Big Joe, Pope and Tonali

[ex_pat_magpie]

Big Joe, Pope and Tonali will be like having three new free signings when they become available, considering how long they have been out and how much the team have missed them.

[Jammy89]

You have to question how many more points just having one of them in the team would have meant this season.

With Pope, it could be 5 or 6 I reckon.

[Ragatino]

You have to question how many more points just having one of them in the team would have meant this season.

With Pope, it could be 5 or 6 I reckon.

When did we lose Pope?

Was it around December? First match I see Dubz in goal was the 1-3 loss at home to Forest.
Not saying Pope would have won us that match but maybe a draw?
1-0 lose away to Luton - could have also been a draw.

The 2-3 to City De Burne turned the game. Dunno if Pope would have been able to swing that one but it's possible.

Bournemouth at home 2-2 - Defo Pope could have made that a 2-1 or 2-0 win.

Luton at SJP 4-4 again you'd expect Pope to do better for 1 or 2 of those goals turning and other draw into 3 points.

More recently Chelsea and the Everton matches would have seen us get positive results with Pop

So I recon your estimate of 5-6 points is very conservative Jamjam me old China!

My speculation is that had we had all 3 fit for 75-80% of the season I recon we'd be 18-21 points better off. Allowing for rotation of other players, higher levels of performance and intensity.

The season is about momentum and we had been desperately lacking in consistency yet still pulled off some great victories and surprise results despite all the unavailable players.

We're in sniffing difference from 6th.

I don't see Villa, ManUre or West Ham still being in the mix had they experienced the same level of absentees.

[Tutfoster1892]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say we get a new number 1 GK next season

[Ragatino]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say we get a new number 1 GK next season

I definitely think there is an argument for it. Pope's distribution during a period of the season before his shoulder popped was shocking.

However, is it a position that is critical to making a top 4 challenge next season?

When the first choice back 5 are fit and playing consistently we are one of the best defensive units in the league.

Our bigger issue(s) has been breaking teams who sit back, defend deep down and scorings goals.

If the scouts can unearth an Allison, Ederson style youngster with those kinds of development levels for around £15m that would be great. I think the problem is we're looking at that lad from Arsenal, £50mil. He isn't £50m better than Pope.

Who'd be your choice for the club to bring in Tuts?

[Nufcian]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say we get a new number 1 GK next season

I’d say it is something to build up too, but think there’s 2 reasons why we won’t:

I think it is more urgent to replace other players I would prefer a RW (if Minteh comes into the fold then I’d not be asking someone so raw to be the main player for that spot), I’d be surprised if we don’t look to bring in a striker (Toney’s reduced fee can’t have been missed, and I can see benefits for him and Tonali having someone to speak with/support each other), we clearly need a centre half, and I am not sure if Howe is settled on a left back yet other than defaulting to Burn… so not sure how much we have, and Pope & Dubs are probably after that in the pecking order of money to spend on.

Other reason is there aren’t that many top top keepers out there… Ramsay isn’t that much of a step up from Pope and to bring in a real upgrade would probably a) cost too much at this stage for any 1 player b) be impossible without CL football on offer.

I’m kinda hoping that once Pope’s shoulder passed a certain point, but before he was ready to start using his hands, that he worked on both receiving the ball on the ground and distributing the ball.

[Zippity]

Aye, I'd be surprised if we bought a first choice 'keeper. The way ffp, even in its new guise, restricts us, improving the team is about targeting those areas that will have an immediate impact and, for me, that will be RW, striker and maybe a LB.. Cover at CB would be next and possibly a midfielder but I don't think we'll spend on a goalie.

[Tutfoster1892]

I definitely think there is an argument for it. Pope's distribution during a period of the season before his shoulder popped was shocking.

However, is it a position that is critical to making a top 4 challenge next season?

When the first choice back 5 are fit and playing consistently we are one of the best defensive units in the league.

Our bigger issue(s) has been breaking teams who sit back, defend deep down and scorings goals.

If the scouts can unearth an Allison, Ederson style youngster with those kinds of development levels for around £15m that would be great. I think the problem is we're looking at that lad from Arsenal, £50mil. He isn't £50m better than Pope.

Who'd be your choice for the club to bring in Tuts?

I'd love Ramsdale, I do think he's better than Pope with his feet and a good shot stopper..

If we could structure a deal so its less than 50m I'd be happy and he is still young..

I just think this summer is so important and we cant have a summer like we had this winter.. I know we will spend but I'd happily take a 6 point deduction to go out and re*****ise the squad

[Nufcian]

I'd love Ramsdale, I do think he's better than Pope with his feet and a good shot stopper..

If we could structure a deal so its less than 50m I'd be happy and he is still young..

I just think this summer is so important and we cant have a summer like we had this winter.. I know we will spend but I'd happily take a 6 point deduction to go out and re*****ise the squad

Can’t see the gunners doing us any favours in terms of price, and Isak would very likely be raised as a possible swap for Ramsay and cash/players.

I agree he’s better with his feet, but still think there are other positions that need investment before we look to improve on Pope.

[Jammy89]

I think that we'll start looking but I don't think it'll be this summer, unless there is a great keeper that suddenly comes avaliable for a much lower price than expected. . . however, if that happens they'll be a fair few clubs looking at him.

It wouldn't suprise me to see Dubs go though and then we bring in either an experienced new No. 2 or a youngster to take over from Pope eventually in a couple of years.

As others have said, I think we have more immediate positions that need filling with an improvement.