Shay Given

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Cuellar going may mean Dann coming in.

Hasn't Eck already said we can't afford him?

He also said Downing wasn't for sale. You have to take much of what is said with a pinch of salt.

The possibility also exists that Dann was too expensive for our budget, but now that Downing has gone for £20m we could afford him?

Dann would be a bigger priority for me than Hutton...we don't need more right backs, and we could then afford to let CC go if that's what he wants and put the pressure on Dunne and Collins to do their job a sight better than they did last year.

[PeterWithe]

If we are to sign Given and keep the same centre backs, I just cant see us improving the defending of set pieces which we really need to do.

I wouldnt worry, I would trust that Big Eck will be able to set us up well defensively having been a defender and also his rep for being a defensive manager.

A defensive manager who's last team wasn't very good at defending. I think I'd prefer a taller keeper if we are keeping Dunne and Collins.

[Irish villain]

Should we want to be buying players from a team that was relegated? There's a reason they were relegeated. I'm not sure Dann is any improvement.

[Chris Smith]

Should we want to be buying players from a team that was relegated? There's a reason they were relegeated. I'm not sure Dann is any improvement.

We've just sold a player for £20m that we signed from a relegated team and we got £24m for one last year.

Dann is a good player, even if not quite the genius that some at Small Heath think he is, and it s no coincidence that their slump last season happened after he got injured.

[Rigadon]

That's right, Chirs.  Although I would addd that Centre halves are all about partnerships so I'd worry about spending mega money on Dann (if indeed I was Randy Lerner)

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Not keen on him, but hey-ho.

[Dave]

Not keen on him, but hey-ho.

Same here.

His command of his area makes Friedel look like Peter Schmeichel.

Still, it appears that he's coming in now. So best of luck to the guy.

[Mazrim]

Better than Friedel in my opinion.
I liked the idea of Foster or Robinson but Given is up there too and I'm happy.

The other benfit being he knows Dunne and vice versa.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Better than Friedel in my opinion.
I liked the idea of Foster or Robinson but Given is up there too and I'm happy.

The other benfit being he knows Dunne and vice versa.

This implies 2 things:
1 we've definitely got Given (sounds weird!)
2 that Dunne is gonna keep his place

I really hope we get SG. I think he'll be good
I have my suspicions about Dunny - immense two seasons ago, but why so shit for the majority of last season? Is he genuinely "past it"? And why the bust up with the coaches?

[Mazrim]

Well I think we have Given signed and sealed and that Dunne will stay and most likey play.
It depends what state he's in but short of getting a top quality centre half in, and before Clark has reached his full potential, I'm not sure we have better than an in form Dunne at the moment.

I'm fairy sure McLeish will see it that way. And he may even get the best out of him, who knows?
Ideally I'd like to see Clark, Collins, Dunne and Dann as our options there.

[Chris Smith]

Not keen on him, but hey-ho.

Same here.

His command of his area makes Friedel look like Peter Schmeichel.

Still, it appears that he's coming in now. So best of luck to the guy.

I can't say I've ever paid enough attention to notice his lack of command of his area but  I've read it in a few places now so believe there must be something in it. However, I think a lot of that is to do with the defence in front of him. As an example, last season it was a complaint regularly levelled at Freidel but the one before when we were defensively more solid it wasn't so much of an issue.

I'm hoping that will be the case here because if we don't tighten up at the back next season we're destined for more of the same.

[cdbearsfan]

That's right, Chirs.  Although I would addd that Centre halves are all about partnerships so I'd worry about spending mega money on Dann (if indeed I was Randy Lerner)

Dann's not bad but for the £15 million the press have been on about I would want two defenders of his quality.

[The Man With A Stick]

Happy enough with Given as #1, but we'll need a better backup than Guzan or Marshall as his injury record worries me.  Is Siegrist ready to step up?

[Eigentor]

I didn't watch Birmingham too closely last season, but according to some posts here Foster is very good, Johnson and Dann excellent, the manager is very good at organising a defense and they played with several defensive midfielders. Yet their defensive record was bad. Something doesn't add up.

[spangley1812]

Happy enough with Given as #1, but we'll need a better backup than Guzan or Marshall as his injury record worries me.  Is Siegrist ready to step up?

I think he is.......get rid of Brad Jnr