Shay Given

[irishultra]

lacking ambition if anything would be sitting on the bench or going to play in UAE for 4 million a year or somethin. he prob chose the best option available to him.

[AlaskaFox]

But that's hardly likely.
Ever.
And I meant in the EPL, as in a club pushing for Europe or a Cup Final, which won't be AV in the short-term.

Hence the lack of ambition...

He's there for 5 years though ;)

[SwanVsDalton]

But that's hardly likely.
Ever.
And I meant in the EPL, as in a club pushing for Europe or a Cup Final, which won't be AV in the short-term.

Hence the lack of ambition...

How is that up to Shay? Nobody else came in for him at this point. Arsenal were sniffing around but made no bid. This sounds like totally pointless grumbling.

[SwanVsDalton]

Looks like Shay doesn't have the ambition to win the World Cup in 2014 (http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/0720/1224301008492.html). :(

[BonnieShels]

Just finished reading that article too.
As Ciaran Cronin says he may be just playing to the crowd. Let's not concern ourselves.

[SwanVsDalton]

Just finished reading that article too.
As Ciaran Cronin says he may be just playing to the crowd. Let's not concern ourselves.

I'm not overly concerned in fairness. He hasn't indicated anything beyond it being a possibility, which is only natural.

[BonnieShels]

Ach aye.

[Junior]

shows that Trap is not frightened of the odd text message too!!

[Murfinator]

Feel like it may have been a stipulation in his contract that he not continue internationally for its duration going by the timing of this. All the same I'd be surprised if Given doesn't stay until WC 2014, he may very well look to retire at that stage and concentrate on the last 2 years of his contract at villa.

[the bear]

cabt see shay retiring from ireland before his club

[DannyInvincible]

cabt see shay retiring from ireland before his club

Well, he did say he'd consider it after the current campaign just today.

In saying that, didn't David Seaman play at the 2002 World Cup aged 38?

[CraftyToePoke]

I read an interview in todays i-paper, which I cannot find a link for, with Shay, where he spoke of recently speaking with Trap about Dino Zoff, and how he hoped to emulate that, something along the lines of Zoff still being with Trap at 42. Very much at odds with the content of the linked interview a few posts back. Definitely said he would be available to Ireland for a long time yet. Strange.

[BonnieShels]

Just playing to the crowd so he was at that Villa press conference.

[SwanVsDalton]

Oh my... (http://yfrog.com/n757rz)

Shay looks like a prize at a game show - and the prize looks decidedly embarrassed about the gombeens who've won him.

[Murfinator]

Oh my... (http://yfrog.com/n757rz)

Shay looks like a prize at a game show - and the prize looks decidedly embarrassed about the gombeens who've won him.

awwwwwwwwkward

[CraftyToePoke]

Oh my... (http://yfrog.com/n757rz)

Shay looks like a prize at a game show - and the prize looks decidedly embarrassed about the gombeens who've won him.

Dear God !! Ha ha ''it could be you''

[Crosby87]

Shay supports his Villa teammate, he who's name must never be spoken.http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/937315/stephen-ireland-deserves-a-chance-to-impress,-says-shay-given?cc=5901

[ArdeeBhoy]

Nobody else came in for him at this point. Arsenal were sniffing around but made no bid.

Well, maybe we should blame his agent.....

[Sullivinho]

Oh my... (http://yfrog.com/n757rz)

Shay looks like a prize at a game show - and the prize looks decidedly embarrassed about the gombeens who've won him.

Nailed the finish there did Shay, very smooth technique. A lapse in concentration on one of them yokes cost me once.

[SkStu]

A lapse in concentration on one of them yokes cost me once.

Was it one December 8th? ;)

[Serb]

I know it's a meaningless friendly, but from an Ireland perspective, it's great to see Shay playing football and getting rave reviews to boot. I've singled out the glowing reviews from the Guardian's match report.



Shay Given shows his worth as Aston Villa beat Blackburn in Hong Kong (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/27/shay-given-aston-villa-blackburn)

"This may still be pre-season, with players still finding their feet in alien surroundings and stifling heat, but Shay Given has already offered an indication of his worth to Aston Villa. The veteran Republic of Ireland goalkeeper conjured one magnificent save here to deny Brett Emerton an equaliser. After a season wasted on the fringes at Manchester City, here was evidence that he could be a bargain at £3.5m."

"David Dunn had tested Given before the interval, but it was the Irishman's save from Emerton's curled attempt, leaping to claw the ball around a post as the Australian readied himself for a celebration, that was key. [...] The 35-year-old's arrival as a replacement for Brad Friedel could prove a coup."

[Philly]

Given was good in the friendy today alright, made a couple of good saves. They talk about him and show some saves after 1.30 here:

MxzXB3-QKkg

[tricky_colour]

Just heard John Motson singing his praise on Final Score, he said he made two great saved against Bobby Zamora.

[Noelys Guitar]

Was given MOM today. Had nothing to do for most of the first half but still made one good save. Made two excellent saves in the second half. Dunne and Duff both played well. The match itself was poor.

[Sullivinho]

I watched the game, Given was excellent. Made a couple of very good saves. It's great to see him back in action as a no. 1. Laughable really that this man spent a season warming a bench.

Dunne was in good form too.

[Noelys Guitar]

Picked up an injury today. Groin strain according to McLeish. Hopefully nothing serious. I was wondering why Collins started taking the kick outs late in the game.

[tetsujin1979]

wonder if that's related to the injection he had against Macedonia?

[Crosby87]

He played well but that game was like watching paint dry. We always get the worst freaking games of the day here.

[SkStu]

we had Bolton/QPR in the early slot and Newcastle/Arsenal in the later. Both those games were absolute rubbish too though one of Boltons goals was enjoyable. Very disappointing opening day for "The Best League in the World"

[Crosby87]

Exactly.
what are you watching on incidentally?

[SkStu]

42" Panasonic LCD...

:)

[The Fly]

42" Panasonic LCD...

:)

Tut! Tut!

With anything over 40" you should really go for the plasma, particularly in the Panasonic range.

[Colbert Report]

SkStu, don't you have access to Setanta in Saskatchewan? I get it here in Calgary for $16/month.

Brand new 50 inch LG Plasma arrived just in time for the new season by the way. Loving it.

[irishfan86]

Setanta is free this month here in B.C. anyway with Shaw, don't know about what provider you guys are with.

[Colbert Report]

I'm with Shaw and I really couldn't imagine living without Setanta. Well worth it at twice the price.

[SkStu]

have a 50" plasma in the basement.

Am with Access Communications. Used to have Setanta for the same price as you Colbert but got rid of it... couldnt justify it.

[paul_oshea]

Benitez on football focus basically said Given isn't a top four keeper, now I don't agree with that, but perhaps what he thinks is what other top 4 managers think. It would make sense given no one ever went in for him. He basically said that he is lacking certain qualities for a top 4 team. He didn't say what which was annoying but obviously he feels, as others do that he isn't what a top 4 team would want in a keeper.

[DannyInvincible]

Given tends to leave the command of his box to his defenders for corners. The only "weakness" I can think of really.

[CraftyToePoke]

Benitez on football focus basically said Given isn't a top four keeper, now I don't agree with that, but perhaps what he thinks is what other top 4 managers think. It would make sense given no one ever went in for him. He basically said that he is lacking certain qualities for a top 4 team. He didn't say what which was annoying but obviously he feels, as others do that he isn't what a top 4 team would want in a keeper.

Frustrating he didnt elaborate on that a bit, because other people have said Man City's refusal to sell to a rival is the reason he isnt at Arsenal or Man U. I mean, De Gea may come good and have a fine career, but his first impression would suggest work to do.

[brine3]

Benitez isn't a Top 4 manager.

[Junior]

There have been many transfer windows that Man U or Arsenal could have signed him, when they've needed to replace a keeper, long before City had his contract.........but they haven't.

Might be a simple thing. Keepers shouldn't be less than 6ft!

[ArdeeBhoy]

Benitez on football focus basically said Given isn't a top four keeper, now I don't agree with that, but perhaps what he thinks is what other top 4 managers think. It would make sense given no one ever went in for him. He basically said that he is lacking certain qualities for a top 4 team. He didn't say what which was annoying but obviously he feels, as others do that he isn't what a top 4 team would want in a keeper.

Aye, but RB's hardly proved himself recently...

[tricky_colour]

Benitez on football focus basically said Given isn't a top four keeper, now I don't agree with that, but perhaps what he thinks is what other top 4 managers think. It would make sense given no one ever went in for him. He basically said that he is lacking certain qualities for a top 4 team. He didn't say what which was annoying but obviously he feels, as others do that he isn't what a top 4 team would want in a keeper.

He is a top one keeper at the moment. :cool:

Benitez is a cheeky git, in what context did he say that?

I have more respect for the opinion of another top keeper rather than an unemployed manager.



Friedel said: "Shay has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League for probably the past 10 years, if not a little bit longer. When you're looking at signing a first-team goalkeeper, in my opinion, there was no one better than Shay out there.

[dr_peepee]

Benitez on football focus basically said Given isn't a top four keeper, now I don't agree with that, but perhaps what he thinks is what other top 4 managers think. It would make sense given no one ever went in for him. He basically said that he is lacking certain qualities for a top 4 team..

Yeah! He gave some non committal tactical shpeel about wanting to play further up that sounded like it shouldn't be relevant to keepers anyway. He gave Given the classic "compliment sandwich"!!

[Lionel Ritchie]

Just saw the Blacburn goal from yesterday. Thought Shay might've done a bit better.

[Morbo]

There have been many transfer windows that Man U or Arsenal could have signed him, when they've needed to replace a keeper, long before City had his contract.........but they haven't.

Might be a simple thing. Keepers shouldn't be less than 6ft!

But Given is over 6 foot isn't he? I thought he was about 6' 1", granted that's a little short for a keeper and might go against him when it comes to the top 4 teams but I still can't understand how the likes of Arsenal wouldn't think that he couldn't do a better job than the likes of Almunia.

[Junior]

But Given is over 6 foot isn't he? I thought he was about 6' 1", granted that's a little short for a keeper and might go against him when it comes to the top 4 teams but I still can't understand how the likes of Arsenal wouldn't think that he couldn't do a better job than the likes of Almunia.

Well I didnt check before I posted but yeah the ever reliabile wiki says he's 6' 1" - Can that be right? I;ve always thought he was a bit of a short arse - certainly where goalkeepers are concerned anyway.

Regardless - It was tongue in cheek, Shay easily could have done the business for the likes of Arsenal over the years.


EDIT - Looks like Im not the only one who thinks he looks like a short arse http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=53118822.

I stand corrected, Arsenal have had no excuse for not signing him down the years!!!!!!

[theworm2345]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/957425/shay-given:-richard-dunne-has-helped-me-settle-at-aston-villa?cc=5901

[Eirambler]

Shay's selection means he wins his 120th Irish cap tomorrow night, moving him ahead of Pat Jennings as the most capped player in Irish history, north or south.

He probably (hopefully) has one more campaign left in him and all going well could yet win another 20 to 30 caps for Ireland. I'm delighted that he will get another shot at a finals tournament in 2012.

[OwlsFan]

Hmmm, two poor efforts now against Armenia and Estonia last night. We certainly can't afford to be giving soft goals like those away in the Finals. An abberation or is Shay in decline? Never remember him letting in soft ones like those before.