Scout Reports

Moving Target – Joe Hart

West Ham United have confirmed the signing of Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart on a season-long loan, with the Hammers reportedly paying a loan fee of £4.5 million to secure the services of the England international.

Speaking about the capture, West Ham manager Slaven Bilic expressed his happiness at being able to attract a player of his pedigree to the club, while also explaining the importance of improving the level of competition in the squad:

“He is the England number one, he has great experience but, at 30-years-old, he is still in his prime as a goalkeeper and can be at the top of his game in the next few years… I said a few days ago that we wanted to sign players who are going to improve our starting eleven. But that doesn’t mean that they walk straight into the team. It means that they improve the level of competition for those places.”

The History

Hart started out at his hometown club Shrewsbury Town, making his debut in April 2004 at the age of 17.

He became the club’s first-choice goalkeeper during the 2005/06 season and was named in the PFA League Two Team of the Year before securing a move to Manchester City in the summer of 2006.

Hart took in loan spells at Tranmere Rovers and Blackpool before spending the 2009/10 campaign on a season-long loan at Premier League outfit Birmingham City, making 36 appearances.

He returned to the Etihad in the summer of 2010 ready to take the starting spot in goal and was an ever-present, keeping an impressive 18 clean sheets.

Over the next few years, Hart became a vital member of a hugely successful City side, winning two league titles in 2012 and 2014, along with two League Cups and one FA Cup.

But he immediately fell out of favour under Pep Guardiola last summer and was shipped out on a season-long loan to Italian side Torino, where he managed just five shut-outs in 36 matches, conceding 62 goals.

Hart represented England six times at U19 level before making 21 appearances for the U21s.

He was handed his senior debut in a 3-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago in June 2008 and has racked up an impressive 71 caps for his country.

The Prospects

Both Adrian and Darren Randolph shared playing time in goal for the Hammers last season, but the addition of Hart is expected to provide stability in the goalkeeping position.

Speaking about the switch to the London Stadium, Hart revealed the opportunity to play regular first-team football was the key factor behind the move:

“It’s important for me to play football and to get the opportunity to come here and play is absolutely awesome.”

With the FIFA World Cup on the horizon next summer, Hart knows he needs to be playing week in week out, with the likes of Stoke City’s Jack Butland, Burnley’s Tom Heaton and Everton’s Jordan Pickford all pushing to be England’s No 1.

He should start the season as the first-choice stopper at West Ham then, with Adrian and Randolph already the subject of speculation regarding possible exits.

Hart’s underlying statistics from the last two seasons have been pretty underwhelming, however.

He had a save rate of just 64% and made six errors which led to goals.

Adrian boasted a save rate of 71.03% over the same period, making just three errors, although Randolph was less impressive (60.32% save rate and five errors).

Hart’s statistics are certainly a concern, although a return to the Premier League could help spark an improvement.

He did also make a save every 31.15 minutes last season – considerably better than in 2015/16 with City (43.80) – and in another team expected to be battling in mid-table, his save potential should increase and further boost his appeal.

Despite enduring a difficult season last term, eventually finishing 11th, Bilic’s side still managed to keep a reasonable 10 clean sheets, with eight of those coming at home.

And in 2015/16, they produced 11 shut-outs, so the West Ham defence could prove to be a decent source of defensive returns again this season.

While Hart was originally added as a Manchester City asset and priced at 7.3 in Sky Sports, he was absent from the original Fantasy Premier League (FPL) listing.

Adrian and Randolph have both been valued at 4.5 this season, so there is surely a strong case for Hart to arrive at the same price.

That would, of course, make the England international ideal for a rotation pairing.

Watford provide a rotation partner for West Ham this season. But the Hammers’ Gameweek 2 fixture against Southampton has been reversed while the London Stadium is used for the 2017 World Athletics Championships, so they only rotate home and away for 36 of the 38 Gameweeks.

Nevertheless, a Hart/Heurelho Gomes pairing would still provide a pretty strong run of fixtures (LIV, bou/sot, BHA, HUD, wba, swa, SWA, brn, BHA, STO) during the opening months of the season.

Swansea City’s Lukasz Fabianski and West Bromwich Albion’s Ben Foster are other 4.5 goalkeepers who could work alongside Hart in a 9.0 pairing, with the pair’s fixtures generally working well in conjunction with the West Ham stopper.

While Hart’s form in Italy was slightly disappointing, he does remain an exceptional goalkeeper, and one that should boost the prospects of the Hammers’ backline.

To get a stopper of his calibre for 4.5 in FPL would represent excellent value and is likely to see him feature in many FPL squads come Gameweek 1.

Former team-mate Pablo Zabaleta has also joined over the summer, so there’s no shortage of experience at the back for West Ham, with Jose Fonte, Winston Reid and Aaron Cresswell all proven Premier League performers.

Hart looks set to move towards the top of our shopping lists providing he comes in at 4.5 then, potentially offering the cheapest route into a Hammers backline that offers a fairly reliable source of defensive returns – particularly at home.

Further Reference

Joe Hart Wikipedia

Joe Hart Transfer Markt Page

Joe Hart Best Saves 2016/17

1,641 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Pezzle
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 8 months ago

    So, Jacob Murphy at Newcastle now. Worth a punt?

    1. H-SF
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Maybe, he's a talent

  2. RubberDucky
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Thoughts on this team please. Where am I going wrong?

      Foster / Fabianski

      Tripped / Lindelof / Cedric / Mee / Rangel

      Alli / RLC / Sane / Fabregas / Redmond

      Kane / Lukaku / Gayle

      1. Baz
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Looks good man! I've gone for Willian over Fab but preseason should help indicate the best pick

      2. madeon
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Not sure if fabregas is nailed on..

        Otherwise i like it

    • RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      How's this look? 🙂

      Foster (Elliot)
      Daniels • Cedric • Trippier (Yedlin • Rangel)
      KDB • Coutinho • Tadic • Willian (Loftus-Cheek)
      Kane • Lukaku • Gayle

      1. PvA
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        I wouldn't go with RLC

        I like Phillips over Tadic too... not convinced Southampton score enough and the new manager won't help

        1. Make Arrows Green Again
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          He'll come on after 60 mins v Liverpool and score a brace

      2. H-SF
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        I'm also considering Gayle, what are your thoughts on him? Also very solid team only pick I don't like is Tadic would rather downgrade to Stanislas

        1. 6thGoal
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Gayle is unproven in the EPL.

        2. RAFA THE GAFFA
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Best value there I think, unless Austin nails his place

      3. TheSteel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        RLC wont start

    • PvA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Newcastle sign Jacob Murphy

      Who is he?

      1. Jamie_GAWA
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Josh Murphy's twin

    • Scotty B
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Is Walker a better pick than Kompany?

      1. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Looks like City will sign Danilo to rotate with Walker

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Are you sure? £50m+ for a squad player? I'm not convinced.

          1. Forza Papac
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Danilo is reportedly costing £30M+. He'll definitely get game time, although Walker will be first choice.

      2. Waxys
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Nope

      3. 6thGoal
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Depends, do you need that extra 0.5? I have Walker in, but have no problems replacing him with Kompany, as long as he can remain fit.

    • Jimmy Boy
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      With Robertson looking set to join Liverpool now, who are we planning to swap Milner out for?

      1. Agger
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        I can't see Milner being on the bench at all.

        1. Jimmy Boy
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          He will likely be rotated if Robertson signs, I can see Milner being rested when they have Champions League midweek

          1. jiGGidyJ1
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Yes I'd avoid both of them, rotation risk

          2. nisag17
            • 14 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            And which top team exists that won't rotate their players because of Champions league? I am curious.

      2. jiGGidyJ1
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Robertson is a replacement for Moreno, not Milner

      3. nisag17
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        No one. He is first choice. No doubt about it.

    • theruffler
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      A) Rooney and Ramsey
      B) Salah and rodriguez/Gayle

      Which option?!!

      1. Waxys
        • 6 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        A

    • Agger
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      The best 4.5 defender rotation?

      1. GoonerByron
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Huddersfield/Burnley looks pretty good to begin..

    • Jamie_GAWA
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      How did Ramsey play today?

      1. GoonerByron
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Assisted the goal.. Didn't look great when he first came on but improved

    • OneDennisBergkamp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Early days but thoughts on this first draft?..

      Forster (Elliot)
      Milner - Bertrand - McAuley - (Mee - Rangel)
      Sánchez - Alli - Arter - Ince (Carroll)
      Lukaku - Lacazette - Deeney

    • Atimis
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Currently on:

      Foster
      Trippler Lindelof Cedric
      Dele Sane Wilian Zaha
      Lacazette Kaku Firmino

      Elliot Carroll Francis Rangel

      Any changes ? Are Firmino and Sane worth the spots ? No Kane is the biggest fear....

      1. H-SF
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Awesome, one of the best I've seen. Would downgrade Firmino to Defoe and maybe upgrade Sane to Coutinho. If you do that I would swap out Laca for Jesus.

        1. Atimis
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Thanks ! It's just like I feel that Laca will fire !

    • goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 8 months ago

      Solanke nice goal

    • stat
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Latest draft, any weaknesses?
        It's made for the first 5 GWs.

        Foster / Elliot
        Lindelof / Cedric / Tomkins / Yedlin / Long
        Mane / Ramsey / Willian / JWP / RLC
        Kane / Jesus / Lukaku

      • Jamie_GAWA
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        People not put off by Liverpools rotation?

        1. Rupert The Horse
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Yes, plenty.

          1. Jamie_GAWA
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            It's a real shame that, so many good options

            1. Rupert The Horse
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              I would only really consider Mane. But with CL this year it's just not worth the headache.

        2. One Man
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Still going with coutinho, but I'm nervous.

      • Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 8 months ago

        Anyone else not changed their team since day 1?

        1. Jamie_GAWA
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Yes,plenty.

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            🙂

        2. TheSteel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Ha! Get real

          1. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Ha. Seriously, I haven't touched it.

        3. Spike ⚽️
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Yep. It's still on Auto Pick 🙂

        4. Agger
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Me!
          I have 2 red flags and 2 yellows now haha!

        5. One Man
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Well I haven't changed it in the last hour, that count ?!

      • stat
          6 years, 8 months ago

          A) Mane + JWP
          B) Salah + Phillips

          1. Big Fella
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            B

        • korbendallas82
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          ooh. Solanke goal. Nice shot.

        • Ghost Gooner
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Solanke looks useful. Bye bye Sturridge/Origi

          1. Make Arrows Green Again
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Solanke, suckers

        • chonks
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          why is no one considering wijnaldum?

          1. Waxys
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Everyone else at pool is enough of a rotation risk let alone Wijnaldum

          2. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Well because he'll be heavily rotated.

          3. Ghost Gooner
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Because we want to do well!

            Mane, Salah, Cout, Lallana, Firmino, Milner all better picks

          4. SG8
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            not nailed, Coutinho will be playing deeper this season and will be up against Henderson, Can, Lallana potentially even Keita though looking unlikely atm

        • One Man
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Do we all on here change our team every day since FPL reopened ?

          I know I do!!!!!

          1. Spike ⚽️
            • 12 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            I've done absolutely nothing to mine since registering !!

            1. Rupert The Horse
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Neither have I.

              1. Spike ⚽️
                • 12 Years
                6 years, 8 months ago

                We're a rare commodity 🙂

          2. Rupert The Horse
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Not touched it at all.

          3. H-SF
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Same

          4. Ghost Gooner
            • 10 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Tinkered first couple days to see how prices would dictate team structure. Havent touched mine since last friday.

            Just taking mental notes til August now

          5. 6thGoal
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            I have and continue to change but feel I finally have a formation/rotation close to being nailed down.

          6. A Team Of James McCleans
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Several times an hour

        • Clueless24
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 8 months ago

          Peoples opinions on De Bruyne? Pretty much the only nailed on starter for City's attack!

          1. stat
              6 years, 8 months ago

              He was rotated in certain games last season so I don't think that's a fair assessment.

            • jiGGidyJ1
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Love him, think he could have a huge season. He had 21 assists last year and hopefully he can add more goals this year (got unlucky with a lot of shots hitting the woodwork last season)

            • willl
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Is pretty much nailed IMO, started 33/37 games when fit.

          2. smix
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Max Gradel expected to.start ?

          3. Big Fella
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            RMT 2.0
            DDG (Elliot)
            Walker Kolasiniac Bertrand Trippier(4.0)
            Eriksen Mkhi Willian (RLC Caroll)
            Kane Jesus Gayle

            1. TheSteel
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Way to much money in defence and keeper imo. Cleansheets are rare at the start of the season

          4. I Member
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Anyone going Eriksen over Alli?

            1. Big Fella
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              O/

            2. TheSteel
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Plenty are. Im on the fence

            3. Spike ⚽️
              • 12 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Probably

            4. Leafy
              • 6 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              At the moment, but still very undecided. As with Mane and Salah

            5. 6thGoal
              • 6 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              If I didn't have Kane already, yep I would select Eriksen over Alli.

            6. Over Midwicket
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              I am. Differential and more baps.

          5. Scotty B
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Ok I guess the question is Kompany nailed?

            1. Make Arrows Green Again
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              100% yes. He IS the City defence.

              Whether he stays fit is the $64,000 question

            2. 6thGoal
              • 6 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Yup, as long as he remains fit, he's in my starting XI

          6. Blue&White85
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Was just listening to the Scoutcast and the discussion about problems with draft leagues if you end up being last to pick. It got me thinking about the order I'd choose the big hitters in. Who would be the 8 you'd want most for this season and in what order? I'm thinking:

            1. Kane
            2. Sanchez
            3. Lukaku
            4. Alli
            5. Mane
            6. Lacazette
            7. Jesus
            8. Coutinho

            The uncertainty around City is why I have so few of them in the team. It's also crazy that Eriksen, De Bruyne and Aguero don't immediately make it.

          7. Thoughtopsy
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            A) Courtinho Morgan RLC
            B) Zaha Tadic Hunemeire

            1. TheSteel
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              B

          8. The Mighty Whites
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            J Rod & 5.0 Defender or 6.5 Striker & Lascelles?

            1. 6thGoal
              • 6 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Mounie and a 5.0 defender, Cedric possibly?

          9. Lawrø
            • 12 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Solanke is getting hard to ignore

            1. Spike ⚽️
              • 12 Years
              6 years, 8 months ago

              Too early to say that

          10. smix
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 8 months ago

            Foster
            Lindelof Trippier Cedric
            Coutinho Mkhi Willian Ramsey
            Kane Jesus Defoe
            Myhill Carroll Francis Dunk

            Pls rate