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Forget David de Gea and Manuel Neuer... Man City's Joe Hart is the world's best keeper
By Adrian Durham for MailOnline 08:13, 19 May 2015, updated 14:22, 19 May 2015 Remember the start of last season when Manchester City lost 3-2 at Cardiff and everyone thought Joe Hart was useless? If you were one of those people then feel suitably embarrassed. If you think I'm praising Hart just because of a truly world-class save at Swansea on Sunday then feel suitably embarrassed again. This season Hart has been one of the few City players to be totally solid and sometimes spectacular in a campaign of underachievement for Manuel Pellegrini's side. Sure that save on Sunday was brilliant – it's a contender for the best in the Premier League era, and had it been a more meaningful game at a crucial moment we'd be ranking it up there with Gordon Banks' wonder stop from Pele in 1970. It was that good. Not enough has been said about Hart this season. The form of David de Gea across the city has been so good it's overshadowed England's No 1. That's unfair on Hart: he has been a regular and he's been consistent for club and country, more than can be said for De Gea. And here's where we come to the big problem facing so many pundits, fans and football judges who focus on the Premier League. They are reluctant to put England players on a pedestal. Ever since a Scotsman – former Football Association chief executive Adam Crozier – coined the dreaded expression the 'Golden Generation', people have been reluctant to praise players from England. In fact it probably goes back years before that blunder. Sport Share this article Forget David de Gea and Manuel Neuer... Man City's Joe Hart is the world's best keeper By Adrian Durham for MailOnline 08:13, 19 May 2015, updated 14:22, 19 May 2015 +13 106 comments Latest From MailOnline 'He's declaring war against 1.5 billion Muslims': Trump will recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital TODAY despite international... Mother, 32, ‘dies of a broken heart’ just weeks after her 10-year-old son and grandfather passed away within 24 hours of each... You should feel embarrassed if you thought Joe Hart was useless Hart has been one of the few Manchester City players to be totally solid He has been consistent for club and country and is the best in the world Compare Hart's Nou Camp performance with Manuel Neuer's There's more chance of the Queen being sacked than Wenger Liverpool have massive issues now Gerrard is leaving Remember the start of last season when Manchester City lost 3-2 at Cardiff and everyone thought Joe Hart was useless? If you were one of those people then feel suitably embarrassed. If you think I'm praising Hart just because of a truly world-class save at Swansea on Sunday then feel suitably embarrassed again. Joe Hart warms up prior to Sunday's Premier League match between Manchester City and Swansea +13 Joe Hart warms up prior to Sunday's Premier League match between Manchester City and Swansea Hart dives to his left to make a stunning save from Federico Fernandez's header on Sunday +13 Hart dives to his left to make a stunning save from Federico Fernandez's header on Sunday This season Hart has been one of the few City players to be totally solid and sometimes spectacular in a campaign of underachievement for Manuel Pellegrini's side. Sure that save on Sunday was brilliant – it's a contender for the best in the Premier League era, and had it been a more meaningful game at a crucial moment we'd be ranking it up there with Gordon Banks' wonder stop from Pele in 1970. It was that good. Not enough has been said about Hart this season. The form of David de Gea across the city has been so good it's overshadowed England's No 1. Share this article RELATED ARTICLES James Milner offered massive £135,000-a-week deal to stay at Manchester City as Liverpool and Arsenal maintain interest Joe Hart's save against Swansea was superb, but how does it compare to the best stops in the Premier League this season? Joe Hart might've made THAT 'beautiful' save but he still needs to improve, says Manuel Pellegrini after Swansea win Swansea 2-4 Manchester City: Yaya Toure scores twice as Manuel Pellegrini's side tighten grip on second place in Premier League That's unfair on Hart: he has been a regular and he's been consistent for club and country, more than can be said for De Gea. And here's where we come to the big problem facing so many pundits, fans and football judges who focus on the Premier League. They are reluctant to put England players on a pedestal. Ever since a Scotsman – former Football Association chief executive Adam Crozier – coined the dreaded expression the 'Golden Generation', people have been reluctant to praise players from England. In fact it probably goes back years before that blunder. Pellegrini last year: Hart is the best 'keeper in England Loaded: 0%Progress: 0%0:00 Play Current Time 0:00 / Duration Time 1:25 Fullscreen Hart gets down low to his left to keep out the shot from Swansea's Bafetimbi Gomis +13 Hart gets down low to his left to keep out the shot from Swansea's Bafetimbi Gomis Manchester City goalkeeper Hart gets a hand to Nathan Dyer's shot on goal to tip it wide of the post +13 Manchester City goalkeeper Hart gets a hand to Nathan Dyer's shot on goal to tip it wide of the post I feel like one of the few who regularly heaps praise on some truly gifted English players – Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Jack Wilshere and Raheem Sterling. I'm regularly told they've done nothing for their country. The logic that dictates to some people that if you've never won a World Cup or European Championship with England then you can't be talented is lost on me. Even worse: when any of these players have a bad game, it is highlighted far more than their quality moments. We overpraise foreign players and undervalue our own here in England. And Hart is a victim of that lack of self-belief among the English people. There is something deep in the psyche of the English that means they cannot bring themselves to praise achievers and success stories from their own shores. Here's my view of Hart: he's the best keeper in the world and he has been for some time. Manuel Neuer is brilliant, but he's crowned the best because he comes out of his area a lot. He's a sweeper keeper. It's not a bad thing, but being different doesn't make you the best. Share this article Forget David de Gea and Manuel Neuer... Man City's Joe Hart is the world's best keeper By Adrian Durham for MailOnline 08:13, 19 May 2015, updated 14:22, 19 May 2015 +13 106 comments Latest From MailOnline 'He's declaring war against 1.5 billion Muslims': Trump will recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital TODAY despite international... Mother, 32, ‘dies of a broken heart’ just weeks after her 10-year-old son and grandfather passed away within 24 hours of each... You should feel embarrassed if you thought Joe Hart was useless Hart has been one of the few Manchester City players to be totally solid He has been consistent for club and country and is the best in the world Compare Hart's Nou Camp performance with Manuel Neuer's There's more chance of the Queen being sacked than Wenger Liverpool have massive issues now Gerrard is leaving Remember the start of last season when Manchester City lost 3-2 at Cardiff and everyone thought Joe Hart was useless? If you were one of those people then feel suitably embarrassed. If you think I'm praising Hart just because of a truly world-class save at Swansea on Sunday then feel suitably embarrassed again. Joe Hart warms up prior to Sunday's Premier League match between Manchester City and Swansea +13 Joe Hart warms up prior to Sunday's Premier League match between Manchester City and Swansea Hart dives to his left to make a stunning save from Federico Fernandez's header on Sunday +13 Hart dives to his left to make a stunning save from Federico Fernandez's header on Sunday This season Hart has been one of the few City players to be totally solid and sometimes spectacular in a campaign of underachievement for Manuel Pellegrini's side. Sure that save on Sunday was brilliant – it's a contender for the best in the Premier League era, and had it been a more meaningful game at a crucial moment we'd be ranking it up there with Gordon Banks' wonder stop from Pele in 1970. It was that good. Not enough has been said about Hart this season. The form of David de Gea across the city has been so good it's overshadowed England's No 1. Share this article RELATED ARTICLES James Milner offered massive £135,000-a-week deal to stay at Manchester City as Liverpool and Arsenal maintain interest Joe Hart's save against Swansea was superb, but how does it compare to the best stops in the Premier League this season? Joe Hart might've made THAT 'beautiful' save but he still needs to improve, says Manuel Pellegrini after Swansea win Swansea 2-4 Manchester City: Yaya Toure scores twice as Manuel Pellegrini's side tighten grip on second place in Premier League That's unfair on Hart: he has been a regular and he's been consistent for club and country, more than can be said for De Gea. And here's where we come to the big problem facing so many pundits, fans and football judges who focus on the Premier League. They are reluctant to put England players on a pedestal. Ever since a Scotsman – former Football Association chief executive Adam Crozier – coined the dreaded expression the 'Golden Generation', people have been reluctant to praise players from England. In fact it probably goes back years before that blunder. Pellegrini last year: Hart is the best 'keeper in England Loaded: 0%Progress: 0%0:00 Play Current Time 0:00 / Duration Time 1:25 Fullscreen Hart gets down low to his left to keep out the shot from Swansea's Bafetimbi Gomis +13 Hart gets down low to his left to keep out the shot from Swansea's Bafetimbi Gomis Manchester City goalkeeper Hart gets a hand to Nathan Dyer's shot on goal to tip it wide of the post +13 Manchester City goalkeeper Hart gets a hand to Nathan Dyer's shot on goal to tip it wide of the post I feel like one of the few who regularly heaps praise on some truly gifted English players – Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Jack Wilshere and Raheem Sterling. I'm regularly told they've done nothing for their country. The logic that dictates to some people that if you've never won a World Cup or European Championship with England then you can't be talented is lost on me. Even worse: when any of these players have a bad game, it is highlighted far more than their quality moments. We overpraise foreign players and undervalue our own here in England. And Hart is a victim of that lack of self-belief among the English people. There is something deep in the psyche of the English that means they cannot bring themselves to praise achievers and success stories from their own shores. Here's my view of Hart: he's the best keeper in the world and he has been for some time. Manuel Neuer is brilliant, but he's crowned the best because he comes out of his area a lot. He's a sweeper keeper. It's not a bad thing, but being different doesn't make you the best. Hart has been consistent for club and country but is a victim of a lack of self-belief among English people +13 Hart has been consistent for club and country but is a victim of a lack of self-belief among English people Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer looks dejected after conceding a goal at the Nou Camp last week +13 Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer looks dejected after conceding a goal at the Nou Camp last week Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea has impressed at Manchester United this season +13 Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea has impressed at Manchester United this season Neuer plays with better players under a better manager for both club and country. Hart is up against it from the start because he is tested more than Neuer in most of his games. Compare Neuer's performance at the Nou Camp this season with Hart's. No contest. The Englishman wins. And look at the goals Neuer conceded in that game in Barcelona – beaten at his near post, failing to make himself big for the second, and beaten too easily one-on-one for the third. Yes, Lionel Messi was brilliant, of course. But had Hart conceded those goals he would have been absolutely demolished by the critics. Instead, Hart went to Barcelona and pulled off some truly incredible stops. Saves at his near post, one-on-ones, making himself big on more than one occasion and then on top of that a truly stunning scramble across his goal to keep Messi's effort out when it looked impossible for him to get there. All the saves Neuer should have made when his moment came. It wasn't a pressure semi-final, but it was a performance from the keeper that stopped Manchester City being totally and utterly humiliated and brutalised that night. It's all about opinions and I've never doubted Hart's ability. I laughed in the face of those who started questioning whether he should still be England's No 1. He's light years ahead of his challengers for that spot. For me, taking club AND country performances into account, Hart has been the best keeper in the world this season. |
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