Keeper for Semi?

[DoomMerchant]

I think Pants is an excellent back up keeper. However he does have ambition to be a No1 choice. My slight fear is that dropping him for the big game after he has played the rest would feel like a vote of "no confidence" for him and we'll be looking to find a back up keeper of similar quality.
Besides which, I think he would do just fine.
So Costel would be my choice.

i think on probability that Joe Hart is just as likely to walk into the side and drop a bollock as Pantilemons is.

On that assessment, it doesn't really matter to me which we play, and Costel's gotten us to this point so give him the gloves. If we get tonked 3-1 then we can all have something to blame Mancini for as well. Win-Win for Piccs.

cheers

[steveo_88]

I really can't believe what I'm reading. We've underperformed this year due to a culmination of factors and because of a few poor results along the way Joe Hart is suddenly a shite keeper and Costel 'HASN'T HAD A FUCLIN SAVE TO MAKE' is the answer?

Costel is slower than the illegitimate one running down the wing if he has to get down and actually save a shot. He attempts to catch less than De Gea and when he comes to punch is less than fifty fifty if he makes contact! I don't care if he plays in the upcoming derby but a serious chance of winning a pot? Have i missed the punchline?

[Mase]

I really can't believe what I'm reading. We've underperformed this year due to a culmination of factors and because of a few poor results along the way Joe Hart is suddenly a shite keeper and Costel 'HASN'T HAD A FUCLIN SAVE TO MAKE' is the answer?

Costel is slower than the illegitimate one running down the wing if he has to get down and actually save a shot. He attempts to catch less than De Gea and when he comes to punch is less than fifty fifty if he makes contact! I don't care if he plays in the upcoming derby but a serious chance of winning a pot? Have i missed the punchline?

He's not conceded a goal in the FA Cup though has he?

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

I really can't believe what I'm reading. We've underperformed this year due to a culmination of factors and because of a few poor results along the way Joe Hart is suddenly a shite keeper and Costel 'HASN'T HAD A FUCLIN SAVE TO MAKE' is the answer?

Costel is slower than the illegitimate one running down the wing if he has to get down and actually save a shot. He attempts to catch less than De Gea and when he comes to punch is less than fifty fifty if he makes contact! I don't care if he plays in the upcoming derby but a serious chance of winning a pot? Have i missed the punchline?

That might be fair criticism except that Joe Hart catches less than Monty Panasar!

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

I don't really think Joe's been that bad this season.

I would like to see what Pants can do more, who knows what he's capable of?

It will be interesting to see which way Mancini goes, can see both camps setting up a very good case. I wouldn't know who to pick myself, though think Hart would just JUST edge it.

[Herb]

Copied the text below from the sunday mirror so if it's accurate then that's likely to be by accident!

Feeling Pants! Manchester City set to leave out Joe Hart for Costel Pantilimon in FA Cup clash with Chelsea

Joe Hart faces FA Cup heartbreak against Chelsea next Sunday.

The England keeper has not started a ­domestic cup tie for the last two seasons, with boss Roberto Mancini preferring understudy Costel Pantilimon. Pantilimon, the 6ft 8inch Romanian, has told friends he has been ­assured he will keep his place for the semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley.
That would be a tough decision for Mancini to make given Hart’s status at the Etihad. And the fact that the FA Cup provides Mancini with his last remaining chance of honours this season.
Hart’s last appearance in the competition was when City lifted the Cup by ­beating Stoke in 2011.
Pantilimon was in goal when City’s hold on the trophy was ended by a 3-2 defeat by Manchester ­United.
And he has been between the sticks this season as City have overcome ­Watford, Stoke, Leeds and Barnsley to reach the last four.
Hart will be desperate to play in a game that will make or break City’s ­season.But Pantilimon has never let City down and knows there are a number of clubs monitoring his position at the club.

Leaving Hart out could be a high-risk strategy for ­Mancini. The Italian boss has been critical of his leading goalie at times this season but the popular Hart has ­consistently bounced back and re-established himself as No.1 for club and ­country.
Hart is popular with City fans who respect his ­willingness to front up to mistakes — both individual and collective. And the England star ­accepts the Blues need to repay their fans’ loyalty.Hart said: “We are not a flash in the pan. We are still a side to beat and will come again.“I don't care about ­criticism being fair or ­unfair. You can’t feel like a victim.”

[steveo_88]

I really can't believe what I'm reading. We've underperformed this year due to a culmination of factors and because of a few poor results along the way Joe Hart is suddenly a shite keeper and Costel 'HASN'T HAD A FUCLIN SAVE TO MAKE' is the answer?

Costel is slower than the illegitimate one running down the wing if he has to get down and actually save a shot. He attempts to catch less than De Gea and when he comes to punch is less than fifty fifty if he makes contact! I don't care if he plays in the upcoming derby but a serious chance of winning a pot? Have i missed the punchline?

He's not conceded a goal in the FA Cup though has he?

Horses for courses, you don't leave your prize stalion in the stables for the grand national.

We would be even having this conversation if Shay was still the backup?

[steveo_88]

I really can't believe what I'm reading. We've underperformed this year due to a culmination of factors and because of a few poor results along the way Joe Hart is suddenly a shite keeper and Costel 'HASN'T HAD A FUCLIN SAVE TO MAKE' is the answer?

Costel is slower than the illegitimate one running down the wing if he has to get down and actually save a shot. He attempts to catch less than De Gea and when he comes to punch is less than fifty fifty if he makes contact! I don't care if he plays in the upcoming derby but a serious chance of winning a pot? Have i missed the punchline?

That might be fair criticism except that Joe Hart catches less than Monty Panasar!

Yes I'm not impressed with that but that may be down to the coaching. In England we prefer keepers to catch the ball, outside the British Isles there's less emphasis on it, not an excuse, just they may be emphasising 'if you come - at least get something on it'. A sort of Casilias approach who hardly ever catches the ball. Joe still needs to improve in several areas of his game he's not the finished article.

Yet just because Joe is not the finished product there's still no justification for sticking a lumbering goon in net who for his size is an even worse catcher of the ball. Which for Costel is exacerbated by the fact he attempts to punch everything.

Costel is never going to be a Buffon, Casilias, Cech, Van Der Sar, Kahn or even a Hart. IMO he's not even as accomplished as Carlo Nash or Nicky Weaver.

[Burt]

I really can't believe what I'm reading. We've underperformed this year due to a culmination of factors and because of a few poor results along the way Joe Hart is suddenly a shite keeper and Costel 'HASN'T HAD A FUCLIN SAVE TO MAKE' is the answer?

Costel is slower than the illegitimate one running down the wing if he has to get down and actually save a shot. He attempts to catch less than De Gea and when he comes to punch is less than fifty fifty if he makes contact! I don't care if he plays in the upcoming derby but a serious chance of winning a pot? Have i missed the punchline?

He's not conceded a goal in the FA Cup though has he?

Horses for courses, you don't leave your prize stalion in the stables for the grand national.

We would be even having this conversation if Shay was still the backup?

There are no stallions that have ever run in the National mate. They all have their nadgers cut orf before they are sent to jump fences. I'm sure that you can imagine the consequences of atempting to jump fences with their nadgers dangling over that sharp brushwood. Nasty orrible thought that............................

[I Just Blue Myself]

I really can't believe what I'm reading. We've underperformed this year due to a culmination of factors and because of a few poor results along the way Joe Hart is suddenly a shite keeper and Costel 'HASN'T HAD A FUCLIN SAVE TO MAKE' is the answer?

Costel is slower than the illegitimate one running down the wing if he has to get down and actually save a shot. He attempts to catch less than De Gea and when he comes to punch is less than fifty fifty if he makes contact! I don't care if he plays in the upcoming derby but a serious chance of winning a pot? Have i missed the punchline?

That might be fair criticism except that Joe Hart catches less than Monty Panasar!

Yes I'm not impressed with that but that may be down to the coaching. In England we prefer keepers to catch the ball, outside the British Isles there's less emphasis on it, not an excuse, just they may be emphasising 'if you come - at least get something on it'. A sort of Casilias approach who hardly ever catches the ball. Joe still needs to improve in several areas of his game he's not the finished article.

Yet just because Joe is not the finished product there's still no justification for sticking a lumbering goon in net who for his size is an even worse catcher of the ball. Which for Costel is exacerbated by the fact he attempts to punch everything.

Costel is never going to be a Buffon, Casilias, Cech, Van Der Sar, Kahn or even a Hart. IMO he's not even as accomplished as Carlo Nash or Nicky Weaver.

Well, for starters, Casillas is about 6ft, while Hart is 6'5 & twice as wide. With his stature he should be clothes-lining players left & right to catch the ball most of the time instead of punching. It's a weakness, not as bad as his atrocious kicking, but there's no way around it. It can lead to danger if the ball ends up with the opposition at the edge of the box, which seems to happen quite frequently.

A lumbering goon? That's just silly. Pants might not be as agile as Hart & other keepers (understandable with his build) & he has spilled the odd cross or shot during his time here, but most of the time he's been pretty assured.

I seem to remember that Stoke played their 2nd keeper in the FA Cup Final 2010. Granted, he played out of his skin, but it would be interesting what their fans thought of it before the game.
In my opinion, if you have two decent keepers (even if one of them is superior) & you decide to hand one the Cup competitions & he doesn't concede a goal & most importantly doesn't cock up, you should stick with him. Now, if you had some gimp like Ross Turnbull as 2nd choice, there wouldn't even be a debate, but this isn't the case here, so... debate away.

[sandman]