goal.com
Many City fans are loathe to the idea of selling the England No.1 in the short-term future, and with good reason, but the club's interest in a rival keeper is to be expected.
Much like Champagne Supernova by Oasis, it is a song that never made much sense, but many Manchester City fans like it anyway. “Don’t sell Joe Hart” is one of many ditties you will hear on match day at the Etihad Stadium, or on the supposedly quiet coaches of trains on the way to far-flung English towns.
Indeed, after one away match at the turn of the year, one older City fan admonished a younger supporter for singing it. “Stupid song, that,” he pointed out. “They’re never gonna sell him.”
“It’s just a song, ennit,” came the reply. Perhaps it is no longer just a song, more a public appeal.
Don’t sell Joe Hart
Super Joey Hart
I just don't think you understand
If you sell Joe Hart
Super Joey Hart
You'll have a f***ing riot on your hands.
Hart has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, if not Europe, and, as both fans and haters of the song will attest, he has been one of the key figures in City’s modern era. He is England’s No.1 and as firm a fan favourite as any player.
But is he the right man for Guardiola? The coach once described his Barcelona as “Valdes y 10 más” – Victor Valdes and 10 others. Valdes, before his serious knee injury and subsequent Old Trafford nightmare, was the ideal Guardiola keeper. He could essentially play as a third centre-back, the sweeper that enabled Barcelona’s defence to play high up the pitch, minimising space for the opposition and ensuring the midfield and forwards could press more effectively.
Manuel Neuer’s role at Bayern Munich is clearly similar. Although the two are excellent with the ball at their feet, it is a misconception that Guardiola’s goalkeepers must merely be good in possession. They are a crucial member of the team. If they are not tactically perfect, if they cannot play high up the pitch, the whole system breaks down.
With City pursuing their transfer targets early, it is clear the incoming manager will leave nothing to chance. Guardiola has a very clear idea of how things should be done and he will not hamstring his own chances of success by sticking with a player a player that does not fit, no matter how popular he is.
So does Hart fit? Frans Hoek, perhaps the global authority on goalkeepers, played a key role in the emergence of Valdes at Barcelona and also tutored the club’s goalkeepers at every age level in the late 1990s. He hypothesises that there are two types of keeper: Reaction (R-Type) and Anticipation (A-Type). He summarised each for Soccer Coaching International: “The R-Type, also known as a line goalie, is an absolute winner. He will go to any extreme in order to win, is physically strong and has a high muscle tone.
“This type might not be overly athletic, but is very strong and has quick reactions… he is more like a block of concrete with a lot of muscle strength and great charisma.”
He did not intend to do so, but Hoek, who left City’s academy in awe after a seminar in 2013, has perfectly described Hart. The A-type goalkeeper is described thus: “Usually winners, but in a lesse form than R-Type. Generally speaking they are more athletic, but with less muscle tone. They are also less charismatic.
“From an organisational perspective they are very good at reading the game. They have vision, which makes them more capable of coaching before the situation.” It is the profile that best fits Guardiola’s most notable shot-stoppers, even if Neuer’s charisma and physique a more aligned to R-Types.
Hoek continued: “A-Type keepers could be easily used as field players, as they are able to function as the 11th player. This means they love a backpass.”
In a 2013 interview, Hoek added that: “Valdes’ work at Barcelona consists 80 per cent of the time in constructing play, while the other 20% of the time he does the normal work of a goalkeeper.”
Hoek and Guardiola have never worked together but they share similar philosophies, and the Bayern coach no doubt appreciated the Dutchman’s work with Valdes at Camp Nou.
Hart, then, may have to reinvent himself. No ‘type’ of goalkeeper is better than the other – few would suggest Hart is not excellent – but there will be issues if the wrong type is used in the wrong system.
The 28-year-old has already rode out issues with one new manager; during Manuel Pellegrini’s first season in charge he was banished to the bench for six weeks after the Chilean became increasingly frustrated with a number of errors. A better - or perhaps more suitable - goalkeeper than Costel Pantilimon may have made the No.1 spot his own. Willy Caballero, one of the best keepers in Spain at the time and very good on the ball, was supposed to exert more pressure on Hart.
Responding to the challenge, Hart has improved markedly over the past two years, almost completely eliminating the kind of mistakes that so concerned Pellegrini. He is no lummox with the ball at his feet, but it is an area that will need to be improved.
So, if Ter Stegen can be prised from Barca, the England man will find himself under pressure once again. The German has been used as the Catalans’ cup goalkeeper – although unlike most back-ups, that means winning the Champions League – since he joined from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2014, but there is no doubt that he fits the Guardiola (and Hoek) bill.
Exceedingly comfortable with the ball at his feet, no matter how high up the pitch, he helps his teams play on the front foot, dominating possession, dominating the space, and pressing aggressively. Never mind defending from the front, this is attacking from the back.
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