I do think some people overrate him, in the same way that he overrates himself. He's clearly brilliant though.
That overhead kick overtakes Crouch's volley for the most audacious attempt from distance by a comically tall centre forward of the past twelve months.
Hart was awful tonight. But i'm surprised how quickly you've all forgotten his performance vs Borussia at the Etihad just over a month ago. Probably the best goalkeeping performance i've ever seen. Forster had one ****ing brilliant game the other night and now suddenly he should replace Hart for England? He plays in the SPL ffs. Who knows how good he is. I would've been all for Forster starting a friendly as a reward for that performance but no way is anyone getting near that no. 1 spot for the next 5 major tournaments at least, so however well he might have played would be elementary. No player in the SPL can expect to stake a claim for an England spot, especially with Hart for competition. Don't take Hart for granted, England are lucky to finally have one of the best 'keepers in the world. On a side note, haven't enjoyed a game so much from a neutral perspective in ages. I was crying laughing when the fourth went in. Was in a really rough East end pub and all these nutters were either laughing or standing up applauding. Never seen anything like it.
Forster played incredible in both games against Barcelona.. Celtic played them twice...and he was outstanding in both games. Who gives a **** if he plays in SPL. He is still playing in the champions league at the highest level and he has just proved he is a brilliant keeper over 2 games against the best club side in the world. And there is more to come as I think Celtic can get through their group. Hart is ludicrously overly prone to errors to be considering anywhere close to a top keeper. He is so overrated and full of it. He's been abysmal in several games this season both for England and Man City.
For those who haven't seen the goals: [video=youtube;QaytT4V7I2k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaytT4V7I2k[/video]
Says something about the class of the player when the least-skillful goal of the four was probably a long free kick into the bottom corner. The top-poke rocket is fairly ridiculous in its own right, as is the chested, running volley (which he found so ordinary that he opted against celebrating in favour of checking to make sure that Gary Cahill would survive having entered the orbit of The Zlatan).
He was never allowed the freedom against quality prem opposition (in other words not England). I'm sure he usually sat deep with either Prutton or Oakley.
Two great performances, so what? Hart kept 17 clean sheets last season in the best league in the world. Name some errors he's made before tonight. The fact is, Hart is proven and Forster is not. He was one of City's stand-out players last season and I could post links to youtube clips showing save after save in big games at the highest stage. When Forster was 23, he was in goal for Norwich in League One. When Hart was 23 he was nominated for PFA young player of the year in the Premiership. To suggest that he should be replaced for competitive fixtures by a player who's only played in Leagues One and Two and the SPL (on average probably of a lower standard than both) on the basis of two games is completely reactionary. I don't particularly have strong feelings towards either player. It's just annoying me that you're wrong
They rotated, but usually Oakley covered for Anders. Svensson was basically the attacking central midfielder and Oakley was the more defensive.
Joe Hart had a bad game for sure, but you dont drop a player because of one bad performance. Too many people get hysterical these days about dropping a player after one bad game. England are lucky to have a top goalie such as Hart and even luckier to have another coming through in Forster. England have not been good as a team for a long time now but the goalkeeping position is one where there are no major issues, even after last night. What a performance by Ibra-thingy though - a one-man team performance.
A little while ago the England goalie position was a major concern...Hart is the answer. Forget last night...he has turned out good performances in games that mattered. Wouldn't even worry about last nights result...they had one player on song, we played an inexperienced team, and we made substitutions that we would never have made when winning in a game that mattered. Fantastic goal by Ibrahimovich...pleasure to watch (but he would have missed 9 times out of ten, which is true of most great goals). I am pleased to see the next generation coming through...we couldn't go on relying on too many players who are good but past their best. Games like last night are just for experience.
So how was he against Poland then? Oh that's right he cost us the 3 points with dreadful keeping. He wasn't much better in the Euros. He let in some soft goals and then completely bottled it in the shootout. He was growling and pulling all sorts of faces, committing too early and getting beaten easily.
Ok so by your logic if we go by wins and clean sheets Valdez has been on of the best keepers of this era. What's your point about where they were when they were 23 exactly? Joe Hart hasn't shown signs of getting better. In fact he's looking like getting worse as he has got so cocky and been bigged up so much he's let it get to his head. Forster wants to get better and is getting better. He's proved himself against the best side in the world twice. So it wasn't a fluke was it.
I think he was a very good keeper before the major hype started. He's fallen to pieces at times this season.
On the Hart debate, I detest that he hoofs the ball up field most times he has possession. Apart from that, he is a good keeper.
I think that most people in the know still regard Joe Hart as the best English goalie and i see nothing to think otherwise. All goalies have howlers from time to time and they are also only as good as the defence in front of them. England as a team have been pretty substandard for years - last team that really enjoyed watching & got excited about was at Euro 96 and before that Italia 90. Occassional good result since but usually predictable and hopeless. Agree that young Joe seems to have a large ego now, but hey thats about normal isnt it with modern day profesional footballers.