Guzan To Re-Sign

[Dave]

With our Laurel and Hardy defence from last season, he needed to be a fantastic shot-stopper.

It's interesting how Given has only ever played behind awful, comedy defences (us, Man City, Newcastle).

It's even more interesting how those awful, comedy defences actually become perfectly competent once a different goalkeeper was playing behind them.

[old man villa fan]

Maybe he was world class but he isn't now.

Neither is Guzan

Given is only the Irish keeper not exactly the world footballing super power, Guzan is set to be American no1, a team that isn't too far behind ROI in world rankings - also if Given is so world class how come no top club ever brought him, where were the big clubs banging down his door to join them.

Where were the clubs waiting to offer Guzan a contract at the end of the season

[Dave]

Maybe he was world class but he isn't now.

Neither is Guzan

Given is only the Irish keeper not exactly the world footballing super power, Guzan is set to be American no1, a team that isn't too far behind ROI in world rankings - also if Given is so world class how come no top club ever brought him, where were the big clubs banging down his door to join them.

Where were the clubs waiting to offer Guzan a contract at the end of the season

They were rejected by Guzan because he wanted to come back to Villa.

Hull, Ipswich, etc.

[DrGonzo]

  I don't believe Guzan is a good enough keeper to be a premier league side's first choice.  However I do believe they Given isn't going to improve on the frailties that are apparent in his game.  He is clearly happier to punch a ball out than catch it, something that Friedel did also but was more adept at. He fears to come off of the line to take charge at set pieces which was a major contributor to our poor defensive record last season.  So Guzan has the opportunity to prove us disbelievers wrong.

[dave.woodhall]

Maybe he was world class but he isn't now.

Neither is Guzan

Given is only the Irish keeper not exactly the world footballing super power, Guzan is set to be American no1, a team that isn't too far behind ROI in world rankings - also if Given is so world class how come no top club ever brought him, where were the big clubs banging down his door to join them.

Where were the clubs waiting to offer Guzan a contract at the end of the season

They were rejected by Guzan because he wanted to come back to Villa.

Hull, Ipswich, etc.

Hardly worldbeaters themselves, and if he wanted to come back to Villa why didn't he sign a new contract before now?

[villastikz]

I was concerned about the length of his very lucrative contract and his recent injury record.

I understand people being concerned about that, and I understand that some people never rated him from the start, what I don't get is why, now, there seem to be far more people so unconvinced by him than there were at the end of the season.

It's almost as if they've seen him in goal for the worst team at the Euros, having a bit of a mare, and decided he was shit last season.

Me personally I don't do bandwagons but I do see your point how a lot of peoples opinions have been formed on the Euro's, to me the Euro's compounded my own views further.

I didn't want him to join the club and when he was injured I wanted Guzan to stay in the team till he done something to merit losing his place and that Given shouldn't of got the spot back automatically.

I didn't think we should be buying an aging keeper, with the wages were paying him, with issues to his game and injury problems who had just been dropped from the no1 spot as our no1 keeper - half the pay and no2 spot then OK but not top spot. We should of brought someone else if they was destined to be automatic no1 keeper.

[philthebar]

With our Laurel and Hardy defence from last season, he needed to be a fantastic shot-stopper.

It's interesting how Given has only ever played behind awful, comedy defences (us, Man City, Newcastle).

It's even more interesting how those awful, comedy defences actually become perfectly competent once a different goalkeeper was playing behind them.

[/b]

Quite!  I was trying to put this into words myself.

[old man villa fan]

Maybe he was world class but he isn't now.

Neither is Guzan

Given is only the Irish keeper not exactly the world footballing super power, Guzan is set to be American no1, a team that isn't too far behind ROI in world rankings - also if Given is so world class how come no top club ever brought him, where were the big clubs banging down his door to join them.

Where were the clubs waiting to offer Guzan a contract at the end of the season

They were rejected by Guzan because he wanted to come back to Villa.

Hull, Ipswich, etc.

Not relevant to previous comments on how good Guzan is or how poor Given is according to some.

Is Guzan falling into the supporters' category of the less they play, the better they are.

[Dave]

Maybe he was world class but he isn't now.

Neither is Guzan

Given is only the Irish keeper not exactly the world footballing super power, Guzan is set to be American no1, a team that isn't too far behind ROI in world rankings - also if Given is so world class how come no top club ever brought him, where were the big clubs banging down his door to join them.

Where were the clubs waiting to offer Guzan a contract at the end of the season

They were rejected by Guzan because he wanted to come back to Villa.

Hull, Ipswich, etc.

Hardly worldbeaters themselves, and if he wanted to come back to Villa why didn't he sign a new contract before now?

I don't know. If I had to guess, it was a case of hearing the manager offering him the contract insinuating that the other goalkeeper at the club was always going to be first choice and wanted to try his luck elsewhere. Maybe the new manager suggested to him that if he came back and signed the contract that was offered then he would have more opportunities?

As I say, I don't actually know. But I would consider the above to be a fairly good guess.

[TheSandman]

With our Laurel and Hardy defence from last season, he needed to be a fantastic shot-stopper.

It's interesting how Given has only ever played behind awful, comedy defences (us, Man City, Newcastle).

It's even more interesting how those awful, comedy defences actually become perfectly competent once a different goalkeeper was playing behind them.

I agree with that. Newcastle always seemed to be awful defensively whilst he was there and even good players like Toure and Lescott at City ended up looking like muppets in front of Given at times. Not knocking him, I think he's a very good goalkeeper. Just one that is nowhere near the kind of class some people seem to think he's in. I don't believe Guzan is a better player than him. Just one who is going to become harder and harder to usurp and with Given's recent injury record Guzan is going to get more and more chances.

Besides, Bertie seems to see something in him which has lead to Guzan's return and for assurances to be given that were sufficient enough to convince Guzan to come back. I trust his judgement on that.

[pauliewalnuts]

I didn't think we should be buying an aging keeper, with the wages were paying him, with issues to his game and injury problems who had just been dropped from the no1 spot as our no1 keeper - half the pay and no2 spot then OK but not top spot. We should of brought someone else if they was destined to be automatic no1 keeper.

I don't think there's a problem with buying an ageing keeper (don't forget, they do last much longer), but I will admit, five years for a keeper at Given's age seemed a pretty big deal. Mind you, Spurs gave Friedel 2 years at the age of 40, so we're not the only ones.

[dave.woodhall]

I don't know. If I had to guess, it was a case of hearing the manager offering him the contract insinuating that the other goalkeeper at the club was always going to be first choice and wanted to try his luck elsewhere. Maybe the new manager suggested to him that if he came back and signed the contract that was offered then he would have more opportunities?

As I say, I don't actually know. But I would consider the above to be a fairly good guess.

I'd say it's more likely that he didn't get a decent offer from anywhere else rather than he refused to sign a contract because he wanted to stay.

[old man villa fan]

With our Laurel and Hardy defence from last season, he needed to be a fantastic shot-stopper.

It's interesting how Given has only ever played behind awful, comedy defences (us, Man City, Newcastle).

It's even more interesting how those awful, comedy defences actually become perfectly competent once a different goalkeeper was playing behind them.

Were those defences after, the same as those before

[villastikz]

Maybe he was world class but he isn't now.

Neither is Guzan

Given is only the Irish keeper not exactly the world footballing super power, Guzan is set to be American no1, a team that isn't too far behind ROI in world rankings - also if Given is so world class how come no top club ever brought him, where were the big clubs banging down his door to join them.

Where were the clubs waiting to offer Guzan a contract at the end of the season

They were rejected by Guzan because he wanted to come back to Villa.

Hull, Ipswich, etc.

Hardly worldbeaters themselves, and if he wanted to come back to Villa why didn't he sign a new contract before now?

He was away on international duty with games in May and June and assuming he then had a holiday afterwards and he probably never returned to the UK till July and entered negotiations with Lambert but they had probably already had preliminary discussions before hand.

[Dave]

With our Laurel and Hardy defence from last season, he needed to be a fantastic shot-stopper.

It's interesting how Given has only ever played behind awful, comedy defences (us, Man City, Newcastle).

It's even more interesting how those awful, comedy defences actually become perfectly competent once a different goalkeeper was playing behind them.

Were those defences after, the same as those before

Given - Taylor - Coloccini: relegated
Krul - Taylor - Coloccini - one of the most solid defences in the league last year

Given - Collins - Dunne: last season's horror show
Friedel - Collins - Dunne in 09-10: one of the most solid defences in the league

Given is perfectly fine, he's a keeper that's about right for our level. But that's all he is, he's not some sort of superman. He's a keeper who excels at some things, is average at others and is bad at others.

I'd prefer him to Guzan, but there's not a million miles between the two.