Capello warns Hart to keep focus & cut out lapses

[bluethai]

Fabio Capello has warned the England goalkeeper Joe Hart he must cut out the lapses in concentration that have cost Manchester City this season.

After cementing his place for both club and country with a number of commanding displays earlier this season the 23-year-old has since come in for some criticism.

He was culpable for Andy King's equaliser for Leicester City in the FA Cup and should have done better than to parry a shot by Ashley Young that led to Darren Bent's winner against Aston Villa at the weekend.

The City manager, Roberto Mancini, has already spoken to Hart about his loss of concentration at key times and now his England counterpart has joined in, suggesting the young goalkeeper will have to start showing more consistency.

"He has made mistakes but, also, he is young," Capello said of Hart. "I think it is important for him to understand that he has to be focused in every moment of the game. It is difficult to play for a team that has to win and has spent a lot of money to win. You have to understand that, when you play against another team from the middle of the table or the bottom of the table, these teams will play 110 per cent to beat you.

"You have to play every time at the top because you have to be focused in every game. If you play with Manchester United, you can't make mistakes. If you play with Arsenal, you can't make mistakes. You have to win every game if you are going to arrive at the top of the table."

England's next match is the friendly with Denmark in Copenhagen on 8 February and Capello is out to get the attention of players who have not represented their country since losing a friendly with France at Wembley in November, when Ben Foster was between the posts. While Capello's objective is to qualify for the 2012 European Championship that comes at the end of his contract, he has also been involved in discussions over long-term planning.

Sir Trevor Brooking, the FA's director of football development, is to have an assistant, with Gareth Southgate among the possible candidates who have been mentioned. Capello has also met the FA's new chairman, David Bernstein. The appointment of the former Manchester City chairman had been approved by the FA board in December and was formally ratified by the FA council yesterday.

Capello also praised the work of female assistant referees, following the Andy Gray controversy. "I [managed] in a lot of games with women as linesmen," Capello said. "In every time they were focused and made the correct decisions. Lineswomen are good."

:Guardian

 

[johnny on the spot]

Capello's a twat.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

The inexplicable thing about Hart is that he can make the most incredible reflex save such as that header v. Leicester in the first match and then he looks to have fallen asleep for their second goal.

 

[waspish]

Capello warns Hart to keep focus & cut out lapses

He needs to have a word with Rooney! Better start scoring or you won't be picked! Wont hold my breath

 

[binitd]

hart must keep focus.he has been loosing for some games now

 

[u2fme2]

Don't we all

 

[GStar]

Fuck off Capello... we'll see more hypocrasy when Rooney starts our next game with Wez Brown given an 'honourary' call up.