Shay Given

[Chris Smith]

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.

I've got a few Bluenose mates and every one of them say that it all fell apart when Dann got injured. The previous season they turned grinding out boring 1-0 wins into an art form based on the strength of their defence.

[martin o`who??]

Got my doubts about this, he only played 4 times for his club last season, and that shoulder injury hasnt gone away, if we buy Given we have to have a reliable back up because i can see us needing him. Shay Given of 4 or 5 years ago, definitely, but now, i`m not so sure.

[Mazrim]

I dont know about Guzan yet. He did well last season apparently but is he good enough?
Again, he's a shot stop specialist which I suppose you could level at Friedel and Given and a lot of modern keepers.
I dont know if his all round game is up to it. From what I've seen, Siegrist is very promising but still very young for a PL #2 keeper.
Elliot Parish is also decent and might fill the gap in the mean time but I dont think he'll ever worry the #1 spot whereas Siegrist will.

My gut feeling is we'll go with Friedel, Guzan and Marshall with Parish and Siegrist pushing the #3 spot next season. And that's not bad if not amazing.

[Dave]

My gut feeling is we'll go with Friedel, Guzan and Marshall with Parish and Siegrist pushing the #3 spot next season. And that's not bad if not amazing.

Given presumably rather than Friedel?

It's hardly the best, but it does mean that goalkeeper is sorted out for a couple more years while Given winds down and Guzan develops.

[citizenDJ]

I dont know about Guzan yet. He did well last season apparently but is he good enough?
Again, he's a shot stop specialist which I suppose you could level at Friedel and Given and a lot of modern keepers.
I dont know if his all round game is up to it. From what I've seen, Siegrist is very promising but still very young for a PL #2 keeper.
Elliot Parish is also decent and might fill the gap in the mean time but I dont think he'll ever worry the #1 spot whereas Siegrist will.

My gut feeling is we'll go with Friedel, Guzan and Marshall with Parish and Siegrist pushing the #3 spot next season. And that's not bad if not amazing.

A risky strategy sticking with Friedel, Maz, all things considered! ;-)

[Mazrim]

Oops!

[PaulWinch again]

Hopefully Given coming in will help develop Seitgrist.

[Bungle]

Shoulder will be assessed at the medical; I'm sure we wouldn't be buing a crook shoulder.

Shoulder will be assessed at the medical; I'm sure we wouldn't be buing a crook shoulder.

Well if the dodgy shoulder lasts as well as the dodgy knees we bought from Manchester some time ago, I doubt there will  be many complaints.

[Matt C]

Matt Kendrick says he passed his medical over the weekend.

[PaulTheVillan]

Some Citeh thoughts on this...


Link

[Risso]

Shay Given is a risky purchase in my opinion.  He didn't play at all last season, and if he gets injured this season then Guzan playing behind a defence that was woeful last season doesn't inspire me with confidence.

[Whiney MacWhineface]

Shay Given is a risky purchase in my opinion.  He didn't play at all last season, and if he gets injured this season then Guzan playing behind a defence that was woeful last season doesn't inspire me with confidence.

Agreed on both counts. If the gamble comes off it will be good business. But if it doesn't...

[Salsa Party Animal]

I think it is worth going for at this price. If it work it will be sorted for few years, if not we can see emergence of young goalkeeper Seitgrist as it didn't do any harm for Barcelona/Real Madrid young goalkeeper and now there are regular and winning everything and world class goalkeepers.

[Toronto Villa]

Shay Given is a risky purchase in my opinion.  He didn't play at all last season, and if he gets injured this season then Guzan playing behind a defence that was woeful last season doesn't inspire me with confidence.

Agreed on both counts. If the gamble comes off it will be good business. But if it doesn't...

Getting injured is a risk for any player whether he has a history or not. Yes Given had a serious injury in 2010, we don't know if the 2011 injury was the same as the first. Also, he hasn't been injured in training since so maybe it's been fixed or at least in much better shape. I think the club will put him through a serious check up before saying yes.

[VillaAlways]

Shay Given is a risky purchase in my opinion.  He didn't play at all last season, and if he gets injured this season then Guzan playing behind a defence that was woeful last season doesn't inspire me with confidence.

Agreed on both counts. If the gamble comes off it will be good business. But if it doesn't...

Getting injured is a risk for any player whether he has a history or not. Yes Given had a serious injury in 2010, we don't know if the 2011 injury was the same as the first. Also, he hasn't been injured in training since so maybe it's been fixed or at least in much better shape. I think the club will put him through a serious check up before saying yes.

He's already passed his medical at the weekend