Worth his own thread. It was clear when we got Pope from Bury that we'd picked up a gem. A special talent, he should have been nurtured as a future Charlton goalie in the Kiely/Bolder/Johns tradition. Despite being highly rated by the coaching staff he was sold for a paltry £1.2m as part of Roland's flawed philosophy of balancing the books via flogging an endless stream of talent from Steve Avory's assembly line. Burnley must be very grateful to Roland. Any idea who our goalie will be next season? Me neither.
Agree with all of that, although didn't we send Pope out on loan to Bury for experience ? I remember at a pre season fans meeting some years back, Powell saying the then unseen Pope had the potential to go to the very top. Yet another crass, short sighted money grabbing decision from this pair of tossers. Sad to see Jordan Cousins career going down the khazi at QPR too.
My first Charlton goalie was Graham Tutt, who I predicted would go all the way before his career was cut short by Tom Finney's late tackle. I think goalies like Bolder and Deano have a special place in the hearts of fans, as anyone can see from the Sam Bartram statue. Having a different loanee every year really grates, no disrespect to Amos or Rudd. Amos is probably similar in all-round ability to Phillips, yet the loanee gets the automatic nod. I want to see a proper Charlton goalie.
We signed Pope from BuryTown, the Suffolk-based non-league outfit. He was later loaned out to Bury FC of Gigg Lane.
Popey made a couple of good saves yesterday, even against a Palace attack with less potency than @baraettmattesvensson libido. Tom Heaton is said to be out until Xmas with a dislocated shoulder - lets all take the attitude of ITTV's Jeddez - and enjoy watching Charlton's young stars in the Premier League
Very happy for Pope - he had his detractors at the Valley, which probably goes down to the fact that some fans at Charlton demand instant success which is a bit bizarre at a club of our type. You would expect a rich owner to take the long view, ut that would be to confuse rich with intelligent. The reality is a good young player was sold too soon, and with no other idea tan to grab back some money as son as possible. Simply more grist for those who see the damage at the Valley as extensive and long term - something to ignore or brush under the carpet for the apologists. Though if any of them are looking at Amos as a mistake, the sale of Pope just shows that the damage is ongoing.
Interesting that the corresponding thread on ITTV congratulating Nick Pope on making his Premier League debut, got precisely one reply. They have got absolutely no interest over there in seeing our Academy players do well either at Charlton or more likely elsewhere.
But they are surely grateful to have seen him for a few games before he went to Burnley? And SR will be excited by the fact that his sale balanced the books for a few weeks?
Nick Pope doesn’t look out of place in the Premier League - another highly accomplished away game clean sheet today. What price a future England call up for “No Hope Pope” ?
Has No-Hope conceded a goal since he came into the team? The report seems to suggest he didn't have to make any great saves. This was often the case when I used to watch him in the U-21's because he would bellow non-stop at his defense to keep them in order. Took me a while to understand this.
Another asset flogged currently playing in the Premier League at the moment - Joe Gomez for Liverpool. Still, at least we have the consolation of watching his replacement Lewis Page. As they say over on ITTV, “Roland knows”....
Gomez has been unreal for Liverpool this season. A silly foul yesterday, but for couldn’t tell he’s fought back from a serious injury. £3.5M was an insult. ‘Pool fans know that.
Pope signs a new 3-year deal with Burnley, with an additional 12 month option. I can't see Phillips staying when his contract expires in the summer, so he'll go for free. Does that make it 5 ex-Charlton goalies playing at a higher level? Pope, Elliott, Randolph, Etheridge and Button, any more?