Shay Given

[Junior]

Definitely deserves the chance of some silverware.

A move now to Arsenal or other competing side (Chelsea? Czech is not the keeper he once was) would not be that dissimilar to Van Der Sars move from Fulham to MU a few years back just in time to win a few championships and CL winners medal.........

[elroy]

im not sayin dublin is some wonderful global city but why the hell would anyone willingly live in newcastle, especially one on the wages given is on.

Maybe theres a few more Cheryl Tweedy's up there that we dont know about....id stay for that :D

[Irish_Praha]

So Man city's game goes to penos tonight. Hope given puts in a good showing :D

[co. down green]

Shay Given saves twice to put City through

[Irish_Praha]

So Man city's game goes to penos tonight. Hope given puts in a good showing :D

wow he saved 2 :eek:

[tricky_colour]

Yea great saves by Given, I didn't think he was particularly good on penalties but he has proved me wrong there, 2 saved out of 5 is great going.
I bet Mark Hughs is pleased with his new keeper!!

[irishultra]

lol ya he is normally woeful at penos. i would have liked to ass allborg go through, but the fact is manchester city have 3 irish players(yes 3) so i hope they win it so we can see an irish player lift a european cup.

[eirebhoy]

I was actually very nervous watching those peno's. Really hoping Shay would do well and Dunne would score his. Delighted with how it finished.

[elroy]

He got nowhere near the first two. For the first peno he was def off the line before the ball was kicked but almost every keeper uses that tactic these days so could to see Shay doing the same.
The fourth pen by Aalborg was something else. Good peno by Dunne too, wouldnt have had him down as a penalty taker. As pen takers go, we have a decent choice, would be quiet happy with Whelan, Andrews, Doyle, Keane, McGeady and Hunt taking penalties.

[geysir]

That's Shay's quota of penalty saves used up for the year.
Could be bad news for us.

[EAFC_rdfl]

That's Shay's quota of penalty saves used up for the year.
Could be bad news for us.
Maybe he can eat into some of next years quota, just to be covered til the year end

[tetsujin1979]

From http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=6629273
Shay told Channel 5 afterwards, "I hadn't been in a shoot-out before, so anything to help me out was always going to be a bonus
huh?
Maybe he meant at club level?

[harps1954]

From http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=6629273
huh?
Maybe he meant at club level?


Funny, when I was watching it live on Five, I thought Shay said "they had never been in a shoot out before" as he was refering to the fact that the City Video guy only had one penalty on his PC that Aalborg had got this season. Shay went to him immediately after the final whistle to watch whatever penalties they had taken before to get some info, but Aalborg only had received one penalty this season.

[Jicked]

Ugh, this just brings back bad memories of Korea. If only McCarthy of the backroom staff had been arsed having a video guy it might have made some difference. "Penalties are a lottery" is a massive, massive load of bull.

[geysir]

Maybe Shay has that iPod now.

[Stuttgart88]

Good peno by Dunne too, wouldnt have had him down as a penalty taker. I dunno, he's a very good ball striker - he'd prob be in my top 5 for Ireland.

[paul_oshea]

Ugh, this just brings back bad memories of Korea. If only McCarthy of the backroom staff had been arsed having a video guy it might have made some difference. "Penalties are a lottery" is a massive, massive load of bull.

its not a lotto but there are a lot more factors that go into it than just walking up practising penalty kicks.

[Brendan 82]

I dunne oh!, he's a very good ball striker - he'd prob be in my top 5 for Ireland.

really?

[Stuttgart88]

So what exactly would a video reveal of a player who doesn't take penalties, as most participants in a shoot-out aren't first choice takers?

Just cos a guy went right one time doesn't mean he'll go right again.

I think video analysis only works for regular first choice takers, differentiating between pressure kicks, non pressure kicks etc. I'd actually fancy that Gerrard or Lamopard may be susceptible to video scrutiny. Our own Robbie is as cool as you like from the spot and all a video would prove is that he's bloody good!

[Stuttgart88]

really?Didn't notice the pun!

Yep, I'd be happy to have Dunne be in our 5. Experience and powerful ball striking are important. Dunne only has to tap a ball and it'd travel at 5 times the speed I could ever kick it. I'm a bit geekish during warm ups etc - I always look out for who's a confident ball striker.

[elroy]

If only McCarthy of the backroom staff had been arsed having a video guy it might have made some difference. "Penalties are a lottery" is a massive, massive load of bull.

In fairness this idea of looking at pens on an ipod etc before they start is only a new thing really and probably will have died down again in a while. The value of it is uncertain really.

Having said that there was an interesting point on sky last week, in relation to gerrards pens. The last five pens is has gone left, then right, left then right......you get the drift.

[Brendan 82]

Didn't notice the pun!

Yep, I'd be happy to have Dunne be in our 5. Experience and powerful ball striking are important. Dunne only has to tap a ball and it'd travel at 5 times the speed I could ever kick it. I'm a bit geekish during warm ups etc - I always look out for who's a confident ball striker.

I agree, Fernando Hierro was always a good spot kick taker

[OwlsFan]

Ugh, this just brings back bad memories of Korea. If only McCarthy of the backroom staff had been arsed having a video guy it might have made some difference. "Penalties are a lottery" is a massive, massive load of bull.

If it's not a lottery, how do you account for Given going the wrong way for all 5 in Korea? All because no body had a video of the Spanish? Just an excuse to have a dig at Mick I suspect. :mad: We beat Romania without a video. Goalkeeper has to guess the right way and penalty taker has to hit it hard enough to beat him if he does or not hit it wide.

[Pike B]

If it's not a lottery, how do you account for Given going the wrong way for all 5 in Korea? All because no body had a video of the Spanish? Just an excuse to have a dig at Mick I suspect. :mad: We beat Romania without a video. Goalkeeper has to guess the right way and penalty taker has to hit it hard enough to beat him if he does or not hit it wide.
Plus the best pen takers often switch sides, depending on how they feel at the time. Video means arse all.

[geysir]

Are we venturing down to the play off penalty shoot out scenario?
Arrgh.
Nothing could prepare me for that, my stomach still churns at the thought of the shootout in Korea.
Only the sight of the ball hitting the back of the net (when it´s our turn) has a temporary calming influence on me.

I´d hope KK would stay well to the back of the penalty takers queue.
We have 5 candidates at least, Keane, Doyle, Hunt on for Duff in extra time :) McGeady and Dunne.

[Pike B]

Are we venturing down to the play off penalty shoot out scenario?
Arrgh.
Nothing could prepare me for that, my stomach still churns at the thought of the shootout in Korea.
Only the sight of the ball hitting the back of the net (when it´s our turn) has a temporary calming influence on me.

I´d hope KK would stay well to the back of the penalty takers queue.
We have 5 candidates at least, Keane, Doyle, Hunt on for Duff in extra time :) McGeady and Dunne.
I would only fancy Keane to convert from that list.

[Stuttgart88]

I agree, Fernando Hierro was always a good spot kick takerI think he hit the bar at Wembley against England in '96 :( I was there.

I remember his kick because as a goalie at the time I struggled to get the ball airborne into the other half of the pitch from a goal kick. Hierro's kick hit the bar and landed - no messing - back in the far half of the pitch. I felt very inadequate!

[Stuttgart88]

I would only fancy Keane to convert from that list.You're obviously one of the classic Irish perennial pessimists.

I'd have reservations about Doyle, he's been patchy from the spot. In fairness to KK he has taken penalties since Suwon and has been emphatic.

I'd have Whelan & Andrews taking penalties - again, both are very confident and solid ball strikers. I'd have Shay somewhere between 6 and 11, I wouldn't leave him until last.

[Fizzer]

I would only fancy Keane to convert from that list.

Do you not think that the keeper they are facing might be a factor to consider?

[Pike B]

Do you not think that the keeper they are facing might be a factor to consider?
No, not at all. If Ireland went to pens in a major game, regardless of who was in goals, I'd look at who we sent up for each pen, and in my own mind, based on their ability technically and their temperament and maybe what kind of game they had, I'd say to myself ' I think he'll score, or not'.
It's what I did in 2002 against the Spanish, and sure enough, we missed or they were saved. So, if those lads went up one by one in a play-off situation, I'd only really fancy Robbie.
But I'd be praying to God and Sunny Jesus that they all scored!

[NeilMcD]

You're obviously one of the classic Irish perennial pessimists.

I'd have reservations about Doyle, he's been patchy from the spot. In fairness to KK he has taken penalties since Suwon and has been emphatic.

I'd have Whelan & Andrews taking penalties - again, both are very confident and solid ball strikers. I'd have Shay somewhere between 6 and 11, I wouldn't leave him until last.

McGeady took a great penalty for Celtic against Rangers and Stephen Hunt is a decent penalty taker too. Stephen Reid when fit would also take a good penalty.

[Pike B]

McGeady took a great penalty for Celtic against Rangers and Stephen Hunt is a decent penalty taker too. Stephen Reid when fit would also take a good penalty.
My 5 if I were blessed enough to be in such a position as to choose them would be:

Robbie Keane
Andy Reid
Stephen Reid
Damien Duff
Steve Finnan

[NeilMcD]

Never seen Duff take a penalty not sure if he is good though, Finnan did take a great one against Spain so he would be a decent choice, McGeadys penalty was really a composed top class finish against Rangers and Hunt is very consistant from penalty spot for Reading.

[Pike B]

Never seen Duff take a penalty not sure if he is good though, Finnan did take a great one against Spain so he would be a decent choice, McGeadys penalty was really a composed top class finish against Rangers and Hunt is very consistant from penalty spot for Reading.
Maybe so, but if you notice, all my five are very very good strikers of a dead ball. All are vastly experienced players. And also, I think all would have the perfect temperament for the big stage. I just think that Mc Geady or Hunt or even Doyle would not have the required testicular fortitude or the quality to do it.
But thats just this fans opinion.

[Razors left peg]

Maybe so, but if you notice, all my five are very very good strikers of a dead ball. All are vastly experienced players. And also, I think all would have the perfect temperament for the big stage. I just think that Mc Geady or Hunt or even Doyle would not have the required testicular fortitude or the quality to do it.
But thats just this fans opinion.

even after the amount of abuse that McGeady has to put up with every week he is still able to put in quality perfomances for Celtic... says alot for his bottle if u ask me

[Pike B]

even after the amount of abuse that McGeady has to put up with every week he is still able to put in quality perfomances for Celtic... says alot for his bottle if u ask me
Maybe..

[irishfan86]

My five:

Keane- one of the best penalty takers in England.
Hunt- Reading's penalty specialist, very efficient.
Finnan- Scored against Spain in the world cup shootouts, we know he's got balls.
Dunne- good striker of the ball.
Doyle- missed a couple in the Premier League but scored a few as well. I trust him.

I'd need to see a bit more of McGeady but his penalty against Rangers was awesome.

[Pike B]

My five:

Keane- one of the best penalty takers in England.
Hunt- Reading's penalty specialist, very efficient.
Finnan- Scored against Spain in the world cup shootouts, we know he's got balls.
Dunne- good striker of the ball.
Doyle- missed a couple in the Premier League but scored a few as well. I trust him.
I'd have Given before Dunne..

[tetsujin1979]

Ugh, this just brings back bad memories of Korea. If only McCarthy of the backroom staff had been arsed having a video guy it might have made some difference. "Penalties are a lottery" is a massive, massive load of bull.
And it might not, Tevez was pointing in the direction Steven Gerrard took his last penalty before he made the run up against Van Der Saar last weekend. Gerrard stuck it in the other corner.

I'd have reservations about Doyle, he's been patchy from the spot.I do remember Doyle scoring a penalty against United at Old Trafford in Reading's first season in the Premier League, but AFAIK Stephen Hunt is the designated penalty taker at Reading. When he took the penalty against Poland, I was confident he would score. He tried to take the ball of Long when he won a penalty recently, but Long was having none of it.

For the record, according to the Irish Abroad database, the top scoring penalty takers so far this season are


Position Midfielder
Player Name Home Away Total
Scott Davies 6 0 6
Stephen Hunt 1 3 4
Lee Frecklington 2 0 2
Liam Lawrence 1 0 1
JJ Melligan 1 0 1
Aiden McGeady 0 1 1

Position Striker
Player Name Home Away Total
Barry Conlon 2 1 3
Billy Mehmet 2 1 3
Ben Burgess 0 2 2
Billy Clarke 1 1 2
John O'Flynn 2 0 2
Jon Daly 0 1 1
Jonathan Walters 1 0 1
Shane Long 1 0 1
Adam Rooney 1 0 1

note: this does not include shoot outs, so Dunne's penalty midweek is not included

Recently I've been working on....something (just for kicks and giggles, it might never see daylight) and according to said....something the list of top scoring penalty takers at international level is:


Player Name Home Away Total
John Aldridge 4 2 6
Noel Cantwell 5 0 5
Robbie Keane 4 1 5
Con Martin 3 1 4
Ian Harte 1 3 4
Gerry Daly 2 1 3
Tom Davis 2 0 2
Reg Ryan 2 0 2
Fionan Fagan 1 1 2
Liam Brady 1 1 2
Denis Irwin 2 0 2
Jack Sullivan 0 1 1
Paddy Bermingham 1 0 1
Joey Donnelly 1 0 1
Jackie Carey 1 0 1
Paddy Coad 1 0 1
Johnny Gavin 1 0 1
John Giles 1 0 1
Tommy Carroll 1 0 1
Eamon Rogers 1 0 1
Jimmy Holmes 1 0 1
Frank Stapleton 1 0 1
David Kelly 1 0 1
Matt Holland 0 1 1
Kevin Kilbane 0 1 1
Stephen Hunt 1 0 1
note: this may or may not be gospel, I am open to correction on this

[Stuttgart88]

My 5 if I were blessed enough to be in such a position as to choose them would be:

Robbie Keane
Andy Reid
Stephen Reid
Damien Duff
Steve Finnan
Sadly, neither Reid is likely to be an a position to step up!

I'd have reservations about Duff - super player but he's never impressed me in front of goal.

[WexCar]

busy enough 1st 10 minutes for him, few good saves, couldn't have done much more about the goal though got a hand to it but wasnt enough

[SUB of the day]

Not a City fan, but would be nice to see their two Irish players get a UEFA medal.

[eirebhoy]

No surprise Given (or Dunne) were busy with that crazy team Hughes put out. 5 attackers away from home!

[irishultra]

was there something about given in one of the morning(dublin) papers today? seen some old one flicking through it on the bus and nearly swear there was an article about given.

[TerryPhelan]

Sadly, neither Reid is likely to be an a position to step up!

I'd have reservations about Duff - super player but he's never impressed me in front of goal.

Was there ever an explanation for why Duff wasn't among the five penalty-takers against Spain in '02? As our form player and, nominally at least, a striker, you would have thought he'd be among the top five of both those who would back themselves, and those who Mick would back. I understand the situation was more the former than the latter though will soon be in a position to clarify this: am nearing the Spain match in my progress through Mick's World Cup diary...

[tetsujin1979]

Given giving a masterclass in goalkeeping for City today. You can talk about some lucky saves, but noone is that lucky.

[EastTerracer]

I think Shay might have a few thoughts about the decision to sell Richie Dunne, especially after the inept performance of the City centre-halves today. When Berbatov wins three clean headers in a row the centre-backs are not doing their job.

[Stuttgart88]

Not to mention Micah Richards going to sleep letting Michael Owen in like he did.

[centre mid]

Given giving a masterclass in goalkeeping for City today. You can talk about some lucky saves, but noone is that lucky.

Really nitpicking here, but I thought he left the second utd goal, thought it was going wide. Utd probably would have won 10-3 if it wasnt for him though.

[ifk101]

Really nitpicking here, but I thought he left the second utd goal, thought it was going wide.

Yep - he got his positioning all wrong for that goal.