When Pablo Zabaeta left Manchester City last season it was handled wonderfully by the club. He got the send-off he rightly deserved and it all seemed very fitting.
Sadly circumstance sometimes dictates that it isn’t always possible and for some fans that leaves a sense of bitterness. This is possibly the case with Joe Hart who looks to be on his way to West Ham.
Like Zabaleta ,Hart was a cornerstone of City’s success and while the much-maligned keeper has had his critics, one thing is unequivocal – he was one of their most important players during their most successful period.
Of course, he had his moments like all goalkeepers but his contribution should be praised in the same way the Argentinian full back’s was.
In big games Hart made big saves for City. Often these would come after long periods of inactivity and there are scores of examples of how vital his contribution was.
His performance against Spurs in a 0-0 draw in 2010 is one of the greatest goalkeeping performances the Premier League has ever witnessed and in both of City’s title wins he was majestic.
In 2011-12 he was imperious for City with stunning performances against Arsenal at home (1-0 win) and Liverpool (3-0 win).
And in 2013-14 he came back from being dropped by Manuel Pellegrini to incredible effect. After a high profile error against Chelsea in October Hart missed the Christmas period but returned in incredible form as City pipped Liverpool to the title.
He has won the golden glove four times in England (three seasons consecutively) and twice been in the PFA team of the year.
And just ask Lionel Messi how good he can be after the meeting between City and Barcelona in the Champions League last 16 in 2015.
His season on loan in Turin was mixed but it was not nearly the disaster some of our journalists would have you believe. It is very easy to watch highlights of an error and slate a goalkeeper without context.
Anybody who watched enough of Torino’s games last season would tell you that while he did indeed make a few errors he was also playing in front of the worst defence in the league (perhaps barring Pescara).
In February this year, Torino played away at Fiorentina. At half time the Viola were leading Torino 2-0. What that doesn’t tell you is how vital Hart was to his team coming away with a point.
Without exaggeration, Fiorentina should have been at least five goals up at half time. However thanks to Hart their non-existent defence were spared and Belotti rescued a draw. That was one of many times Hart kept Torino in games. They ended up finishing ninth with a positive goal difference – hardly the disaster made sections of the English media.
I hope Hart has a good season for West Ham and gets his career back on track. Like all England goalkeepers he comes in for unprecedented levels of criticism and while some of it has been justified in recent years to claim he is anything other than a top class goalkeeper is ludicrous.
Good luck Joe - you’ll always be a City legend.
