Should Hart be no1 for City next season?

Don't get me wrong, Joe has been immense for us so often over the years. He's stood between a real good beating a few times and has kept us in countless games with breathtaking saves.

But, he's not immune from the odd calamitous moment. He wasn't great at the Euros and has come in for some obvious stick.

His distribution is appalling.

He's not been under great pressure at City for his starting spot, even when Pants was here.

There's talk of Valdes, Claudio Bravo to either replace Joe or at least provide some stiffer competition.

I'd like an up and coming HG keeper as 3rd choice too.

He used to be under pressure when we had Shay Given and that turned him from being promising to knocking on the door of world class. And when he buggered up a couple of years ago and ended up watching a few games, it made him knuckle down and improve further. So on that basis I'd say yes, get in a number 2 (13?) who will give him pause for thought.

But let's not make it an empty threat. He needs to know he has to fight for his place, just like everyone else.

leopold wrote:He needs to know he has to fight for his place, just like everyone else.

Spot on.....even Sergio.

We all know Joe is great in one-on-one situations, one of the best in the world, however, in today's football, that's not enough and I think Pep will be rightly worried about his form in the Euros.

Keepers can't win. They can make fantastic saves and a forward can score a last minute winner and be the hero...however, make a mistake and it can cost you the game. Lately and last season, he was making more and more mistakes, which a keeper with his experience, shouldn't be making, yet, he was still making some exceptional saves and keeping us in games.

As Dawg said, his distribution is very poor, which for Pep, is a pre-requisite for his keepers.

He definitely needs competition next season.

I'm hoping Pep can help him, however, the goalkeeping coach is staying at City - and he's worked with him for the past 3 years, so if he hasn't improved him, I can't see him getting any better.

He doesn't need to get much better, just more consistent. I can't see his distribution improving though and that may well cost him.