Shay Given

**DeLorean** · 17/02/2015, 1:36 PM

Not a bad run of games for Villa between now and then...

February 2015

	Competition	Fixture	Date	Kick-off
	Premier League	Aston Villa V Stoke	Sat 21 Feb	15:00
	Premier League	Newcastle V Aston Villa	Sat 28 Feb	15:00

March 2015

Competition	Fixture	Date	Kick-off
Premier League	Aston Villa V West Brom	Tue 3 Mar	19:45
FA Cup - Sixth Round	Aston Villa V West Brom	Sat 7 Mar	15:00
Premier League	Sunderland V Aston Villa	Sat 14 Mar	15:00
Premier League	Aston Villa V Swansea	Sat 21 Mar	15:00

**nigel-harps1954** · 07/03/2015, 4:26 PM

Starts again today in FA Cup against West Brom. Live on BBC 1

**the 12 th man** · 07/03/2015, 6:36 PM

Had a good game today,quick off his line when needed.

**DeLorean** · 07/03/2015, 7:11 PM

Given effed Clark out of it about ten minutes from the end for putting the ball out for a corner, presumably instead of heading it back to him. I thought Given was out of line as Clark definitely took the safer option, something he's been guilty of not doing in the past. Some Grealish lad got sent off for two yellows after coming on a sub. Villa won 2-0 and are off to Wembley. Sherwood the savior.

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 07/03/2015, 7:21 PM

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/spor...-could-8783009

Sherwood thinks this Grealish fellow might play for England.

**tetsujin1979** · 08/03/2015, 1:33 AM

I'd like to remind everyone there's a rule about posting anything about Grealish other than "played/scored/booked/sent off for Villa"

**Charlie Darwin** · 08/03/2015, 1:37 AM

That dive was atrocious, though.

**SwanVsDalton** · 08/03/2015, 8:02 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Given effed Clark out of it about ten minutes from the end for putting the ball out for a corner, presumably instead of heading it back to him. I thought Given was out of line as Clark definitely took the safer option, something he's been guilty of not doing in the past.

Actually think Clark was giving off to Given for not coming to collect, and Given was telling him to chill out, he did the right thing. Clark was the unhappy one, Shay got defensive but seemed to be telling him just to be cool.

**Stuttgart88** · 08/03/2015, 8:23 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

That dive was atrocious, though.

I can't decide in whether he dived or not. I think it depends on who he declares his international allegiance to.

**Stuttgart88** · 08/03/2015, 8:24 PM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Actually think Clark was giving off to Given for not coming to collect, and Given was telling him to chill out, he did the right thing. Clark was the unhappy one, Shay got defensive but seemed to be telling him just to be cool.

I'd start both against Poland.

**TrapAPony** · 08/03/2015, 8:35 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I'd start both against Poland.

So would I. Given with a defence of Coleman, O'Shea, Clark & Wilson is the best we have at the moment and all are reliable.

**DeLorean** · 08/03/2015, 8:35 PM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Actually think Clark was giving off to Given for not coming to collect, and Given was telling him to chill out, he did the right thing. Clark was the unhappy one, Shay got defensive but seemed to be telling him just to be cool.

Looked to me like Clark thought Given was about to give him a high five for clearing his lines, but instead Given went off on one and Clark responded by saying he had to clear it because Given never came. Worked out okay anyway. Whatever about Given, Clark has to play v Poland and the rest I think.

**Stuttgart88** · 08/03/2015, 8:43 PM

I only saw a few minutes and Clark won a phenomenal header under pressure late on. I like a lot about Clark but feel he gets drawn into sucker positions every now and again. That said, I think Vila were all at sea under Lambert and a CB is always going to bear the brunt of a collective failure of organisation. We need a bit more time to assess Clark.

Given is clearly fit enough to play a big game and Forde is shipping goals left right and centre - even if it's not his fault. Just for coolness and experience Given has to start this massive game. I can't comment on KW's form but I'd be surprised if he could walk into the Poland game without some mental baggage we could do without.

**Charlie Darwin** · 08/03/2015, 8:59 PM

What mental baggage would Westwood have?

**Stuttgart88** · 08/03/2015, 9:31 PM

Baggage may not be the best word, but keepers are very introspective players. In my opinion, other things being equal, Given would walk out onto that pitch feeling the
pitch, the stands and the occasion are his, whereas Westwood would be thinking all this could be his if only things go his way. Don't get me wrong: I think Westwood is like Kiely sometimes. Kiely stepped into the jersey with never a fuss whenever he was called upon. Once, I think against Turkey?, he came in as sub and took a high ball under pressure with his first touch as if he was plucking an apple from a tree, and sometimes I see the same in Westwood. But not always, once or twice he has looked compromised by the occasion.

If Westwood started a campaign in the jersey I'd have no issues, but as a guy with a point to prove in a massive game I'd prefer Given. I think his M'boro form last year and the composure and class he has shown for Villa, not to mention a good showing against USA, show that his 2012 form was a low point rather than a sign of permanent decline. Schwarzer and Friedel show that age isn't critical in a keeper and right now I'd take Given's gravitas, solidity and confidence over agile and razor sharp for this game.

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 08/03/2015, 10:04 PM

Thought provoking stuff.

I wonder if Ward remains on the bench - and out of match practice - for Burnley will O'Neill be tempted to play Wilson at left back and start Keogh alongside O'Shea again.

Keogh on current form up against Lewandowski is a very sobering thought. Pity that Delaney is out of the picture. Hopefully Clark would get the nod over Keogh but I think O'Neill has a worrying preference for Keogh.

I do worry also about where the goals are going to come from.

The tendency to shoehorn Walters somewhere into the starting lineup for every single competitive game is also very worrying.

If Keane is the focal point of the attack and Long isn't played as a lone striker then it should be Long starting instead of Walters on the wing. He will be much more of a distraction to the Poles and he will do a much better job of making incisive runs, creating space, winning free kicks and slowing down play than Walters. They were just getting in their way against Scotland so that partnership won't work again.

It's Walters and not Long who would make more sense as a substitution if we are holding on to something - and that should be the goal. Starting Walters will just send the wrong message to the opposition team about what our gameplan is all about - again.

I do think if you could find a way to incorporate Hoolahan, Long and Keane into the same team, it could work. O'Neill needs to find a way to do it.

**Charlie Darwin** · 08/03/2015, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Baggage may not be the best word, but keepers are very introspective players. In my opinion, other things being equal, Given would walk out onto that pitch feeling the
pitch, the stands and the occasion are his, whereas Westwood would be thinking all this could be his if only things go his way. Don't get me wrong: I think Westwood is like Kiely sometimes. Kiely stepped into the jersey with never a fuss whenever he was called upon. Once, I think against Turkey?, he came in as sub and took a high ball under pressure with his first touch as if he was plucking an apple from a tree, and sometimes I see the same in Westwood. But not always, once or twice he has looked compromised by the occasion.

If Westwood started a campaign in the jersey I'd have no issues, but as a guy with a point to prove in a massive game I'd prefer Given. I think his M'boro form last year and the composure and class he has shown for Villa, not to mention a good showing against USA, show that his 2012 form was a low point rather than a sign of permanent decline. Schwarzer and Friedel show that age isn't critical in a keeper and right now I'd take Given's gravitas, solidity and confidence over agile and razor sharp for this game.

I'll have to bow to your greater goalkeeping knowledge, but I can't say I've spotted any sort of shakiness in Westwood's psyche. In fact, I have found he's the sort of goalkeeper who seems to step up to any challenge with relative ease.

Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

it should be Long starting instead of Walters on the wing.

I'm going to frame this.

**Stuttgart88** · 08/03/2015, 10:35 PM

I think Walters deserves more credit for what he has done this season than he is getting. Long still has plenty to prove. We know he's an athlete and tough to handle but so is Walters, and he scores more and plays more. I don't think anyone is advocating Keogh over Clark and I'd say nobody wants a non-match-fit Ward over Wilson. Let's see what O'Neill does before sticking the knife in.

That said, I read a newspaper match report of a Derby game last week and Keogh very nearly scored twice. Two goal line clearances from his headers I think.

**Stuttgart88** · 08/03/2015, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

I'll have to bow to your greater goalkeeping knowledge, but I can't say I've spotted any sort of shakiness in Westwood's psyche. In fact, I have found he's the sort of goalkeeper who seems to step up to any challenge with relative ease.

He looked a bit shell shocked early last season at Sunderland, no? Who'd you prefer to start on 29th?

**Charlie Darwin** · 08/03/2015, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

He looked a bit shell shocked early last season at Sunderland, no? Who'd you prefer to start on 29th?

Last season? Not as far as I can recall. He was Poyet's first choice and he was livid when Paul McShane knocked him out.

Personally, though I haven't seen him play for Millwall recently, I'd stick with Forde if he's still performing in training. We can all remember Shay performing heroics for us and going back to Newcastle and getting pumped for five or six on a weekly basis. Forde's earned the same benefit of the doubt I think.