The myth around Shay Given

Hard to judge as of right now. But he has been one of the best in the PL over the past 10 or so years. In fact there is only a handful since the start of the PL era which I would consider better.

So I guess that means he is pretty damn good
 
Brwned said:
Where are we all on this now? Had noticed that Shay Given's name had come up a lot in the overrated players thread so I wondered if some people might've changed their mind?

Is he still world class?
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My opinion has been the same since his Newcastle days. Quality shot stopper and capable of match winning displays but his positioning, command of the area and communication have always been poor.

EDIT: "poor" is a huge over exaggeration. None of his goalkeeping is poor. Let's just say it's average. That's the reason he was never signed on by either ourselves or Arsenal when both were in desperate need of a goalkeeper.

Viper KGB said:
Just a quick question, do people think Joe hart is World Class?
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No. But I think he will be.
 
Viper KGB said:
Just a quick question, do people think Joe hart is World Class?
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Some probably do. He has looked great for a year and people automatically assume he is WC.

Same as they did with Paul Robinson years ago and look what happened there.
 
Brwned said:
Where are we all on this now? Had noticed that Shay Given's name had come up a lot in the overrated players thread so I wondered if some people might've changed their mind?

Is he still world class?
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Shay needs to go to a big club and pull off the saves that get you points or get you a point where you don't deserve it. Not sure that will happen, he's not playing enough for City. The top goalkeepers have to have 100% concentration but again City are a revolving door.

I remember vds at fulham once making a howler and he said that he probably wasn't as motivated as he could be. I think we're seeing a goalkeeper who could have been better at other clubs. I take your point that he don't come for crosses, but at the same time are we calling him a coward? Perhaps with better coaching...but it's tough.

The thing with Shay is I don't think he makes players nervious. I think he has the respect of his defenders but you need the right conditions
 
I actually copied this OP when I was down in the newbies. Never been a Given fan.
 
Striker10 said:
Shay needs to go to a big club and pull off the saves that get you points or get you a point where you don't deserve it. Not sure that will happen, he's not playing enough for City. The top goalkeepers have to have 100% concentration but again City are a revolving door.

I remember vds at fulham once making a howler and he said that he probably wasn't as motivated as he could be. I think we're seeing a goalkeeper who could have been better at other clubs. I take your point that he don't come for crosses, but at the same time are we calling him a coward? Perhaps with better coaching...but it's tough.

The thing with Shay is I don't think he makes players nervious. I think he has the respect of his defenders but you need the right conditions
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I played with Shay for a few years he's a top keeper and always has been. He's unbelievable in one on one situations and brave as a lion. Easily one of the best in the prem imo! Would be a great replacement for VDS.
 
Red4Ever said:
Doesn't command the box

Terrible at crosses

Good shot stopper

a kinda better version of Jaaskelainen

Over-rated though
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Stop repeating stuff you have already read. Give me occasions were he has shown he is terrible at crosses.

This is not a major issue with him at all
 
It's only been over the past couple of seasons that VDS has become reliable at dealing with crosses, I remember nervy moments, the only reason why it wasn't highlighted as a major weakness in his game is that we have a defence that can control the game neutralise wingers and dictate the game to our keepers strengths. I think Given would be a good fit here and with PIG talking of walking, perfect to have in the squad should it quickly turn out that we need to buy two keepers.
 
cw1984 said:
My opinion has been the same since his Newcastle days. Quality shot stopper and capable of match winning displays but his positioning, command of the area and communication have always been poor.

EDIT: "poor" is a huge over exaggeration. None of his goalkeeping is poor. Let's just say it's average. That's the reason he was never signed on by either ourselves or Arsenal when both were in desperate need of a goalkeeper.
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He'd be an upgrade over Almunia and Fabianski.
 
Like all keepers he has his weaknesses namely commanding his area in an aerial dominating sense but you cant deny the quality of his keeping over a sustained period, hes a top class shot stopper and would do wonders to the fortunes of a club like Arsenal for example.

I wouldnt say hes world class but hes certainly a very good proven keeper at this level who any top club wouldnt mind having.
 
His shots to goals ratio is very poor (just over 3 shots for a goal) and always has been.
 
Won't happen. I think it would be short term solution since like Schwarzer he isn't actually much better than Al (Given and Almunia were the worst shot/goals in the top 10 clubs' keepers midway through last season).
 
I wonder how many goals we'll put past him this year, just the 9 last season, around about average I reckon.
 
It gets blown out of proportion, Almunia's an OK midtable keeper not good enough for top4 (see Tim Howard) but neither is Given these days.
 
peterstorey said:
It gets blown out of proportion, Almunia's an OK midtable keeper not good enough for top4 (see Tim Howard) but neither is Given these days.
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Howard is much better than Almunia and could probably handle the spot at a top 4 club at age 31 vice 24. He'd be a huge upgrade over the current dross manning the Arsenal nets. Almunia should be a backup at a mid-table club.
 
He has proved that he is not a top 4 keeper but he could more than do a job for a team outside the top 4. Its a bit harsh on him though seem as City had a defence that leaked goals and didnt really gel last year .
I think he will get back back on track with a team like Fulham but Joe Hart is clearly a better keeper.
 
Randall Flagg said:
Stop repeating stuff you have already read. Give me occasions were he has shown he is terrible at crosses.

This is not a major issue with him at all
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Are you admin?

Ireland last Friday

Darren Fletcher twice at Old Trafford last season

Stoke (i think away)

hundreds more his stats are not shit for a reason

stays on his line is poor at crosses

It is a major issue

it's one of the reasons why some people can't see through the myth
especially Irish people
 
He has always been an excellent shot stopper but his major weakness has been the ability to organize those in front of him which has led to almost all defences in front of look inept most of the times.
 
peterstorey said:
It gets blown out of proportion, Almunia's an OK midtable keeper not good enough for top4 (see Tim Howard) but neither is Given these days.
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Jesus Pete you really are deluded mate

I want you to be honest here really honest

Is there any club playing in any of the divisions and I mean all of the four top flight divisions, that would take Almunia and swap him for whoever they have currently

Really I'm serious here. i don't know who the keeper is at Scunthorpe or Grimsby but I would guarantee that they'd keep their own keeper if offered the chance to swap with us

How is Almunia a top professional keeper that should be playing in the midtable PL ?

How? what is is about his keeping that is remotely 'top flight' even 'top professional' even top 'semi professional'

Before the usual swanky reply try and tell me what is it about him that is any of these things

Name me one game in the last 6 years and over a 100 games where he has turned the loss of all points into one or turned one point into three?

Course I would'nt want to research how many games he's turned the gain of three points into one or none during that time would I!
 
Red4Ever said:
Doesn't command the box

Terrible at crosses

Good shot stopper

a kinda better version of Jaaskelainen

Over-rated though
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I'd rather have Jaaskelainen.

Lawman said:
I played with Shay for a few years he's a top keeper and always has been. He's unbelievable in one on one situations and brave as a lion. Easily one of the best in the prem imo! Would be a great replacement for VDS.
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I don't want him anywhere near our first team! I thought we did not want a repeat of the Barthez, Bosnich, Howard, Carroll days etc.

marchi-91 said:
I still lol when somebody reckoned he was in the top 5 keepers in the world.
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Me too. In fact........ :lol:
 
I always think something that is often overlooked is that shorter keepers always look more spectacular while stopping shots, leading everyone to believe they're fantastic shot-stoppers. Just because a 6'6 goalie would stop the shot and make it look easy due to his extra reach doesn't mean its any worse a save. I think the shots-per-goals ratio proves Given doesn't actually save as much as is widely interpreted, and his agility and shot stopping abilities seem to have gotten worse over the last few years.
 
Wow.. At 35, he's signed a 5 year contract today for McLeish's Aston Villa.

Will be very interesting to see if he still has what it takes to be a Nr 1 in the PL after being a reserve at City most of last season.
 
5 year deal for a keeper on his wages? He must have had an enormous secret payoff from City. As I can't imagine Villa paying up the money he would demand, and for that period of time too.
 
Very good signing for Villa. Who although old is still younger than Friedel.

If Villa get N'Zogia too that is 2 players they have lost replaced with arguably better options.
 
£2.5m. Brilliant piece of business by McLeish. I reckon Given will be rearing to go when the new season kicks off, from an Irish perspective i'm delighted for him. It was a good move.
 
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