Premier League: Gameweek 2 - Talking points

Is Hart running of time?

Joe Hart of Manchester City

It wasn’t too long ago that Joe Hart was the first name on the team sheet, for both club and country. But after a season that was filled with more than a fair share of mistakes, Hart looks like he is carrying from where he left off last year. After allowing James Morrison’s early shot to slip in for Scotland’s opener in the friendly at Wembley, Roy Hodgson hinted at the fact that Hart might not be the undisputed No.1 for too long.

This weekend, again, old frailties reemerged as he made a hash of Peter Whittingham’s corner that led to Frazier Campbell’s goal. Hart is forcing his manager Pellegrini to defend his position and providing the Chilean with a headache that he could definitely do without.

After the match, Pellegrini was again forced to deflect the blame elsewhere, as he said: “It doesn’t matter who is guilty. Defending set pieces is a duty for the whole team, not just the goalkeeper or the defenders.” One gets the impression that it won’t be too long before Pellegrini will run out of patience and excuses. And with Ben Foster in such fine form, it looks as if his England place too is under threat.