Should Manchester City Sell David James?
It is being widely reported this morning that Harry Redknapp is going offer Manchester City a bid of £2million for their England goalkeeper David James. James joined City during the 2003/2004 season replacing the retired David Seaman. His performances that season were largely responsible for keeping City in the Premiership.
Unfairly, James has been labelled as a calamity in football. Some high profile mistakes earlier in his career have stayed with him as the lazy football pundit is quick to paint a picture that nothing much has changed. Upon his arrival at Manchester City the fans were instantly taken by the big stopper. After high profile mistakes at international level, against Austria and Denmark, the City fans have always welcomed him back to the sanctuary of Eastlands. And the reason for this? James has always been a reliable performer for Manchester City.
So why would City want to sell James?
City’s current number one goalkeeper has just turned 36, and whilst he brings a vast amount of experience to the City defence his reflexes will not be getting any sharper in the twilight of his career. The £2million fee, were it to be accepted, could instantly be used towards acquiring a decent full back or wide player, positions in which the club are under strength. James is also one of the highest earners at the club and a salary close to £30,000 per week could be used towards 1 or 2 new players.
The most important reason why City could cash in on James is that City already have strength in depth in the goalkeeping department.
Nicky Weaver
Nicky Weaver will always be remembered for his heroics in City’s Wembley play off final against Gillingham. The following season he played a huge part in City’s back to back promotions with some outstanding performances. His debut in the Premiership did not go so nearly as well. As City were sent straight back down he unfairly came in for criticism when he was over exposed far too frequently by weak City team. Much of his career since then has been blighted by injury but for over a year now he has been playing regular football, and in two spells at Sheffield Wednesday last year he appeared in 14 Championship matches. At only 27 there is still time for Weaver to fulfil his huge potential.
Joe Hart
Stuart Pearce’s first signing of the summer joined from Shrewsbury Town for an initial fee of £800,000. According to Pearce the imposing 19 year old is one of the most promising goalkeepers in the country right now. Capped at England under 19 level Hart has already been involved in City’s pre-season matches and could be primed for a Premiership outing sometime this season.
Kasper Schmeichel
Son of the great Peter Schmeichel, Kasper signed his first professional contract with City in November 2004. Also 19 years of age, he has had some good performances for the reserves last season whilst also earning some rave reviews in his brief loan spells at Darlington and Bury. Pearce has stated that he hopes in the future to see Joe Hart and Kasper Schmiechel battling it out for the goalkeepers jersey.
To sell or not to sell?
In weighing up whether to cash in now on David James, Stuart Pearce and his goalkeeping coach Tim Flowers will have much to ponder. Could Nicky Weaver be relied on to complete a full Premiership season? Should Weaver be unfortunate to suffer injury yet again will Joe Hart and Kasper Schmeichel be up to the riggers of the premiership at, in goalkeeping terms, such a young age? Could a more experienced goalkeeper be brought in on loan as an understudy for Weaver for just one season?
As tempting as the offer of £2million for James is, and the savings that could be made from his wages, his removal from the City rearguard could have an affect on City’s back four. Confidence in their goalkeeper is paramount if the whole defensive unit is to work well. Whilst selling James could work if it allowed improvement elsewhere in the team, it is a risk I’m uncomfortable with. I await with interest to see what Pearce decides.
City fans what do you think your club should do, to sell or not to sell?
Can’t see the benefits of selling James for merely £2m. He’ll go on for another two years at the top-level, and is such an impressive figure for City that I cannot understand any mooted sale. As mentioned, the back four have developed a relationship with him over a long period, and until you see the temperament of Hart, his earmarked successor, in high profile matches in front of sizeable crowds, it’s too risky a move to make at this stage for such a pitiful return. On top of that, there’s a dearth of talent out there as potential stopgap. Keep him, let Hart learn from him, throw Hart in for Carling Cup games and end-of-season ties (if they are by then meaningless) and see how he progresses.
James, so often a flapping eejit for England, is consistently very good for Man C. He is one of the better keepers in the Premiership, and it would be disastrous to let him go, unless Joe Hart was ready to start, which he isn’t. How about getting Mike Pollitt off Wigan? They’ve got Kirkland and Filan now and Pollitt is a fine goalkeeper and fairly young. In any case I’d argue that City desperately need to bring in a left midfielder. Julian Gray is in the Championship and Andy Reid at Tottenham is being bandied about everywhere. Both are good talents, particularly Reid who plays regularly well at international level whenever asked (a shame for him that Duff is in the side).
Sell him, but only if there’s a replacement lined up. A Swedish keeper was mentioned a couple of weeks ago. James has never done much wrong for City but if City can recoup the original outlay and save on wages then letting him go seems good sense. Weaver is suspect on the injury front and he wasn’t convincing when he did play in the Premiership. The others are too young and inexperienced. I’ve got to agree with the post about getting a left winger - it’s vital we get someone who can play there.
One I don’t believe Pearce or James are interested in parting. Two James would’nt get the same wages. As for Rednapp wanting a keeper, he probably has more chance of getting Weaver, that is not what I want to happenbut Weaver could possibly get more of a chance at another club buts wait and see?
Bernard - looks like Portsmouth do want James