A Mark of Respect – Joe Hart’s Solid Start at Celtic …
There were certainly more than a few eyebrows raised when Celtic announced the signing of 34 year old former England international, Joe Hart from Tottenham Hotspur back in August.
I for one questioned this signing, asking myself why Celtic were taking this massive gamble on a goalkeeper whose career has been in freefall for the past five years. What could a 34 year old bring to the table other than experience? Well, how wrong could I have been.
Since making his debut in a Europa League qualifier against Czech outfit Jablonec only five weeks ago, it has seemed that Hart has been here forever, growing into his role as a leader more and more by the week.
There has been a big question mark surrounding the goalkeeper spot at Celtic ever since Fraser Forster’s ever so successful 2nd spell at the club came to an end. Since then Celtic have had three keepers handed the no.1 jersey. From Barkas to Bain to our unsung Quadruple Treble winning hero, Conor Hazard. None of the three did enough to earn the right to call the jersey their own. With some big performances and key saves in his short time at the club, it’s clear that Hart has established himself as the number 1 at Celtic.
Photo Jeff Holmes
When you look back at Joe Hart’s career as a whole, you’ll know that he is prone to the odd mistake from time to time, like most goalkeepers. Alkmaar away stands out as a Celtic fan. When a lapse in communication from himself and Stephen Welsh put AZ 2-1 up on the night. A scoreline which didn’t matter with Celtci going through on aggregate.
It’s easy to point out mistakes instead of looking at some heroics. Key saves in the first leg of the AZ tie spring to mind when Celtic were against it and he made a world class save with his leg in the opening minutes. Had that gone in you’d have been looking at a completely different game, and not the comfortable 2-0 that Celtic coasted to.
Joe Hart Photo/Radek Petrasek CTK Photo
In Celtic’s 3-0 win over Ross County today, Hart again made a crucial save when the score was at 1-0. A 3-0 at Celtic Park sounds comfortable, but it was far from it. Celtic went into the break at 0-0 and had County been more clinical upfront they could’ve gone into the break in the lead. Debutant Cameron Carter Vickers shot was deflected in just past the hour mark. Ross County had the chance to equalise not long after the restart, a free header from County striker Dominic Samuel was kept out brilliantly by the diving Joe Hart. Celtic went on to finish the contest off minutes later with an Albian Ajeti double. This was just another example of Joe Hart’s importance to the team.
It’s early days at the moment, but Hart is definitely growing into the responsibility of being a Celtic player, all the while becoming a fans favourite for some.
Celtic travel to Seville this Thursday to take on Spanish opposition in Real Betis in this season’s Europa League curtain raiser. Celtic will need the experience and leadership from Hart if they’re to get anything out of the game. In what will be a busy night for the Englishman.
Adam Lynch
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