Guzan v Given

[nigel]

We all widely agreed that had Guzan played the Bradford semi we would have likely gone through. I think some decent displays have rose tinted the memories of Given. I will agree on the point picked up by Paulie, Guzan doesn't save some that I expect him too. I think that we could well see Sherwood go for his own keeper come the summer. But in fairness most top keepers have rough patches. Tim Howard was woeful for some of last season according to Everton fans, Hart was publicly dropped. Delph Gea still has big mistakes in him. I think Guzan has earnt a bit of an arm and a confidence boost.

It's very easy for people to say that from the stands, it's a totally different picture at ground level, though.
Every keeper has a howler in their locker. Cortois, beaten from 65 yards, I've seen Harte and DeGea cost goals on a few occasions, too.
There have been a few times this season when Brad has spilt a seemingly straight forward shot. It's not until it's seen on TV that you realise that it's taken a nick of a players knee/ boot/shin which has left no reaction time.
I thought Shay should have done better with Liverpool's goal, I bet no one in the stands knew it had taken a deflection until replayed, though.

[Risso]

We all widely agreed that had Guzan played the Bradford semi we would have likely gone through. I think some decent displays have rose tinted the memories of Given. I will agree on the point picked up by Paulie, Guzan doesn't save some that I expect him too. I think that we could well see Sherwood go for his own keeper come the summer. But in fairness most top keepers have rough patches. Tim Howard was woeful for some of last season according to Everton fans, Hart was publicly dropped. Delph Gea still has big mistakes in him. I think Guzan has earnt a bit of an arm and a confidence boost.

It's very easy for people to say that from the stands, it's a totally different picture at ground level, though.
Every keeper has a howler in their locker. Cortois, beaten from 65 yards, I've seen Harte and DeGea cost goals on a few occasions, too.
There have been a few times this season when Brad has spilt a seemingly straight forward shot. It's not until it's seen on TV that you realise that it's taken a nick of a players knee/ boot/shin which has left no reaction time.
I thought Shay should have done better with Liverpool's goal, I bet no one in the stands knew it had taken a deflection until replayed, though.

It was Okore who should have done better.  I thought that Given had no chance, without even seeing that it hit somebody on the way in.

[Steve R]

Guzan got the gig because the manager decided form meant more than reputation, and rightly so. By the same token Given should be brought back. We are lucky to have two excellent goalies at the club, even if, as the OP points out, one of them should not have been here in the first place. We should not hesitate to use them.

Guzan's main strengths have been organising the defence and dominating the area on crosses. Absolutely priceless whilst Baker and Clark were cutting their teeth but less important now. Given has been the better shot stopper and kicker, he is currently the best choice.

[Villa in Denmark]

I'm not sure if my memory is faded or what but Given went to the euros and looked shit, came back, started the season shit got hammered against Everton and never got a look in again. Before that I don't remember him looking poor and he was still highly thought of.

I'm sure we were all bitching about him going to the Euros injured and he never regained full fitness before his dodgy 3-4 games before he was dropped.

Might be my memory though.  More holes than Swiss cheese these days.

[Legion]

He had a shocker at the Euros.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Not only the first "howler" but the second "flap" where the player should of scored is unfortunately justifiable to be dropped. I am a Guzan fan. But its  such a vital time of our season to enter with a keeper lacking confidence .......

[ChicagoLion]

I think after the Citeh game Guzans confidence will be shot, he has to be dropped.

[silhillvilla]

I think after the Citeh game Guzans confidence will be shot, he has to be dropped.

Agree. The defence seem less jittery when Given plays.

[nigel]

We all widely agreed that had Guzan played the Bradford semi we would have likely gone through. I think some decent displays have rose tinted the memories of Given. I will agree on the point picked up by Paulie, Guzan doesn't save some that I expect him too. I think that we could well see Sherwood go for his own keeper come the summer. But in fairness most top keepers have rough patches. Tim Howard was woeful for some of last season according to Everton fans, Hart was publicly dropped. Delph Gea still has big mistakes in him. I think Guzan has earnt a bit of an arm and a confidence boost.

It's very easy for people to say that from the stands, it's a totally different picture at ground level, though.
Every keeper has a howler in their locker. Cortois, beaten from 65 yards, I've seen Harte and DeGea cost goals on a few occasions, too.
There have been a few times this season when Brad has spilt a seemingly straight forward shot. It's not until it's seen on TV that you realise that it's taken a nick of a players knee/ boot/shin which has left no reaction time.
I thought Shay should have done better with Liverpool's goal, I bet no one in the stands knew it had taken a deflection until replayed, though.

It was Okore who should have done better.  I thought that Given had no chance, without even seeing that it hit somebody on the way in.

That's a matter of opinion, but you would say that as you're calling for Shay to come back in.
Yes Okore should have done better, and the ball should have been cleared well before the goal.
Had that shot not taken a deflection down, under Shays hands, I reckon he'd have got his hand to the ball, that's what made the difference, giving Shay no chance.

[Risso]

We all widely agreed that had Guzan played the Bradford semi we would have likely gone through. I think some decent displays have rose tinted the memories of Given. I will agree on the point picked up by Paulie, Guzan doesn't save some that I expect him too. I think that we could well see Sherwood go for his own keeper come the summer. But in fairness most top keepers have rough patches. Tim Howard was woeful for some of last season according to Everton fans, Hart was publicly dropped. Delph Gea still has big mistakes in him. I think Guzan has earnt a bit of an arm and a confidence boost.

It's very easy for people to say that from the stands, it's a totally different picture at ground level, though.
Every keeper has a howler in their locker. Cortois, beaten from 65 yards, I've seen Harte and DeGea cost goals on a few occasions, too.
There have been a few times this season when Brad has spilt a seemingly straight forward shot. It's not until it's seen on TV that you realise that it's taken a nick of a players knee/ boot/shin which has left no reaction time.
I thought Shay should have done better with Liverpool's goal, I bet no one in the stands knew it had taken a deflection until replayed, though.

It was Okore who should have done better.  I thought that Given had no chance, without even seeing that it hit somebody on the way in.

That's a matter of opinion, but you would say that as you're calling for Shay to come back in.
Yes Okore should have done better, and the ball should have been cleared well before the goal.
Had that shot not taken a deflection down, under Shays hands, I reckon he'd have got his hand to the ball, that's what made the difference, giving Shay no chance.

Er, so you're agreeing that Given had no chance then,but I'm only saying so because I want him back in.  Oh, OK....

[N'ZMAV]

He had a shocker at the Euros.

People were suggesting he should have retired then.

[silhillvilla]

He had a shocker at the Euros.

People were suggesting he should have retired then.

Not playing every week has possibly re-energised and added a few years to his playing career.

[nigel]

We all widely agreed that had Guzan played the Bradford semi we would have likely gone through. I think some decent displays have rose tinted the memories of Given. I will agree on the point picked up by Paulie, Guzan doesn't save some that I expect him too. I think that we could well see Sherwood go for his own keeper come the summer. But in fairness most top keepers have rough patches. Tim Howard was woeful for some of last season according to Everton fans, Hart was publicly dropped. Delph Gea still has big mistakes in him. I think Guzan has earnt a bit of an arm and a confidence boost.

It's very easy for people to say that from the stands, it's a totally different picture at ground level, though.
Every keeper has a howler in their locker. Cortois, beaten from 65 yards, I've seen Harte and DeGea cost goals on a few occasions, too.
There have been a few times this season when Brad has spilt a seemingly straight forward shot. It's not until it's seen on TV that you realise that it's taken a nick of a players knee/ boot/shin which has left no reaction time.
I thought Shay should have done better with Liverpool's goal, I bet no one in the stands knew it had taken a deflection until replayed, though.

It was Okore who should have done better.  I thought that Given had no chance, without even seeing that it hit somebody on the way in.

That's a matter of opinion, but you would say that as you're calling for Shay to come back in.
Yes Okore should have done better, and the ball should have been cleared well before the goal.
Had that shot not taken a deflection down, under Shays hands, I reckon he'd have got his hand to the ball, that's what made the difference, giving Shay no chance.

Er, so you're agreeing that Given had no chance then,but I'm only saying so because I want him back in.  Oh, OK....

Er, If you actually read what I wrote you would see that I said I thought he should have done better but I didn't realise (like everyone else at the time) that it had been deflected under his hand!!
 
Oh, Ok...

[Chipsticks]

Sounds to me like Sherwood's going to stick with Guzan.

From the OS:

Tim Sherwood has backed Brad Guzan to bounce back from his Etihad error.

Guzan scuffed a clearance in the early stages of the game at Man City, leading to Sergio Aguero scoring the opening goal.

Villa's No.1 will have wanted the turf to swallow him up at that moment.

But Sherwood thinks the goalkeeper has the presence of mind and inner steel to come back strong from the mistake.

He said: "Brad knows he's just got to bounce back. I am confident he will.

"It won't be his first mistake and it won't his last. That's the nature of the game for a goalkeeper. You just have to get on with it.

"You need to have that character to bounce back. It's not about how many mistakes he makes it's how he reacts.

"He's a good character and I know the boys aren't pointing any fingers at him. He's made a mistake. No-one is putting blame on him.

"These things happen. Unfortunately for goalkeepers there's no hiding place.

"What can you say? Brad knows he's made a mistake. But he's a good character and he'll get over it."

While Sherwood was pleased with Villa's attacking intent and overall performance in the narrow 3-2 defeat at the home of the champions, he did insist that his team need to cut out mistakes in the season run-in.

He added: "We need to tighten up defensively if we're going to stay in the Premier League.

"We nullified their individual talents. The disappointment is that they didn't have to work too hard for the goals.

"We gifted them the goals. That's a real frustration.

"But overall, I think the players really believe. We've won some big games in the last few weeks and we should have taken something from the home of the champions.

"We performed well and we're very unfortunate to go away with nothing.

"We're running out of games. But there are still enough matches left to look after our own destiny."

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~4670845,00.html

[Dave]

Good