'No' - Eddie Howe hits back at Newcastle United suggestion everyone is thinking amid Nick Pope dilemma
Eddie Howe has a big selection dilemma on his hands when Newcastle United face Everton on Saturday.
Eddie Howe has insisted he has ‘no favourites’ at Newcastle United amid calls to rotate goalkeepers this weekend at Everton.
Nick Pope’s mistake in Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat at Marseille proved costly in the Champions League and has seen supporters and members of the media call for summer loan signing Aaron Ramsdale to come into the side as goalkeeper.
Injuries aside, Pope has started almost every Premier League match for Newcastle since arriving at the club. Naturally, goalkeepers experience less rotation than their outfield teammates, but Pope’s place in the side has come under increased scrutiny after a series of goal-costing errors.
A mis-timed rush out for the ball in Newcastle’s opening pre-season defeat at Celtic in July was perhaps an early warning sign of what was to come from Pope. After keeping four clean sheets in Newcastle’s first five league games, Pope was putting in a man-of-the-match performance against Arsenal at St James’ Park before his failed clearance led to a winner for The Gunners.
The 33-year-old was criticised for the goals conceded at West Ham United after The Magpies threw away an early lead to lose 3-1 at the London Stadium. Pope’s clash with Sven Botman led to Brentford’s equaliser in United’s previous Premier League away match as the side once again went from winning 1-0 to losing 3-1.
At Marseille, Newcastle led early once more only for Pope to gift the hosts an equaliser as he rushed out and was beaten to the ball by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 15 seconds into the second half.
Eddie Howe on supporters’ opinions
Amid the increased calls for Pope to drop out of the side at Everton, a quote from former Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan about giving the fans ‘what they want’ was put to Howe in his pre-match press conference.
"Of course I respect the supporters' opinions but ultimately I am paid to do the job,” Howe said. “Alone, I must wrestle with my thoughts.
"There is never a clear 100% to zero decision, there is always counter-thoughts and processes that I go through.
"It is never easy. You are dealing with good players on many different levels in different positions.
"So while I acknowledge the supporters' opinion, I don't know [what has been said, because I don't tend to go there.
"Because then my decision-making will be swayed, so I have to stay true to myself."
Ramsdale joined Newcastle from Southampton on loan in the summer with an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season for around £20million.
But the former Arsenal goalkeeper has been limited to just two Carabao Cup starts and an emergency substitute appearance in the Premier League so far.
When asked what Ramsdale must do to get into the side, Howe explained: “I am not going to go into hypothetical situations with Nick or Aaron.
“Aaron's role was to come in here and compete and fight and show what a good goalkeeper he is, train well and add to the group.
"We wanted him to bring good harmony and bring his energy, he is a really positive guy, all those things and he's done that."I have been really pleased with him. Nick is an outstanding goalkeeper too.
"So is Aaron, we have two great players for that position and it is something I have to choose."
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Eddie Howe reluctant to rotate the goalkeeper
Although he is under pressure to make a goalkeeper change, Howe made his reluctance to do so clear in his pre-match press conference.
"I'd say you don't necessarily naturally, or in my mind, think about rotating the goalkeeper,” he added. “I think it's a position of consistency."
"Changing a goalkeeper is possible, of course, but it's a big call to make because I think, depending on the style of goalkeeper, a lot changes and defenders in front get used to a style."
"So, that's something for me to consider. Certainly, rotating the goalkeeper position isn't something I want to do."
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Eddie Howe’s favourites?
Dan Burn has been named on the bench just four times since his Premier League debut for Newcastle, the fewest of any senior first-team player other than summer signings Nick Woltemade and the injured Yoane Wissa. Nick Pope is next having been named on the bench six times but each occasion came as he was recovering from a long-term injury absence.
Club captain Bruno Guimaraes has been named on the bench seven times in the Premier League since joining the club in January 2022, though the majority of those came shortly after his arrival.
But Howe hit back at any suggestion that he has ‘favourites’ or ‘first names on the teamsheet’.
He said: “There's no such thing [as first names on the teamsheet]. I think I'm falling into a trap with that one.
“I pick a team based on who I think gives us the best chance to win the game. That's it. There's no favourites, there's no loyalty as such. It's about trying to pick the team that I think can win and gives us the best chance of doing that. And if that's another player, then it will be another player.”