Shay Given

[SwanVsDalton]

He'd want to join a club with a history...not one formed last year.

Shay moved to Man City - clearly history is no issue if success and ambition are on the table. And Man City never won a treble (not even in a past guise)....

[Charlie Darwin]

You'd need a lot more than two contracts to cover his wages.

[SkStu]

i thought Hart was very iffy against Blackpool today. Was nowhere for the first goal.

[Charlie Darwin]

I wouldn't blame him for not saving the header, which was virtually unstoppable, but I can't believe he didn't have a man on the post. Very poor organisation.

[Philly]

It looks like a move on loan to Celtic is in the works. Pretty disappointing stuff, to be honest.

http://www.footballtransfertavern.com/2010/10/premiership/city-outcast-to-seek-diplomatic-immunity
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2010/10/17/2169531/manchester-city-goalkeeper-shay-given-set-to-join-boyhood-heroes-

[Charlie Darwin]

Dunno about that. Same rumours that were around in January.

[Predator]

I wouldn't blame him for not saving the header, which was virtually unstoppable, but I can't believe he didn't have a man on the post. Very poor organisation.I didn't see it, but some clubs actually set up for corners with only one man on a post. Could this have been the case, rather than poor organisation?

[Stuttgart88]

Was going to say the same thing - some clubs have a policy of only having one man on the post, not necessarily the keeper's decision.

[osarusan]

If we're talking about the first goal, it wasn't a corner, it was a freekick. Having people on the post would have allowed Blackpool players right in front of Hart.

[Charlie Darwin]

You're right, I thought it was a corner.

[tetsujin1979]

I'd blame Lescott for allowing his man, Harewood, to get to the ball before I'd blame Hart

[SkStu]

I'd blame Lescott for allowing his man, Harewood, to get to the ball before I'd blame Hart

i dunno... watch again - he walks two or three steps off his line towards the ball with no apparent intention of catching or fisting. By doing so he left himself very little time to react to the header. I thought his positioning and movement was very suspect for that goal.

He also seems a bit gormless.

[elroy]

Think its very harsh on Shay that he doesnt at least get a run in the EL games. Mancini has made plenty of changes for tonights game. They are doing well in their group, if he had any interest in keeping Shay at the club he would play him in these games.

[WexCar]

Correct me if I'm wrong but if he played in these games then he would be cup tied and thus deter any EL or CL team from trying to sign him in January.

[tetsujin1979]

Given to start tonight VS Poznan, according to City's twitter feed: http://twitter.com/#!/MCFC/statuses/29684235085

Just heard the #mcfc (http://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23mcfc) starting XI is: Given, Richards, Boyata, Lescott, Bridge, Vieira, Zabaleta, Wright-Phillips, Milner, Johnson, Adebayor

[rebelmusic]

Conceded already :/ Doesnt sound like he had much of a chance though

[Charlie Darwin]

Nah he had no chance - snapshot from 30 yards that arrowed into the corner.

[tricky_colour]

Conceded another, although he had no chance.
Not unless he had came to claim the ball which I don't think was on.

[Charlie Darwin]

No chance on the third either. Three incredible goals (for different reasons).

[tricky_colour]

and a third - again no chance.

[Noelys Guitar]

Mr Mancini please take a seat. We are almost finished with Mr Grant. http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2010/5/3/1272895391583/A-JobCentre-Plus-sign-003.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS0fXQN6zrI

[tetsujin1979]

Given starting for City against Salzburg tonight. City 1-0 up with about 40 minutes gone.
Nothing for him to do tohugh, it's been all City so far. I could be in goals and Salzburg wouldn't be ahead

Live on Setanta Ireland if anyone's interested. Being played in heavy snowfall too.

[elroy]

Clean sheet for the lad, good for his confidence at least.

[Kingdom]

Dunno did anyone hear radio 1 sport this lunchtime but Richie Sadlier really put it up to Robbie and Shay in particular.
Shay did an interview during the week where he commented on a few things, his situation being one of them. He finished by saying he was doing all that he could do.

Sadlier picked up on this point immediately and basically said that will be put to the test in January for a variety of reasons.
1) he's good enough to start for most clubs
2) City announced they will not pay the difference in wages of loanee's
3) Shay has said he'll do whatever it takes to get game time during the transfer window,

It was on that basis that Sadlier said if he's still at City till the end of the season, then the chances are that he's refused to take a pay cut in order to play football, and that this will be showing what his priority is.

It was hard not to disagree with Sadlier, and to be honest I really enjoy when he's analyst on radio or tv as he cuts the bull and gets straight to the point regardless how damning or hurtful it is.

[Sullivinho]

Dunno did anyone hear radio 1 sport this lunchtime but Richie Sadlier really put it up to Robbie and Shay in particular.
Shay did an interview during the week where he commented on a few things, his situation being one of them. He finished by saying he was doing all that he could do.

Sadlier picked up on this point immediately and basically said that will be put to the test in January for a variety of reasons.
1) he's good enough to start for most clubs
2) City announced they will not pay the difference in wages of loanee's
3) Shay has said he'll do whatever it takes to get game time during the transfer window,

It was on that basis that Sadlier said if he's still at City till the end of the season, then the chances are that he's refused to take a pay cut in order to play football, and that this will be showing what his priority is.

It was hard not to disagree with Sadlier, and to be honest I really enjoy when he's analyst on radio or tv as he cuts the bull and gets straight to the point regardless how damning or hurtful it is.

He addressed it similarly on TV but added an 'economical reality' style caveat to round it out. Spoke about Robbie in the same conversation and (as you said, cutting the bull) questioned the number of premier league clubs he'll be deemed good enough for come the inevitable departure in january.

He's a good pundit Sadlier, the forthrightness is refreshing. A bit like Dunphy minus the shock value motivations.

[Charlie Darwin]

I noticed neither Shearer nor Hanson commented on Hart's performance today. (Or else I just didn't notice that they did).

[cornflakes]

How bad was he?

[tetsujin1979]

How bad was he?
Toure had to clear off the line when he completely missed a ball, other than that not too bad from the highlights I saw. Kept a clean sheet, and Bolton are in great form so can't have been too bad.

[Charlie Darwin]

I think it was Kompany who cleared off the line - great defending in any case. He dropped a couple of crosses and at one point booted it 30 yards down the goal line to turn a goal kick into a Bolton corner. It was a really bizarre piece of decision-making. I'm sure it was just a blip but he had a very poor day at the office.

[The Fly]

http://www.footballfancast.com/2010/12/football-blogs/what-next-for-shay-given

[The Fly]

Here we go again:

http://www.football.co.uk/arsenal/transfer_news_-_arsenal_want_given__spurs_close_in_on_pienaar_rss 1526757.shtml

[geysir]

The linkman strikes again.
Copy and paste a headline description you lazy sod :)

[The Fly]

The linkman strikes again.


Linkman???.......hmmm.......it has a certain ring to it. Maybe I should request a change to my username.:confused:



Copy and paste a headline description you lazy sod :)

I suppose I could spare an extra few seconds.

[rebelmusic]

Would be great if he ended up at arsenal, really really great. I'd choose fulham over Celtic. Also im assuming the fulham link is dependant on Schwarzer going to arsenal?

[shakermaker1982]

Didn't Schwarzer just sign a new deal with Fulham?

Arsenal would be a great move for him.

[Junior]

Yeah Schwarzer signed a 2yr deal late last week. Arsenal were still sniffing around right till he signed so Hughes stated.

[Serb]

I don't think the Given to Arsenal rumour is emanating from the Emirates. It's a case of journalists looking at Arsenal, deciding they need a keeper (which they do) and then looking at one of the most obviously available keepers and saying that he must be going to Arsenal. I've expressed this elsewhere in this thread (http://foot.ie/threads/16525-Shay-Given?p=1405710&viewfull=1#post1405710), but I'm not convinced Wenger rates Given, so I would be surprised to see him bidding for him.

[geysir]

Arsenal were still sniffing around right till he signed so Hughes stated.

Sniffing around? Mourinho described that action more ..... colourfully.

[Junior]

Enlighten me geysir?

[geysir]

You think I can succeed where many have failed? :)

Remember when Mourinho described Wenger's close quarter scrutiny of his club, as voyeuristic.

[Junior]

It shows how much faith I put in you geysir - that I really think you have a chance:D

Ahh yes I remember now. But Fulham? The family club.....it wouldnt be long before Wenger started having all manner of inappropriate ditties being sung in his direction if that was the case;)

[IsMiseSean]

Since he has played EL matches for MC is he still eligibile to play in the CL for Arsenal or anybody for that matter?

[Serb]

Since he has played EL matches for MC is he still eligibile to play in the CL for Arsenal or anybody for that matter?

When a player plays in Europe, he is cup tied across all European competition. However, Champions League regulation 17.18 says that one player per club can be registered to play in European competition as long as his previous club didn't field him in the same competition. That means he could play in the Champions League assuming the club he joins is in the Champions League and they haven't already registered a cup-tied player.

He is not eligible for the Europa League under any circumstance.

[Stuttgart88]

I'm not sure Arsenal will have many games left in Europe this season. They'll need a nice draw.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't think there is a nice draw: Barca, Real, Bayern or Schalke.

[The Fly]

Bayern and Schalke would not be bad draws for Arsenal. Neither side is performing well in the Bundesliga at present, being in 7th and 15th places respectively.

[BonnieShels]

But they have managed to get to the next round of the CL. Look at Bayern last year... who would have said that they would have got to the final. Or even Spurs topping their group. The CL is getting to the point where anything can happen. I reckon though they'll get Barsenal.

[tetsujin1979]

Starting tonight for Man City against Juventus, it's on ESPN from 6
from City's twitter feed: http://twitter.com/#!/MCFC/statuses/15455094355009537

The #mcfc team to face Juventus: Given, Boateng, Richards, Boyata, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Milner, Vieira, A.Johnson, Nimely, Jo

[brine3]

Given might stay at Man City. (http://www.click-manchester.com/sport/manchester-city/1211978-shay-given-rules-out-manchester-city-loan-move.html)

I hope he does realise he's nearly 35.

[Yard of Pace]

Hypothetically, if he didn't get a move and plays as infrequently as he has been doing, would you play Westwood against Macedonia?