Slaven Bilic has waded into Joe Hart’s critics making a blistering attack on them in one of his most outspoken attacks for a long time.
Hart has barely put a foot wrong in an England shirt but continues to be at the centre of complaints from fans who don’t believe him to be worth the sweater.
Much of that is based on his perceived form for the Irons leading Bilic to snap: I think you don’t [appreciate him], I think you don’t.
“Joe Hart, the game against Slovenia he was man of the match, you didn’t have that feeling from the studio or the commentating or the penalty incident he got away with. He didn’t get away with it, it wasn’t a penalty. If it was anyone else as a goalkeeper and not Joe Hart, nobody would say it was.
“He has [become an easy target]. To be fair, he’s brilliant. He never slaughters anyone, does his job, takes the bullet, is there every time for years now whether it is Man City, Torino or West Ham.
“Very good, vocal, professional, stays after training in the gym and works hard. He is very interested in the squad, he’s a top pro, he doesn’t deserve this.
“There isn’t a person that wouldn’t be affected by it [the criticism] but I have a feeling that he doesn’t give a…you know. He puts himself above that situation.
I speak to him about it but to after these last few games, I congratulate him. I don’t think about that a lot but when did he make a mistake. Tell me. Don’t talk about Torino when he conceded against Chievo. Don’t go there. When did he make a mistake for England?
“He was man of the match in Slovenia, 0-0. He was at the home game too. Is he he guilty that England played flat? No.
“We can talk for ages, Joe Hart is a great professional and a long-term England number one, in Euros, World Cups, I don’t remember many mistakes and remember some great saves, commanding presence, the same for ages at Man City, then to Torino.
“He came to West Ham conceded ten goals and then kept clean sheets for last three out of four. He’s taking it [the criticism] very good. But then it shouldn’t be the case like that [miss them when they are retired. When you’re 50, Joe you were great and should be happy, come on.”
“When did he make a mistake for England?”
I’m not trying to get on Hart’s back as he does seem like a good guy, but you would hope that Bilic would remember Euro 16 seeing as he was paid to watch it and offer expert analysis.
I don’t think he is saying he never makes a mistake. I agree that the whole media/pundit thing of ‘let’s all make a smart arse comment about Hart- aren’t we so clever’is wearing very thin. He is not Buffon but he is ok. I think we have bigger problems to worry about to be honest.
I think he had a fairly shaky start to his career with us, he has improved but much like Adrian I would like to see him pass the ball short and give it to a defender to lump up field if they must, often his clearances either go out or back to the opponent, I agree with what Bilic says about how vocal he is, you can hear him at the games shouting at the defenders, whether what he shouts makes sense or whether they are listening to him I don’t know, judging the goals we concede against the big boys I am not sure they do listen and I am unsure what our long term philosophy is regarding Hart he isn’t worth twice what we are paying Adrian and I have to feel sorry for Adrian who seemed to me anyway to have significantly improved when he came back from his spell as a reserve last season.
Yes 64 !! Bilic mistakes 😂
Average at best , Adrian all day long for me as a personal choice ,
Truth is bilic can’t see class even when its in front of him ! IMO 😉
With you completely, 64; we have BIGGER issue to worry about, and he is definitely not as bad as his critics would lead us to believe