The Decline Of Joe Hart - What Has Happened To England's Number 1?

With the recent round of International friendlies been and gone, Roy Hodgson has warned Joe Hart that his number one shirt isn’t guaranteed if his poor run of form continues for his country, but who could replace him?

With Hart seemingly taking the brunt of blame for the James Morrison goal that England conceded on Wednesday night, the English public are beginning to worry about Hart and his form for England. And what’s better than unsettling our number one goalkeeper the year of a World Cup? Nothing, that’s what.

In my opinion, I don’t think his goalkeeping was all that bad for the goal - he was massively blinded by the bumbling players in front of him who I thought were to blame for the goal with about four players inside the box and none of them began to close out until the shot had already wormed through the sea of bodies and taken Hart by surprise He could have done better with it, but no keeper is going to save everything, are they?

Obviously there are other criticisms for the Manchester City player, mainly spear-headed by Roy Keane on the ITV commentary - who I think rightfully touted that complacency has crept into his game for City as well as England. But who could remotely bring the presence he does as well as his ability? I think with City losing the title last year, it will bring a sense of urgency back into his game and if that’s his “mistake” that seem to haunt previous England goalkeepers, I can think of a lot worse ways to concede a goal and in a more important match.

Where is Paul Robinson, by the way?

I think this will be a solid season from the England number one and if I’m wrong, I’m glad we have Ben Foster, John Ruddy and Jack Butland waiting in the wings, unlike a few years ago when it was Rob Green, David James and Co. That’s always a bonus. In my opinion Foster is a solid number two and had a stellar season for West Brom last year, whereas Ruddy is a perfect number three and Butland is England’s long term successor for Hart. If not, he will be great backup as number two due to Hart’s age at the moment and the length a goalkeepers career can span.

Or Perhaps face the inevitable shortened career span that being England number one can offer.

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