Shay Given - Best Keeper since Bossie?

[pauliewalnuts]

It is only five games.

[andyh]

Shay has been tremendous for us so far this season.
The probem is though, we have had to see rather too much from him, I'd rather he not be quite as busy as he has been
 

[Holtenderinthesky]

Top keeper, sadly though I think we will be needing him a little too often.

[JUAN PABLO]

It is only five games.

been a very good keeper  all of his career thou ...   

Is he stays fit and we get 3 seasons out of him , it will be a steal ...

[damon loves JT]

Stunning signing.

[JJ-AV]

5 year deal still doesn't sit well with me.

[JUAN PABLO]

5 year deal still doesn't sit well with me.

He looks like a 25 year old at the moment , lets just hope he does a Friedel or Van da sar ....

[TaxDodger]

We'd probably have lost three games already this season with any of the other post Bosnich keepers we've had here.

[damon loves JT]

We'd probably have lost three games already this season with any of the other post Bosnich keepers we've had here.

we would be blowing chunks out of McLeish and each other if we'd already lost three games this season. Difference between disgruntlement and a proper crisis.

[ozzjim]

We'd probably have lost three games already this season with any of the other post Bosnich keepers we've had here.

we would be blowing chunks out of McLeish and each other if we'd already lost three games this season. Difference between disgruntlement and a proper crisis.

And yet only 1 point different - had we lost 3 and won 2. Draws are ok, but they take you nowhere, fast.

[damon loves JT]

Point taken, but Given can't win a game on his own. He can only stop you from losing.

[eastie]

Best keeper ive seen in 35 yrs of watching villa -not just based on his performances this season but knowing how consistent hes been over the last decade -we have got a top top keeper here and much better than flapper friedal, my only  worry is if shay gets a long term injury as i dont feel guzan is up to the job and wish we had signed westwood as back up for free.

[Vanilla]

Top keeper, sadly though I think we will be needing him a little too often.

Agree with this. I mean, the defence if you look at our performances so far, are still not performing fantastically. It seems Given is the one keeping us in games.

[Dave]

His shot stopping is every bit as we had been led to believe and I don't think he can really be faulted for that part of his game.

However he's not perfect. Best had a header from inside the six yard box for his goal on Saturday and Friedel even at his worst would still have taken that cross comfortably.

Can't complain too much though, if he were able to command his box and come for crosses more often then there's no way he'd be playing for us at the moment.

[ozzjim]

His shot stopping is every bit as we had been led to believe and I don't think he can really be faulted for that part of his game.

However he's not perfect. Best had a header from inside the six yard box for his goal on Saturday and Friedel even at his worst would still have taken that cross comfortably.

Can't complain too much though, if he were able to command his box and come for crosses more often then there's no way he'd be playing for us at the moment.

Dave, I completely disagree re Friedel taking that cross - he was glued to his line much of last season. I think you giving him great credit if you think he would have come for it. The goal was poorly defended by our defenders not marking Best.