2012/2013 MAN CITY Season Ratings: Goalkeepers
23 May
Joe Hart: 45 games, 18 clean sheets – After hitting such consistently impressive heights last season, this was, by his standards, a disappointing campaign. For the third successive year, he picked up the Golden Glove for most clean sheets but he’ll have been frustrated with the way in which he made a number of blips leading to goals. There have been suggestions he coasted through the season, perhaps lacking the necessary focus, but Hart is extremely self-critical and I can’t imagine for a minute that he allowed complacency to rear its head.
He reminded everyone of his immense ability with a quite breathtaking performance at home to Borussia Dortmund as the visitors swarmed all over City and poured forward at will, and were it not for Hart’s heroics, the results could have been embarrassing. But while that display was the highlight, his gaffe away to Southampton will linger in the memory for all the wrong reasons. In truth, it was a mixed season for Hart. There were some terrific goalkeeping performances but also a few errors that someone of his quality should be avoiding. Add in his awful distribution and there’s plenty of room for improvement but he’s the right sort of character and has the required attitude to bounce back strongly. Season Rating: 6
Costel Pantilimon: 7 games, 4 clean sheets – He featured exclusively in cup competitions, displaying his quality with excellent saves throughout City’s FA Cup run, most notably in the semi-final against Chelsea, and it was a ruthless call from Roberto Mancini to leave the Romanian on the bench for the final. Pantilimon will likely move on in the summer in order to feature more regularly, something he deserves to do. He’s far too good to be a City substitute every week and whoever signs him will be adding a commanding presence and a great shot-stopper. Season Rating: N/A
Note: As third-choice ‘keeper, Richard Wright didn’t feature once and it remains to be seen whether he will still be at the Blues next season.
Your assessment of Joe Hart was pretty spot on, although I don’t think you were quite as scathing as you should have been over his distribution – it really is awful. “Don’t kick it, don’t kick it, don’t – Oh no he’s kicked it…” and another attack is coming our way.
Did you really think Costel was treated harshly for the final? He had his mouth wide open when it should have been firmly closed, and that was probably the only thing he did wrong for the whole of the cup campaign. If he hangs around I think he could see a few more chances with a new manager.
Still, onwards and upwards….
I enjoy your articles, probably because I am generally in agreement with them, but they are well reasoned and well written. Spot on again.
Exactly ! I agree. Hart is by quality among the top 5 goalkeepers in the world (last year I would say the best) but despite terrific performances against borussia (oh my god WHAT A PERFORMANCE!) and real madrid away he has made some errors. he seemed to be unhappy with the whole situation at the team. Can’t forgive some fans that criticised him. pantilimon is a great goalkeeper but he better go. he will bring some funds to the team and lower the team wage salary.