Joe Hart to be England's No. 1? Good or Bad choice?
-
Fabio Capello set to hand Birmingham goalkeeper Joe Hart a starting role against Egypt
Fabio Capello plans to hand Joe Hart his second England cap against Egypt next week amid fears about the quality of the country’s goalkeeping options.
Capello wants to look closely at the 23-year-old who has been in superb form during a season on loan at Birmingham from Manchester City.
The England manager has grown increasingly concerned that the lack of a world-class keeper might undermine his World Cup campaign.
Hart of gold: Joe Hart is set to be given his second England cap against Egypt
England Under 21 squad
Goalkeepers: Fielding (Rochdale), Loach (Watford), McCarthy (Yeovil);
Defenders: Bertrand (Reading), Mancienne (Wolves), Naughton (Middlesbrough), Richards (Man City), Smalling (Fulham), Tomkins (West Ham), Walker (Tottenham)
Midfielders: Cleverley (Watford), Cork (Burnley), Delph (Aston Villa), Wilshere (Bolton), Muamba (Bolton), Gosling (Everton), Lansbury (Watford), Moses (Wigan), Cattermole (Sunderland), Rodwell (Everton)
Strikers: Carroll (Newcastle), Delfouneso (Aston Villa), Sturridge (Chelsea), Welbeck (Preston)
Capello’s No 1 David James is only just back in action after a season interrupted by injuries and contractual issues at Portsmouth.
West Ham’s Rob Green is seen by the England boss only as a back-up and Capello made a personal check on Hart when Birmingham lost 2-1 to Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
Tottenham and England winger Aaron Lennon, who was in brilliant form before a groin injury in December, has suffered a setback in his recovery. He went for a scan on Monday amid fears he needs surgery which could rule him out for another six weeks. Capello is considering Manchester City’s Adam Johnson as an alternative.
Arsenal wide man Theo Walcott was left out of the Under 21 squad for their match against Greece on March 3 meaning he should be involved in the Egypt game at Wembley on the same night.
Wigan striker Victor Moses has won his first Under 21 call-up after turning down the chance to play for Nigeria.
The Egypt match will be refereed by Paraguayan Carlos Manuel Torres so England can experience an official from a different continent.
One player not expecting a call is Michael Owen. He said: ‘You never give up but it’s a long shot.’
-
Gd Choice
-
Good choice...BUT Joe Hart cannot make any mistakes!! or else his career is gone.
-
It's not a good or a bad choice...
It seems more like no choice with the rest looking like they have butter fingers...
-
pathetic england with no hope of getting a decent goalie for the future. these goalies are just average goalie, sad. certainly not in the same class as peter shilton, ray clemence and david seaman.
-
Sadly that's the case IMO.
David James has the tendency to produce a calamitous error every now and then, Robert Green has excellent shot-stopping abilities but his positioning is suspect. Ditto for Ben Foster who doesn't command his penalty box well. And former England No.1 Paul Robinson is never the same as he is once was anymore.
If Chris Kirkland was not that injury-prone, he would have my pick. But that's the sad case with England keepers. Probably England's best hope would be on Joe Hart.
I have seen a few Birmingham games this season, and on few occasions he has single-handed stopped Birmingham from defeats. His reactions are good, has command of his penalty box and is comfortable in the air. But let's not forget that he was helped by playing in a defensive system, helped by his fellow central defenders Roger Johnson and Scott Dann.
It would be interesting to see how he fares in the Egypt friendly. Fingers crossed.
-
In world cup, dun even get a young goalkeeper, you will fail miserably.
-
hmm ben foster was great at stoke but mediocre when it came to the big stage. Will it happen to joe hart? hehe lets wait n see
-
world cup is not a testing ground or grooming of player, it is a real challenge, all must be mature and able to take the heat of it. As far as england is concern, keep changing gk is not going to help, the coach needs to have trust in just one good gk, time is not in his side, if he thinks Joe is good, so be it, try not to change anymore.