Given willing to take step back

[Florida Blue]

This would be ideal, thought the 28 day waiting period would be stressful if Hart got injured. Thus the comment at the end from Mancini.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/0129/1224288526494.html

The Irish Times - Saturday, January 29, 2011
Given willing to drop a division

MICHAEL WALKER

SHAY GIVEN’S frustrating season at Manchester City is not getting any easier for the 34-year-old Republic of Ireland goalkeeper.

Given is wanted on loan by two Championship clubs and such is his desperation to taste first-team football, the hugely-experienced Premier League player is prepared to drop a division if an agreement can be reached that he could return to City at 24 hours notice.

“I just want to play football,” Given said last night. “I do not want to go for an entire season without playing, which is how it’s looking if I don’t get games.

“I am prepared to go to a Championship club immediately to get some games and to be on a 24-hour call-back to Manchester City. That would benefit me, by getting me match-sharp, and City, who would have an experienced, match-sharp goalkeeper to come in if Joe got injured. I’d hope it would also benefit the club I’d be at. There are a couple interested.”

A problem for Given is that while City manager Roberto Mancini is willing to see him leave the club on a temporary or permanent basis, those above Mancini value Given as a significant second choice behind Mancini’s preferred number one Joe Hart.

Another problem for Given is that under Premier League rules he would have to be at the Championship club for 28 days before the 24-hour agreement came into force. City have six games in February and those above Mancini are unlikely to want to take that risk.

There are emergency clauses in the rules concerning goalkeepers in the event of injury but it would require Hart and third-choice Stuart Taylor to both be unavailable for Given to be recalled during the initial 28-day loan.

The transfer window closes on Monday at 5pm and Premier League clubs have to re-submit a 25-man squad. Given will be part of City’s regardless if he were to go on loan or not.

The week after next the loan window re-opens for Football League clubs. Mancini said: “The window closes in three days. For us it would be impossible to find another goalkeeper like Shay. He must stay here.”

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I feel for Shay. Hart has been a little off his best recently and although it's good for the manager to boost his confidence by what he has said and by keeping him in it doesnt do any favours. Joe seems to me to have been struggling a little in training as well and Shay to his credit has worked very hard and looked very good.

A couple of fans the other day watched the keepers for quite a while and I asked who had impressed them. They said Stu Taylor!! Maybe Stu could do the job if it was only a match or so.

[Beefymcfc]

I can understand us wanted to keep Shay, especially after last years fuck up, but what is wrong with what he is asking? Surely it would be better for us if he is playing every week than getting no experience or confidence on the bench? And as Doug says, Hart has made a few cock ups and Shay must be thinking 'WTF, how can I not get on there?', so what must Stu Taylor think?

[Crossie]

The 24 hour call back thing is well worth the risk for ANY club needing a good keeper.

The fact they are also guarenteed 28 days of Given regardless, must mean plenty of clubs have shown an interest.

It's all rather strange. Makes sense for us, Given and the other club to make a deal happen.

[Slim]

The 24 hour call back thing is well worth the risk for ANY club needing a good keeper.

The fact they are also guarenteed 28 days of Given regardless, must mean plenty of clubs have shown an interest.

It's all rather strange. Makes sense for us, Given and the other club to make a deal happen.

On the first day of Given, my keeper gave to me, one diving penalty save.

[blues2win]

I think Shay should be getting more games. With Europa League coming up he should be given those games as a start with a clear promise he'd get the game in Dublin if we reach the final ( a big deal for an Irish player although we're a long way from reaching the final!). In addition he should be given the FA Cup matches starting tomorrow at Notts County. It would be a useful reminder to Hart that he needs to pull his socks up.

That said we have to put the club first. We need him available for League matches if anything happens to Hart. Nothing must get in the way of reaching the Champion's League next year. Nothing.

In that connection I'm very concerned about the AJ situation. If the scan was reassuring and he could be back in 10 days well and good. If we're facing a Kolarov situation then we really should get a wide player in who can deliver some crosses for Dzeko. AJ is a crucial impact player who offers width when Plan A with the overlapping full backs isn't delivering. Dzeko isn't a one trick pony; he's very skilful on the deck. However, he's obviously a real threat in the air and we need to be able to exploit that to the hilt. I just can't see SWP delivering the service that Dzeko needs although I agree SWP needs to be kept till the end of the season.

[Fesan]

What's the point of having Taylor if we cannot even risk 28 days with him as a backup? Let Shay go and play in Champ./Scotland/wherever. Let's risk being without him for 28 days and then he can come back within 24hrs.

[Slim]

I think Shay should be getting more games. With Europa League coming up he should be given those games as a start with a clear promise he'd get the game in Dublin if we reach the final ( a big deal for an Irish player although we're a long way from reaching the final!). In addition he should be given the FA Cup matches starting tomorrow at Notts County. It would be a useful reminder to Hart that he needs to pull his socks up.

That said we have to put the club first. We need him available for League matches if anything happens to Hart. Nothing must get in the way of reaching the Champion's League next year. Nothing.

In that connection I'm very concerned about the AJ situation. If the scan was reassuring and he could be back in 10 days well and good. If we're facing a Kolarov situation then we really should get a wide player in who can deliver some crosses for Dzeko. AJ is a crucial impact player who offers width when Plan A with the overlapping full backs isn't delivering. Dzeko isn't a one trick pony; he's very skilful on the deck. However, he's obviously a real threat in the air and we need to be able to exploit that to the hilt. I just can't see SWP delivering the service that Dzeko needs although I agree SWP needs to be kept till the end of the season.

And the award for massive understatement of the year goes to....

I would be more inclined to play Zabs there, at least he can deliver a cross.

[blues2win]

Taylor is there as our third choice goalkeeper. If Hart is injured or suspended he gets onto the bench and would play if Given was also suspended or injured. That's it. If Hart was injured during a 28 day period with all those league points at stake I would far rather have Given than Taylor. It's that simple. 1 point could be the difference between fourth and fifth place and one bollock from Taylor could cost us that point. We can't afford to take any risks in my opinion. In addition I would like Given there to keep Hart on his toes. A recall would only apply to an injury presumably, not loss of form by Hart.

I've suggested a way of keeping Given partly satisfied by giving him more games. Of course at the end of the season we could and probably have made it clear that he can leave with our blessing. Presumably we are already looking at buying a new goalkeeper to replace him as part of our long term planning. If the Club really think that Taylor is shaping up to be good enough to be our second choice at the end of the season then fine. Right now Given is way ahead of him on experience alone.

I humbly accept the award for the poster guilty of the understatement of the year. Seriously though am I alone in worrying about having no cover for Johnson. SWP is a wide player but he just doesn't deliver the way AJ does.

[Fesan]

AFAIK we can play all of these wide:

AJ/Milner/Silva/Kolarov/Jo/Tevez/Balloteli so if AJ is injured I think we got what we need to shift things around even without SWP:-)

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Whilst AJ is much better at threatening from the wing he hasnt yet shown he is a good crosser of the ball. Slightly better than SWP maybe but only slightly.We just need to work better at getting the full backs in the right attacking positions.

[aaron bond]

Whilst AJ is much better at threatening from the wing he hasnt yet shown he is a good crosser of the ball. Slightly better than SWP maybe but only slightly.We just need to work better at getting the full backs in the right attacking positions.

But SWP hasn't shown he is good at anything at all in the past 2 years...

I'm reluctantly to let him go as, on paper, he appears to be a good sub/squad player. But he has been so shit for so long, he would be huge liability if he was to be one of our 11 on the pitch these days.

He definitely needs to go, but I'd want someone in his place who is happy to be a squad player, albeit slightly better than him, before we sold him. Obviously achieving that is a lot easier said than done!

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Whilst AJ is much better at threatening from the wing he hasnt yet shown he is a good crosser of the ball. Slightly better than SWP maybe but only slightly.We just need to work better at getting the full backs in the right attacking positions.

But SWP hasn't shown he is good at anything at all in the past 2 years...

I'm reluctantly to let him go as, on paper, he appears to be a good sub/squad player. But he has been so shit for so long, he would be huge liability if he was to be one of our 11 on the pitch these days.

He definitely needs to go, but I'd want someone in his place who is happy to be a squad player, albeit slightly better than him, before we sold him. Obviously achieving that is a lot easier said than done!

It would help if he was played in his proper position rather than switched to the left side. I agree he hasnt played well for a while but I will retain some faith in him to play well again. Not tomorrow though if he is injured.

[blues2win]

Doug. The theory of playing wingers on their 'opposite sides' has merit. Johnson has looked dangerous cutting in onto the weaker foot of the opposing full back. He can then shoot with his left foot or get in an inswinging cross. Theoretically SWP could do the same from the left but I've never seen any consistent quality delivery from either wing since he came back. I just think at what is it 29? we've waited and we've seen with him. He continues to play with his head down ploughing into blind alleys and losing possession. City have pushed on to a new level and he hasn't. By all means keep him this window because of AJ's injury but we shouldn't expect very much in terms of end product from him. Hopefully he proves me wrong.

There's been talk of other players who can deliver a decent cross. Kolarov, Zabaleta and Boateng can although I haven't seen much from Micah. As for Jo LOL and Balotelli may play on the left but he likes to cut into the centre rather than play many crosses. Silva can definitely play wide as he does for Spain but we lose something because he's much better floating behind the striker/s. Then there's Milner. Obviously he can play wide and has done so many times. The trouble is he looks like a poor man's Beckham. He hasn't got the pace to beat his man but he can in fairness curl crosses past a man to some effect.

I still think we could do with a young quality wide man- Elia?- to complement AJ. We would then have the option of playing two wide men during a match which would suit Dzeko. Heaven knows I'm not suggesting going one dimensional now we've got a big man. We're far too good for that. But we need the option of getting men wide and putting in crosses in matches where we're faced with 10 men defending deep and the full backs aren't able to do the business on their own.

Anyway the Club look like sticking rather than twisting and it would be ridiculous for me to criticise them given the fantastic support they've given the manager in the transfer market. It's just so important to our future that we get fourth or better this season and we're up against four very good squads in United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs. It's going to be a tough fight but hopefully we'll do it.

[mr_nool]

Doug. The theory of playing wingers on their 'opposite sides' has merit. Johnson has looked dangerous cutting in onto the weaker foot of the opposing full back. He can then shoot with his left foot or get in an inswinging cross. Theoretically SWP could do the same from the left but I've never seen any consistent quality delivery from either wing since he came back. I just think at what is it 29? we've waited and we've seen with him. He continues to play with his head down ploughing into blind alleys and losing possession. City have pushed on to a new level and he hasn't. By all means keep him this window because of AJ's injury but we shouldn't expect very much in terms of end product from him. Hopefully he proves me wrong.

There's been talk of other players who can deliver a decent cross. Kolarov, Zabaleta and Boateng can although I haven't seen much from Micah. As for Jo LOL and Balotelli may play on the left but he likes to cut into the centre rather than play many crosses. Silva can definitely play wide as he does for Spain but we lose something because he's much better floating behind the striker/s. Then there's Milner. Obviously he can play wide and has done so many times. The trouble is he looks like a poor man's Beckham. He hasn't got the pace to beat his man but he can in fairness curl crosses past a man to some effect.

I still think we could do with a young quality wide man- Elia?- to complement AJ. We would then have the option of playing two wide men during a match which would suit Dzeko. Heaven knows I'm not suggesting going one dimensional now we've got a big man. We're far too good for that. But we need the option of getting men wide and putting in crosses in matches where we're faced with 10 men defending deep and the full backs aren't able to do the business on their own.

Anyway the Club look like sticking rather than twisting and it would be ridiculous for me to criticise them given the fantastic support they've given the manager in the transfer market. It's just so important to our future that we get fourth or better this season and we're up against four very good squads in United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs. It's going to be a tough fight but hopefully we'll do it.

good post mate!

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Doug. The theory of playing wingers on their 'opposite sides' has merit. Johnson has looked dangerous cutting in onto the weaker foot of the opposing full back. He can then shoot with his left foot or get in an inswinging cross. Theoretically SWP could do the same from the left but I've never seen any consistent quality delivery from either wing since he came back. I just think at what is it 29? we've waited and we've seen with him. He continues to play with his head down ploughing into blind alleys and losing possession. City have pushed on to a new level and he hasn't. By all means keep him this window because of AJ's injury but we shouldn't expect very much in terms of end product from him. Hopefully he proves me wrong.

There's been talk of other players who can deliver a decent cross. Kolarov, Zabaleta and Boateng can although I haven't seen much from Micah. As for Jo LOL and Balotelli may play on the left but he likes to cut into the centre rather than play many crosses. Silva can definitely play wide as he does for Spain but we lose something because he's much better floating behind the striker/s. Then there's Milner. Obviously he can play wide and has done so many times. The trouble is he looks like a poor man's Beckham. He hasn't got the pace to beat his man but he can in fairness curl crosses past a man to some effect.

I still think we could do with a young quality wide man- Elia?- to complement AJ. We would then have the option of playing two wide men during a match which would suit Dzeko. Heaven knows I'm not suggesting going one dimensional now we've got a big man. We're far too good for that. But we need the option of getting men wide and putting in crosses in matches where we're faced with 10 men defending deep and the full backs aren't able to do the business on their own.

Anyway the Club look like sticking rather than twisting and it would be ridiculous for me to criticise them given the fantastic support they've given the manager in the transfer market. It's just so important to our future that we get fourth or better this season and we're up against four very good squads in United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs. It's going to be a tough fight but hopefully we'll do it.

I know all about the theory of playing wingers on the "wrong" wing. It's fine as long as they do what they are supposed to do. AJ can but SWP can't so he shouldnt be put there to fail which he surely will. Hence if he is to get a game or a subs appearance he needs to be right side or at a push down the middle.

As for our full backs the only on who seems to have a good cross in him is Kolarov but for some reason so far , as a team ,we just havent worked out how to get the players free in decent crossing positions. Occasionally yes but more work needed on the training ground.I say more because it is something they practice.

[feedthegreek]

according to paul mccarthey hes just been on talkshite
spurs have offered 4 mill for given, he also said
swp as put in a transfer request.

[Blue Since 76]

There are emergency clauses in the rules concerning goalkeepers in the event of injury but it would require Hart and third-choice Stuart Taylor to both be unavailable for Given to be recalled during the initial 28-day loan.

Let Given go on loan. If Hart gets injured, just do an Escape to Victory job on Taylor, so that we can recall Given. Simples.

With two quality keepers to keep happy, I think he should have given (no pun) his number one the league games and the number two all the cups. I wouldn't mind so much if he'd played his first 11 in all the cup games, but he's played around with the rest of the defence anyway. Given isn't going to get any more money anywhere else and isn't going to win anything, as we won't let him go to a competitor. I think if we offered him the cups and the chance to have a medal at the end of this, he'd be happier.