Why Manchester City Must Be Bold and Replace Joe Hart with Willy Caballero

Manchester City's triumphant journey to the Premier League title in 2013/14 was undoubtedly built on their stellar power going forward.

But just as important for the club, especially in those tight clashes at the top of the table, was an unyielding defence backed up by a goalkeeper at the top of his game. 

A handful of games into the new campaign, however, neither of those two crucial elements has been particularly evident for Manuel Pellegrini's men. 

The Etihad Stadium was rocked in August as lowly Stoke downed the champions 1-0. Only a late goal from Martin Demichelis saved the Citizens from another defeat away to Arsenal as they salvaged a 2-2 draw, and it was the turn of Jerome Boateng of Bayern Munich next to pile more pressure on Pellegrini with a thunderbolt in the Champions League.

Manchester City have recorded just one clean sheet in six competitive games so far this season, including a 3-0 Community Shield mauling at the hands of the Gunners.

It is not exactly a crisis moment for the manager, but something clearly has to be done to steady the ship and, more than anything, show City's players how to break out of their current funk. 

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Handing the gloves to Argentine veteran Willy Caballero is one such option that the Chilean should seriously consider.

The former Malaga star endured a nightmare debut in England. He was between the posts for City's Community Shield capitulation, as Arsenal ran riot at Wembley.

But Caballero cannot be held at fault for any of the strikes that the London side rained down on that sunny August afternoon. Indeed, if not for a pinpoint intervention rushing out of his penalty area, the deficit could have been even greater for the champions. 

Hart, on the other hand, has seemed to struggle to put a World Cup hangover behind him. Usually lively and dynamic in goal, the England international appears strangely listless so far this season.

A calamitous defence which has been far too happy to concede control on the edge of the penalty area has been the principal cause of the goals so far, but Hart has done little to try and stem the tide. 

Changing his No. 1 is a risk but one worth taking for Pellegrini. Caballero will be hungry to show what he can do if included against Chelsea and beyond, while Hart will receive a clear message. If his best form is eluding him, there is another man all too happy to step in and fight for that coveted jersey.