Guzan v Given

[onje_villa]

Just reliving the horror on MOTD, the first four goals are purely down to defensive fuckwittery, nothing Given could have done at all.  He did quite well for three of them.

Did well how? Did he save save any of them?
To be honest for the second (I think it was the second) he should have gone with his hands and would probably have gotten a freekick if he was a bit braver. Everything else he did he looked extremely nervous and half hearted, he nearly cost us more than the 6 goals. His kicking was terrible, his flapping at every cross, his ridiculous hairstyle (sorry but it is ridiculous - I can excuse Jack at 19). A good guy but if we're bringing him in as an experienced pair of hands then he's a long way from it.

[onje_villa]

To be fair to Given they might have got double figures if not for him. I agree he's past his best, but I'd be worried about putting Guzan back in if his confidence isn't quite up to it. Give Guzan Burnley perhaps but I'd stick with Shay in the final.

Absolute tosh, the guy tried his upmost to gift them more goals in the second half. One of the most nervous halves of football I have ever seen a GK have...

[john e]

I wouldn't be surprised if Given retires at the end of this season
He's finished at this level, and he knows it

Just hope it doesn't cost us the FA cup

[supertom]

To be fair to Given they might have got double figures if not for him. I agree he's past his best, but I'd be worried about putting Guzan back in if his confidence isn't quite up to it. Give Guzan Burnley perhaps but I'd stick with Shay in the final.

Absolute tosh, the guy tried his upmost to gift them more goals in the second half. One of the most nervous halves of football I have ever seen a GK have...

If I had Vlaar and Okore in front of me and parting like the red sea I'd be nervous too. In fact it would take about 5 washes to clean my shorts.

[SoccerHQ]

Which goals was he responsible for today?

I thought he should've tipped the third Mane goal over the bar. He dosen't have a great spring in him anymore after he did his shoulder at City so struggles to dive across the box.

People are being harsh blaming him for the other ones, I actually thought it was two good one-on-one saves and the problem was the likes of Hutton and Okore were on their backsides so couldn't complete the clearances.

[supertom]

Which goals was he responsible for today?

I thought he should've tipped the third Mane goal over the bar. He dosen't have a great spring in him anymore after he did his shoulder at City so struggles to dive across the box.

People are being harsh blaming him for the other ones, I actually thought it was two good one-on-one saves and the problem was the likes of Hutton and Okore were on their backsides so couldn't complete the clearances.

Yeah I'm not sure what he could have done for most of those goals and any nervousness spread throughout the side from the two center-halves. But it clearly is time for Given to call time at this level to be honest. I'd still play him in the cup. I think he's got one great game left in him, and it could be that.
Given gives me the jitters but on current form so does Brad and I think sitting things out will do him good. I think sometimes as a keeper you can have too many consecutive games and then mistakes creep in and your solidity starts shaking a bit. He's not been like Friedel for example who was always a good, consistent keeper, even if he wasn't ever great. But he would be a solid 7/10 almost every game and mistakes didn't play on his mind.

[Ger Regan]

Sadly, neither given nor guzan are good enough to be number 1. A new first choice keeper is my no. 1 priority this summer.

[SoccerHQ]

Guzan has been fine for the last two years but his level has dropped since December so a new younger keeper to challenge is certainly needed in the summer.

[PeterWithesShin]

Wasn't too long ago most on here had Brad as one of the best keepers in the league, and yet after a drop in form for a few months he's suddenly not good enough. Without him we'd have gone down Lambert's first season, quite possibly last season as well.

[dekko]

Guzan has been fine for the last two years but his level has dropped since December so a new younger keeper to challenge is certainly needed in the summer.

TBH I think his form started dipping December 2013, or at least thats roughly when I think he started looking shaky.  It just went under the radar for a bit because a) his mistakes weren't always costing us goals b) everyone else was awful too so he didnt stand out.

I like him, and if we had to get rid of one keeper I'd rather it was Given due to age/wages, but we certainly need some competition in that spot.

[PeterWithesShin]

http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=48309.0

[KRS]

TS has to play his best starting XI regardless of sentiment or promises made.

Guzan was rightly dropped for his decline in performances which culminated in the shambles at Man City, but despite Given initially coming in and doing a good job, he's increasingly looking nervous...if we can feel it in the stands, then the players in front of him must feel it on the pitch.

I'd play Guzan against Burnley and make a decision based on recent performances and training.

After yesterday, Sherwood needs to make it clear that EVERYONE is fighting for Cup Final places over the next 2 weeks...every player needs to be fit and focused, and we can't afford to be making silly mistakes at the back.

[Dante Lavelli]

How has Steer done whilst on Loan?

I voted for the Goose originally and I've certainly not seen anything since which has changed my mind.  My hunch is that Brad is a better organiser/talker which in turn make him a better keeper.  Given just makes me feel nervous.

[brontebilly]

To be fair to Given they might have got double figures if not for him. I agree he's past his best, but I'd be worried about putting Guzan back in if his confidence isn't quite up to it. Give Guzan Burnley perhaps but I'd stick with Shay in the final.

Absolute tosh, the guy tried his upmost to gift them more goals in the second half. One of the most nervous halves of football I have ever seen a GK have...

Would agree with that. Not sure Shay was at fault for any of the goals really, could argue he should have been braver for one of them. However he was a nervous wreck in the second half. Sad to see but Guzan will have to come back in for next two games with our safety ensured.

Just hope the break has done Guzan good. Aside from the City debacle his performance at Arsenal was shocking too. We will have to defend much deeper in the cup final.

[Dave]

I wouldn't be surprised if Given retires at the end of this season
He's finished at this level, and he knows it

Why would he do that and wave goodbye to £2.5m that we'd have to pay him for the year?