Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has gone on loan to Torino. It would have been so nice if he could have come here on loan!
Of course, we couldn't pay him what he is worth, with all our DP slots filled. (And I don't think that there has been a keeper DP so far in the league.) Still, such a move would have served City's needs by removing a player whom Guardiola clearly does not rate, even if CFG would still be paying his wages. (Of course, we don't know whether or to what degree they are doing that in his actual loan.) And it really would have served NYCFC's needs, by bringing in a world-class keeper.
Finally, coming to NYCFC would have served Hart's needs, by guaranteeing him first-team action in his efforts to remain England's no. 1. But here we run into the perception problem that MLS still suffers under. Even if we could somehow have brought Hart in, one wonders whether England manager Sam Allardyce would view a move to MLS as a major step down in quality. By contrast, a move from the Premier League to Serie A will surely be seen as lateral.
Anyway, this is a case where we really chafe under MLS rules, and where being "a Man City farm club" would be a great thing!
I still think that NYCFC missed the boat by not going after former Barcelona and Spain keeper Victor Valdes (who has been around forever, but is nevertheless a year younger than Saunders) while he was languishing on Man United's bench and in Louis van Gaal's doghouse. Valdes has now signed with newly-promoted Middlesbrough, where he will have to fight it out with Brad Guzan. It's hard to see how that's better than starting every match for NYCFC. But, maybe even Boro are paying him more than we could.
Of course, we couldn't pay him what he is worth, with all our DP slots filled. (And I don't think that there has been a keeper DP so far in the league.) Still, such a move would have served City's needs by removing a player whom Guardiola clearly does not rate, even if CFG would still be paying his wages. (Of course, we don't know whether or to what degree they are doing that in his actual loan.) And it really would have served NYCFC's needs, by bringing in a world-class keeper.
Finally, coming to NYCFC would have served Hart's needs, by guaranteeing him first-team action in his efforts to remain England's no. 1. But here we run into the perception problem that MLS still suffers under. Even if we could somehow have brought Hart in, one wonders whether England manager Sam Allardyce would view a move to MLS as a major step down in quality. By contrast, a move from the Premier League to Serie A will surely be seen as lateral.
Anyway, this is a case where we really chafe under MLS rules, and where being "a Man City farm club" would be a great thing!
I still think that NYCFC missed the boat by not going after former Barcelona and Spain keeper Victor Valdes (who has been around forever, but is nevertheless a year younger than Saunders) while he was languishing on Man United's bench and in Louis van Gaal's doghouse. Valdes has now signed with newly-promoted Middlesbrough, where he will have to fight it out with Brad Guzan. It's hard to see how that's better than starting every match for NYCFC. But, maybe even Boro are paying him more than we could.
