Joe Hart
There are Celtic “fan” sites that lure you in with clickbait and sensationalist headlines, and there are those that simply regurgitate what others have produced, either the mainstream media or less forgivably, other Celtic fan sites.
I hope you realise I am never the latter and on a certain cheeky level, only occasionally the former.
The purpose of the above is to presage this small piece on Joe Hart. As it isn’t primarily about Hart (well, it is). I’m currently playing with a new toy to create radars and this was the first subject that came to mind.
With radars the art is in a) selecting the right data points and b) the right maximum and minimum boundaries.
I trust you appreciate that one of the (few, admittedly) benefits of this site is the ability to compare Celtic players over the years on a truly “apples to apples” basis. Most data sites provide radars in the context of the rest of the league (hugely distorted given the competitive inequalities of the SPFL Premiership) or limited to one competition.
I can show you how players compare against their peer group of other Celtic players and across all competitions.
Now the issue with goalkeepers is the population of custodians with more than 900 minutes since 2014/15 is 11! So, it’s a long game for this position.
Anyway, back to Hart.
Hart 2023-24
Here is how he is comparing to that small population of peers, this season.
Sorry the text is so small.
GSAA = Goals Saved Above Average
GSAxG = Goals Saved Above Expected Goals
PEI% = Possession Efficiency Index
Position Error = average starting distance away from “optimal” per shot faced
The rest should be explanatory.
What we maybe do not emphasise enough about Hart is how well he has adapted late in his career to be effective with his feet. Yes, he can look slow and uncomfortable on occasion, but he is a trier.
The bottom left corner of the radar is where the “distribution” metrics reside. By volume and result, he is the best goalkeeper Celtic has had since records began (!) in simply recycling the ball – a key component in modern play. His pack pass score is low meaning he isn’t particularly risky in his passing.
Otherwise, he is now at 36, less effective at keeping the bally out of the netty.
He is in negative territory as regards goals saved above (in this case below) average and in goals saved above (in this case below) expected goals. His simple save percentage is also in the 60s, not the preferred 80s.
Retirement is a wise course for him as he hasn’t yet fallen off the proverbial form cliff but is nudging in that direction.
Anyway, thanks for indulging and welcome feedback on the radar. More positions to follow.