Why Joe Hart must move to Birmingham City and revive his career
Despite playing in Manchester City’s pre-season, Joe Hart faces an uncertain future. The Englishman, capped 75 times by the Three Lions, enters the final year of his contract next season. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where it all went wrong for Hart at the Etihad Stadium.
The 31-year-old shot-stopper was once a mainstay in two of their title-winning teams. His reflexes helped the Citizens win games more than the heroics of the attacking players. He was rock-solid in Roberto Mancini’s 2012 and Manuel Pellegrini’s 2014 domestic successes.
As a Manchester City’s player, Hart has clinched two Premier League crowns, two League Cups, an FA Cup and was England’s No.1.
Then, on the back of Hart’s and England’s disappointing performances in Euro 2016, City appointed Pep Guardiola as manager.
Left out in the cold, Hart moved to Torino on a season-long loan. Last season, in a desperate attempt to hold onto his England starting spot, Hart accepted an unsuccessful move to West Ham United, where he lost his place to Adrian. A series of below-par performances saw the Shrewsbury-born keeper miss out on a trip to Russia. Instead, Jordan Pickford of Everton replaced him as England went all the way to the semi-finals.
Speaking after a friendly loss to Borussia Dortmund in Manchester City’s pre-season in the USA, Joe Hart acknowledged that he need a permanent move. He said;
“I need to go somewhere permanent, I think that’s obvious. I did what I did in the previous two seasons because I needed to play to be involved in the World Cup – and look where that got me.”
“I’m experienced. I’ve played at the highest level for a long time and done a lot of things in the game. I need to be an important player at a club and I think that can only happen with a permanent move.”
“I’ve got a year left and I’m not going on loan again because my situation has changed. I need to feel part of something.It’s difficult when you’re on loan, especially when you’re not a young player who people may have sympathy for. I’m older and being who I am and what I am, I’m there to be shot at.”
Could Joe Hart benefit from a move to Birmingham City?
In 2009/10, then Premier League side Birmingham City had signed Joe Hart on a season-long loan from Manchester City. Hart had failed to dislodge Shay Given from City’s starting line-up. He immediately became the Blues’ first-choice custodian, featuring in 36 games Premier League games.
Hart helped the side finish 9th and his performances at Birmingham helped him break into the Sky Blues’ line-up, where he consistently featured over six seasons until Guardiola’s arrival in Manchester.
According to The Birmingham Mail, Hart could return to St Andrew’s. At the moment, Garry Monk’s side are under a transfer embargo for breaching FFP rules.
Birmingham are positive that the ban will be lifted before the transfer window shuts. And if that happens, a move to the Blues could be ideal for Hart.
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Having made over 500 club career appearances, Hart will not be short of suitors from England, Europe and even the MLS. He has to choose wisely, however. At the moment, Joe is staring down the barrel of his career but moving to Birmingham could change all that.
