I don't think it's a major point in all honesty. Utd's defence weren't brilliant in the early 90's because Schmeichal kept rollicking Pallister and Bruce. The amount of times defenders hang up their boots and are asked about the loud keepers they've had behind them, and invariably they say "I ignored him half the time."
But yes, Given could shout more and it'd help...a little bit. But frankly defenders shouldn't be told what to do, they should fucking do it.
The way people talk about footballers sometimes you wonder if they're mindless moronic robots. If a ball comes in, clear it. Always play safety first. If a shout is required to let a defender know he's got someone on his blindside, then I'm sure Given would do so.
For me it's not the keepers job to organise the defence it's between the coaching, and the whole defensive unit as a whole.
What can given do about his fullbacks tackling like pillocks, or his centrebacks looking like their playing on different pitches? He can't.
Given's still one of the best in the business. When we've had better defenders in the past, we've defended better. And when we've had better management we've defended better. It's not even purely down to tactics, it's man motivation too. Players who bust a gut for MON did nothing for Houllier and are giving the minimum for Mcleish.
