Guzan

[Risso]

We won't be the first club this has happened to Given at.

It's a pisser though.

I'd imagine the worst time to lose your spot for an experienced keeper is two days after the transfer window shuts.

He could always try winning his place back.

[Shrek]

I was calling for Guzan to keep his place last year, but Given came back and was motm, but Given's one plus was his shot stopping and he has lost that I'm afraid, I'd sell at first opportunity, he will be one of our highest earners.
I think we would have lost yesterday if Given was in goal.

Here's to Brad being our number 1 from now on.

[LeeB]

We won't be the first club this has happened to Given at.

It's a pisser though.

I'd imagine the worst time to lose your spot for an experienced keeper is two days after the transfer window shuts.

He could always try winning his place back.

Not going to happen, is it?

[Risso]

I dunno, Guzan could be injured or suspended next game, or have a nightmare. 

[Holte L2]

Bosnich. Simple as that. I've said it before many times, and that's about the Peace Cup a few years back against Juve. He was superb that game. Evoked Bosnich at his best, particularly Sunderland in the Cola cup. Really commanding. Confident in everything he did. That was the first 90 (120) minutes of getting a really good look at Guzan for me. Then he had the Sunderland game too which was Bos-esque.

I think for many, his poor games against Big Sam's Blackburn side really made his stock fall. I'll be honest, I doubted after that. He just got a rude awakening to how physical the English game can be. He was still coming for everything with as much confidence as before, but couldn't deal with the buffeting.

For me, last season he came back and was very good. On merit he deserved to keep his place once Given returned, but it never happened.
For me he has a few things in his locker over Shay:
Commands his area.
Good aerially, and aggressive. If there's a high ball within 10 yards of him, he'll go for it 9/10.
Handling. He catches and keeps hold of a lot more than Given and actually a lot of keepers, who opt for punch or parry first.
Vocal. He's always pushing his defence. They always know where he is and he's always organising. Shay's always been one of the quieter keepers.

Not suggesting I don't rate Given. Always been a fan. But he's 36 now, and Guzan's a potential stopper for the next 5-10 years. Shay's one of the best shot stoppers in the business, very agile, but to some extent, gives himself more to do by not cleaning up as much outside the 6 yard box when he can. There's often spectacular from Given, but you get that with Guzan with more bread and better alongside.

This could actually work out as being Lamberts best signing.

Initially I thought I wrote that! Completely agree. Was at the Sunderland league cup game and he was Bosnich-esq! Hope he's here to stay.

[alan_clarke]

Envisaged this happening and picked up Guzan very cheaply for my fantasy football team at the start of the season. Reckon he'll stay between the posts for us for a long time now.

[Duncan Shaw]

I think the most important thing is that dropping Given after making the mistake for Evertons 2nd has sent a message to the rest of the squad. Fuck up and you're out of the team.

I agree it's not just a fuck up message.  Clark was equally poor against Everton and got sent off, but was back vs newcastle.  I really think he wants to build Vlaar-Clark partnership.  Guzan was magnificent and injuries aside, not sure we'll see Shay back in the first team.  Don't think we'll manage to move him on anytime soon though.

I'm not sure that's the message, nor if it was it being a good thing. I think if there is a message that was sent by Lambert it is that he will pick the team based on form and ability. Seemingly at present Guzan is ahead of Given on those scores.

[SoccerHQ]

Given his age and wages I think will see him moved on if possible at the end of the season.

I assume you are referring to Shay Given. If Guzan continues in the same form he showed briefly last year and then this, Given will find it hard to be anything other than no. 2.

If that happens, whether he moves will largely be down to him. If all he wants to do is see out his last years in the top flight with a nice paycheck for little activity then he'll be here for a while yet.

I can't see another club offering him the same sort of contract as he is likely to be on here.

Given will want to leave.

If he was content just being a back up keeper then surely he'd have just stayed back up to Hart at Man. City and won a few medals. He dosen't even have the consolation of playing for Ireland either now.

Big problem will be trying to shift him as he still has over 3 years left on his deal and I assume he's one something like 50k.

[SoccerHQ]

Good point made on the last page.

If it wasn't for an amazing Guzan performance at Sunderland, we wouldn't have even reached the semi final against Blackburn.

Another thing will be when we next concede a penalty. I have little faith in Given saving them (just like Friedel) but Guzan has a very good record in saving them.

[Dante Lavelli]

Glendening on the Guardian’s football weekly said something interesting about Given after the error v Everton.
Basically he implied that Given’s people had contacted him to stop saying something that could be affecting his form.  Obviously he could not expand on that but I do recall Barry G saying during Euro 2012 that he thought Given was carrying an injury.

[Dave]

Although Barry Glendenning has never made any secret that he feels Given's ability is massively outweighed by his reputation.

[Dante Lavelli]

Although Barry Glendenning has never made any secret that he feels Given's ability is massively outweighed by his reputation.

Maybe, but that’s not justification for Given’s solicitors contacting Glendenning.

[ozzjim]

There were things implied previously about Given. Man City replaced him with Hart as soon as they could. He is not the keeper he is made out to be IMO. Guzan has a lot more presence.

[themossman]

Envisaged this happening and picked up Guzan very cheaply for my fantasy football team at the start of the season. Reckon he'll stay between the posts for us for a long time now.

Only problem is we'll still be shipping goals most weeks!

[themossman]

I'm glad to see brad get a chance too I like his catching, marshalling of the defence and confident decision making. Not too happy about the boot being out into given though he did a job last year and got us points that kept us up.