The culpability of a goalkeeper for the concession of a goal can often be hard to determine. Comparable to the manner in which a 'great save' for some is routine in the eyes of others, questioning whether the "goalkeeper could have done better there" is inevitably countered by the belief that the goal was unstoppable.
Despite appearing at one stage to be a player in possession of all the necessary tools to succeed at the highest level, Joe Hart has appeared to be getting progressively poorer - despite being at an age where a goalkeeper may very well enter his prime.
Although high-profile mistakes don't necessarily determine the overall effectiveness of a goalkeeper, the Telegraph have today revealed the primary weak-point in Hart's game - and opposition players have already started to notice it seems.
To the point that the occurrence of this mistake is now often greeted with a knowing shrug, it has become apparent that 4 times out of 10, Joe Hart cannot save shots low to his left-hand side.
Gareth Bale's long-range free for Wales or Kolbeinn Sigthorsson's tame strike for Iceland are but two examples demonstrating Hart's issue over the course of a concentrated period of time. Consult the many available "Joe Hart blooper reels" on YouTube and the frequency with which he suffers down low is staggering.
What is most concerning however for the man still clinging to England's #1 jersey is that statistics suggest opposing teams have noticed this anomaly and are seeking to punish it more severely (Watch here the success Roma had against Hart in the Torino goal last season).
Although Hart's time at West Ham is still in its infancy, and the 10 goals he has conceded in the opening 3 games speaks more of the problems the club are facing generally, the above graph shows the manner in which his weakness is already being exploited.
With Slaven Bilic appearing to be on the cusp of losing his job, and Jordan Pickford a sure, long-term rival - sooner rather then later - for Hart in the England stakes, things could begin to unravel quite quickly for a goalkeeper that appears tainted beyond repair.
