the 2019-20 season, has kept 35 clean sheets in the Premier League, only Ederson (55) and Alisson (43) have kept more.
To achieve that number at a team like Burnley is impressive. It should be said that the Clarets were always very tough to break down under Sean Dyche, but Pope was always one of their standout players.
Above is an overview of Pope’s key metrics over the last 12 months. Considering he was playing in a relegated team, he still managed to impress.
Shot Stopping
It is expected of any goalkeeper, but Pope is a very good shot-stopper. His save percentage of 73.6% puts him in the 82nd percentile when compared to other goalkeepers. Post-shot expected goals (PSxG) is a measure of the quality of shots a keeper faces. Per 90 minutes, the England international had a positive impact on his team, preventing 0.12 ‘goals’.
The above graphic shows a shot map of all the shots faced by Pope last season. He had a ‘goals saved above average’ (GSAA) of 6.23, conceding 41 actual goals from a total PSxG of 47.23. This shows the influence he has on his teams and the value he is adding to a defence.
Last season, Pope faced five penalties and saved none of them. That shouldn’t be too much of a concern. Pope has saved penalties in the past, including one at St James’ Park from Joselu. His large frame means that he does pose an intimidating figure from 12 yards. That will be an area of frustration for the 30-year-old last season.
While Dubravka’s GSAA per-90 (0.19) last season was a smidge better than Pope’s (0.16), there are other areas of Pope’s game – outlined by the radar comparison below – that make him the clear number 1 choice.
Source: Statsbomb
It clearly shows the more rounded game that Pope has. Although Dubravka slightly shades the shot-stopping stats, Pope is far more aggressive from his line. If Eddie Howe wants to play higher up the pitch, we need a keeper that is comfortable in making defensive actions off his line.
Dubravka has never been a goalkeeper that is comfortable coming from his line. This is shown by his aggressive distance being 15.96 (9th percentile), while Pope’s is 23.66 (98th percentile). The difference is stark and it underlines why Pope has been signed.
Sweeper Keeper (of sorts)
This is one of Pope’s biggest strengths and it might surprise many, as Burnley were seen as a team that set up in a deep block. However, the goalkeeper was very active in rushing out of his area should the situation require it. Here’s an explanation from Tifo of how Pope achieved this in such a defensive team 👇
Pope averaged 1.75 defensive actions outside his penalty area, which puts him in the 99th percentile among keepers. Here’s a graphic from April by the excellent Ninad Barbadikar about where Pope ranks across the entirety of Europe for sweeper keepers.
Last season, no goalkeeper managed more than Pope’s 63 actions outside his penalty area. Only Alisson Becker could match him and he is regarded as one of the finest sweeper keepers in world football. For comparison, Dubravka made nine defensive actions outside our area at an average of 0.34 per ninety minutes.
Coming for crosses
It should be expected considering his height, but Pope is excellent at relieving pressure on his team by claiming crosses into the area. Set pieces have been a problem for us as a defensive unit. Our new signing should help improve us in that area.
The comparison below shows how active Pope is compared to Dubravka when it comes to claiming crosses. The England international always looks to be positive, tries to catch at every opportunity and s among the league’s best in this area.
The differences between the two are stark. Dubravka doesn’t exude the same confidence as Pope and there are some areas that he never ventures into.
This may be a partial cause of our weaknesses against the aerial ball. We never look convincing when we come under an aerial avalanche, especially against teams with quality set-piece takers. The addition of Pope should lead to improvements when defending the aerial ball.
Source: wyscout
The above screenshot shows Pope’s starting position before a James Ward-Prowse corner. He is regarded as one of the best in the Premier League and it is clear Pope is looking to be positive as he is starting off his line.
Source: wyscout
He ends up keeping his eye on the ball and collecting it under pressure outside of his six-yard area. It is impressive decision-making from the 30-year-old, as he decided early that he wanted to come to claim the ball. Once he saw the flight of the corner was right to do that, he completed the action in an emphatic manner.
Source: wyscout
Later in the season against Wolves, he made a similar decision. The pressure on him meant that he couldn’t collect the ball. Although it would have been easy to panic, Pope opted to flick the ball over the onrushing attacker to concede a corner.
For a goalkeeper, it is important to be emphatic in your decision-making and react quickly when circumstances change. These two situations show that Pope is able to do both.
Can he play out with his feet?
This has been a popular discussion on social media. Pope is seen as a keeper that is limited with his distribution.
Source: fbref
A quick look at his distribution numbers above tells a very clear story. Pope has been playing in a team that wants him to kick the ball long. He launches 73.4% of his kicks, which puts him in the 99th percentile for goalkeepers.
It is concerning that he has only completed 37.7% of these, but they are tough to get right, as the percentages are in the favour of the defending team. A cause of his low completion rate is that his average pass length is 52.8 yards, in the 97th percentile.
He is trying to kick the ball as long as possible and it can be difficult to find accuracy when this is your aim.
Although Howe will want him to distribute in a different way, it would be too early to call us a team that plays out from the back. There is a mixed approach at the moment, with Callum Wilson liking the ball into the channel to chase. Pope will need to change his own style, but he should be capable of improving in that area.
Source: wyscout
The above graphic shows an area of concern. Pope is receiving the ball in plenty of space after his defender came under pressure. It should have been simple to clear his lines from here.
Source: wyscout
Instead, he takes a heavy touch and the situation quickly becomes a perilous one. Either, he has gifted Ryan Fraser with a tap-in, or he is at risk of fouling him.
Source: wyscout
In the end, he nearly does both, as Fraser gets the ball first. His shot hits the post, but as Pope has committed a foul, a penalty is awarded.
Source: wyscout
The above graphic shows exactly the type of situation that Pope will need to get better in. He receives the ball under little pressure and there is a chance to open his body. If he did this, the pass out to the right-back would be a relatively simple one to complete. Even if Allan Saint-Maximin closed the passing lane, a chipped ball would find him with ease.
I’m unsure if it was team instruction or a lack of confidence, but Pope chooses to kick the ball long. Possession is lost.
As we aren’t a team that always plays short, his lack of experience in this regard shouldn’t pose a big problem. However, there will be coaching on the training ground as they try to increase the options available to Pope. Sometimes, the launch ball forward will be the right one, but it won’t always be. He will need to evolve his distribution if he is to push on at St James’ Park.
Where does he fit in?
There will be a competition to start the season as number one. Martin Dubravka has too much credit in the bank to be pushed out to be number two with a fight.
However, it is clear that Pope will be given the chance to claim the number one shirt. He is a more complete goalkeeper. His ability to come off his line, in open play and at set-pieces should relieve a lot of pressure on the defence.
We have always been a team that struggles with aerial balls. Pope should immediately improve that part of our defensive game.
During the last five years, he has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League. Pope now has the chance to leave the restrictions he had at Burnley and there is an opportunity to develop into an even better keeper.
If he does, he could be our number one for many seasons to come. There is even a chance for him to become the starting goalkeeper for England.
As a piece of transfer business, it is a shrewd signing that strengthens our team.
