An excellent performance last night, he saved our skins on several occasions.

Just one thing: I'm probably being a bit old-school here but the punching the ball away thing rather than catching it alarms me.

Is it something Billy Mercer should be be working with JH on or, as an excellent and very experienced keeper, should Hart be left to make the split-second decisions he feels comfortable with ?

There was at least one occasion where it seemed he would have been able to catch it with relative ease.

Undoubtedly been spoilt by nick pope. Best at claiming crosses in all my years of waltching Burnley... and that goes back nearly 50 years. Similar decisions to Heaton to be fair to Joe.

Played really well - great distribution!

I've no real problem with a goalkeeper punching the ball away. As long as his mind is made up and he goes for distance. Main problem occurs when a goalkeeper is 'caught in two minds' and ends up flapping at the ball.

I surprised that it wasnt mentioned on here last night to be honest

Played a blinder, saved our skins on at least 3-4 certain goals, might turn into bargain of the season

You can almost see the confidence surging through him.
Had a tough time lately, and I'm biased, but I'm convinced that playing under our manager and staff is bringing the best out of him. A cracking keeper and, as said, could be an absolute bargain.

As for the punching, its no biggie.

ElectroClaret wrote:You can almost see the confidence surging through him.
Had a tough time lately, and I'm biased, but I'm convinced that playing under our manager and staff is bringing the best out of him. A cracking keeper and, as said, could be an absolute bargain.

As for the punching, its no biggie.

I'm not really surprised with how well he's playing. I posted when he came to us that I feel with him it's always been a case of morale and not feeling wanted; not his ability. SD is perfect for him. It wouldn't surprise me for him to be mentioned as a possible for England again during this season.

FactualFrank wrote:I'm not really surprised with how well he's playing. I posted when he came to us that I feel with him it's always been a case of morale and not feeling wanted; not his ability. SD is perfect for him. It wouldn't surprise me for him to be mentioned as a possible for England again during this season.

He'll be back in the England squad sooner rather than later if he keeps his place in our team.

Who`d have taken a bet 6 months ago on Joe Hart being Burnley`s No.1 and both Tom Heaton and Nick Pope possibly seeking other options come January?

HiroshimaClaret wrote:Who`d have taken a bet 6 months ago on Joe Hart being Burnley`s No.1 and both Tom Heaton and Nick Pope possibly seeking other options com January?

A few on here can see the future, knowing which players we wasted buying, so I'm sure they would have.

ElectroClaret wrote: I'm convinced that playing under our manager and staff is bringing the best out of him.

I bet the last 'wayward' Joe we took under our wing would agree with you

evensteadiereddie wrote:An excellent performance last night, he saved our skins on several occasions.

Just one thing: I'm probably being a bit old-school here but the punching the ball away thing rather than catching it alarms me.

Is it something Billy Mercer should be be working with JH on or, as an excellent and very experienced keeper, should Hart be left to make the split-second decisions he feels comfortable with ?

There was at least one occasion where it seemed he would have been able to catch it with relative ease.

Agree with this but i do think a lot of goalkeepers punch as a way of protecting themselves. So much easier to pick up injuries when landing holding a ball than without a ball.

HiroshimaClaret wrote:Who`d have taken a bet 6 months ago on Joe Hart being Burnley`s No.1 and both Tom Heaton and Nick Pope possibly seeking other options come January?

Ladbrokes!

Joe Hart.-

FORM is temporary.

QUALITY is permanent.

That one save in particular to his left from Visca I don't think Heaton or Pope would have saved. It looked in.

Potentially the signing of the decade.

Think I am right in saying that both of our keepers dislocated their shoulders trying to catch hold of the ball.
So undoubtedly there are pro's and con's.
There is an element of chance with every decision a goalkeeper takes.

Phoenixknight wrote:Think I am right in saying that both of our keepers dislocated their shoulders trying to catch hold of the ball.
So undoubtedly there are pro's and con's.
There is an element of chance with every decision a goalkeeper takes.

Spot on and exactly what i was going to say - they both did.

While its better if they catch, if a keeper can punch it far and with conviction he is far better doing that than trying to catch it.

Hart has probably been doing this all his career. So to try and change that approach now would be foolish. Much like Pep trying to change how he plays the ball out shot his confidence.

I am happy for him to do what he is comfortable with. As long as he is punching it wide there shouldn't be much of a problem.

Already the most confident keeper I have seen for us. So he is probably more comfortable punching than catching thats all.