SOCCER ANGLES:The impressive Joe Hart has been instrumental in City's rise to the top this season
IT REQUIRES a suspension of our knowledge and understanding, and on a grand scale, but strip away the caveats about Manchester City – the skyscraper spending and its distortions, the obese salaries, the hoarding of players and the steroid growth of the club – and focus on the team that looks set to claim City’s first title in 44 years. It can be admired by the neutral, if not cherished.
Manchester City are not alone in their cash-based mechanics. It is 15 months since Fernando Torres joined Chelsea for €62 million. In the recent past Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United have all used money to climb and, in Manchester United’s case, to stay there.
But City have taken it to a level that can happen only at a club sponsored by a sovereign wealth fund. It is why the Financial Fair Play regulations were devised in the first place and, should clubs find a way to navigate those (which they will), the impetus behind them remains a concern about sporting unfairness.
That is the context, but then it can be argued money has always been decisive in shaping success. And that there are other factors, such as geography.
But returning to the players City have recruited – at least some of them – it is impossible, for example, to not be struck by Yaya Toure. Regardless of the €200,000 and more he picks up every week. Toure is a monument of a player, a combination of power and will-power wrapped in graceful movement.
Vincent Kompany has that same totem status, while David Silva and Sergio Aguero have brought zip and panache and goals and no off-putting distractions. It is a quartet to lead any XI. Roberto Mancini must base every teamsheet around them.
But there is a fifth name in this City squad who is increasingly impressive: Joe Hart. Hart is the only ever-present this season, tomorrow against QPR will be his 38th league game. In the 37 so far, Hart has conceded 27 goals, the least in the Premier League. To put QPR’s task into perspective, only 10 have been conceded at Eastlands.
Hart has had less work to do than his opposite number tomorrow, Paddy Kenny, but when called upon Hart has made influential saves at important moments. It happened at St James’ Park last Sunday. There will be no DVD of gaffes from the keeper who was 25 last month.
Even those of us who voted for Hart as Footballer of the Year can admit to a degree of surprise at this consistency.
Hart was long-touted to be the best English goalkeeper for years, but was less convincing than expected on closer inspection.
Go back not too far – the end of January 2009 – and that was why City’s then manager, Mark Hughes, signed Shay Given from Newcastle. Hart was young and developing then and on the January night Given withdrew from Newcastle’s game at City, Hart looked nervous. “City’s number two” was the chant of Newcastle’s travelling fans.
That’s what Hart became; Given was an immediate fixture. Six months later Hart moved to Birmingham City on loan and stayed the whole season.
It was the arrival at Eastlands of Mancini in place of Hughes – who will be a motivated QPR manager tomorrow – that changed Hart’s, and Given’s, future. Mancini made a call, and it was a big one. He went for Hart.
Last season, as this, Hart played every game. But there were glitches that prompted remarks from Fabio Capello and Peter Shilton.
No more. Hart has become as reliable and essential as Kompany or Yaya Toure. At €700,000, Hart is also the bargain amid the expense. That is how much Hart cost, initially, from Shrewsbury Town as far back as 2006. Stuart Pearce was City manager then. Hart’s last Shrewsbury game was at Chester City and he kept a clean sheet. His debut for City, at 19, was also a clean sheet.
That it was against Sheffield United in the Premier League and finished 0-0 to leave City 11th in the table says much about the club’s change since.
This was a one-off appearance in October 2006 – Hart was soon on loan at Tranmere Rovers – but it shows how Hart is connected to pre-Abu Dhabi Manchester City. Only Micah Richards remains from that team. Hatem Trabelsi, Georgios Samaras and Claudio Reyna all played for City that day. As did Joey Barton. It was a different era.
Hart was in and out the door after that, or on the bench – that’s where he was when City lost 8-1 at Middlesbrough four years ago this weekend.
But not tomorrow. Joe Hart will be leading from the back as City try to close out the league title. On the pitch, his contribution to City this season has been as great as anyone’s. On the broader issue of Manchester City’s rise, Hart’s mere presence at the club is proof that there are ways and means of getting to the top.
United legend Gregg to be honoured
IN ANY Mancunian history of goalkeeping there will be a special place for Harry Gregg. Gregg will be 80 later this year; before that, on Tuesday night, there is a testimonial at Windsor Park, Belfast.
It says everything about Gregg’s stature that Alex Ferguson is bringing Manchester United over for the game and that Martin O’Neill has agreed to “manage” an Irish League XI. Tomorrow Ferguson and O’Neill will also be on opposite sides at Sunderland.
Gregg requested that two Derry City players be included but with Derry playing, there are two men returning to represent them: Peter Hutton and Seán Hargan. The match is a mark of respect for Gregg, one of the few deserving of the term legend. Gregg is an unforgotten link to Munich and the Busby Babes, but also to Northern Ireland’s 1958 World Cup campaign in Sweden.
While always remembering Munich and Gregg’s heroic role there, it should also be recalled how good he was. In 1958 Gregg was named as the World Cup’s goalkeeper of the tournament, ahead of Lev Yashin of the Soviet Union. There have been many more accolades, such as: “Harry, you’re my hero and I mean that” – from George Best.
Tuesday’s testimonial is for charity. Ferguson has promised to bring a strong squad.
There are just a few tickets left and if you get to the Millbrook Lodge hotel in Ballynahinch at 10am today you might be able to buy one of them. It’s £20 for an adult, £10 for children.
