Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Risso on September 02, 2012, 09:15:51 PM
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I thought Brad deserved his own topic after today, as in my opinion he was excellent. His handling from crosses was great, he commanded his area well and could have done nothing about their goal. I hope he keeps his place for some time to come.
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I thought (no specific evidence, just a feeling) I sensed Lambert was looking for the slightest reason to bring Guzan in, and wasn't at all surprised to see him start today after last week's traumas.
He should keep it as long as he deserves to.
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I was really pleased when we re-signed him (mainly on the basis of the Stoke games) and I'm delighted that PL is picking on merit as I think he's the better of the two on crosses
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I was glad he got his chance to be honest, thought he was brilliant, its nice to have a keeper who commands the area and handles the ball well, must have given the defence some great confidence
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His whole game looked solid. It will take a huge amount of pressure off a young back 4 to have a keeper that will dominate his area.
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Credit where it's due, Guzan was excellent today. Coming out for crosses took a lot of pressure off the back four. Great save at the end too.
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Given his age and wages I think will see him moved on if possible at the end of the season.
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He came for loads of balls into the box and looked assured doing so. For once in a long while, today I thought, we don't look like conceding from a corner.
It's Given's place to try and win back now.
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Bosnich. Simple as that. I've said it before many times, and that's about the Peace Cup a few years back against Juve. He was superb that game. Evoked Bosnich at his best, particularly Sunderland in the Cola cup. Really commanding. Confident in everything he did. That was the first 90 (120) minutes of getting a really good look at Guzan for me. Then he had the Sunderland game too which was Bos-esque.
I think for many, his poor games against Big Sam's Blackburn side really made his stock fall. I'll be honest, I doubted after that. He just got a rude awakening to how physical the English game can be. He was still coming for everything with as much confidence as before, but couldn't deal with the buffeting.
For me, last season he came back and was very good. On merit he deserved to keep his place once Given returned, but it never happened.
For me he has a few things in his locker over Shay:
Commands his area.
Good aerially, and aggressive. If there's a high ball within 10 yards of him, he'll go for it 9/10.
Handling. He catches and keeps hold of a lot more than Given and actually a lot of keepers, who opt for punch or parry first.
Vocal. He's always pushing his defence. They always know where he is and he's always organising. Shay's always been one of the quieter keepers.
Not suggesting I don't rate Given. Always been a fan. But he's 36 now, and Guzan's a potential stopper for the next 5-10 years. Shay's one of the best shot stoppers in the business, very agile, but to some extent, gives himself more to do by not cleaning up as much outside the 6 yard box when he can. There's often spectacular from Given, but you get that with Guzan with more bread and better alongside.
This could actually work out as being Lamberts best signing.
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I thought his command of the area was the best aspect of his display, it made has massively more solid and he was excellent.
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He's an aggressive keeper.
I like aggressive keepers.
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If it wasn't for those shakey performances v Blackburn he probably would have been No.1 before now.
Keep up the good work Brad. It's yours to loose now.
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Came out for a lot of balls that I think Given would have left for the centre backs to deal with and probably would have cost us a goal.I am pretty sure he came for a cross second half and kneed Lowton in the back for his sins -bet he has a big briuse to show for it tomorrow
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He deserved his start and I hope he continues to do well for us.
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He should keep the shirt now until he deserves to be dropped. I'm a big fan of the idea once you have the shirt and play well in it you keep it until your form dips.
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Shay Given is a superb shot stopper. Brad is a very good all round keeper. Just how good we'll have to wait and see but I really hope he get's his chance.
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If it wasn't for those shakey performances v Blackburn he probably would have been No.1 before now.
Performance.
It was only the 6-4 where he has the massive brain-farts, he was perfectly fine in the others.
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If it wasn't for those shakey performances v Blackburn he probably would have been No.1 before now.
Performance.
It was only the 6-4 where he has the massive brain-farts, he was perfectly fine in the others.
Are you sure? I could be wrong but I could have sworn that he was pretty dodgy in the other leg too.
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No, he was fine when we won 1-0.
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Big fan of Big Brad Jnr, and delighted he took his chance with both hands - like how he takes most crosses. I thought it was a sign of how much attention McLeish paid to reputations and hearsay and not facts that he was dropped last year, and delighted to see him come in and do so well today. His distribution is also so much better: much more rolling and throwing than Given's addiction to hoofing.
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Long time coming. Potential to be one of the best in the league, and glad Lambert re-signed him and deserves credit for having the balls, after 2 defeats with a young back 4 to drop Given. The whole back 4 looked much better though. Given will be gone by the end of January. Liverpool might come knocking by then if Reina doesn't improve! There were rumours of the MLS for Given.
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He played very well.
I particularly liked the way he quickly looks to throw it to someone quickly. Very impressed with that and I'd something PL has probably talked to him about and long may it continue.
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Shay Given is a superb shot stopper. Brad is a very good all round keeper. Just how good we'll have to wait and see but I really hope he get's his chance.
In my opinion, GK's in the top league are much of a muchness when it comes to shot-stopping. It's everything else they do that makes the all different.
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He was an absolute beast today. The amount of crosses/corners/high balls he claimed was fantastic. Especially considering what we're used to.
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Shay Given is a superb shot stopper. Brad is a very good all round keeper. Just how good we'll have to wait and see but I really hope he get's his chance.
In my opinion, GK's in the top league are much of a muchness when it comes to shot-stopping. It's everything else they do that makes the all different.
Very much so. I'd accept that Given is probably one of the more likely to come up with a 'how the fuck did he save that' moment which means that the tenth cross or corner where he remains rooted to his line is forgotten about.
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Given is like NZogbia is described. Brilliant on MOTD when you see him pull of a stunning save, but 90% of the time very average IMO.
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He was remarkably commanding. He has grown in stature over the past two years.
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He didn't deserve to be dropped by McLeish like he was. Glad that he's getting a fair chance now and I hope the rumours of Given going to the MLS are correct. For me, the whole side looks a lot better when Guzan's in goal - whether that's confidence or not, I don't know.
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No, he was fine when we won 1-0.
Not as I remember it. He was very dodgy with their corners and under crosses in general. The 2nd leg saw them targeting him because of it. He did well today but their corners were poor so still not able to assess if he has put that issue to bed. it will be interesting to see what happens should he have a poor game with the fans, the fora, and the manager.
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Given's time has been up a long time ago. I am glad Lambert has seen it and made the change.
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No, he was fine when we won 1-0.
Not as I remember it.
Yes,we really did win 0-1
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Absolutely deserves to be in the team and for a long time I hope. Given is quite simply passed it.
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It was so refreshing to have our keeper commanding his area, coming for crosses and ordering the defensive line. Ecery time the ball was incoming you could hear Brad's "OUT!!". A couple of good saves too, he's in possession and as long as he doesn't have a couple of horror shows he'll be there for a while.
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No, he was fine when we won 1-0.
Not as I remember it.
Yes,we really did win 0-1
Wasn't it the 3-1 in the FA Cup with BBurn where he also looked dodgy? They scored from a set piece I recall and could have had 2-3 others from bullying Guzan. But yeah, the 6-4 game was the major stinker. Lets face it, even the best keepers have mares. Shame he had to have it so early in his career for us, and for it to become something of a stigma for a year or two.
Now is his time though.
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glad he got to keep the shirt after a clean sheet in the week, pl had told him he would be given a chance to fight for his place and that has happened, so fair play to lambert for being true to his word
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glad he got to keep the shirt after a clean sheet in the week, pl had told him he would be given a chance to fight for his place and that has happened, so fair play to lambert for being true to his word
This is important, and was the first big test in the favourites game. I hope, genuinely, Lambert treats them all the same including Bent.
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The thing I love most about Brad is his buzzing energy. He's like a cat on a hot tin roof. Constantly communicating, motivating, cajoling and bubbling away, and you get the impression he'd rather be devoured by monstrous spiders than concede a goal.
Apart from that he's actually very good. I thought he'd be our #1 a good while ago and deserved a better chance but he's got it now.
I think the gloves are his for the forseeable.
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Can't argue with results. Given was in goal for two defeats in our first two games. Guzan came in for the last two games and we didn't lose.
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Given's time has been up a long time ago. I am glad Lambert has seen it and made the change.
yes , full credit to PL. I love a manager who is not afraid to drop the big names . We have a bloody good manager.
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Given his age and wages I think will see him moved on if possible at the end of the season.
I assume you are referring to Shay Given. If Guzan continues in the same form he showed briefly last year and then this, Given will find it hard to be anything other than no. 2.
If that happens, whether he moves will largely be down to him. If all he wants to do is see out his last years in the top flight with a nice paycheck for little activity then he'll be here for a while yet.
I can't see another club offering him the same sort of contract as he is likely to be on here.
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Was pleased to see him and it took bollocks from Lambert to drop Given on his return to Newcastle, Brad is commanding and comes for crosses, maybe Given will benefit from this but it might send him the other way but at the moment Brad deserve it
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Lambert on dropping Shay: "I just thought it was the right decision for the football club in this GIVEN time." Nice choice of words, gaffer
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Very pleased with Brad's performance he got his chance now he should keep the gloves he played well yesterday.
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Lambert on dropping Shay: "I just thought it was the right decision for the football club in this GIVEN time." Nice choice of words, gaffer
That's what I thought he said, but couldn't believe my ears!! Very droll.
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He should keep the shirt now until he deserves to be dropped. I'm a big fan of the idea once you have the shirt and play well in it you keep it until your form dips.
Agree nice to have a manager who picks on form and not on big name reputations.
feel a bit sorry for shay but brad has the shirt and it's down to him to keep it now.
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I wouldnt feel sorry for Shay, this should be the kick up the backside he needs, which should force him to up his game, which in turn will force Guzan to up his game to keep the shirt. Win win situation as far as I can see.
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Good thread. I'm a big fan of Shay's but he has to perform. Little Brad is no longer. He has matured and really worked hard at his game. He gives clear instructions to those in front of him which is critical when a number of them are quite young. He'll be great for the likes of Clark, Lowton, Bennett and Lichaj as they develop their game and as a group we'll be stronger with the added experience of the Concrete one and Dunne. Brad was very good yesterday, a good, bold decisionnby Lambert and especially going to Newcastle where Given is held in such high esteem.
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Given's confidence look shot and it has been for a while which makes a massive difference when it comes to keeper's both for themselves and the back 4.
Guzan looks to have the same kind of extreme confidence that Joe Hart has and even though they make mistakes you know it wont dent them to much.
The way he come for the ball takes the pressure of the back 4 which Given has never been great at. When Guzan next makes a mistake, an all action guy like him will make a few, as long as he is kept in the team he will be fine and not turn to Jelly like we have seen many keepers do.
ohh and just one more thing, it feels like Big Brad is back every time theirs a corner when you hear him shout.. away!!!
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I think the most important thing is that dropping Given after making the mistake for Evertons 2nd has sent a message to the rest of the squad. Fuck up and you're out of the team.
Guzan took his chance well.
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Really pleased with Guzan yesterday, I'm chuffed that he's got a second chance and appears to be taking it. Was surprised Lambert took him back when would've thought he didn't know much about him but looks very astute now.
As others have said, great that we have a manager who will pick on merit and not reputation. Wonder whether it will apply to Bent?
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Given his age and wages I think will see him moved on if possible at the end of the season.
I assume you are referring to Shay Given. If Guzan continues in the same form he showed briefly last year and then this, Given will find it hard to be anything other than no. 2.
If that happens, whether he moves will largely be down to him. If all he wants to do is see out his last years in the top flight with a nice paycheck for little activity then he'll be here for a while yet.
I can't see another club offering him the same sort of contract as he is likely to be on here.
QPR maybe???
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They have a better, younger, more expensive goalkeeper already.
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The blackburn thing - I'm still convinced that if they hadn't had big sam as their manager at the time they'd have had a lot more fouls given against them in the fa cup game and the 6-4 game.
In the 6-4 he made a mistake for their first, coming halfway to a corner but getting nowhere near it, after that they spent the rest of the game bombing it in at him and get people jumping into him, a tactic they continued in the next match. They weren't even subtle about it, they just bullied him in a way that just isn't allowed very often in modern football.
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i have decided that Guzan is going to be my favourite Villa player from now on.
i havent really had one since Bouma left so he can feel very proud of himself
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We won't be the first club this has happened to Given at.
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I think the most important thing is that dropping Given after making the mistake for Evertons 2nd has sent a message to the rest of the squad. Fuck up and you're out of the team.
I'm not sure that's the message, nor if it was it being a good thing. I think if there is a message that was sent by Lambert it is that he will pick the team based on form and ability. Seemingly at present Guzan is ahead of Given on those scores.
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We won't be the first club this has happened to Given at.
It's a pisser though.
I'd imagine the worst time to lose your spot for an experienced keeper is two days after the transfer window shuts.
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I can't see Given winning the shirt back. The only thing Guzan lacks is experience but even that won't be a case for long. I was delighted we brought him back and knew Lambert would keep his word, so it was no surprise yesterday to see Guzan in the team.
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I was reading the thread and waiting to get to the end to post what Can Bent Be Bettered summed up. Name me a Premier League keeper who is NOT a good shot-stopper - there's not many. Reina on current form, ha ha.
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No, he was fine when we won 1-0.
Not as I remember it.
Yes,we really did win 0-1
Wasn't it the 3-1 in the FA Cup with BBurn where he also looked dodgy? They scored from a set piece I recall and could have had 2-3 others from bullying Guzan. But yeah, the 6-4 game was the major stinker. Lets face it, even the best keepers have mares. Shame he had to have it so early in his career for us, and for it to become something of a stigma for a year or two.
Now is his time though.
Thanks.
Maybe that was the other one I was thinking of.
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We won't be the first club this has happened to Given at.
It's a pisser though.
I'd imagine the worst time to lose your spot for an experienced keeper is two days after the transfer window shuts.
He could always try winning his place back.
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I was calling for Guzan to keep his place last year, but Given came back and was motm, but Given's one plus was his shot stopping and he has lost that I'm afraid, I'd sell at first opportunity, he will be one of our highest earners.
I think we would have lost yesterday if Given was in goal.
Here's to Brad being our number 1 from now on.
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We won't be the first club this has happened to Given at.
It's a pisser though.
I'd imagine the worst time to lose your spot for an experienced keeper is two days after the transfer window shuts.
He could always try winning his place back.
Not going to happen, is it?
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I dunno, Guzan could be injured or suspended next game, or have a nightmare.
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Bosnich. Simple as that. I've said it before many times, and that's about the Peace Cup a few years back against Juve. He was superb that game. Evoked Bosnich at his best, particularly Sunderland in the Cola cup. Really commanding. Confident in everything he did. That was the first 90 (120) minutes of getting a really good look at Guzan for me. Then he had the Sunderland game too which was Bos-esque.
I think for many, his poor games against Big Sam's Blackburn side really made his stock fall. I'll be honest, I doubted after that. He just got a rude awakening to how physical the English game can be. He was still coming for everything with as much confidence as before, but couldn't deal with the buffeting.
For me, last season he came back and was very good. On merit he deserved to keep his place once Given returned, but it never happened.
For me he has a few things in his locker over Shay:
Commands his area.
Good aerially, and aggressive. If there's a high ball within 10 yards of him, he'll go for it 9/10.
Handling. He catches and keeps hold of a lot more than Given and actually a lot of keepers, who opt for punch or parry first.
Vocal. He's always pushing his defence. They always know where he is and he's always organising. Shay's always been one of the quieter keepers.
Not suggesting I don't rate Given. Always been a fan. But he's 36 now, and Guzan's a potential stopper for the next 5-10 years. Shay's one of the best shot stoppers in the business, very agile, but to some extent, gives himself more to do by not cleaning up as much outside the 6 yard box when he can. There's often spectacular from Given, but you get that with Guzan with more bread and better alongside.
This could actually work out as being Lamberts best signing.
Initially I thought I wrote that! Completely agree. Was at the Sunderland league cup game and he was Bosnich-esq! Hope he's here to stay.
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Envisaged this happening and picked up Guzan very cheaply for my fantasy football team at the start of the season. Reckon he'll stay between the posts for us for a long time now.
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I think the most important thing is that dropping Given after making the mistake for Evertons 2nd has sent a message to the rest of the squad. Fuck up and you're out of the team.
I agree it's not just a fuck up message. Clark was equally poor against Everton and got sent off, but was back vs newcastle. I really think he wants to build Vlaar-Clark partnership. Guzan was magnificent and injuries aside, not sure we'll see Shay back in the first team. Don't think we'll manage to move him on anytime soon though.
I'm not sure that's the message, nor if it was it being a good thing. I think if there is a message that was sent by Lambert it is that he will pick the team based on form and ability. Seemingly at present Guzan is ahead of Given on those scores.
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Given his age and wages I think will see him moved on if possible at the end of the season.
I assume you are referring to Shay Given. If Guzan continues in the same form he showed briefly last year and then this, Given will find it hard to be anything other than no. 2.
If that happens, whether he moves will largely be down to him. If all he wants to do is see out his last years in the top flight with a nice paycheck for little activity then he'll be here for a while yet.
I can't see another club offering him the same sort of contract as he is likely to be on here.
Given will want to leave.
If he was content just being a back up keeper then surely he'd have just stayed back up to Hart at Man. City and won a few medals. He dosen't even have the consolation of playing for Ireland either now.
Big problem will be trying to shift him as he still has over 3 years left on his deal and I assume he's one something like 50k.
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Good point made on the last page.
If it wasn't for an amazing Guzan performance at Sunderland, we wouldn't have even reached the semi final against Blackburn.
Another thing will be when we next concede a penalty. I have little faith in Given saving them (just like Friedel) but Guzan has a very good record in saving them.
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Glendening on the Guardian’s football weekly said something interesting about Given after the error v Everton.
Basically he implied that Given’s people had contacted him to stop saying something that could be affecting his form. Obviously he could not expand on that but I do recall Barry G saying during Euro 2012 that he thought Given was carrying an injury.
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Although Barry Glendenning has never made any secret that he feels Given's ability is massively outweighed by his reputation.
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Although Barry Glendenning has never made any secret that he feels Given's ability is massively outweighed by his reputation.
Maybe, but that’s not justification for Given’s solicitors contacting Glendenning.
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There were things implied previously about Given. Man City replaced him with Hart as soon as they could. He is not the keeper he is made out to be IMO. Guzan has a lot more presence.
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Envisaged this happening and picked up Guzan very cheaply for my fantasy football team at the start of the season. Reckon he'll stay between the posts for us for a long time now.
Only problem is we'll still be shipping goals most weeks!
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I'm glad to see brad get a chance too I like his catching, marshalling of the defence and confident decision making. Not too happy about the boot being out into given though he did a job last year and got us points that kept us up.
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I was so sick last season of watching us concede goal after goal from set pieces, with Shay given almost always staying rooted to his goal line. Yes he made some saves which earned us some points, but how many points did he cost us? Impossible to say of course but I do know he frustrated the hell out of me. I was gutted when we let Guzan go because from what I've seen of him he is an excellent all round keeper, better than Given at commanding his area, distribution and saving penalties. It's very early days of course, but I think that bringing Guzan back may be the best bit of business that Paul Lambert has done.
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What I was really getting at is the fact that it's possible to be pleased about a squad player having a good game without slagging off the player he replaced. Given is a decent keeper and not long ago many were talking about him being the best signing of last summer in near identical terms to this. He's also been one of the few experienced squad members to look like he gives a shit when the going is tough.
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I'm really pleased for Brad. He has quietly gone about his business never let us down and I was suprised we just released him. Thank God for PL bringing him back and giving him a fair chance and you have to admire Brad for coming back (in the day and age where a lot of players would have thrown the dummy out the pram). He could be our keeper for the next 10 years.
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Was interesting with Gabby doing a Q&A recently on the official site and according to him, Guzan is the hardest working in training. I do think Guzan seems to have a great attitude. Finally it seems to be rewarded. At times Friedel and Given (more so the latter) were surviving on their reputation, so it was harsh that Guzan never got a chance to shine. Now he's getting his shot. And yes, like mentioned, the fact he came back with minimal fuss, was great. He was promised equal footing, and Lamberts been true to his word thus far.
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He has quietly gone about his business never let us down and I was suprised we just released him.
We didn't - he was offered a new contract and he chose (for whatever reason) not to sign it.
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I saw his BBC interview on Sunday and he seemed to confirm that he thought of himself as just a possible pick from a squad of players. Goalkeeper is one of those positions where once you're in, you're there for a while so to have the attitude, at least in public, of having to work hard to stay there is great.
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He has quietly gone about his business never let us down and I was suprised we just released him.
We didn't - he was offered a new contract and he chose (for whatever reason) not to sign it.
Sorry Dave I didn't realise that. Makes it all the better that he came back then.
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Given is a decent keeper and not long ago many were talking about him being the best signing of last summer
Well, considering the competition that's not saying a lot.
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I saw his BBC interview on Sunday and he seemed to confirm that he thought of himself as just a possible pick from a squad of players. Goalkeeper is one of those positions where once you're in, you're there for a while so to have the attitude, at least in public, of having to work hard to stay there is great.
Gabby said recently that Guzan was the hardest trainer in the squad. It didn't surprise me.
He has quietly gone about his business never let us down and I was suprised we just released him.
We didn't - he was offered a new contract and he chose (for whatever reason) not to sign it.
Sorry Dave I didn't realise that. Makes it all the better that he came back then.
It must have been the promise of how much he'd play. Under TSM it was clear he'd never get a shot at number 1, Exhibit A being when he was dropped having outperformed Given when the latter was injured. Lambert must have told him he'd play.
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I'm really pleased for Brad. He has quietly gone about his business never let us down and I was suprised we just released him. Thank God for PL bringing him back and giving him a fair chance and you have to admire Brad for coming back (in the day and age where a lot of players would have thrown the dummy out the pram). He could be our keeper for the next 10 years.
Agreed. Keep these performances going and there will be no doubt about that. Guzan's first half saves saved us from "doing an Everton". An early goal from the Swans and who knows what the final score may have been.
Guzan's performance in the first half gave the defence a confidence that we needed unti Lowton scored the go ahead goal.
I like that Guzan has a tendency to catch and hold the ball thus breaking up an attack instead of punching the ball away to create another potential strike from the opposition.
A keeper that keeps the ball and puts it back in play to our players takes the pressure off our defenders and gives them time to catch their breath.
To think that we almost let Guzan walk away on a free transfer boggles the mind.
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An interesting stat I heard before yesterdays game.
After 1 game Brad Guzan is number 1 in Europe (this season) for goalkeeper claiming crosses. I'm assuming that's catching the ball rather than punching.
I loved it yesterday when he came out almost to the edge of the box to claim one ball. The defenders must love that, takes a lot of pressure off them.
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It's early days, but I can't see Guzan being shifted unless he gets injured.
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Brad looked very solid yesterday. If he keeps that level of performance up, cant see how PL can drop him.
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I never thought he'd make a PL keeper when I watched him fumbling and flapping at cross after cross against Blackburn in the FA Cup a few seasons ago. Yet that now seems to be one of his strong points, which possibly indicates he went away and worked on his weaknesses. He looks solid now, more so than Given, and I was always a fan of Given. I also like the way he tries to catch rather than punch or palm it. Watching Milan v Atalanta last night it was notable how often both keepers chose to palm away relatively straightforward balls that could easily have been caught, and how often such a tactic put their team in danger.
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He has looked great, assured with crosses which is something we haven't had for a long time and great shot stopping as well.
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Given has been a great 'keeper but his confidence is shot to pieces at the moment. Guzan has seized his opportunity with both hands (pardon the pun). The save from (cheating) Dyer yesterday was top class.
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Not been a great admirer of Guzan but he has been great in the last 2 games. And has looked very assured under the high ball. Fully deserves the shirt.
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It was nice to see Brad going mental when we were attacking in the second half, holding his head and punching the air!
Was impressed with his command of his area and shot stopping, a great all round performance. Could turn out to be the best signing of the summer.
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i've always liked Guzan,
yes he's made mistakes in the past but then worked hard and put them right, he learned from them, if you have a keeper that can do that he will only get better.
he could be with us a long time, like Spinksy was
the most incredible thing is not that we let him go, but that no one snapped him up,
i suppose if you are not getting 1st team games its difficult to prove your ability to any other manager, but just shows the scouting network of clubs cant be that strong, if its not in front of your face they dont know anything about you
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I think Guzan will be out first choice for the rest of the season. We'd be better off offloading Given in January, and getting a young back up to Brad in.
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I think Guzan will be out first choice for the rest of the season. We'd be better off offloading Given in January, and getting a young back up to Brad in.
Think you're right, Riss.
To be honest I can't see Given wanting to hang round as a second choice. Especially next season when Brad will want the number 1 on his back.
Brads work ethic is obviously the same as his namesake, Freidel.
If his injury record is the same as Freidels too we could be seeing a lot more of 'Young Brad'
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I wonder where Given would go though. Nominal fee with us subsidizing his wages at Celtic?
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I wonder where Given would go though. Nominal fee with us subsidizing his wages at Celtic?
Celtic's a very good shout, but I'm not sure that he'd want to give up Premier League football that easily.
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I wonder where Given would go though. Nominal fee with us subsidizing his wages at Celtic?
I don't think he's in a Hutton or Warnock position yet, he's still good enough to be a Premier League first choice, but his ridiculous contract might make things difficult.
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I imagine Shay will play against Man City in the cup next wednesday, so that could be a massive game for him.
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We should have let him go to QPR in the Summer. The contract was always going to be an issue with him, as he's still got three and a half years left.
Saying that, I don't think we should write him off just yet.
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I wonder where Given would go though. Nominal fee with us subsidizing his wages at Celtic?
I don't think he's in a Hutton or Warnock position yet, he's still good enough to be a Premier League first choice, but his ridiculous contract might make things difficult.
That's what I mean - he's better than the first-choice keeper at some clubs, but anyone who would be able to afford his wages already has a better keeper.
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At the moment Guzan is in terriffic form but remember all goalkeepers have poor runs like Shay has had. Petr Cech has made a series of costly errors over the past six months but doesnt seem to attract the attention like Shay has. Brad Guzan is going like a steam train at the moment but there will be a time when Shay will be back and lets hope he will be back to the form he is capable of.
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Could be the bargain of the season with Holman.
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It strikes me that there seem to be two models of goalkeeper in the game.
The shot stopper is the one we have tended to get. Agile with fast reflexes this is a keeper who tends to stay on his line and let his defenders clear high balls. Brad Friedel was a stopper - indeed more of a net minder - and Shay is the same.
The brilliant thing about Guzan is that he has that shot stopping skill (as all good goalkeepers must) - but he combines it with the skill all great keepers have - he commands his area.
Pat Jennings - Peter Shilton - Oliver Kahn - Peter Schmeichel - Edwin van der Sar - Gianluigi Buffon - these are men with catlike reflexes but they were also men who relieved the pressure on their defence by coming off their goal line and plucking high balls out of the air. Or rushing forward to pinch that through ball from off the strikers toe. In short they all commanded their area - and marshaled their defence.
Watching Friedel was like watching a statue - great shot stopping sure - but awful command of his area.
Same with Shay - left and right across his goal line no problem - forward into the box - oh no - that's for someone else to sort.
Watching Guzan against Newcastle and then again against Swansea reminded me of what great goalkeeping is all about. Time after time he killed any threat by simply coming out and taking the ball. Confidently and easily. No twitches - no flaps - no punches. Guzan has worked hard on this as it was seen as a problem for him - so credit to him.
And credit to Lambert too. Because much of Guzan's performance is down to confidence and feeling relaxed and comfortable. Lambert, unlike O'Neill or subsequent managers, has not sent the signal to Guzan that he is just a reserve - not quite good enough - a temporary stand in. He got Guz back by promising him a shot because he thought he was good enough - and low and behold - he is.
Mistakes will inevitably happen - but with a goalie like Guzan behind you - our defence can only improve.
Now if we can get Given, Dunne, Hutton, and Warnock off to new clubs - we can give the wage room created to Lambert to continue to sign 'nobodies' - and onward and upward we go.
UTV
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Same with Shay - left and right across his goal line no problem - forward into the box - oh no - that's for someone else to sort.
Very much so. I'm pretty sure that all the set-piece goals we conceded last season - although Dunne and Collins take a huge share of the blame, if we'd had a keeper capable of bundling through and catching the ball like Guzan has the last couple of games it wouldn't have been nearly so much of an issue. We'd been less likely to concede the corner in the first place and it's more likely that it would have been dealt with before Collins had a chance to brainfart it back to the opposition.
In a funny sort of way, the Blackburn catastrophe may well be turn out to be the very making of young Brad.
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At the moment Guzan is in terriffic form but remember all goalkeepers have poor runs like Shay has had. Petr Cech has made a series of costly errors over the past six months but doesnt seem to attract the attention like Shay has. Brad Guzan is going like a steam train at the moment but there will be a time when Shay will be back and lets hope he will be back to the form he is capable of.
The difference is, Given isn't out of form as such.
He has never commanded his area and never comes for crosses, his main asset has always been his shot stopping, but now he has lost that he has become an average keeper.
Guzan will make a few mistakes this season but his all round game is better than Shay Given's has ever been.
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At the moment Guzan is in terriffic form but remember all goalkeepers have poor runs like Shay has had. Petr Cech has made a series of costly errors over the past six months but doesnt seem to attract the attention like Shay has. Brad Guzan is going like a steam train at the moment but there will be a time when Shay will be back and lets hope he will be back to the form he is capable of.
The difference is, Given isn't out of form as such.
He has never commanded his area and never comes for crosses, his main asset has always been his shot stopping, but now he has lost that he has become an average keeper.
Guzan will make a few mistakes this season but his all round game is better than Shay Given's has ever been.
Shay given has been a top class keeper for over a decade- lets not get carried away with brads progress- he has been excellent this season so far and long may it continue, should he suffer a dip in form I am confident shay will do a good job for us.
Given is possibly past his prime but to say Guzan is better than given has ever been is premature- lets give him a season before making sweeping statements.
I've been impressed with brads handling this season and he looks a very good keeper , as also is shay.
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At the moment Guzan is in terriffic form but remember all goalkeepers have poor runs like Shay has had. Petr Cech has made a series of costly errors over the past six months but doesnt seem to attract the attention like Shay has. Brad Guzan is going like a steam train at the moment but there will be a time when Shay will be back and lets hope he will be back to the form he is capable of.
The difference is, Given isn't out of form as such.
He has never commanded his area and never comes for crosses, his main asset has always been his shot stopping, but now he has lost that he has become an average keeper.
Guzan will make a few mistakes this season but his all round game is better than Shay Given's has ever been.
Eastie you really are having a "Giraffe" when Guzan has played international/premiership football for at least 10 years then you can say things like that , oh and another thing if Brad was that good why was he without a club for 4/6 weeks........
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At the moment Guzan is in terriffic form but remember all goalkeepers have poor runs like Shay has had. Petr Cech has made a series of costly errors over the past six months but doesnt seem to attract the attention like Shay has. Brad Guzan is going like a steam train at the moment but there will be a time when Shay will be back and lets hope he will be back to the form he is capable of.
The difference is, Given isn't out of form as such.
He has never commanded his area and never comes for crosses, his main asset has always been his shot stopping, but now he has lost that he has become an average keeper.
Guzan will make a few mistakes this season but his all round game is better than Shay Given's has ever been.
Eastie you really are having a "Giraffe" when Guzan has played international/premiership football for at least 10 years then you can say things like that , oh and another thing if Brad was that good why was he without a club for 4/6 weeks........
Spangley I agree with you, you have quoted the wrong person- my post said similar to you in shays defence!
Shrek is the man who posted that not me.
I am very happy we have two extremely good keepers.
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At the moment Guzan is in terriffic form but remember all goalkeepers have poor runs like Shay has had. Petr Cech has made a series of costly errors over the past six months but doesnt seem to attract the attention like Shay has. Brad Guzan is going like a steam train at the moment but there will be a time when Shay will be back and lets hope he will be back to the form he is capable of.
The difference is, Given isn't out of form as such.
He has never commanded his area and never comes for crosses, his main asset has always been his shot stopping, but now he has lost that he has become an average keeper.
Guzan will make a few mistakes this season but his all round game is better than Shay Given's has ever been.
Eastie you really are having a "Giraffe" when Guzan has played international/premiership football for at least 10 years then you can say things like that , oh and another thing if Brad was that good why was he without a club for 4/6 weeks........
Spangley I agree with you, you have quoted the wrong person- my post said similar to you in shays defence!
Shrek is the man who posted that not me.
Opps sorry mate, please accept my apologies :-)
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I agree with Shrek. The Blackburn games aside (where Allardyce's team got away with more than anyone else would usually, as per) Guzan has always looked good on crosses and commanded his area. Given's always been suspect on this - the Dublin goal is a perhaps cruel example, but his awareness hasn't always been top class.
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At the moment Guzan is in terriffic form but remember all goalkeepers have poor runs like Shay has had. Petr Cech has made a series of costly errors over the past six months but doesnt seem to attract the attention like Shay has. Brad Guzan is going like a steam train at the moment but there will be a time when Shay will be back and lets hope he will be back to the form he is capable of.
Shrek you really are having a "Giraffe" when Guzan has played international/premiership football for at least 10 years then you can say things like that , oh and another thing if Brad was that good why was he without a club for 4/6 weeks........
The difference is, Given isn't out of form as such.
He has never commanded his area and never comes for crosses, his main asset has always been his shot stopping, but now he has lost that he has become an average keeper.
Guzan will make a few mistakes this season but his all round game is better than Shay Given's has ever been.
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We have 2 very good keepers at the club , people knocking given may like to thank him for his huge contribution to our survival last season rather than having a pop at him.
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We have 2 very good keepers at the club , people knocking given may like to thank him for his huge contribution to our survival last season rather than having a pop at him.
Not knocking his efforts. Just his abilities, which as a professional you'd think he'd have learned to deal with. Doubt he reads these forums anyway, let's be fair.
Also, his flaws led to many of our problems last season. And this season, to be honest.
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We have 2 very good keepers at the club , people knocking given may like to thank him for his huge contribution to our survival last season rather than having a pop at him.
Not knocking his efforts. Just his abilities, which as a professional you'd think he'd have learned to deal with. Doubt he reads these forums anyway, let's be fair.
Also, his flaws led to many of our problems last season. And this season, to be honest.
Not as many as Hutton, warnock, dunne and Collins- we have a decent defence now and coaches -brad has the shirt and his form is excellent so far-I hope it continues but I have no worries should shay reclaim the shirt.
Guzan has improved immensely and impressed me greatly.
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Eastie, read what I said again.
I said Guzan's 'all round' game is already bette than Givens has ever been.
Given has never commanded his area well and has never come for crosses.
His big asset has been his shot stopping, but that has begun to fade.
Given has been a top keeper the last decade, but lets not get carried away thinking he has been 'world class'. He has been no better than Friedal and Shwarzer, but he has been no Van Der Sar or Peter Cech.
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If Shay Given really is world class - why did Newcastle sell him?
Just saying...
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If Shay Given really is world class - why did Newcastle sell him?
Just saying...
Because Man City offered them £7m?
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If Shay Given really is world class - why did Newcastle sell him?
Just saying...
If Dwight Yorke was world class - why did Villa sell him?
Just saying .....
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If Shay Given really is world class - why did Newcastle sell him?
Just saying...
If Guzan is world class why was he out of contract for 4/6 weeks
Just saying..........
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Totally disagree with you Shrek, given has been voted by his fellow pros as at the Pfa awards in the team of the year and at his best was better than friedal, and shwarzer and certainly on a par with van der sar and cech.
Ask Newcastle fans about shay given in his prime- Guzan was dropping balls all over the place not so long ago , he has improved a lot in his last 10 or so games but as a goalkeeper is nowhere near given in his prime was.
Do you really think shay would have played so many hundreds of games at the highest level if he is as suspect at crossing as you suggest and couldn't organise a defence, and was only a shot stopper?
Maybe as Spangley says in 10 years time you may have a point, Guzan has been promising but he needs to produce over the years and I hope he does.
Given chose to leave Newcastle for Man city- very much as Ashley young chose to leave villa for man utd?
I am delighted we have TWO quality keepers.
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If Edwin van der Sar was world class - why did Fulham sell him?
Just saying ......
We could turn this into a Time Wasters game!
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Eastie Given was not on par with Van Der Sar or Cech, he is a solid keeper that has won nothing and never made it at a big club.
He has been one of the best shot stoppers in the league, but has never had the all round game of a top keeper. That is the main reason he spent so long at Newcastle and only lasted a year at Man city (as 1st choice).
Guzan since last season when Shay was injured has been Outstanding and yes if he keeps this up for 10 years he will.... Well he won't still be with us will he.
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If Shay Given really is world class - why did Newcastle sell him?
Just saying...
I think you've confused yourself there.
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We must agree to differ then Shrek.
Enjoy your evening folks.
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What's happened to Given should and probably will happen to Ireland and Bent. It was a pleasure to watch Guzan in goal yesterday, long may it continue.
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Lot of anger today...
Just saying
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Totally disagree with you Shrek, given has been voted by his fellow pros as at the Pfa awards in the team of the year and at his best was better than friedal, and shwarzer and certainly on a par with van der sar and cech.
If we're going down the line of 'Given must be great as he was in the PFA Team Of The Year', I offer Richard Dunne as the comparison. Presumably because Dunne has been chosen at some point in the last decade (far more recently than Given, it should be said) that means he must be a brilliant defender and his ability shouldn't be questioned?
Brad Friedel at his best was a level above Given at his best (hey, he's been "voted by his fellow pros as at the Pfa awards in the team of the year" as well). We have seen neither of those players at their best at Villa though.
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Totally disagree with you Shrek, given has been voted by his fellow pros as at the Pfa awards in the team of the year and at his best was better than friedal, and shwarzer and certainly on a par with van der sar and cech.
If we're going down the line of 'Given must be great as he was in the PFA Team Of The Year', I offer Richard Dunne as the comparison. Presumably because Dunne has been chosen at some point in the last decade (far more recently than Given, it should be said) that means he must be a brilliant defender and his ability shouldn't be questioned?
Brad Friedel at his best was a level above Given at his best (hey, he's been "voted by his fellow pros as at the Pfa awards in the team of the year" as well). We have seen neither of those players at their best at Villa though.
Totally disagree with you Shrek, given has been voted by his fellow pros as at the Pfa awards in the team of the year and at his best was better than friedal, and shwarzer and certainly on a par with van der sar and cech.
If we're going down the line of 'Given must be great as he was in the PFA Team Of The Year', I offer Richard Dunne as the comparison. Presumably because Dunne has been chosen at some point in the last decade (far more recently than Given, it should be said) that means he must be a brilliant defender and his ability shouldn't be questioned?
Brad Friedel at his best was a level above Given at his best (hey, he's been "voted by his fellow pros as at the Pfa awards in the team of the year" as well). We have seen neither of those players at their best at Villa though.
The comment by Shrek was" better than Given ever was" !
Given in my opinion has been a better keeper than friedal but it's all about opinions isn't it dave and we all know what you thought of shay when we signed him! You have never been a big fan of him.
I am delighted we have 2 quality keepers at the club and happy to let them fight it out - brad is in possession and deserves to keep it if he performs as well as recently.
If given for whatever reason gets his place back I have no worries about him in goal for us.
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The comment by Shrek was" better than Given ever was" !
Yes, which I don't agree with. But my point is that Given at his very best (i.e seven or so years ago) still had some pretty massive flaws to his game, which he made up for by excelling at other parts.
Thinking about it, the Dunne comparison isn't particularly outrageous...
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The comment by Shrek was" better than Given ever was" !
Yes, which I don't agree with. But my point is that Given at his very best (i.e seven or so years ago) still had some pretty massive flaws to his game, which he made up for by excelling at other parts.
Thinking about it, the Dunne comparison isn't particularly outrageous...
Flaws maybe, massive flaws no.
All keepers have weaknesses of a sort but to play 100s of games at the top level you would not have 'massive' flaws.
Newcastle fans watched him week in and week out for years and take a look at what their fans thought of him leaving - he was a legend on Tyneside.
john mailey Says:
October 23rd, 2008 at 13:53
still the best seamus,keep her lit
ashkan Says:
November 1st, 2008 at 05:05
he is the best keeper in the world
ashkan Says:
November 9th, 2008 at 11:15
I try to lift the given in the goal.com.please look at the world ranking inthe goal.com
ashkan Says:
November 30th, 2008 at 15:09
shay is better than buffun and chech and vandersar
David Carr Says:
December 29th, 2008 at 00:17
Here we go again, Shay’s off to Arsenal, how many more times?!! Any truth in this?
DC
Bob Says:
January 2nd, 2009 at 02:07
Shay is the one guy at Newcastle who you can look at and believe he is feeling what the fans feel and has the same passion the fans do. Shay, I can understand if you want to leave to better yourself, but that will not happen at Man City or Tottenham. We will all be gutted if you leave the toon. THERE’S ONLY ONE SHAY GIVEN!!!
John Bower Says:
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:21
Get yourself away Shay. You deserve so much more You should have done it years ago. More empty promises although you have to look around at the overpaid prima donas we have up there. As always NUFC let you down. Luckily you have only had 11 years. I’ve had 50 !!
Keith Brennan Says:
January 3rd, 2009 at 13:43
Shay Given is far too good for Newcastle United. You have been very loyal to the club, you have given 10 good years, get yourself playing in the champions league and winning medals
john Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 22:13
I’m a north eastener living in the midlands. People at work have been asking me about Owen and what’s going on. I tell them he is irrelavant in comparison to Shay and his worth to the club. All I can say is good luck Shay, whatever choice you make. You will always be a geordie legend no matter what happens and we understand that you have to do what’s right for you. All the best, happy new year.
Andy Welsh Says:
January 7th, 2009 at 14:42
Shay is by far the best keeper in the world today and has been for a long time.
In terms of what he means to Newcastle United fans, I would imagine he would be the very last player they would ever want to see leave the club. He has been an absolute legend and one of the few class acts around the club for the past few years.
Newcastle Unitrd fans love him and will always love him, regardless of where he decides to play for the rest of his career. We just hope that he stays with us a bit longer and that everything will turn out alright in the end!!
Steve Mather Says:
January 11th, 2009 at 23:49
Shay 16 years I have been as season ticket holder (so loads of ups and downs) you deserve more, you are the best goalkeeper in the league, shearer might have scored the goals but you saved them. If you stay then great but if you go, good luck from the me and I would say 99% of the NUFC geordies, but guess what I think you will be like shearer (turn down Man Utd) and stay on tyneside with your famlily and be a NUFC hero forever. You might win nothing like shearer, but I will always cheers you from my seats in the Leazes end (Sir John Hall) when you run over and wave to the crowd. Shay if you read this, do a Shearer, stay here, be a hero, enjoy your family, take Ashleys cash, and be the best goalkeeper for NUFC (inc Gordon Marshall and Willie McFaul) and give us die hard fans something to watch, who knows, Miracles do happen and we might just win a cup!!!! Good Luck Shay!!! Cheers Steve
Brian Cairns Says:
January 12th, 2009 at 04:07
Whatever you do you will do it for your family, you are truely professional and have honoured every ounce of your contracts to Newcastle over the years.
The heart will tell you.
Very best of Luck you deserve everything you recieve.
Given1 Says:
January 25th, 2009 at 01:05
Shay is the backbone to our club. His heart has always been with Newcastle and I hope he can find it within him to weather the dark storm and stay with us. He’s a brilliant keeper, and he is very well respected and loved by the fanbase. We want to be able to have our hero with us for as long as we can, and when the time comes – honour him accordingly. Please Shay ? !!
Steve Williamson Says:
January 26th, 2009 at 11:09
If we loose Shay Given in January then Mike Ashley has a lot to answer for, well he has a lot to answer for anyway. I would rather Freddie Sheperd be there than him, He had all these good ideas about what we were going to achieve under the ashley regime. It is failing miserably. Shay is by far the best keeper in the premiership and has been since Peter Schmeichel hung up his gloves. If Manchester City want him then we should demand 25million for him, look what Juvntus had to pay for Buffon. It will be a sad day if he leaves. Ever since Shearer left Shay should have been made club captain on a permanant basis. Please Stay Shay I am sure someone will rescue the club from the cockney maffia who are trying to destroy it.
Ted Says:
January 27th, 2009 at 21:10
Shay Given… Best Goalkeeper in the World
Please Stay!
Adrian Says:
January 29th, 2009 at 01:32
Shay has been a brilliant servant and backbone of the club for the past 11 years. He is the envy of all clubs and his performances at times have been unbelievable. It will be a sad day if he leaves, but if he does so it is because the club have failed to provide an outfield team to match the star in goal.
I am not surprised at the possibility of you leaving and wish you and your family all the best in whatever the future may bring for you.
Nadja Says:
January 29th, 2009 at 11:51
Nobody would blame you for leaving Shay, but you are the heart of Newcastle United since Shearer left. Besides, do you really want to play in the same team like Bellamy? Please stay!
ashkan-given Says:
January 29th, 2009 at 16:04
i love given.he should go to the man city.he is the best keeper in the world
Flobbergobber Says:
January 30th, 2009 at 13:31
Good luck to you Shay, you’re the best ‘keeper I’ve ever seen in the flesh! You’ve given us more loyalty than the club deserves, and I hope you win the trophies at Man City that your ability deserves.
marcus Says:
January 30th, 2009 at 13:59
well mate it looks like your off to pastures new and all I can say is thanks loyalty is few and far between in the game these days but more than that you are a true pro. I have enjoyed watching you in some amazing games over the years, wish it had been a little quieter for us all but the gallowgate will always welcome you back, you are in the Milburn,Gallagher,Moncur,MacDonald,Shearer and Robson class. Cheers Shay and all the best.
Chris Toon Says:
January 30th, 2009 at 17:18
Gutted if you go to Man City but don’t blame you. Thanks for your years of loyalty you are a Toon legend,I wonder how many points you have won for us…You will always get the respect and welcome you deserve at Newcastle…Good luck Shay
Newcastle - oh dear, oh dear! « University Blog Says:
January 30th, 2009 at 17:28
[...] now, it looks certain that veteran goalkeeper and long-serving member of the Irish national squad Shay Given will leave for the fleshpots of Manchester City; and there are rumours that Irish team-mate Damien [...]
mitch Says:
January 31st, 2009 at 00:38
Shay you are a legend. No real Newcastle fan can blame you for looking elsewhere. We have been very lucky to have you between the posts for the last 11 years. Your loyalty will always be remembered by us and I hope you win the medals and cups you deserve. The Charles ‘Insomnia’ situation not only shows how a professional footballer shouldn’t behave, but it makes me even more grateful to you for your professionalism. Thank you and good luck!
gary wilson Says:
February 1st, 2009 at 23:20
shay u have been the greatest player i have seen in a newcasle shirt u were loyal and there 4 the cause i can see why u left u deserve to your best keeper in league by far we going to miss u but hopefully we will be ok so from everyone at nufc thanx 4 everyhing and all the best at city
Phil Says:
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:04
A true professional, a gentleman and a TOON Legend!!
Thank you for everything Shay, and I sincerely wish you all the best for the future.
You are welcome back at the TOON anytime.
Good luck Shay, you will be missed!
lee Says:
February 2nd, 2009 at 22:49
I would like to thank you for 11 years of outstanding service for the toon. You will be sorely missed, I hope Man city fans realise that they now have the best keeper in the league and probably the world!
I wish you good luck and i hope you get those medals you deserve.
Once agian thank you, you’re a true toon legend!
John Carty Says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 00:46
Shay, met you many years ago when you joined Blackburn. Visited you many times in Newcastle. Best of luck on your move to Man City. Hope you win the Trophies that you deserve. Will see you no doubt at some games in the near future. Regards John Carty
Steve Bell Says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 22:23
Shay,
Thanks for the last 11 years, you’ll forever be welcome by any of the tens of thousand of fans at Newcastle. If i’m honest, i’m grateful you stuck it out so long. We, the Geordie faithful have suffered decades of heartbreak and dissapointment at the hands of some comical and shamefull backroom/boardroom idiots. Good luck in the future Shay (apart from against NUFC of course), i sincerely wish you success and of course…..trophies!!!
DC Says:
February 4th, 2009 at 00:58
Good luck, Shay – hope you get the silverware you so richly deserve! All the best, DC!
Jake Says:
February 5th, 2009 at 00:09
Shay good luck at mancity Youve done the toon proud.
I hope you always have the toon in your blood.
Shay Given the best keeper in the world.
your play with your heart on your sleeve.
Sharon Says:
February 5th, 2009 at 16:55
Shay was my absolute favorite player for New Castle United. I was heartbroken to see him leave but wish him the very best for the future. Shay is the best keeper in the world. Thanks
Perry Says:
February 7th, 2009 at 15:46
Shay i would like to thank you for your loyal service to NUFC, you are a world class goal keeper, sorry you did not win anything with us, best of luck with city they have big plans for the future, great start some fab saves agaist Middlesbourgh, we will miss you.
geordie chris Says:
February 7th, 2009 at 16:22
shay given will always have a place in the geordie hearts, man city or not we still ove you shay and thank you for all the dedicated years you served.
charles Says:
February 8th, 2009 at 04:03
Thanks very much for all the great service at Newcastle, always gave everthing every match.I just wish that the rest of the team gave as much then the sky could have been reached.A fantastic role model on and off the pitch, the heartbeat of the Newcastle team.A world class goalkeeper and i wish you all the very best at man city and every sucess which you really deserve.
qaiyim Says:
February 10th, 2009 at 13:00
welcome to shay!as mancunian die hard fan,i really appreciate dat u signed 4 us..u r one of da best..n u proved it few days ago against boro…hopeflly it wll continue…live city!
Tim Barton Says:
February 13th, 2009 at 00:26
As always you played brilliantly at the weekend and had a great game against boro.
you could walk into any team in the premier league, if not the world.
city have no idea how luck they are to have you, i just hope they win you some silverware, the best goalkeeper thats set foot in newcastle. The amount of points you’ll save at the city of manchester, you’ll be priceless to them, i just wish that our owner felt the same way.
“THERE’S ONLY ONE SHAY GIVEN”
Vlada Kovacevic Says:
February 14th, 2009 at 17:31
Shay,
Best wishes for you and your family from Belgrade, Serbia.
We all in Serbia remember your games against Partizan and we watch yor games for NUFC and MCFC every weekend.Maybe you are not best goalkeeper of the world, but for sure one of the most attractive.
cynda Says:
March 21st, 2009 at 21:55
keep it up shay! you are man city’s best goalie in the whole history of the club!
Ger Mullingar Says:
March 31st, 2009 at 00:41
Dear Shay,
Most Irish supporters believe that Stephen Ireland & Andy Reid are the two vital links that will help the national team get to the World Cup Finals in 2010.
As a team mate of Stephen’s, can you please help this ridiculous situation by encouraging him to talk to the FAI, let him forget the past and put aside the differences and get on with playing for his country.
Thanks
Ger
Mullingar
“Stephen Ireland – your country needs you” campaigner.
Bob Says:
April 16th, 2009 at 14:05
Shay, I read your comments in the Guardian today. Along with many other Newcastle United supporters we would prefer you not to comment on the situation at St James’ please. Whether you “pray” we stay up or not, you walked away in January. You could have stayed until the summer to help keep us in the Premiership but you chose to leave. I don’t forget for one moment the service you provided for us in the past ten years but you have hurt a lot of Newcastle fans by walking away when you did. We don’t want to hear you saying that you pray we stay up. As the best keeper in the Premiership you could have been instrumental in keeping us up, and still could have had your move in the summer. That is something we could have understood as Newcastle fans, but to walk in January, with our future undecided, and then to say you pray we stay up is just a kick in the teeth to the toon army. A few extra months at St James’ Park could have made all the difference to Newcastle staying up or going down and you made your choice to leave and so divorce yourself from our dog-fight. I hope your career at Eastlands is successful for you, but please, if you have any feelings at all for the 52,000 at St James’, please don’t comment on our situation.
admin Says:
April 17th, 2009 at 14:05
I think you’re totally entitled to that opinion but I also think Shay after 11 years of faithful service will find it hard to not be interested in the affairs of Newcastle Utd. He will remain a fan of the club as have countless others who have left the club over the years: Keegan, Waddle, Woodgate, Gazza, etc. etc.. Newcastle are a special club for their fans and I hear in your comment a lot of pain that Shay has left. I hear where you’re coming from but also ask you to try and not be bitter at Shay’s departure. Steve Harper will not be held responsible for any relegation of NUFC and therefore neither would Shay if he had stayed.
Colm Says:
April 28th, 2009 at 15:12
Hopefully shay will be able to win something next year if the hype about Man City is true, he deserves to,and maybe he could have a word with Stephen while he is there.
Bring back Ireland and Reid
ashkan Says:
May 13th, 2009 at 09:32
shay given should stay at man city.i say again he is the best keeper in the world
rhys Says:
May 21st, 2009 at 15:03
shay give n was a great asset to newcastle over the last 11 year but i think he should of stayed at newcastle until the end of the season to garante safety but now 1 game left to save our pride and not to be relegated from the premier league and we have super steve harper for that on sunday …… NOT!!!
ashkan-given Says:
June 9th, 2009 at 12:20
I downloaded the given saves in youtube.I saw the magnificent save of given against zidan and i think this save is the best save in the world.YASHIN could not save it
ashkan-given Says:
June 20th, 2009 at 06:32
i went to the youtube and saw the magnificent save of given against zidan.i think none of the goal keepers coul save it
ashkan Says:
July 29th, 2009 at 16:28
my english site is:
http://www.shay-given-en.blogfa.com
Clemenza Says:
August 14th, 2009 at 15:23
Against what team in the Premier League did Shay make his debut?
shirley - bridie Says:
September 19th, 2009 at 22:47
Dear Shay
I think you made a great move to Man City you deserved it, good luck bridie mora!!!
Marilena Says:
October 5th, 2009 at 14:35
Good luck for the season, Shay.
Declan O'Reilly Says:
October 12th, 2009 at 13:17
Hi Shay, Congrats on reaching your century 100 caps for Ireland. You deserve it. You have been a fantastic asset to Ireland and a great ambassador for your country here. There is a nice article in yesterdays Sunday Tribune about yourself and Zinedine Kilbane hitting the 100 mark. The article was saying that for both of ye, nice do sometimes finish first – I agree with those sentiments.
I remember your first cap against Russia in 96 and I thought, fair play to ya, because I had noticed the elevation of your football career. When I lived at home, we always got the Donegal Democrat each week. The Democrat gave you great coverage from your time at Lifford, the big move across the water to Celtic and then Blackburn etc.
Hard luck against Italy the other nite, we were so close to a famous win, great atmosphere there, the best nite in Croker so far! But fear not, looking through the list of play off candidate nations, none of them strike fear into me, even France. Trap has got us playing a solid tight system, don’t mind the knockers in the media. Real fans appreciate how difficult it is and that the results are what matters. This campaign is sooo much better than the Stan debacle times. No one is gonna turn us over easy. We are the only undefeated nation going into the playoffs.. that says a lot of Trap and ye all, well done.
Good luck and enjoy your 100th cap, there’s no pressure on this one, nice bonus!
Declan O’Reilly
Kinlough,
Co. Leitrim
joy rigg Says:
October 16th, 2009 at 13:27
Hi is Shay on Twitter under the name @shay_given is this genuine or a fake please could you confirm for all Shay Given fans out here please,
Thanks
Joy from Cumbria
admin Says:
October 16th, 2009 at 14:10
I don’t think Shay is on twitter. I would’ve heard about it.
fearghal Mc Laughlin Says:
November 17th, 2009 at 23:52
Good luck in second leg against france Shay and do us proud like you always do.
Ádh Mór Mo chara.
Fearghal Mac
Lifford.
Daragh Hynes Says:
November 19th, 2009 at 04:44
You Deserved Better Tonight Shay.
A Keeper Like You Should Be In The World Cup.
My Heart Goes Out To You
Solid Tonight As Always
peter brennan Says:
December 5th, 2009 at 21:43
What a Keeper? Should be on your way to the world cup, but robbed by a frog!I will be honest enough to say I had my doubts, but you proved me oh, so wrong!Keep doing that, please. Good luck
ashkan Says:
December 19th, 2009 at 15:42
shay is best……………
william wright Says:
January 2nd, 2010 at 20:28
Shaymus given is the best goalkeeper in the world the reason i became a goalkeeper was because of shaymus given. Shaymus given is a LEGEND
I WISH HIM ALL THE BEST
David Stuart Says:
April 6th, 2010 at 12:47
Hello, Cool article. Having only discovered blogs recenly and I am hopelessly addicted!! It’s sites like this that are to blame! I have been so inspired that I decided to make my own site. I’m just researching for a post i’m writing and was wondering if I can link to this article? I think it may be of some interest to my readers. Best wishes! Keep up the good work. David Stuart
ROSS MCGAHERN Says:
April 6th, 2010 at 19:04
hi shay my name is ross i live in stranorlar CO DONEGAL NEAR TO LIFFORD u are tha best D
admin Says:
April 8th, 2010 at 12:29
Yes, you may go ahead and link to this article David.
david Says:
April 29th, 2010 at 16:15
shay given is a good world class goalkeeper my only fault is i can understand your accent when u speak on tv
ashkan Says:
May 2nd, 2010 at 16:53
I LOVE YOU SSSHHHAAAAYYY
please go back soon an arrive to match with tottenhom
mary Says:
June 1st, 2010 at 00:38
my son loves u u have inspired him to want to play football u visited his school in washington and he loves football so much when he leaves school he wants to play football thank you u are the best
antonio Says:
June 19th, 2010 at 06:12
please go to
this is a video a upload about shay given. you wont believe the conincident
i am from venezuela
fergus Says:
August 19th, 2010 at 13:11
arsenal, please sign shay given.
ashkan Says:
August 26th, 2010 at 23:08
I have 4 friend that they love shay given..almost of IRAN love SHAY GIVEN
vinny Says:
April 6th, 2011 at 00:41
Bushy Park Rangers AFC is a schoolboy’s team that was formed in 1963, over the years various players have gone on to play for clubs in England. It is the only schoolboys club in Ireland that had two of its former players play on opposing teams in a FA Cup Final 1983 Kevin Moran(Man Utd) and Gerry Ryan(Brighton and Hove Albion). It is also the club Ken Doherty former World snooker champion played his school boy soccer with.
The Best bit 100 players are travelling over from Bushy Park Rangers to watch Shay and his team mates play West Ham on Sun 1st May The game was originally due to be played on Sat 30th April and we had made all our plans for this date but the dates were changed. The Travel agents offered other games on the Saturday such as Wigan v Everton or Blackburn v Bolton but all the players voted to change our plans to see Shay in action. The boys have been fundraising for the last year to go on a soccer trip doing bag packs, selling tickets, etc – the boys are really looking forward to hopefully seeing Shay in action
mike Says:
July 11th, 2011 at 13:42
hi shay
my name is mike
i heard that you were going to play for a different team but i just dont know which team that is. i have being trying so hard to get your adderss but i could not find it so i was wondering if you could send me your address so i could send you a letter in the post
admin Says:
July 11th, 2011 at 14:10
You have to write to the club to reach Shay: Shay Given, c/o Manchester City Football Club, City of Manchester Stadium, SportCity, Manchester M11 3FF, England
jkehoe Says:
July 18th, 2011 at 21:27
Good luck Shay. Wish it were the red devils. All the best from Canada.
Dave Says:
July 19th, 2011 at 00:46
Shay,
All the best for the future. As a City fan I’d like to thank you for all your hard work over the past couple of seasons. Hope you have 36 great games next season.
Dave MCFC
Shane Bradley Says:
July 19th, 2011 at 11:29
Hi Shay,
I just want to say I’m delighted you have signed for Villa. My three boys are mad about you as I have told them I played in the same team as you at school. We are wishing you all the best and hope to get over to see you at Villa Park some day.
Good Luck from 3 Villa Fans in Donegal.
Tim Says:
August 21st, 2011 at 01:48
Where do we write to get an Autograph from Shay? Do we have to write Aston Villa? If you could put that address on here that would be great.
TechFan.org » SHAY GIVEN HOPES THE TIME IS NOW Says:
October 9th, 2011 at 21:59
[...] OK, Bantams stun Town SHAY GIVEN HOPES THE TIME IS NOW GARETH BALE RETAINS WALES AWARDGiven: Hopeful of finally making a major tournament finalsSHAY GIVEN HOPES THE TIME IS NOW Northern …en will head into a tense climax to the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2012 qualifying campaign knowing [...]
admin Says:
November 2nd, 2011 at 13:49
Hi there, I can’t comment on this too much but only to say that it seems very uncharacteristic of Shay to be moody, etc. I wouldn’t judge Shay by this one meeting. He could’ve had any number of things going on in his head at the time. Shay’s a great guy, great footballer, great on and off the pitch, so I feel you must’ve caught him on an off moment for some reason.
Martina Murphy Says:
November 27th, 2011 at 17:24
As a huge Villa fan and extremely loyal Shay supporter, it broke my heart to see him so upset today after the minute applause in rememberence of Gary Speed. I’m shocked and very saddened after hearing of the death of Gary this morning, and know Shay must be devested. Such a tragic loss in terrible circumstances. Having lost one of my closest friends in 2004, I know how difficult it is to cope with having to come to terms with.
Please give my condolances to Shay and tell him he is in my prayers to stay strong in the coming very difficult days, weeks and months ahead.
Tae Kang Says:
January 26th, 2012 at 12:05
Shay!
you are most greatest goal keeper in the world!
martyn Says:
June 21st, 2012 at 15:52
euro 2012
hey Shay I am a Newcastle supporter living in the states right now and just wanted to say. Before you and the rest of the Irish team get to downhearted, thinking somehow you just wern’t good enough. take a look at Hollands group and ask yourselves wether any one would say they were not good enough to be there. played 3 lost 3. I watched all the games so far and thought the Irish team played as well as most. But football is football some times you just need a little bit more luck.
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I'm not too sure about that, eastie.
If you talk to Newcastle fans, they'll tell you exactly the same about Given - excellent shot stopper, pulls off some amazing saves, but rooted to his line and doesn't organise his defence.
With Villa is not the first time a defence has looked less than organised in front of him.
Don't get me wrong, I like Given, a lot, but the last couple of games, it has been noticeable how much more Guzan commands his area by coming out for the ball, and is constantly talking to and arranging his defence.
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Newcastle fans watched him week in and week out for years and take a look at what their fans thought of him leaving - he was a legend on Tyneside.
Richard Dunne was Manchester City's fans' player of the year four years in a row (until Steven Ireland came along). The comparison gets stronger and stronger.
Fans can get attached to a player even if they have their flaws.
Incidentally, I'd be very surprised if you could find a single Newcastle fan who would swap Given for their current keeper.
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Guzan seems to be very vocal. This is a key characteristic, or at least an under-rated characteristic.
I have a hunch that Given is less so as a fair few goals last season seemed to stem from confusion although Collins may have also been culpable.
Early days but with Vlaar and Guzan there seems to be a definite leader (Vlaar) and better communication generally.
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Newcastle fans watched him week in and week out for years and take a look at what their fans thought of him leaving - he was a legend on Tyneside.
Richard Dunne was Manchester City's fans' player of the year four years in a row (until Steven Ireland came along). The comparison gets stronger and stronger.
Fans can get attached to a player even if they have their flaws.
Incidentally, I'd be very surprised if you could find a single Newcastle fan who would swap Given for their current keeper.
I may go to a Newcastle fans forum to get their reaction to that dave? Are you talking about krul compared to given at his peak or as a. 36 yr old?
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Guzan seems to be very vocal. This is a key characteristic, or at least an under-rated characteristic.
I have a hunch that Given is less so as a fair few goals last season seemed to stem from confusion although Collins may have also been culpable.
Early days but with Vlaar and Guzan there seems to be a definite leader (Vlaar) and better communication generally.
Sorry Pauliewalnuts beat me to it on the communication front.
With regards to how a player is perceived by fans I think Dunne and to an extent Given took on cult status at Man City and Newcastle as each player joined with little reputation and made themselves at the club and therefore the fans will forgive more. A similar cult status could easily develop with some of our current crop, whereas some players when they arrive with established reputations are not so easily forgiven.
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Eastie, read what I said again.
I said Guzan's 'all round' game is already bette than Givens has ever been.
Given has never commanded his area well and has never come for crosses.
His big asset has been his shot stopping, but that has begun to fade.
Given has been a top keeper the last decade, but lets not get carried away thinking he has been 'world class'. He has been no better than Friedal and Shwarzer, but he has been no Van Der Sar or Peter Cech.
but none of them were as good as John Burridge, he was the greatest - FACT
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Bosnich was better. As were Rimmer and Spink.
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In 34 yrs of watching villa bosnich was the best in my view.
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Newcastle fans watched him week in and week out for years and take a look at what their fans thought of him leaving - he was a legend on Tyneside.
Richard Dunne was Manchester City's fans' player of the year four years in a row (until Steven Ireland came along). The comparison gets stronger and stronger.
Fans can get attached to a player even if they have their flaws.
Incidentally, I'd be very surprised if you could find a single Newcastle fan who would swap Given for their current keeper.
I may go to a Newcastle fans forum to get their reaction to that dave? Are you talking about krul compared to given at his peak or as a. 36 yr old?
If they could pick a keeper to go in goal for their next game, Given or Krul I reckon the majority would pick Krul. As would I.
I also think that if I could have a 21 year old version of either keeper, I'd take Krul as well.
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In 34 yrs of watching villa bosnich was the best in my view.
Until they changed the pass back rule. That ruined him in my opinion. To this day I doubt he knows whether he is left or right footed.
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In 34 yrs of watching villa bosnich was the best in my view.
Until they changed the pass back rule. That ruined him in my opinion. To this day I doubt he knows whether he is left or right footed.
The back pass rule came in at the start of 1992-93. Until then he'd played one game for us. On his day he was the best we've had for a long time but I still give Jimmy Rimmer the edge for consistency.
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Sam Hardy. Now can everybody stop being silly.
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Bosnich was a hell of a keeper.
Also, on the kicking thing, I watched the highlights of the United cup win on youtube, and was amazed that one of our goals came from a Bossie ground kick clearance.
On Given, I think he has always been massively over rated, surprisingly by the self appointed best fans in the world. Who came before for them? Pavel Srnicek? Shaka Hislop? No wonder Given is revered like a god, he could stop a ball! A massive reason that we have conceded so many goals from set plays since O'Neill left has been the keepers not coming to deal with the ball. Friedel was helped enormously by having 3 centre halves, Heskey/ Carew on the front post and them screening it off. When we tried to play normal full backs and the big men didn't play we had no answer. Last season some great saves, but a lot of goals conceded through no command of his box at all. He is like a magnet to that line. Given "appears" a truly spectacular keeper, but much of that IMO has been down to saving thing that could have been prevented getting to that point. Time will tell, but Guzan looks a better goalkeeper in my opinion. If they were both complete unknowns and you were scouting them on their performances for us over the last 12 months, you would be recommending Guzan.
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I can't see Given getting back in, except maybe for the "Pick a product placement Cup" game against the millionaires. Our defence has looked a different kettle of fish since Shay recieved the boot. A keeper who will come off his line, he's clearly learnt much from Brad #1 but he'd rather catch than punch. The Brad #1 is dead long live the Brad #2!
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He made some great saves early in the first half
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Does it really matter how good a player was 4 or 5 years ago? On current form - but that is only 2 games a piece - Guzan looks much the better player. Then again, over the 2 games that he's played, Guzan looks like one of the best in the League.
I'm no great fan of Given, never have been. From seeing him play against us for Newcastle, his main skill actually seems to be the ability to run the clock down when you are 1-0 up. He didn't get much chance of that last year.
Either way they will both be Villa players at least until the end of the year. If that's not long enough to work out whether we still need Given then we may as well toss a coin.
If Guzan proves to be the man then Given's salary/contract make him an obvious target for increasing headroom on the wage bill for the next round of bargains.
Not getting an contract elsewhere in his brief spell as a free agent means nothing. Guzan could have been sticking out for similar wages to those he had last season, he was hardly a household name anyway.
I wonder if Lambert knew of and rated him, or took advice from elsewhere inside VP.
Either way, it occurred to me during the Swansea game that we had a very good defence on the pitch which came at a total cost of 6 mill or so.
Fucking brilliant.
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Had a look on a Newcastle forum and there seems to be a view that shay is near enough finished expressed by a few , several mentioned him getting injured badly by harewood 6 yrs ago and never being the same keeper since.
The feeling is that they certainly wouldn't want him back now as they have krul and that in time krul could prove to be a better keeper- still a lot of affection for shay with many saying the best keeper in their history but somewhat tarnished his reputation in the manner he left.
As I said , I'm happy we have 2 good keepers and if brad continues his current form then he will hold the shirt, we seem to now have a squad with a strong bench and healthy competition for places and that bodes well for the future- happy times.
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Always felt in his previous appearances that there was an element of "minding the shop" about him and that it was accepted by all parties that he'd be out when the current number one was available again. That no longer seems the case, I think he definitely looks the part now, partly because I think he's clearly been working on his weaknesses but also from the confidence that being the manager's first choice brings.
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I've wanted Guzan to be first choice in the nets since his appearances last year and would be happy for him to continue. But we need to see how he reacts to dropping a howler before we can judge him for the long term. Carson looked decent until the England debacle, Enkleman until the Blues matches, etc. He seems to have gotten over the Blackburn matches and the Euro match where he dropped easy catches/missed the ball but he didn't feature in the matches straight afterwards so we don't know if he would have picked himself up or did it take a while to come back to form?
Also, for those that watch him, is Ben Siegriest ready to be first team cover in goal?
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Not yet.
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The comment by Shrek was" better than Given ever was" !
Yes, which I don't agree with. But my point is that Given at his very best (i.e seven or so years ago) still had some pretty massive flaws to his game, which he made up for by excelling at other parts.
Thinking about it, the Dunne comparison isn't particularly outrageous...
No I never said that.
Guzan right now on current form has a better 'ALL ROUND' game than Given ever has. Given has never come for crosses consistantly and has never commanded his area like 'world class' keepers do.
Obviously after a decade we will know if Guzan is in the Given, Friedal, Shwarser mould or the world class bracket of Van Der Sar and Cech etc.
Read what is said, then read it again before you comment and you won't get confused.
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Brad is playing with confidence, that's the difference.
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Must make a big difference when you know if you play well you keep the shirt rather than however well you do, Given is back next game if fit.
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Y’know those worthless Youtube compilations that people find when we’re linked with players. I think the two best I have ever seen were for Victor Moses whilst at Palace(?) and Guzan in the MSL (MLS?). He won best keeper the season before we signed him, making phenomenal saves.
I glad he’s with us.
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He's made Garth's team of the week, along with Lowton.
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At similar points in the first half of our last 2 home games piennar and then dyer hit good, curling efforts from outside the corner of the area. Given got nowhere near his one but guzan made a brilliant save. Now maybe piennar's shot was a better hit but for me it showed where they both are as keepers right now.
One guzan moment in the second half of the Swansea game that stood out for me as well was guzan rushin out to scoop up a through ball before a Swansea forward got on the end of it. I think it stood out so much because its not the sort of thing given does. Nor did friedel for that matter. I think that sort of aggressive keeper really helps the defence and the rest of the team play a high tempo, pressing game. The downside is its more likely to lead to obvious looking mistakes so I hope the manager and fans stick with him if he does come for a cross one day and miss it.
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In fairness I don't think any keeper would have stood a chance with pienaars goal or the goal Ben Arfa scored- both outstanding goals .
Guzan has made huge strides in his handling and assertiveness and let's hope he continues to excel- I certainly have been most impressed by him this season.
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In fairness I don't think any keeper would have stood a chance with pienaars goal or the goal Ben Arfa scored- both outstanding goals .
I just rewatched both and I don't know, faster reactions might have got Pienaar's goal although, tbf, Given was unsighted slightly. Ben Arfa's though went like a rocket and was higher and more in the top corner.
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I would be more concerned about one of the other Everton goals Given conceded than the Pienaar one.
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Most keepers would have saved Fellaini's goal
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Somebody with no arms would have saved that one, it was just going to hit his stomach/chest til he fumbled it in.
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Most keepers would have saved Fellaini's goal
The reason he was dropped I'd say. Had he done so we would have still been in the game.
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I've been Given's biggest critic, I never wanted him to sign for us in the first place and although he's a good shot stopper and excellent at 'Hollywood' saves, he's never been a goalkeeper that inspires confidence in any defence because he does not like to come off his line.
Guzan is more like the sort of 'keeper you need in a team like ours, he will come for crosses and although he might not get all of them, if you ask any defender they would prefer that.
Look at Given's record in the teams he's played for: they all defended deeply, like us last season, effectively asking for pressure on the defence.
Of course that suits the sort of 'last-ditch tackle' defenders like Warnock, Dunne and Collins, because it makes them look good.
I'm not sure if Guzan is Villa's keeper for Lambert's 'new' Villa, but he's the right choice for now.
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I'm sure Given will look to move on as if he was content to be a back up he would've stayed at Man. City and picked up a few medals before his career finished.
Like Dave, I'm not sure where he'll go as QPR are well stocked with keepers now.
I think Given has lost a bit of agility with the groin and shoulder injuries he's had the last few years and I think he struggles to get around the goal now.
Pienaar shot wasn't an obvious mistake but Guzan saved a similar shot on Saturday. I'm also not convinced Given would've got to Cabaye's free kick in the last minute that saved us a point at Newcastle.
Much more confident with Guzan in goal, long may he stay there.
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even if there is nothing between the two keepers, Guzan should still get the nod as he is the future and will get even better with playing experience,
lets face it Given will not improve any more now, although i dont think there is much to choose between the two of them at the moment that will change quite soon
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One is on the way up. The other is on the way down. I know which one I would play.
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what he said.
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Hopefully today's result will put an end to the ridiculous Guzan experiment. Lerner's gonna have to keep paying Givens wages after all.
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Hopefully today's result will put an end to the ridiculous Guzan experiment. Lerner's gonna have to keep paying Givens wages after all.
What was ridiculous about the "Guzan experiment"?
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Hopefully today's result will put an end to the ridiculous Guzan experiment. Lerner's gonna have to keep paying Givens wages after all.
What was ridiculous about the "Guzan experiment"?
paulie, we have yet another contender for Ludicrous Post of the month
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Hopefully today's result will put an end to the ridiculous Guzan experiment. Lerner's gonna have to keep paying Givens wages after all.
1. Which of the four goals were Guzans fault ?
2. By experiment, do you mean having two goalkeepers in your squad and hopefully both being under pressure from the other?
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Hopefully today's result will put an end to the ridiculous Guzan experiment. Lerner's gonna have to keep paying Givens wages after all.
1. Which of the four goals were Guzans fault ?
2. By experiment, do you mean having two goalkeepers in your squad and hopefully both being under pressure from the other?
Well I'd say the fourth was quite clearly his fault, wouldn't you?
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Hopefully today's result will put an end to the ridiculous Guzan experiment. Lerner's gonna have to keep paying Givens wages after all.
1. Which of the four goals were Guzans fault ?
2. By experiment, do you mean having two goalkeepers in your squad and hopefully both being under pressure from the other?
Well I'd say the fourth was quite clearly his fault, wouldn't you?
No. It was Clark's fault as he lost his man and stood there doing a Tony Adams impression with his arm in the air.
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Guzan was poor today as were most players, he could be possibly be criticised for the 1st and 4th goals if we are being critical but the defence were also very poor, a day to forget and lets hope we see the best of our side against the Albion, few if any can be proud of today's performance .
Given I am sure will get his chance against man city as will maybe some others ie, gabby nzog etc - lets see how they do and take it from there.
It would be harsh to single out one player from this performance as they were all culpable.
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Not the greatest today, but my biggest gripe with him today was he didn't roll the ball out to the defenders, though it well may have beenm there fault as much as his, but it was disappointing. Hopefully we'll start it again next week.
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on a par with Given to be honest
both not good enough
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on a par with Given to be honest
both not good enough
Bit harsh on both that, I feel.
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on a par with Given to be honest
both not good enough
Bit harsh on both that, I feel.
Given is done- Euro 2102 proved that
Guzan was a back up keeper to freidal - who we let go and then re-signed again
neither are good enough imo
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Certainly today the defence can at least take some of the blame - 2 nd half we defended very poorly.
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He isn't good enough yet. Being loud and American isn't the same as commanding a box. Hes hit and miss on crosses and his kicking is only slightly better than bosnichs. One of many players who are not good enough.
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He isn't good enough yet. Being loud and American isn't the same as commanding a box. Hes hit and miss on crosses and his kicking is only slightly better than bosnichs. One of many players who are not good enough.
When it comes to commanding his box, he's much better than Given, though, and I can't help but think that's what we really need now, something to give the defence confidence.
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neither are good enough imo
Which couple of keepers are you thinking we should have as our first and second choice instead?
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I am not sure Guzan is the long term answer but he is definitely preferable to Given.
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Drop Guzan because he was at fault for one goal? Ridiculous
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He isn't good enough yet. Being loud and American isn't the same as commanding a box. Hes hit and miss on crosses and his kicking is only slightly better than bosnichs. One of many players who are not good enough.
You on the windup Bobcat?
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No. He isn't good enough to be a first choice. He is a handy back up keeper who's good at penalties, but I don't see him being number 1 long term so I wouldn't persevere with him in the medium term. I think Given deserves a chance to rediscover some form.
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No. He isn't good enough to be a first choice. He is a handy back up keeper who's good at penalties, but I don't see him being number 1 long term so I wouldn't persevere with him in the medium term. I think Given deserves a chance to rediscover some form.
nope.
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I'd prefer to stick with Guzan for now. We can't keep chopping & changing keepers. Having said that, it's probably worth playing Given on Tuesday night to stop him getting rusty & a chance to regain some confidence.
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I'd say stick with Brad and let Given be to one to be the Cup keeper as Brad was for long enough.
I don't see any reason why Brad should be dropped as number 1.
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Guzan is much better than Carson I think who was incredibly lucky we had such a good attacking team as he was nowhere near a top 6 keeper.
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Carson was terrible.
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But that shows you can sometimes get away with having a mediocre keeper if your attacking play works like a dream (well in that case accurate set pieces from Young).
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Carson was a mute most of the time. An average keeper at best.
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It was strange that Carson played in so many games.
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Less than average.
Guzan is a far superior keeper.
Carson was the worst keeper we have had since.....Jesus, I don't know who.
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in all my time watching football i have never seen a player drop so far in confidence after one bad game like Carson
before his England match i was quite impressed with him, and wouldnt have minded signing him,
he came back from that England game absolutley shot, he even looked different, he was just incapable of doing the basic things, it was incredible. obviously there was a deep flaw there somewhere so it might have reared its head at some other time even if he had not played the fatefull game,
but that one game finished as a top class keeper, he's made a career but not at the hights predicted
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Carson was the worst keeper we have had since.....Jesus, I don't know who.
£2m that season-loan apparently cost us. Why we didn't just throw that money at Blackburn for Friedel a season earlier I have no idea.
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Have to say was pist, but goggle eyes thought he should have done better for first goal.
As for Man City game, would give Given a go but on the understanding Guzan at the minute is the man to dislodge.
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I expect given to play at man city , being dropped may have a positive effect on him and if he has an absolute blinder then lambert will have a tough decision regarding the Albion game.
As with other positions the man in possession will have to be on his game or lose the shirt- healthy competition for places keeps everyone on their toes .
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No. He isn't good enough to be a first choice. He is a handy back up keeper who's good at penalties, but I don't see him being number 1 long term so I wouldn't persevere with him in the medium term. I think Given deserves a chance to rediscover some form.
Short term thinking bringing Given back unless it's just for cup games. IMO, we need to persevere with Guzan until January and if he's not proved to be Premiership standard look for a good quality replacement, not another at the end of his career.
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This is scapegoating gone mad. Guzan has looked every inch a good Premier League goalkeeper so far this season. I don't see how he was at fault for what happened on Saturday.
Maybe the stream I wasn't watching was even dodgier than I thought.
Of all the things that may need to change for the league cup game, Guzan isn't one of them.
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No. He isn't good enough to be a first choice. He is a handy back up keeper who's good at penalties, but I don't see him being number 1 long term so I wouldn't persevere with him in the medium term. I think Given deserves a chance to rediscover some form.
Short term thinking bringing Given back unless it's just for cup games. IMO, we need to persevere with Guzan until January and if he's not proved to be Premiership standard look for a good quality replacement, not another at the end of his career.
There should be no time limit involved, if he is playing on form keeps the shirt and if he has a bad spell he loses his place .
Reputations count for nothing with Paul lambert and that's the way it should be.
I personally think given will probably perform extremely well when he gets a chance as he knows if he doesn't he will be out- its up to brad to deny him that chance.
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This is scapegoating gone mad. Guzan has looked every inch a good Premier League goalkeeper so far this season. I don't see how he was at fault for what happened on Saturday.
Maybe the stream I wasn't watching was even dodgier than I thought.
Of all the things that may need to change for the league cup game, Guzan isn't one of them.
To my mind he wasn't at fault on Saturday really and I was there. The midfield was the major problem on Saturday and it lead to the collapse of the defence.
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This is scapegoating gone mad. Guzan has looked every inch a good Premier League goalkeeper so far this season. I don't see how he was at fault for what happened on Saturday.
Maybe the stream I wasn't watching was even dodgier than I thought.
Of all the things that may need to change for the league cup game, Guzan isn't one of them.
To my mind he wasn't at fault on Saturday really and I was there. The midfield was the major problem on Saturday and it lead to the collapse of the defence.
Midfield were too deep but defence were very sloppy too and Guzan could have done better with the 1st goal, penalty also was needless.
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Carson was the worst keeper we have had since.....Jesus, I don't know who.
What about that butter fingers from Crystal Palace?
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Carson did very, very well for us right up until that Croatia nightmare.
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Carson was the worst keeper we have had since.....Jesus, I don't know who.
What about that butter fingers from Crystal Palace?
The pj wearing one on loan? Didn't he drop a huge clanger against man u?
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No. He isn't good enough to be a first choice. He is a handy back up keeper who's good at penalties, but I don't see him being number 1 long term so I wouldn't persevere with him in the medium term. I think Given deserves a chance to rediscover some form.
So Guzan isn't good enough but lets get back a keeper struggling with injuries and who actually threw a goal into the net against Everton and who was pretty bad in the Euros as well.
TBH I don't think any other teams main keeper has covered themselves with glory so far this season either so Guzan has been one of the best so far in the league.
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Carson did very, very well for us right up until that Croatia nightmare.
Yep, although luckily he have the Croation nightmare did otherwise MON would have spent £10mil on him. (We were also lucky that Gordon went to Sunderland first that same season.)
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No. He isn't good enough to be a first choice. He is a handy back up keeper who's good at penalties, but I don't see him being number 1 long term so I wouldn't persevere with him in the medium term. I think Given deserves a chance to rediscover some form.
So Guzan isn't good enough but lets get back a keeper struggling with injuries and who actually threw a goal into the net against Everton and who was pretty bad in the Euros as well.
TBH I don't think any other teams main keeper has covered themselves with glory so far this season either so Guzan has been one of the best so far in the league.
, He was very good against Newcastle and Swansea but let's not get carried away, he needs to do it week in week out over a long period before we can judge him.
Given had a stinker against everton but saved us on countless occasions last season, too soon to write him off in my view, he will return knowing he has to be on his game and I think will prove himself .
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I think he'll leave Guzan in. He played in the last round and besides chopping and changing keepers won't help continuity.
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This is scapegoating gone mad. Guzan has looked every inch a good Premier League goalkeeper so far this season. I don't see how he was at fault for what happened on Saturday.
Maybe the stream I wasn't watching was even dodgier than I thought.
Of all the things that may need to change for the league cup game, Guzan isn't one of them.
To my mind he wasn't at fault on Saturday really and I was there. The midfield was the major problem on Saturday and it lead to the collapse of the defence.
That was the impression I got.
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Guzan will stay in. I don't think Lambert will chop and change keepers.
Also, we're probably about the 15th best team in the Premier League, people expecting world class performances week in week out need a reality check.
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Carson was the worst keeper we have had since.....Jesus, I don't know who.
What about that butter fingers from Crystal Palace?
The pj wearing one on loan? Didn't he drop a huge clanger against man u?
Kiraly was fine in the other games, he kept a clean sheet against Chelsea the game before the cup tie.
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Carson did very, very well for us right up until that Croatia nightmare.
Yep, although luckily he have the Croation nightmare did otherwise MON would have spent £10mil on him. (We were also lucky that Gordon went to Sunderland first that same season.)
I remember that, Gordon looked great at the time but didn't impress me hugely at Sunderland and he seems to have become permanently injured.
The Scottish Kirkland.
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Guzan is the best goal keeper at the club.
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Guzan is the best goal keeper at the club.
Not only that, he is one of the best in the Prem, no doubt.
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In terms of Goalkeeping prowess, managing the back line coming for crosses, commanding the box its Guzan.
In terms of the ability to stop the almost certain goal its Given
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In terms of Goalkeeping prowess, managing the back line coming for crosses, commanding the box its Guzan.
In terms of the ability to stop the almost certain goal its Given
I don't think Given would have saved that Dyer (I think it was) shot against Swansea. We'd have been 1 down and who knows what would have happened after that.
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Guzan is the best goal keeper at the club.
Not only that, he is one of the best in the Prem, no doubt.
How many prem games has he ever played ? Far too early to say he's one of the best in the premiership!
Let's wait until the end of the season at least.
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In terms of Goalkeeping prowess, managing the back line coming for crosses, commanding the box its Guzan.
In terms of the ability to stop the almost certain goal its Given
I don't think Given would have saved that Dyer (I think it was) shot against Swansea. We'd have been 1 down and who knows what would have happened after that.
Plus the Cabaye freekick right at the end of the Newcastle match.
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Really surprised by the amount who seem to be writing off shay given , when he gets his chance and I believe he will get a chance I expect him to reclaim his place and perform to a high standard.
Being dropped will have hurt him and he will be out to prove a few people wrong, we have 2 good keepers at this club.
Would given have saved the cabaye shot - who knows, but I certainly think he could have saved the 1st saints goal at the weekend. Given dropped a clanger against Everton but had he not performed heroics against west brom and spurs we could have gone down- let Guzan do it year in and year out before acclaiming him as one of the best in the prem.
I have faith in whichever of the two keep the shirt.
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I don't think people are writing off Given as such. I think we can all agree that some of his saves helped keep us up last year but there was a bit of concern over his perfomances in the Euro's and his mistake in the Everton game obviously convinced Lambert to give Guzan a go which was fair enough. I'm happy for Guzan to keep his place in the side as long as he continues his good form.
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Very surprised how many are saying Carson was okay until the Croatia game. I thought from the moment I first saw him play for us that he was awful. He seemed to dive in slow motion, and often only began to react after the ball had sailed past him into the top corner. I remember being amazed he was in the England squad at all, and when he was selected against Croatia I feared the worst and it came as no surprise whatsoever that he buggered up hugely. It's also come as no surprise that his career has gone the same way as Richard Wright's. Liverpool's 2m loan fee was their way of recouping some money for his "development" before anyone spotted he was gash. And MON was stupid enough to cough up.
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I agree with ktvillan. I thought he looked dodgy even behind a very good defence.
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Carson was shit. I've never seen a keeper get beat so often from long range.
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Carson was shit. I've never seen a keeper get beat so often from long range.
Paul Robinson runs him close. Neither dive properly, and often do so over the ball. Shit coaches in their youth at Leeds maybe, but both were poor.
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Wonder how Given got on tonight? Has he got a chance for Sunday?
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Wonder how Given got on tonight? Has he got a chance for Sunday?
Made some decent saves and looked solid but it would be harsh to leave Guzan out at the moment - I expect brad to get the nod on Sunday but he will know shay is breathing down his neck and he has to perform to retain his place.
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If we get both GK's back to form together might even give PL the opportunity to start rotating the goalies to suit the opposition, or even to suit the defenders selected.
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In terms of Goalkeeping prowess, managing the back line coming for crosses, commanding the box its Guzan.
In terms of the ability to stop the almost certain goal its Given
He used to be but he should have saved the Pienaar shot where as I didn't think Guzan could save the Dyer shot. Its not could too chop and change I would stick with Guzan.
I don't think Given would have saved that Dyer (I think it was) shot against Swansea. We'd have been 1 down and who knows what would have happened after that.
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Don't think either would have saved the pienaar shot , shay was to blame only for fellaaini goal in my view- equally he may well have saved lamberts shot on Saturday which Guzan let in- given proved last night he is still a quality keeper but brad deserves to keep the shirt on Sunday.
He knows he will need to be on top form to keep his place and the competition is healthy.
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Big game for Guzan tomorrow,a clean sheet would be nice!
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Big game for Guzan tomorrow,a clean sheet would be nice!
Some solid defending in front of him will help.
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Good luck back home Brad. You've got it in your locker to be a top keeper.
http://www.mfc.co.uk/news/article/2016/middlesbrough-fc-boro-brad-guzan-atlanta-united-3537458.aspx
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Try bees.