Source: Daily_Mail
Joe Hart in fear of derby axe after slips cost Manchester City
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has confided in friends he fears being dropped after a series of below-par displays.[LNB] Hart is expected to keep his place for tomorrow's game at home to West Bromwich Albion, but he knows any more errors will leave manager Roberto Mancini with a dilemma ahead of next week's Manchester derby at Old Trafford.[LNB] Looking down: Hart appears dejected at St Andrew's on Wednesday[LNB] Mancini has stuck by the England keeper despite criticising him for a lack of concentration this season.[LNB] The Italian insists recalling Shay Given in place of Hart is not a decision he will take lightly, but the 23-year-old has told friends he thinks his place is in jeopardy. [LNB]Hart said yesterday: 'Criticism is part and parcel of being a keeper but us letting in goals doesn't look great for me.[LNB] 'I've not been pleased. I hate letting goals in and some of them have come in a bit of an awkward manner.[LNB] 'At the start of the season the ball was hitting me and at the moment I'm in a patch where it isn't. You've got to be strong, brush that aside and look to come out the other side.[LNB] 'Shay's a great goalie and a great guy, and he wants to be playing first team football as much as me, which makes it all the more exciting.'[LNB] Hart was again less than convincing in Wednesday's 2-2 draw at Birmingham opposite his England rival Ben Foster. [LNB] No chance: Birmingham City's Craig Gardener, left, beats Joe Hart from the penalty spot[LNB]Only last week Fabio Capello urged Hart to maintain his focus, and the England manager faces a difficult decision of his own ahead of Wednesday's friendly international in Denmark.[LNB]However Hart insists there is no problem with his concentration levels and said: [LNB]'People are entitled to their opinions and can say what they want,'he said. 'But when it comes to football, I focus. I don't know whatelse there is to think about when you are in goal. What else I could beconsidered to be concentrating on?[LNB]'It is not as if there is a movie going on in the background or youare doing your homework and a fly comes into the room and you go afterit. There is a ball. That is it.'[LNB] Aleksandar Kolarov, meanwhile, feels City need to aim for the type of big-money deal which took Fernando Torres to Chelsea for ?50million if they want to be regarded as a 'great' football club.[LNB] The Serb believes they will not be able to leap the 'final hurdle' to success if they don't follow the Stamford Bridge club's stunning coup. [LNB] Warning: Kolarov says Manchester City need to make some big-money deals[LNB]Wednesday's draw at St Andrew's left Mancini's side eight points behind leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand. [LNB]And, despite the ?27m capture of Edin Dzeko from Wolfsburg, Kolarov believes Roman Abramovich's move for Torres will lift their rivals to another level.[LNB] 'If you want a great squad, maybe you have to buy some very good players,' he said, 'Chelsea have paid ?50m for Torres and he's a great player. Maybe this is a problem for us because we are always a good club but never in the final hurdle.[LNB] 'All English clubs spend a lot of money on players. If you want Torres then you have to pay ?50m because he's one of the best in the world.'[LNB] Kolarov says he believes City can maintain a title tilt but is convinced the extra experience of more established teams may count. [LNB]He said: 'I don't think other teams are better than us. Perhaps we have six players who are new to the squad and other sides have played together for two or three years.[LNB] 'We want to qualify for the Champions League but I think we can do better than just the first four. If we play like in other months we can win the title.' [LNB] Adebayor sets up El Clasico final with 5,000th Real goal at the BernabeuManchester City legend Neil Young dies of cancer aged 66All the latest Manchester City news, features and opinion [LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Edin Dzeko, Shay Given, Joe Hart, Fabio Capello, Roman Abramovich, Roberto Mancini, Fernando Torres, Ben Foster Places: Birmingham, Manchester, Denmark, United Kingdom
