Why Joe Hart Is Manchester City’s Number One

Last season was a mixed bag for Joe Hart. Despite riding the wave of a third-straight Golden Glove Award in the Premier League, he was the recipient of widespread criticism for his mistake-laden start to the season, both for Manchester City and England.

Following a string of games out to rest, he returned every bit as effective as ever. Returning to his throne in front of the Etihad goal, Hart won both a Capital One Cup and a Premier League winner’s medal (albeit watching from the bench to make way for resident League Cup keeper Costel Pantilimon in the former).

Despite his impressive trophy pull last season, a disappointing number of football fans will remember him for his poor form at the beginning of the year, raising the question of Hart’s ability to be first choice for club or country. Although it can be conceded that Hart has a bit of a problem with decision-making, the root of the majority of his high-profile errors; at 27 Hart still has room for improvement.

However, Manuel Pellegrini’s recent acquisition of Malaga first-choice stopper Willy Caballero (who has been vocal about his intentions of challenging for the #1 spot) will see Hart challenged for his spot for the first time since Shay Given left the club.

Aug 2, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Manchester City goalie Joe Hart (1) looks on against Olympiakos during the second half at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

I don’t believe Caballero’s inclusion in the squad should keep Hart up at night, as he has the edge in almost every category.

Although Caballero enjoyed a good few seasons at Malaga, his years at the Boquerones were only some of many he spent in Spain (nine to be exact), while Hart’s career has been spent exclusively in the English leagues, with the majority of his professional run coming in the Premier League.

Say what you will about outfield players struggling to adjust to the physicality of the Premier League, but with goalkeepers it’s just the same. Remember David de Gea’s first season at United? He spent most of his time in goal looking like a frightened animal, and playing largely the same for long periods.

Although Caballero has experience on his side, if his Community Shield debut and pre-season run outs are anything to go by, it’ll take the Argetinian a while to shake off that look of hidden uncertainty every time he gets near the ball. Hart, despite his sometimes poor decision-making, is always confident in his decisions and more often than not makes vital saves when City’s defence is breached. With seven seasons under his belt, Hart is a Premier League keeper.

Seven seasons in what is arguably the world’s best league (at the age of 27) is no mean feat, yet Hart is still five years Caballero’s junior. While goalkeepers are recognised as a ‘ripens with age’ sort of position, giving Caballero a good few years to ply his trade in England, Joe Hart has already caught up with his first-team rival in terms of appearances at the top level.

Although keepers can play into their late thirties, they often follow the old adage of ‘You can’t teach old dogs new tricks’ once they reach their peak. Hart, at 27, is relatively young for a starting Premier League keeper, and should he sort out his decision making with the coaches at City, he can prove himself to be one of the best in the league once again.

Caballero, on the other hand, will have a tougher task on his hands to improve to the point where he will be playing regularly, due to his age.

Following Costel Pantilimon’s move away from the Etihad, Willy Caballero has joined in hope of fighting for Joe Hart’s place in the side.

The most obvious case for Hart’s place as #1 is the fact that he is English. There’s no hiding from the fact that City have a bigger English problem than Mauricio Pochettino, with only two English players with more than 10 Premier League appearances: Joe Hart and James Milner.

With Milner content to fight for his place in the side with Jesus Navas and to an extent Samir Nasri, Joe Hart was last season City’s only English regular. This season should be the same. After all, City are champions of the English Premier League, so it’d be nice to have at least one English player starting every game.

During Caballero’s first games in goal for Manchester City, he’s looked ever so slightly out of place in the team, particularly in the Capital One Cup thrashing, where it was obvious he was a new player. He looked unsure in his decisions and showed a reluctance to control his below-par back line.

Although some may argue goalkeepers are effectively ‘lone wolves’ with little responsibility to the side but to stop the ball going into the net, Joe Hart’s costly lapse of communication with Nastasic against Chelsea is living proof that keepers need to be as immersed in the team dynamic as any player. Hart is a ‘true blue’ with a tight relationship with the players around him; this important distinction between him and his Argentinian rival means a world of difference.

Hart is City’s undisputed #1 – on his day he’s one of the best in Europe, and has been an important part of City’s title and cup-winning sides for years…Pellegrini should be wary of even thinking about changing that.