Guzan

[RunRickyRun]

Given has been a great 'keeper but his confidence is shot to pieces at the moment. Guzan has seized his opportunity with both hands (pardon the pun). The save from (cheating) Dyer yesterday was top class.

[peter w]

Not been a great admirer of Guzan but he has been great in the last 2 games. And has looked very assured under the high ball. Fully deserves the shirt.

[mrastonvilla]

It was nice to see Brad going mental when we were attacking in the second half, holding his head and punching the air!

Was impressed with his command of his area and shot stopping, a great all round performance. Could turn out to be the best signing of the summer.

[john e]

i've always liked Guzan,
 yes he's made mistakes in the past but then worked hard and put them right, he learned from them, if you have a keeper that can do that he will only get better.
he could be with us a long time, like Spinksy was

the most incredible thing is not that we let him go, but that no one snapped him up,
 i suppose if you are not getting 1st team games its difficult to prove your ability to any other manager, but just shows the scouting network of clubs cant be that strong, if its not in front of your face they dont know anything about you

[Risso]

I think Guzan will be out first choice for the rest of the season.  We'd be better off offloading Given in January, and getting a young back up to Brad in.

[nigel]

I think Guzan will be out first choice for the rest of the season.  We'd be better off offloading Given in January, and getting a young back up to Brad in.

Think you're right, Riss.
To be honest I can't see Given wanting to hang round as a second choice. Especially next season when Brad will want the number 1 on his back.
Brads work ethic is obviously the same as his namesake, Freidel.
If his injury record is the same as Freidels too we could be seeing a lot more of 'Young Brad'

[Dave]

I wonder where Given would go though. Nominal fee with us subsidizing his wages at Celtic?

[Chipsticks]

I wonder where Given would go though. Nominal fee with us subsidizing his wages at Celtic?

Celtic's a very good shout, but I'm not sure that he'd want to give up Premier League football that easily.

[Risso]

I wonder where Given would go though. Nominal fee with us subsidizing his wages at Celtic?

I don't think he's in a Hutton or Warnock position yet, he's still good enough to be a Premier League first choice, but his ridiculous contract might make things difficult.

[Chipsticks]

I imagine Shay will play against Man City in the cup next wednesday, so that could be a massive game for him.

[JJ-AV]

We should have let him go to QPR in the Summer. The contract was always going to be an issue with him, as he's still got three and a half years left.

Saying that, I don't think we should write him off just yet.

[Dave]

I wonder where Given would go though. Nominal fee with us subsidizing his wages at Celtic?

I don't think he's in a Hutton or Warnock position yet, he's still good enough to be a Premier League first choice, but his ridiculous contract might make things difficult.

That's what I mean - he's better than the first-choice keeper at some clubs, but anyone who would be able to afford his wages already has a better keeper.

[Ron Manager]

At the moment Guzan is in terriffic form but remember all goalkeepers have poor runs like Shay has had. Petr Cech has made a series of costly errors over the past six months but doesnt seem to attract the attention like Shay has. Brad Guzan is going like a steam train at the moment but there will be a time when Shay will be back and lets hope he will be back to the form he is capable of.

[JUAN PABLO]

Could be the bargain of the season with Holman.

[sonlyme]

It strikes me that there seem to be two models of goalkeeper in the game.

The shot stopper is the one we have tended to get.  Agile with fast reflexes this is a keeper who tends to stay on his line and let his defenders clear high balls.  Brad Friedel was a stopper - indeed more of a net minder - and Shay is the same.

The brilliant thing about Guzan is that he has that shot stopping skill (as all good goalkeepers must)  - but he combines it with the skill all great keepers have - he commands his area.

Pat Jennings - Peter Shilton - Oliver Kahn - Peter Schmeichel - Edwin van der Sar - Gianluigi Buffon - these are men with catlike reflexes but they were also men who relieved  the pressure on their defence by coming off their goal line and plucking high balls out of the air.  Or rushing forward to pinch that through ball from off the strikers toe.  In short they all commanded their area - and marshaled their defence.

Watching Friedel was like watching a statue - great shot stopping sure - but awful command of his area.

Same with Shay - left and right across his goal line no problem - forward into the box - oh no - that's for someone else to sort.

Watching Guzan against Newcastle and then again against Swansea reminded me of what great goalkeeping is all about.  Time after time he killed any threat by simply coming out and taking the ball.  Confidently and easily.  No twitches - no flaps - no punches.  Guzan has worked hard on this as it was seen as a problem for him - so credit to him.

And credit to Lambert too.  Because much of Guzan's performance is down to confidence and feeling relaxed and comfortable.  Lambert, unlike O'Neill or subsequent managers,  has not sent the signal to Guzan that he is just a reserve - not quite good enough - a temporary stand in.  He got Guz back by promising him a shot because he thought he was good enough - and low and behold - he is.

Mistakes will inevitably happen - but with a goalie like Guzan behind you -  our defence can only improve.

Now if we can get Given, Dunne,  Hutton, and Warnock off to new clubs - we can give the wage room created to Lambert to continue to sign 'nobodies' - and onward and upward we go.


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