Shay Given

[PeterWithe]

What a diabolical goalkeeping kit. Has this been mentioned already? Probably, but the point remains.

I blame McLeish for it.

[Mazrim]

I quite like the blue... but red safari bits? Really?
Oh well, who buys a keeper shirt anyway, right?

[Smoke]

Potential Captian?

[eamonn]

I'd wager that he'll earn in five years at Villa what he would have done for the rest of his deal (3 more years) at Wastelands and the length of the contract was a sticking point that held the deal up . Maybe he couldn't agree on the terms of the golden handshake from City but us, being desperate to get him, agreed to a generous career-ending contract. Good work by his agent.

I'm kind of surprised Newcastle weren't back in for him given (hey!) his record there. I know his best mate Harper has finally emerged from the shadows to show he's a decent goalie but the Barcodes are one of those clubs who often let their heart rule their heads when it comes to signings.

Anyway despite all that, he's a fine goalkeeper and as long as he's fit and injury-free I'd much prefer to have him between the sticks than Friedel.

So three EIRE players now at the club...almost back to the number we had in heady days of the mid-90's of God, Stan, Townsend and Houghton (and Farrelly if you count him). I just hope to feck this doesn't mean McGeadie or Keane are next.

[luke25]

So three EIRE players now at the club...almost back to the number we had in heady days of the mid-90's of God, Stan, Townsend and Houghton (and Farrelly if you count him). I just hope to feck this doesn't mean McGeadie or Keane are next.

Four if you include the mad man.

[Toronto Villa]

I don't know much about McGeady but why do people have such strong opinions against him? The little I've seen of him he hasn't struck me as the kind of player who warrants this level of opposition. I know he's likely no world beater but is he really that bad? He's young, a tidy looking player with good footwork and dribbling skills. Genuine question, but do people who wouldn't want him have significant knowledge of his play or are you just against him because others are? I honestly didn't know we had such avid watchers of the SPL on here.

I don't think we'dll sign him plus his injured, but would it really be that bad if we did?

[eamonn]

So three EIRE players now at the club...almost back to the number we had in heady days of the mid-90's of God, Stan, Townsend and Houghton (and Farrelly if you count him). I just hope to feck this doesn't mean McGeadie or Keane are next.

Four if you include the mad man.

Is was actually Clakker Clark who I forgot, four then yeah. Any chance they can win us a Coca Cola Cup this season?

[cb]

I really wish we would stop buying Irish players! They have shown themselves not to have the quality to make a major tournament for nigh on a decade now, so I really fail to see why they're good enough for Villa. Now we have a mental case, a raging alcoholic (who was never fit to lace the boots of McGrath) and a goalkeeper, who if you look at him slightly crookedly seems to fall apart at the seams (I'm fearing more of the same from him quite frankly).

PS. Yes we've got Clarke, but he was developed at Villa and frankly has F-all to do with the Irish system, apart from being naive enough to fall for the FAI's usual opportunistic approaches.

[Maradona10]

Still have my doubts on this one but hey i'll be fully behind him.

[UK Redsox]

On Radio 5 this morning, the surprise at the length of the contract was obvious in the sports news guy's voice.

A three year deal seems reasonable to me.

[LeeB]

I really wish we would stop buying Irish players! They have shown themselves not to have the quality to make a major tournament for nigh on a decade now, so I really fail to see why they're good enough for Villa. Now we have a mental case, a raging alcoholic (who was never fit to lace the boots of McGrath) and a goalkeeper, who if you look at him slightly crookedly seems to fall apart at the seams (I'm fearing more of the same from him quite frankly).

PS. Yes we've got Clarke, but he was developed at Villa and frankly has F-all to do with the Irish system, apart from being naive enough to fall for the FAI's usual opportunistic approaches.

Plus they've got eyebrows on their cheeks, and they ride horses around housing estates.

[NeilH]

On Radio 5 this morning, the surprise at the length of the contract was obvious in the sports news guy's voice.

A three year deal seems reasonable to me.

They are not the only ones who are surprised by it. I nearly spat out my tea when I saw the length of the deal.
I'm very happy that he is here, but I am seriously failing to see the sense in giving an extremely injury prone goalie such a long contract.

[Maradona10]

Why are people so worried at the length of deal?

[UK Redsox]

Why are people so worried at the length of deal?

He'll be 40 at the end of it
He hasn't played regularly for more than a season
Potential injury risk

I know that Villa we're in desperate need of a keeper but, unless there was another club bidding for Given's services, I don't see why more than 3 years needed to be offered

[VillaAlways]

Why are people so worried at the length of deal?

He'll be 40 at the end of it
He hasn't played regularly for more than a season
Potential injury risk

I know that Villa we're in desperate need of a keeper but, unless there was another club bidding for Given's services, I don't see why more than 3 years needed to be offered

As someone else said.It must be the compromise of having to having to drop his wages