The Shay Given situation

[kingdomkerry]

Yeah I heard that aswell.

[Kingdom]

What I find funny is the very part of a keepers game that people are slating Reina over is the exact part of Shay Given's game that is poor in my mind, for club and country, is crossing.
Think of the amount of goals scored inside the 6 yd box against Given. Its the one thing that always crosses my mind watching him. I'd still have him playing for us ahead of anyone else mind. He's been superb for us.

[seanfhear]

What I find funny is the very part of a keepers game that people are slating Reina over is the exact part of Shay Given's game that is poor in my mind, for club and country, is crossing.
Think of the amount of goals scored inside the 6 yd box against Given. Its the one thing that always crosses my mind watching him. I'd still have him playing for us ahead of anyone else mind. He's been superb for us.
have to agree with you there this is givens achilles heel but still a very good keeper

[paulie_walnuts]

If you believe a News of the World story then I'll just assume you believe in the tooth fairy.

Given will not leave Newcastle this summer. He hasn't expressed any desire to leave, infact, like most of their bigger players, he has expressed his delight at working for Keegan. If and most likely when Given moves on, he will go to Spain. Nailed on.

[paul_oshea]

have to agree with you there this is givens achilles heel but still a very good keeper

its funny considering his background and stuff playing gaelic.

[lionelhutz]

Well firstly I meant crap relative to the level he is considered to be. As others have pointed out already he is brutal in the air. He is a good shot stopper but you wouldn't make it as a keeper at U12s without being a good shot stopper.

Liverpool's defence was excellent before he arrived. Yes, he has improved it a bit but enough to be considered one of the best in the Premiership.

As for the dozen keepers I rate ahead of him (in no order):

James
Cech
van der Sar
Friedel
Niemi
Cudicini
Green
Given
Jaaskelainen
Howard
Lehmann (although he's gone now)
Gordon
Robinson

Also a couple others I would possibly consider better but haven't seen enough of them to judge properly.


You're having a laugh saying these 5 are better than Reina - I wouldn't start Robinson with Limerick FC. And I'd say he's at the same level as most of the rest of them - with the exception of Cech

[Razors left peg]

Cant believe there was any doubt on this thread about Shay Given starting the season as Newcastle no.1, hes already made a couple of brilliant saves

[shakermaker1982]

Given was class today. I just hope he stays fit for the next 9/10 months because he is vital to the cause. Good to see Duffer get 90 minutes under his belt as well. He was asked to support Martin's today and he put a good shift in.