Guzan v Given

[eamonn]

He had a split second to react, and he was being held down by an opposing player.  Clear and obvious foul, and the penalty was soft as well.

So do you trust him at crosses in general, then ?

[PaulWinch again]

I like Guzan, but I think he needed to be dropped to realise he won't just start every week come what may.

[john e]

Guzan should spend the whole of the summer break practising his kicking

get someone like johny Wilkinson to give him some help,

[Matt C]

It was a good kick up the arse for Guzan and now up to him to respond but he's still the vastly better keeper in my view.

[old man villa fan]

Until Guzan sorts out his kicking and overall distribution he will always fall short of being good enough.  He just looks a bag or nerves now when the ball is played back to him.  Teams have now spotted this and his reluctance to kick from hand so are pushing up more on our defenders.

I have said before that his balance looks all wrong when he goes to kick.  This is something that can be coached out of him though and as somebody else has said, he should spend the summer improving this side of his game.

[john e]

Until Guzan sorts out his kicking and overall distribution he will always fall short of being good enough.  He just looks a bag or nerves now when the ball is played back to him.  Teams have now spotted this and his reluctance to kick from hand so are pushing up more on our defenders.

I have said before that his balance looks all wrong when he goes to kick.  This is something that can be coached out of him though and as somebody else has said, he should spend the summer improving this side of his game.

I agree,
 but he is 30 now you'd have thought he would have done something about it before now, unless he has with no improvments

[aj2k77]

After watching the goal again I think I was wrong, Given was pretty weak and should have dealt with it a lot better. Not saying it wasn't a foul, but it wasn't as blatant as I first though. His jump was either really poor or he was playing on the player being physical and expected the referee to blow.

[Marlon's Hairy Wood]

I think Given was unlucky, mainly because of where the ball was falling..

I think he may have dealt with it if he was sure that it was staying on the pitch, but i'm not sure he knew whether it was going to stay in, hit the bar, or just drop out of play.. couple that with Coleman doing his best to put him off, he got himself in a tangle

[peter w]

Is it me or is Given smaller than Guzan. maybe its my eyes and I'm so used to seeing Guzan there now, but Given just looks tiny in comparison. Almost like when you see a small kid in goals when playing with bigger kids in the park. Well, not that small maybe.

[Dave]

Is it me or is Given smaller than Guzan. maybe its my eyes and I'm so used to seeing Guzan there now, but Given just looks tiny in comparison. Almost like when you see a small kid in goals when playing with bigger kids in the park. Well, not that small maybe.

He's a good three or four inches smaller.

[peter w]

Is it me or is Given smaller than Guzan. maybe its my eyes and I'm so used to seeing Guzan there now, but Given just looks tiny in comparison. Almost like when you see a small kid in goals when playing with bigger kids in the park. Well, not that small maybe.

He's a good three or four inches smaller.

That much? Plus he doesn't seem as wide. not as imposing.

[rob_bridge]

Coleman would not have been able to get away with that against Guzan - far stronger than Given. Had Lukaka, not saying he would,  took the penalty in the same way I suspect Guzan may have saved it.

Given was brilliant at Newcastle but not been as good since.

All in my pinion of course. I like Given - peoper professional. Just think Guzan is better keeper. Suspect Sherwoods lomg standing relationship with Given will give him the nod in the last 4 games.

[Brend'Watkins]

A goalkeeper has to take command in those situations. His arguing of the point at the end with the ref' was just looking for an excuse. 

Don't agree, it was a foul

It didn't look too much like one at the game and that was backed up later seeing it on the TV.  He should have been much stronger in that situation and should have took command of the situation.  He wasn't and he didn't.

If he had been 'stronger' you'd have been looking at a penalty and probable sending-off.

When was the last time a goalkeeper got penalized for being a little bit physical?  It just doesn't happen. I think the unwritten rule is you can't touch a goalkeeper but they can do what they want...pretty much. 

Guzan and Given are much of a muchness.  Neither really brilliant and neither really poor.  What is clear to see as peter w has pointed out is that Given is much smaller in stature than Guzan so consequently less upper body strength.  Much easier to arm lock/hold back or whatever people are saying the infringement was that the very close Clattenberg somehow failed to see. 

[peter w]

Stronger doesn't mean fouling though. I think Given could have done more in the situation and even if held, and he was, the fist that got to the ball was pretty poor. This is why we could still go down and that is our defence is still making silly mistakes. Since Tottenham we've played very well in the league but conceded 5 times in two games. Yes against decent teams. But take away free-kick and the other 4 goals were wholly avoidable.

[OCD]

After watching the goal again I think I was wrong, Given was pretty weak and should have dealt with it a lot better. Not saying it wasn't a foul, but it wasn't as blatant as I first though. His jump was either really poor or he was playing on the player being physical and expected the referee to blow.

Yeah, that's pretty much my take on it. He didn't seem brave enough and then didn't really take ownership of the role he played in it.