Premier League 2011/12 GK Preview: Man City

Man City

1st Team Squad Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Stuart Taylor, Gunnar Nielsen

Overview: The plan for Man City was to have world-class players on the pitch and world-class players in reserve. That might (although I’m far from convinced) work when it comes to outfield players, but it’s virtually impossible when it comes to world-class goalkeepers. With Shay Given now at Villa Park, Joe Hart rules the roost. Initially I thought Roberto Mancini was currying favour with the City faithful at a rocky period in his tenure at Eastlands by opting for the (relatively) local lad as opposed to the Irishman. Throughout the season however, Hart proved he’s a hugely talented goalkeeper, although not one without his flaws. I still feel Given was hard done by in one sense – Mancini declared that it would be a straight fight between the two for the gloves, but steadfastly stood by him even when the mistakes came – but there can be little doubt that Joe Hart is on a trajectory that could eventually see him considered one of the world’s very best. He’s not there yet however and some sloppy errors served as a reminder of what needs to be done. Hart has amazing agility and reflexes and technically he’s very strong. What needs work is his judgement, decision-making and concentration, but that’s likely to be something that will come with increased Premier League, European and international experience.

The dream of having high-class experienced back-up ended with Given’s departure, but Stuart Taylor is a capable deputy. In the early part of the naughties, Taylor’s future looked immensely promising. He was part of the England underage set-up and was shaping up well to become David Seaman’s heir at Arsenal, but the arrival of Jens Lehmann pushed him down the pecking order and in truth his career has yet to recover. Since then, he’s largely been confined to being 3rd choice goalkeeper for a variety of clubs, but there was potential there many years ago and if called into action he could still perform to the required level. After that, Man City are looking at Gunnar Nielsen of the Faroe Islands. Brian Kerr certainly rates him very highly, but whether or not that’s enough to make that grade at Man City is another question. He’s since had a number of loan spells around Britain, but his contract runs out at the end of the season and at that point he’s likely to seek first team football elsewhere.

Worst case scenario: As with all young English goalkeepers, there’s this permanent fear that one poor performance – especially for the national team – will give the press carte blanche to savage Hart. It’s unlikely, but should Hart suffer a sustained dip in form, it will be interesting to see how he responds. He hasn’t had to endure a major slump in form since becoming a Premier League regular and the dark days have stayed away. Only an injury to Hart is likely to see Taylor getting much game time and even in that case, City will probably look for an emergency loan option.

Most likely outcome: Hart will again perform well, make the odd mistake but overall be a big positive for City. Barring injury, there should be little need for the back-up options.

Goalkeeper World Rankings

The Ministry’s Top Ten Goalkeepers In The World

Current (Former)
1. (1) Iker Casillas (Real Madrid and Spain)
2. (2) Petr Cech (Chelsea and Czech Rep.)
3. (3) Gigi Buffon (Juventus and Italy)
4. (4) Edwin Van Der Sar (Man Utd)
5. (5) Pepe Reina (Liverpool and Spain)
6. (7) Victor Valdes (Barcelona and Spain)
7. (6) Shay Given (Man City and Ireland)
8. (8) Hugo Lloris (Lyon and France)
9. (9) Joe Hart (Man City and England)
10. (-) David de Gea (Atletico Madrid)

For yet another month, there can be little debate about Iker Casillas at the top of our Goalkeeper World Rankings. Critics may point to a costly error at the San Siro that handed AC Milan a goal, but on that occasion, it was a handling error accentuated by over-aggression and over confidence. Anticipating a cross along the six yard box, he took a step off his line, only to be left virtually stranded as the pass was skewed towards goal. His other performances in the last month were largely flawless however and he has plenty going for him in the pro column. Not for the first time, it’s the quality of his saves rather than overwhelming quantity that makes him so impressive. With Real’s new Galacticos routinely dismantling opponents, his involvement is kept to a minimum, but time over time throughout November he came up trumps for his team when called upon. His concentration is supreme and a great addition to his obvious athleticism. His performance could be the decisive factor in the first Clasico of the season on Monday,

Chelsea’s swift reversal of fortune has been dramatic, but the sudden glut of balls Petr Cech is now picking out of his net are no reflection on his performances. Throughout the crisis, he has remained firm and in actual fact minimized the impact of the faltering defence in front of him.

In an interesting twitter exchange with Shaka Hislop, we learned the former Newcastle and West Ham goalkeeper thinks our #3, Gigi Buffon is “well past his best”. It seems a harsh assessment for a players we haven’t seen since the World Cup in June, but clearly there’s something in the Italians game that Hislop has identified as being a concern. By his own admission, the Trinidad and Tobago international said he felt a deterioration in his own performance at around the age of 36 or 37 whilst he was still at Upton Park. Although it feels like he’s been around since the advent of the wheel, Buffon doesn’t turn 33 until next January. That would give a few more years in his relative prime to defy the predictions of Hislop. For the time being at least, we’re giving him the benefit of the doubt and leaving him largely untouched in the World Rankings until he eventually returns from injury.

Elsewhere on the list, there is little change. Pepe Reina is performing well behind a misfiring Liverpool team and something similar can be said of the 40 year old Edwin van der Sar. Shay Given continues to slide based almost solely on his inability to usurp Joe Hart in the Man City team. Hart is doing little wrong and with Mancini struggling to keep fans onside, he may just stick with the residual benefit that comes from sticking with the Englishman.

David de Gea makes his first appearance on the World Rankings list after another strong month, taking the Spanish representation to 4. Atletico Madrid are being their typically inconsistent selves, but were it not for his performances, they’d be simply be their atypical woeful selves. As we’ve said many times in the past, De Gea looks to have the complete package and one thing that’s stood out over the last few games is his desire to take command in his penalty area. It’s standard for most experienced keepers, but for man who only a few weeks ago left his teenage years, it’s impressive. Igor Akineev is the goalie to drop out of the Top 10. A few weeks ago we expressed concern about his handling and over reliance on punching when Ireland hosted Russia in a Euro 2012 qualifier and our follow up scouting missions of CSKA Moscow games found this to be the norm rather than the exception. It’s probably rather telling that speculation linking him with a move to Europe’s top clubs has died down in recent months.

The keeper of the month award goes to Casillas with Cech and De Gea occupying the places. He’ll no doubt be delighted.

Latest Goalkeeper News

FastGlove
- After Robert Green aimed some choice gestures towards the journalistic corps at Upton Park last weekend, Hammers owner David Gold explains that there was “no malice” in it. We tend to disagree. Anyhoo, it would appear Green knows about as much about gesticulation as he does about holding onto a tamely struck shot. According to anthropologist, Desmond Morris, although the ‘Phallic Forearm Jerk’ is understood as an insult on the continent, in England it’s generally applied as “a crude form of sexual admiration”. We’re pretty sure that’s not what Green intended. Unless of course he has a more extreme plan for getting back into the journalists’ good books.

- In more Green related hilarity, Avram Grant says Green’s one good performance of the year is basically good enough to get him back into the national side. What’s more worrying for England is he’s not a million miles off the mark.

- Some good news in an otherwise bleak season for Shay Given. He avoids a driving ban for being nabbed doing 75mph in a 50mph zone. It’s not the the biggest speeding violation we’ve heard of involving a footballer, but it’s is substantially faster than the progress his career is making at present.

- In our now weekly piece entitled ‘which terrible goalkeeper is Arsene Wenger defending now?’ Arsene Wenger explains why blah, blah, … Fabianski …. rubbish … Almunia … worse .. To be honest, we stopped listening a couple of weeks ago.

- Oh to be young and naïve once again. David de Gea says he won’t be leaving Atletico Madrid for Man Utd because he’s got a contract until 2013. Oh David, you’ve got a lot to learn about the ways of the world and more importantly, how Fergie operates.

- And finally in the bit we’re cleverly calling our ‘and finally’ bit, here’s some footage of a goalie going a bit mental. It’s Khalid Askri of Moroccan side, FAR Rabat. Not long after falling foul to the incredible spinning ball, he has enough and storms off the pitch in style.

Goalkeeper News Round Up

FastGlove

- “When I said it was an competition between you and Joe Hart, what I meant was I actually prefer Joe Hart and you can do one.” Roberto Mancini tells Shay Given he’s allowed to leave Man City. It would have been more useful about a month ago when he could actually leave Man City. Acting kind of like a pimp for goalkeepers, Giovanni Trapattoni tells him there’s work for him in Italy. But he must be willing to do anal.

- The prototype for the young English goalkeeper that never lives up to his potential, Richard Wright has joined Sheffield United in the Championship. If you think that’s a harsh assessment, then remember he’s probably most famous for injuring himself on the ‘Don’t practice in the goalmouth’ sign whilst practicsing in the goalmouth ahead of an Everton game.

- Fergie has been accused of showing a lack of respect for the Carling Cup by sending out second string sides in the competition, but things have got so bad he’s not even sending himself. With an impeccable sense of timing, Sir Alex misses the trip to Scunthorpe to have a look at David De Gea.

- In not entirely unrelated news, Tomasz Kuszczak says he’s had enough of bench-warming at Old Trafford and wants to move on.

- Real Madrid shop steward, Iker Casillas asks Jose Mourinho for permission to drop the kids off at school. That’s not a euphemism, but it is a little strange as he doesn’t have any children.