Shay Given

**Stuttgart88** · 05/09/2014, 6:13 PM

I'd tend to agree but by all accounts he was very impressive at Midlesborough last year and his arrival coincided with a good defensive record and run of results. I think.

**DannyInvincible** · 05/09/2014, 6:45 PM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

If Given played and he shouldn't have, that's on the manager. Given wasn't that far from fitness, and he was hardly going to rule himself out of a major championship. His form had been a problem for a while.

Even with hindsight of his performance, I still wouldn't have dropped him for the Euro. And I definitely wouldn't have expected him to pipe up and say, "Actually, you know what? I'm feeling a bit squiffy, think I'll head home".

Emotive statements like 'let us down' about a guy who simply wanted to play for his country, and was then selected, really crumbles my biscuit.

Have to agree. Playing Shay was ultimately Trap's call. What player is ever going to rule himself out of his last major finals? And if Shay was able to pass the fitness test, then maybe the test wasn't testing or stringent enough. Once again, not Shay's fault that he'd try his absolute best to pass it. It's up to the team doctor/medical staff to pass players fit.

Even so, I still would have favoured Shay at 90 or 80 per cent fitness than a fully-fit Forde or Westwood.

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

There is a bit more with the McAteer one though, its not like for like really. Good auld triggs. I wonder does he still support Ireland.

Doesn't he often attend games? He was on my flight over from Liverpool last time I was over. Why wouldn't he still support Ireland?

**geysir** · 05/09/2014, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

I have seen Kieren Westwood play and he looks good to me (no claims of bias please). Given WAS a truly class player, but if he still was, he'd be playing regular football and he hasn't for 2 years now. I am not sure if he even gets on the bench these day. Every class player has his day. The evidence would seem to suggest Shay's are behind him.

Westwood is injured isn't he, not much use having an injured player in the squad And if Westwood was back to his previous best he probably would be the nr 1 and all that does not negate the value of having Given back in the squad. There is space for 3 goalies. It would appear that MON appreciates having Given around and he has something to offer even if he's past his best. Atm it's a choice between Given and Forde to play against Georgia.

**DannyInvincible** · 06/09/2014, 11:30 AM

I have a feeling Forde will start tomorrow. I think it'd be too radical a move by the management for Given to suddenly come back in to the starting line-up and usurp Forde for a competitive fixture. Martin and Roy would surely realise how much a psychological blow this would be for the other keepers in the squad. Plus, Roy's notes in the match programme mid-week would seem to jar with Given potentially starting after having been out of first-team action for so long. Given's presence in and around the squad may well be more as a charismatic figurehead and experienced morale booster.

**tetsujin1979** · 06/09/2014, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Doesn't he often attend games? He was on my flight over from Liverpool last time I was over. Why wouldn't he still support Ireland?

so you're saying he doesn't attend away games? not a real fan.

**Charlie Darwin** · 06/09/2014, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

so you're saying he doesn't attend away games? not a real fan.

He'd never get on YBIG.

**tetsujin1979** · 06/09/2014, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

He'd never get on YBIG.

probably only mates with people who post here

**Charlie Darwin** · 15/02/2015, 12:57 PM

Starts for Villa in the Cup today against Leicester, where they've just gone 1-0 up.

**tetsujin1979** · 15/02/2015, 1:02 PM

fantastic save in the first half

**Charlie Darwin** · 15/02/2015, 1:07 PM

And the second

**Charlie Darwin** · 15/02/2015, 1:24 PM

Won man of the match.

**tricky_colour** · 15/02/2015, 1:29 PM

Just caught the end of the match and saw the saves, the first one in particular was top draw.

**DannyInvincible** · 15/02/2015, 7:24 PM

Super save, this:

**Ol� Ol�** · 15/02/2015, 10:39 PM

Was Guzan injured? I'm trying to find out here through the match previews. I hope he wasn't. I hope Tim Sherwood picked Shay over him. Although that could worryingly suggest that Lambert and Given didn't enjoy the best relationship.

Either way, it's an interesting month before the Poland game. With Westwood on form and Given, potentially, getting a run of games it could be troublesome for David Forde. Forde should be safe though. He was bordering heroic against Germany and has been quite solid in general.

**tetsujin1979** · 15/02/2015, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by Ol� Ol�

Was Guzan injured? I'm trying to find out here through the match previews. I hope he wasn't. I hope Tim Sherwood picked Shay over him. Although that could worryingly suggest that Lambert and Given didn't enjoy the best relationship.

Either way, it's an interesting month before the Poland game. With Westwood on form and Given, potentially, getting a run of games it could be troublesome for David Forde. Forde should be safe though. He was bordering heroic against Germany and has been quite solid in general.

not sure, Guzan was on the bench. Given has played all the cup games for Villa this season

**Charlie Darwin** · 15/02/2015, 11:11 PM

Sherwood didn't pick the team and Shay has played all the cup games so far, so this is the expected selection. Still, Sherwood strikes me as the type who'll just pick whoever he thinks is better regardless of age/chairman's instructions, so that may well be Shay.

**Ol� Ol�** · 16/02/2015, 8:35 AM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Sherwood didn't pick the team and Shay has played all the cup games so far, so this is the expected selection. Still, Sherwood strikes me as the type who'll just pick whoever he thinks is better regardless of age/chairman's instructions, so that may well be Shay.

Oh, I see.

As a complete aside, Sherwood was at Blackburn for the whole duration of Shay's time there. Probably the only player in the dressing room he's had a prior working relationship with- even though Given wasn't first choice and was young.

**dr_peepee** · 16/02/2015, 10:32 PM

Wouldn't be surprised if he kept his place. Big Ron said before that he sometime replaced keepers for a period with under performing teams, just to shake things up if there was no feasible outfield changes available. Even if the dropped keeper wasn't necessarily culpable.

**DeLorean** · 17/02/2015, 8:33 AM

Yeah and I think there's an even stronger possibility that Given will keep his place because he's simply better. Guzan has his moments but in the main I think he's fairly average for that level, I don't think he'd earn his team as many points as Given would.