Yes, a Nick Pope versus Martin Dubravka article.

I have been quite vocal in my criticism of our Slovakian shot stopper.

I know much of that sentiment has its roots in Dubravka's inexplicable decision to join Man U on loan in the summer of 2022, along with the bizarre circumstances that then led to him winning the League Cup at his employers expense the following February.

I make no apologies for bearing a grudge to this day. It still rankles.

When Marton Dubravka first signed on loan for Newcastle United in January 2018, he made an instant impression, keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win on his debut, ironically against the side he would later defect to, saving brilliantly from Michael Carrick in the dying embers to seal victory.

Signed permanently in summer 2018 for around PS4 million, I considered Dubravka to be a great acquisition, in an era of penny pinching and short-sightedness of epic proportions under our former owner. Put it this way, Dubravka was a very decent player in what was, let's face it, a quite poor team.

Fast forward to December 2023 and Nick Pope's awful injury against Man U.

Having battered the Mancs for the majority of the game, we only led by a solitary Anthony Gordon strike. Once Pope was replaced in the 86th minute, Man United smelled blood and looked the more likely. In fact, the other Antony on the pitch that evening (the one from Osasco, Brazil) did put the ball past Dubravka, but it was rather fortuitously ruled offside and we got over the line.

Over the next six league games, Martin Dubravka conceded 14 goals, compared to the 14 goals Nick Pope had conceded in the 14 league games he'd played in since the start of the season. In his next half dozen league games, Dubravka conceded even more, picking the ball out of the net on a further 16 occasions.

The contrast between the two keepers is stark.

Nick Pope is good at coming for crosses, makes big saves and sweeps up, venturing outside of the eighteen yard box more often than the Slovakian. Dubravka, meanwhile, is more of a shot-stopper, plays very deep and is often reluctant to move beyond the six-yard box, never mind the full expanse of the eighteen yard box.

It is therefore no coincidence that with Dubravka between the sticks, Eddie Howe's team has been much more susceptible to teams playing on the counter-attack, with the gap between the back four and the keeper becoming more pronounced, there being a lot more room for opponents to play passes or run into.

Much has been made of Dan Burn's lack of pace whilst playing at left-back earlier in the season, but it strikes me that BDB has been more exposed by not having Nick Pope in goal, given Pope's tendency to sweep in behind.

I think the confidence amongst the back four has also declined since Pope's injury and there's no doubt in my mind that is because of the greater uncertainty that having Dubravka behind them provides. Our defenders have been used to Pope coming out with conviction; that is not the way Dubravka plays.

I'd perhaps go further and argue that in attempting to adapt his style, whilst Dubravka has perhaps ventured from the goal line more often, his decision-making is more unpredictable and that has contributed to his goals against tally. We saw that in a few games earlier in the season when conceding at Spurs (Richarlison) and home and away against Nottingham Forest, when Chris Wood had joy at St James' Park and Tony Elanga notched at the City Ground.

It is true that Dubravka has conceded fewer goals since the beginning of March, something that has coincided with our late season surge and push for European qualification.

However, whilst I'm not sure whether Nick Pope will be back for the season's finale, I'm sincerely hoping he is, because that is surely our best shot at securing sixth place. HTL.