Gareth Southgate says Joe Hart is our best goalkeeper. I can't say I agree with him, I actually rate him 4th atm, below Butland, Forster and Heaton!
I loved Forster when he was with us in League 1, always out at half-time taking shots, so keen to improve. Can't believe that we didn't push the boat out for him, yet subsequently spent obscenely stupid amounts on distinctly average players.
God knows why he keeps getting selected. He has been on the decline for the past 4 years. The one thing I like about Southgate is that he is embracing the youth talent we have coming through but he seems reticent to do so when it comes to goalkeeper claiming that no-one has his experience?! Butland and Forster have been regular premier league goalkeepers plenty long enough now and are better all round. I haven't seen that much of Heaton, but Pickford has been performing really well recently and should be above him too.
No one with eyes can possibly comprehend is ongoing faith in Joe Hart. OK for qualifiers against minnows but when the chips are down and you need a keeper you can rely on, Joe Hart is at best 4th in the queue, given his age relative to the other options time we sent him to the knackers yard. It's not like he even plays for a top 6 club any longer so his ongoing selection is truely baffling. For me I think I would give the No.1 shirt to Butland, he could be good enough to keep it for the next decade, better for him to grow with a defense now to have some chance of readiness for Russia. Hart will let us down! Butland, Pickford, Heaton or Forster might not. Bah!
I remember when we played Stoke I believe it was in the opening home game of the 2015-2016 season and had a less effective keeper been in goal for Stoke, I'm very confident we would have won that game, as he had 2 or 3 exceptional saves. My seat was just behind the 'River End' goal, so I had a fantastic view of his heroics. He MOST certainly should be ahead of Hart in the 'pecking order!!'
Hart looked weak for the goal last night. A lot of pundits say he was at fault for it, which I don't think I'd go that far. Rashford and his defenders put it on a plate. He certainly didn't look like he was going to do anything to stop it once he was through.
I agree, I think the forward goes in one on one and is at that point favourite. His finish is decent but near enough to be saved if the keeper is basically lucky and/or great. He was too close for any keeper to react so it is luck of where the arms are to an extent, Peter Schmeichel in his pomp and the very best keepers you half expect to smother those, hart you don't expect it and he didn't do it. Harsh but he isn't a top keeper anymore (If he was ever). Do any of his competitors for the jersey save it? We'll never know, but I would give shorter odds. Bah!
Yes, agree with all that. Pickford is like a cat. I'd give him better odds to stop it. But to blame Hart is a bit of a low blow.
BBC team ratings, this is Hart's score! Joe Hart (goalkeeper) 5 Totally unconvincing for Lobotka's goal but important second-half save from Adam Nemec. Is he really England's best current keeper?
Well, Rashford is clearly culpable as he gave the ball away needlessly, and Hart shouldn't have had a shot to stop. However, when he did, he let the ball go through his body too easily. Not good, but what we've come to expect. Still can't get over the fact he's first choice. The others must wonder what they have to do.
