Given out for a month

[villadelph]

The thing I'm most nervous about is how none of our defensive players are able to pass out of the back, and now with Guzan between the sticks there will be even more nervous energy back there. Long balls and deep clearances will be needed more than ever. I can see McLeish yelling at training now, "Just get it out."

If we drop Bolton, I'll lose it.

[eastie]

I  fear the worst with guzan in goal, a good shot stopper but absolutely awful on crosses and corners -i hope he has learned from past mistakes and improved greatly over the last 12 months-if not we are going to be up the creek.

[philthebar]

He's like most other modern day keepers - good shot stoppers - suspect on corners/crosses and doesn't talk enough to his defence.  And yes I am being critical - just like Given!

[TaxDodger]

Can we not sign Gabor Kiraly on loan?

[Mister E]

A fair few of the goals we have conceded appear to have been a result of poor communication (See spurs 2nd goal for example).  When various keeper were being touted around in the summer one of the criticisms of Given was that he did not organise his defence or command his area properly.  Maybe, just maybe the louder Guzan might help encourage our motley crew to play as a better unit. 

How's that for unjustified optimism?

Funny, 'cos I felt with Friedel that the communication bit cannot have been happening very well.

[Merv]

I think Guzan will be fine. At least it's only a month for Given, back for the New Year.

Any news on Jenas? It looked like he snapped his Achilles to me.

[Hookeysmith]

At this level they are all brilliant shot stoppers on their day - rare today do you see keepers dominate the box on crosses - i would imagine that the new balls and the change in direction in flight has a lot to do with this

Gone are the days when a ball into the box was claimed by the keeper under immense pressure from forwards

In fact the last 2 i remember being particulary good at this were both ours - James and Sorensson

It takes so much pressure off set pieces but just seems to have been coached out of modern keepers

[CJ]

Can we not sign Gabor Kiraly on loan?

Don't think we need to get anyone else in as it's only for a month. Andy Marshall will be on the bench so we only need to panic if one of them gets injured.

[Hookeysmith]

Can we not sign Gabor Kiraly on loan?

Don't think we need to get anyone else in as it's only for a month. Andy Marshall will be on the bench so we only need to panic if one of them gets injured.

It must be the best job in football - reserve keeper

Never gets a game for first team - not even on bench when Given and Guzan are fit
Hardly gets a game in reserves as usually the younger players get in

Good money for a bit of training each day!

[SoccerHQ]

I don't think Guzan is as bad as made out tbh. As Dave says, he was pretty dodgy in the Blackburn games (still kept a clean sheet in the first leg) and has been brilliant up at Sunderland in the cup and at Prague.

Only real game I worry about him is Stoke away but in the others I don't expect to be much different in what we concede whether it's Given or Guzan in goal.

[SoccerHQ]

I remember a relatively comfortable 3-1 win and the semi final first leg where he could have spent most of the game asleep in the six yard box.

One goal conceded in the other 180 minutes isn't too bad.

In the 3-1 cup game at VP in 2010 (not last season but the one before, easy to get confused!) their goal came from him dropping a Pedersen corner into the net.

[SoccerHQ]

Is Siergiest making an impact for the reserves/youths?

Anyone think he has the tools to succeed in top level English football?