It is fair to say that it has not been the largest preseason for Eddie Howe and his Newcastle United side.
To go with the soap that has become the future of Alexander Isak, a side issue that the club could do well, with the start of the Premier League season, is now just a few weeks away.
Terrible preseason for Newcastle
Of more direct concern is probably the form – or rather, the lack thereof – that the team of the first team has so far demonstrated in their four pre -season matches.
Tiredness cannot be used as an excuse because the magpies are reassured while others have swallowed at the Club World Cup, but players have looked lethargic and disagreement in all four matches.
A 4-0 defeat by Celtic was followed by a 3-2 loss against Arsenal, an embarrassing 1-0 defeat against K-League stars and a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
With another Champions League campaign ahead, strengthening the team in all areas was a must this summer.
The 18-year-old Antonio Cordero is perhaps a player for the future instead of the present, and Anthony Elanga, while an exciting catch from Nottingham Forest, is the only other outfield player who has registered in St. James' Park so far.
The signing of Ramsdale is a healthy competition for Nick Pope
Perhaps the most interesting of the incoming movements is the conquest of the loan from Southampton -goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
That is because the English stop provides a healthy competition for Nick Pope, although his signing Martin Dubravka will relegate to the third choice.
Aaron Ramsdale Premier League affects 2024/25Opta due to statistics.
At the age of 36, the Slovak How's need will understand to bring in younger faces, with Ramsdale for nine years of Dubravka's junior and six years younger than the 33-year-old Pope.
The former Arsenal –man is only the second keeper in the entire history of Newcastle, Pope is the other, to represent the three lions, and despite a terrible campaign with the saints in 2024/25, he enjoys the chance to push his colleague completely and to make the decision about who the first choice is a difficult choice a difficult one.
Reunion with Howe is a pleasure for the former Arsenal -Man
“Working with the manager and his coaching staff was again a great attraction for me,” he said after put it on paper.
“They have already had a major influence on my career and the Gaffer changed me from a man in a professional football player in Bournemouth.
“He really showed me the ropes, so the manager and his coaching staff were a huge sales argument for me to get here.”
Since the 2020/21 season, during Sheffield United, Ramsdale played in 155 games in his own country, including for Arsenal and Southampton, and started them in all.
His 482 rescues at that time came with a regular savings percentage in the upper range of 60%, and even during 24/25 he kept that up with a show of 64.9%.
Pope is not ready yet
Pope played only five games in the same period, for Burnley and Newcastle, which made 479 Saves and a best Premier League saving percentage of 75.3% in 2020/21.
Although he is somewhat deposed in terms of saves, he remains in the reach of the Low 70s.
The 4505 passes from Ramsdale since 20/21 is almost 1000 more than Pope (3574), with a completion of 59.4% Pass (EPL only in 24/25) compared to the 65.3% of Pope.
Nick Pope Premier League passes 2024/25Opta by Statistics Performing Statistics
If it is believed that the first most of last season played in a relegation-threatened side, while Pope and his colleagues in Newcastle enjoy a much more successful campaign, it places the figures of Ramsdale in perspective.
Not only did he serve Howe with APLomb earlier, but until David Raya was preferred by Mikel Arteta, Ramsdale had also done a more than reasonable work for Arsenal.
Both keepers recommend their areas
Both are fairly commander in their box, with the 27-year-old who wins 33 out of 38 air challenges and 57 out of 68 in the area. Pope's 56 won from 66 Aerial and 77 of 97 elsewhere in the penalty box can be compared.
Statistics seem to support that the latter would rather with a punch instead of catching the ball, because 86 cleansings and 13 collected balls would confirm. Dropping the ball on 11 other occasions did not directly lead to a goal against it, but Howe would certainly like to see an improvement.
If there is a part of Ramsdale's game that also needs to be viewed urgently, it is with the number of times he has dropped the ball (25), while his 61 punches again indicate a preference to erase instead of staying safe.
Safety is certainly the name of the game unless there is no other option, where the managers are stable in recent seasons but not fantastic.
At least, how can it be reasonably certain that both keepers do not tend to bring the defenses they have worked behind panic, even if the preference to bump away seems a bit exaggerated.
World Cup obligation in England is waiting for …
Ultimately, in certain situations there must be a little more stability and sensible decision -making if both really want to establish themselves.
That competition for the starting berth will be Manna from heaven for Howe, who will encourage it on the training pitch. A healthy rivalry that has been at an international level in recent years must therefore be easily replicated, and that is a win-win for the manager.
With a world cup that also appears at the end of the coming season, it offers a great opportunity for the keeper to use a statement to be Jordan Pickford's Understudy of Thomas Tuchel's keeper of your choice, the Everton man was the Everton man to tackle a loss of shape or an early injury.
Jason Pettigroveflash score