The calls among Newcastle United fans to bring Aaron Ramsdale into the starting XI will only grow louder following Nick Pope’s major mistake against Marseille in the Champions League.
Pope’s bizarre decision to rush out and attempt to beat Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the ball cost Newcastle United greatly in the Champions League.
Indeed, Harvey Barnes had given Eddie Howe’s side the lead at the Stade Velodrome but the hosts struck back with two goals in four minutes just after half time.
Who was the most DISAPPOINTING Newcastle player vs Marseille?
Pope was largely at fault for Newcastle United’s 2-1 loss to Marseille but he wasn’t the only poor performer.
Here’s a look at the winners and losers.
- READ MORE: Anthony Gordon was every Newcastle United fan immediately after Nick Pope blunder vs Marseille
Losers
Nick Pope
It’s getting increasingly difficult to defend Pope. While he remains a fine shot stopper at times, he has made a series of mistakes this season.
To say Newcastle were cruising before his mistake would be too much but the fact it came so early in the second half did appear to shake the rest of the team.
This isn’t the first time with Pope. Though he is capable of making brilliant saves at times, his decision-making is looking increasingly erratic.
What was Nick Pope thinking?
Anthony Gordon
Gordon is another England international doing enough within the Newcastle United squad right now.
While it’s important to point out that he was playing out of position, it’s not as if Gordon has never played centre forward before.
Wasted a number of good chances and went missing for a lot of the game. With Harvey Barnes in such good form, it’s difficult to see how he returns to even his natural left-wing role any time soon.
Bruno Guimaraes
Bruno Guimaraes is one of Newcastle’s best midfielders in modern history but there’s an awkward conversation to be had.
He’s capable of brilliant performances at home against the big teams, as he proved against Manchester City.
However, and while this isn’t only limited to him, he does have a tendency to drop his levels away from home.
Sloppy on the ball in Marseille, it’s not the first time he’s followed up a heroic performance on Tyneside with a poor one on the road.
Winners
Aaron Ramsdale
Newcastle fans have been calling for Ramsdale to replace Pope in goal and perhaps they will soon be satisfied.
If Howe doesn’t pick Ramsdale soon amid Pope’s mistakes, questions are going to be asked. The time has come to make a change.
Harvey Barnes continues to prove he’s Newcastle’s best finisher by an absolute mile
Harvey Barnes
It feels like a long time ago now that Barnes put Newcastle into the lead before their second-half collapse.
Still, it was a well-taken goal and continued his fine run of form.
Barnes has often felt like a back-up to Gordon but those roles have now been reversed.
He’s currently Newcastle’s most dangerous forward player.
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