“Newcastle Legend’s SAVAGE 8-Word Takedown Completely EXPOSES Eddie Howe’s Nick Pope Blunder – You Won’t Believe What He Just Said!”

Glenn Hoddle did not hold back in his assessment on TNT Sports, summing up Nick Pope’s decisive mistake with a cutting eight-word comment: “His mind was still in the dressing room.”

The former England manager was analysing the Newcastle goalkeeper’s disastrous misjudgement that handed Marseille a lifeline.

Pope rushed nearly 30 yards out of his box to chase down a ball he was never likely to reach.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang beat him to it with ease, rounded the stranded goalkeeper and somehow found the net from a tight angle. Newcastle’s advantage evaporated almost instantly.

Moments later, Aubameyang got across Fabian Schär to meet Timothy Weah’s delivery, guiding the cross beyond Pope to complete Marseille’s turnaround.

The 1-0 lead given to United by Harvey Barnes’ excellent first-half strike was undone in a matter of minutes, and the Magpies returned from the south of France with a damaging 2-1 defeat.

Hoddle’s pointed critique could just as easily have applied to Pope’s previous two away performances.

Against West Ham, he allowed Lucas Paquetá’s weak long-range attempt to slip past him in another 3-1 loss.

Then, at Brentford, he came for a long throw that was never his to claim, gifting Kevin Schade a simple finish and contributing to yet another 3-1 defeat. Three consecutive away matches. Three costly errors.

For a team desperate to end its miserable run on the road, such repeated mistakes inevitably force difficult decisions.

I have long defended Pope, recognising his ability to make spectacular saves look routine and his commanding presence in the penalty area.

At his best, he is among the Premier League’s most reliable shot-stoppers.

But with Aaron Ramsdale waiting on the bench—a high-quality, proven Premier League goalkeeper—another major error in a third straight away game can’t be overlooked.

When the basics that previously defined Pope’s reliability start to slip, his known weaknesses in distribution and ball control become even more glaring. Newcastle cannot afford further setbacks.

With a trip to Everton approaching, another defeat caused by a goalkeeping lapse could be extremely hard for the squad, the manager, and Pope himself to recover from.

Sometimes, a change becomes unavoidable. For Newcastle’s goalkeeping situation, that moment has arrived.

Ramsdale has had to show patience as he waits for his Premier League chance. On Merseyside this weekend, that patience deserves to finally be rewarded.