Guzan v Given

[Mortimer's Bear]

I'd give Shay a run, Guzan has looked ropey all season in my opinion.

[peter w]

Another vote for Given.

[LeeB]

I'd still play Guzan next week with Lukaku on the horizon

Is Lukaku banned from VP then?

I might be slow and thick right now but you've lost me Mr Shin

It was a shit joke about Lukaku on the horizon rather than the ptich.

I liked it.

[Villa in Denmark]

It's not just the Enkleman esque fuck up, there was also the huge flap at a corner that should have cost us another goal in the first half.

Where as when he first got into the team he dominated the penalty area coming for just about everything and getting it, now he gives me the eeby jeebies.

It's a 6 of one, half a dozen of the other right now. Given might be tied to the goal line when crosses come in, but there's no way on earth he'd have cost us that first goal.

For what it's worth I've gone for Given for the rest of the season.

[TheMalandro]

but there's no way on earth he'd have cost us that first goal.

He nearly did the same thing in one of the cup games. But do think perhaps you are right wanting brad dropped.

[LTA]

No surprise to me the minute Guzan comes back we look all at sea in defense.  This is the first times hes been under pressure in 3 seasons from Shay and he clearly cant cope with it.

Given all the way for me.  Today was the last straw with Guzan.  He's utter rubbish.

[PeterWithesShin]

Not in a million years is he utter rubbish.

[Grande Pablo]

I'd also give Given a run, but Guzan is one the reasons we're still in the PL after the last couple of seasons.  He'll come back stronger.

[supertom]

I don't think Guzan is looking too good on crosses recently. I'd rather have someone stay on the line as opposed to coming out and flapping. And actually in a couple of the cup games, Given hasn't been too bad in coming out and claiming crosses. He's looked fired up and he's looked intent on winning his place back. I know people go back to his poor start to Lambos first season, but for me that was less a case of him being way past his best, and more just a case of a drop in form. He deserved to be dropped then and Lambert in fairness did. By the same token, Given has looked good enough in the cups to warrant getting the nod now that Guzan's form has dropped.
In the last four months my stance has been that Guzan has been off the boil without making any huge errors. I felt he needed to find some consistency again and that he was walking that tightrope. An error like the one today is droppable offence for me. It's not out of the blue, it's a culmination of a generally bad run of form. He doesn't look as commanding on crosses. He's been poor at dealing with shots low and close and his kicking has been awful (even by his standards).

Guzan is still our number one and will be here for a few years to come, but we've got a quality back up in Given who is still more than good enough at this level, and his displays this season have been solid. Apart from anything he just seems very focused and composed, whereas Guzan is currently pretty erratic. If I had to bet now on who might cost us a place in the league between Guzan and Given, it would be Guzan.

[Norm Crandles]

Guzan is not a very good goalie.
He`s brave, athletic and has excellent reflexes, 
but his overall skill-sets are seriously deficient in key areas.
- He reads the game poorly and this negatively affect his line-leaving and similar decisions.
- His ball distribution is poor whether from kicking from hand or the ground.
- he is clumsy with the ball at his feet.
- despite a few world-class saves which saved or earned us points, he concedes far too
   many 'stoppable' goals.
Much of his overall problem stems from believing that the goalie is the last line of defence rather than the first line of attack.  I always had a goalie coach on my staff but the goalies did the same skill-drills as rest of the team,in addition to their specialised training.
 These observations are not based on today`s game.

Norm.

[The Adventurer]

Given for the rest of the season for me & then I'd be looking at buying a new 1st choice keeper in the summer!

[pauliewalnuts]

Guzan is not a very good goalie.
He`s brave, athletic and has excellent reflexes, 
but his overall skill-sets are seriously deficient in key areas.
- He reads the game poorly and this negatively affect his line-leaving and similar decisions.
- His ball distribution is poor whether from kicking from hand or the ground.
- he is clumsy with the ball at his feet.
- despite a few world-class saves which saved or earned us points, he concedes far too
   many 'stoppable' goals.
Much of his overall problem stems from believing that the goalie is the last line of defence rather than the first line of attack.  I always had a goalie coach on my staff but the goalies did the same skill-drills as rest of the team,in addition to their specialised training.
 These observations are not based on today`s game.

Norm.

I agree, especially with the bit in bold.

I know changing keeper at this point is a risk, but I think I'd swap him for Given for the next match.

[myf]

I recall given was very lucky against Leicester with a bad clearance and the rebound went wide?  Not convinced by given at all. Stick with guzan who has been one of our best performers in recent years.

I'm more worried about our centre backs and lack of replacements

[Dave]

I recall given was very lucky against Leicester with a bad clearance and the rebound went wide?  Not convinced by given at all. Stick with guzan who has been one of our best performers in recent years.

Quite. Guzan is a very good, if flawed goalkeeper.

Given is a competent goalkeeper.

I'd say stick with the very good one. Guzan shouldn't be dropped because he had a howler today, anymore than Benteke should be dropped because he missed a couple of great chances and couldn't stay onside.

[cdbearsfan]

Last time we played in Manchester, De Gea dropped a clanger. I don't recall him getting dropped. It happens. I don't think it's exactly a regular occurrence as some are suggesting.

I'd play Guzan in the Final too as I reckon he'd be a better bet if it goes to penalties.