Shay Given - Best Keeper since Bossie?

[hawkeye]

Best since Rimmer.

Correct

[The Left Side]

Top keeper, great save yesterday and glad he is ours!

[gervilla]

Well that didn't take long. 5 games in and now ye are all seeing what us Republic of Ireland supporters have been saying with years.
They guy is class, we are lucky to have him.
Keep it up Shay.

[timeoutbigbar]

Great keeper, although I do think he's got a way to go to be as consistently good as bossie.

[gervilla]

Great keeper, although I do think he's got a way to go to be as consistently good as bossie.

For Villa , yes.
In the Premier League, no.
Only Man City could have left him sitting on his arse all last season.

[Ray Graydon]

Definately the best we have had since Bossie, if he stays fit I think he will save us a lot of points we would have let slip last year.

[supertom]

Without doubt. In fact, Shay's been so consistent over his career, far more consistent than Bossie ever was. Bos obviously did little after us, and also wasn't at his best in 94-95. I think the crew cut lost him his powers, like Samson. But yeah, I thought Friedel was excellent, but Shay's even better. IMO one of the best keepers to grace the Prem. Worthy of placement in the elite with the likes of Schmeichal, Seaman and Edwin. I'd have him over Hart too, so we're lucky to have him. There's few better shot stoppers than Given.

[Caiphus]

Bozzie and Shay are probably the two best shot stoppers I've seen. B was more commanding in the air, SG is better with his feet. Bozzie could cover more goal, but Shay has the better close range reflex. I'm a sucker for a spectacular dive and I loved Bozzie because not only would he make saves that you thought he would never reach but he would hold on to them as well. Shay is so good at multiple blocks in succession.  Bozzie will always be my favourite if he didn't hit the Charlie could still be playing now. Shay has been brilliant for the 15 years I've been watching football.

[glasses]

Spot on, best since Bosnich, and the only one to come close is James IMO

[Irish villain]

Well that didn't take long. 5 games in and now ye are all seeing what us Republic of Ireland supporters have been saying with years.
They guy is class, we are lucky to have him.
Keep it up Shay.

This. I have always said he was world class.

[dave.woodhall]

Let's have a bit of proportion first. Jimmy Rimmer was this good for six seasons - Shay hasn't played six games yet.

[usav]

Outstanding keeper....no question.

[PaulWinch again]

He is a top goalkeeper and he inspires confidence in the team.

[SoccerHQ]

That save from Cabaye right from the end was unbelievable, thought it was in all the way.

However being ultra critical (and this is a definite weakness in Given's game) should he not be coming out to punch away the cross when Best was only 5 yards out?

[andyaston]

I think Dunne lost Best for the cross, it was also very close to being offside, sometimes the linesman would of given the defending side the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunatley, he didn't unlike, some who seem to do the same with Bent and, Best put it away at the second attempt.