Newcastle United is having the best season in its recent history. March 3rd in the League With 39 points – his best result after 20 days in the ‘Premier Era’ – he is one step away from He played the League Cup Final for the first time in 47 years. In the first leg of the semi-final they beat Southampton 0-1 with a goal from Jolinton. It will be, if successful, His first major trophy since the Fairs Cup (1968-69).
Success depended, in large part, on the defensive solidity that Eddie Howe gave the “Magpie”. Newcastle is the major league team that has kept the most clean sheets (16) this season among all competitions. They are followed by Arsenal, Barcelona, City, United and Real Sociedad, all with 14.
An achievement unimaginable without the help of Nicholas David Pope (Soham, 1992). Source Burnley, signed this summer for 11.5 million euros, He leads the race to get the “Golden Glove” (Golden Glove) of the Prime Minister.Newcastle kept 12 clean sheets (in the league) thanks to assists from Trippier, Schr, Botman and Burn. In this section, it surpasses Arsenal (9), Manchester United (8) and City (8).
Pope played every minute (1800) f It offers the best stopping percentage (83.9%) of all premiers. Not just that. England international (10 matches / net five goals) It offers the third best PSxG-GA ratio in the Premier League. He blocked 3.3 “goals expected after a shot” according to this metric. Only Alisson (7.1) and Kepa (4.8) do better.
There are more. Bob collects 10 consecutive matches (901) without conceding goals. Along the way he had to make 20 stops. The last goal he conceded was scored by Roman Pirro on November 6 in the 89th minute against Southampton – Newcastle (1-4). To make matters worse, The only match he hasn’t played since Dubravka is in his place. It ended with the elimination of Newcastle from the FA Cup by Sheffield Wednesday (2-1).
“He is the best goalkeeper in the world.”
Pope again played a decisive role in the victory over Southampton in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. He drew two good hands, still at 0-0, to Che Adams. “He’s on an exceptional level. Whenever we need him, he comes,” says Eddie Howe.
Hence the wink given to him by his teammate Bruno Guimarães after the match: “I would like to thank Bob. He was a genius. He is the best goalkeeper in the world”. A theory that, at domestic level, is also supported by Southampton coach Nathan Jones: “There is no better goalkeeper in the Premier League. Bedie is the best in the league.”
Shay Given, who has defended Newcastle’s goal on 463 occasions, didn’t give the credit: “I had to double-check him when I saw he’d kept a clean sheet in his last 10 games. the best in the world? It is up for debate. He is in the best moment of his career.”
