Manchester City Fan View: City fans shouldn’t be suffering a broken Hart

Bravo, Bravo: Pep finds short-term goalkeeping solution

When Pep Guardiola was officially unveiled as the new Manchester City manager, the majority of the City faithful accepted that there would be unpopular casualties and unknown additions.

But it seems that one of the old guard that they are not prepared to sacrifice is goalkeeper Joe Hart, whose future is in doubt following the apparently imminent arrival of Claudio Bravo from Barcelona.

Despite his initial claims that he would have to adapt his tactics to his new squad, it actually looks like Guardiola is adapting his new squad to his tactics. It also appears that, despite their acceptance of such measures, City fans are reluctant to allow some of their long-serving heroes depart. So long as they continue to demonstrate their quality and enthusiasm for the club.

Long established as City’s and England’s no.1, Hart has rarely featured thus far under Pep Guardiola and was surprisingly dropped for Willy Caballero in the opening game of the new Premier League campaign against Sunderland last weekend. He was also omitted in City’s Champions League qualifier against Romanian outfit Steaua Bucharest.

Now it appears Guardiola has found his man; after rebuffing Barca’s demand that they pay Marc-André ter Stegen’s €80 million release clause, they have instead opted to acquire the services of his teammate Claudio Bravo in a deal which is reported to be worth around £14 million.

In pre-season, Guardiola stated that he would allow his players to choose their own captain in the absence of injured skipper Vincent Kompany. Against Sunderland, though, Guardiola decided on his own to select David Silva as his captain ‘because he has been here the longest’.

An interesting statement, not least because Hart is the longest-serving player currently at the club, not to mention that his name was one of few seriously touted with the armband by fans before the season started, yet he has not been shown the same level of respect as his Spanish teammate.

The departure of some of the long-serving stars – the likes of Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri – as well as sub-par performing newcomers such as Eliaquim Mangala and Wilfried Bony, are unlikely to be mourned. At least not to the same extent as individuals like Hart.

Pablo Zabaleta looked certain to be on his way to Roma this summer and City fans, acknowledging his recent decline, resigned themselves to his exit. The reason they were so cautious to accept it, however, is his raging passion for the club and his determination to succeed.

Hart’s current predicament is along the same lines; whilst his form is far from fantastic, he certainly bleeds blue and is passionate about the Blues. He has the right ingredients to return to his purple patch but whether Guardiola gives him the opportunity to do so is another matter entirely.

City fans are perhaps reluctant to see Hart depart because they know his qualities. His shot-stopping quality is undoubted. His reflexes admirable. Unfortunately the aspects of his performance which are lacking the most are those which Guardiola values most highly in his goalkeeper.

In a system which looks to maximise possession, thereby minimising opposition shots on goal, the man between the posts is actually going to spend less time between the posts. The sweeper-keeper role demands excellent distribution, confidence in possession, good reading of the game, positioning and the ability to play with the ball at his feet.

Of course, if those were the only qualities that Guardiola held in esteemed value, then David Silva would probably be the ideal candidate to play in net. That is obviously not the case. Shot-stopping, reflexes and so on are other important facets, but none are as vital to Guardiola than the ability to recycle possession, maintaining the tempo and rhythm of play.

Perhaps what is most surprising about the situation is that Guardiola has opted to utilise Caballero instead of Hart due to the latter’s apparent inability to distribute the ball efficiently, yet his Argentine counterpart has passed straight to opposition players on numerous occasions already this season.

Guardiola’s tenures at previous clubs have often seen him blessed with talent in that department; Victor Valdes and Manuel Neuer at Barcelona and Bayern Munich respectively have been two of the greatest goalkeepers of their respective eras.

Over the last three seasons in league appearances, Hart has an average of 22 passes per 90 minutes, compared to Neuer’s 33; 562 short passes to 2077; 49% pass accuracy to 85%; and 75% of passes long to just 34%.

Being able to play the ‘Pep way’ is vital and the Spanish coach will not be afraid to get rid of anyone. It is a shame that Hart does not have the intrinsic elements to his game which Guardiola craves. Once a goalkeeper is set in their ways, it is perhaps the hardest position in which to re-mould tendencies.

It seems that the stopper has not truly impressed his new coach with his performance in training, but City fans fear that removing Hart from the squad will also remove heart from the squad.