Pep Guardiola has sprung a surprise before his Manchester City team have even kicked a ball in the Premier League after the Spanish manager left out number one goalkeeper Joe Hart for the club’s opening domestic fixture against Sunderland.
There have been rumours for some time that Hart may not be the type of keeper that Guardiola normally uses in his team, with his previous club’s usually fielding a so-called ‘sweeper keeper’ in order to build attacks from the back.
But without signing a new shot stopper, few could have predicted that Hart would be dropped for the visit of Sunderland today, but that’s exactly what Pep has done:
CITY XI | Caballero, Sagna, Stones, Kolarov, Clichy, Fernandinho, Silva (C), Nolito, De Bruyne, Sterling, Aguero #cityvsafc #mcfc
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 13, 2016
CITY SUBS | Hart, Zabaleta, Fernando, Navas, Delph, Otamendi, Iheanacho #cityvsafc #mcfc
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 13, 2016
Hart endured a miserable Euro 2016 with England in the summer, dropping high profile clangers against both Wales and Iceland, and it appears his club manager isn’t much of a fan.
After the news was broken of his omission this afternoon, a lot of supporters jumped to the conclusion that Hart will be sold before the transfer window shuts at the end of the month:
Joe Hart on the bench….adios Joe ⚽️
— Alan McHaffie (@AlanMcHaffie) August 13, 2016
Poor Joe Hart.
— Juan Torres (@Duckaneer) August 13, 2016
Joe Hart to West Ham?
— HNH (@Catf1sh) August 13, 2016
This could be the end for Joe Hart. #MCFC
— MANI (@1mransiddique) August 13, 2016
That's the end for you Joe Hart. Butter fingers!!!
— Giesen (@Giesen12) August 13, 2016
The beginning of the end for Joe Hart maybe? When dropped previously, it always felt like he'd be back soon. This feels different… #mcfc
— David Mooney (@DavidMooney) August 13, 2016
And so Pep has laid down the marker for Joe Hart. On your bike boy!
— Lawal Adeshina (@LawalAdeshina) August 13, 2016
For sale: Joe Hart
— Muhammad Fachrezzy (@muhfachrezzy) August 13, 2016
Really not suprising Joe Hart is on the bench, he did awful in the euros. Wonder who pep will bring in to replace him….
— Rob (@Lord_Achilles96) August 13, 2016
What do you think?Are Hart’s days at City numbered?
RSS