Shay Given

[Moonchesteri]

Villa got a great deal out of this. Absolutely fantastic 'keeper for a team of Villa's stature.
Fantastic professional player too and seems like a really nice guy and tbh it would have been a real shame if he had not been no.1 keeper for the rest of his career. And he finally got to be part of cup winning team too with us!
Good luck Shay, but not when we play you.

[Alioune DVToure]

Signed a five year deal. Quality keeper or not, that seems obscene to me - no one knows how long his shoulder will hold up.

Great signing for Villa and apparently great work from his agent.

They'll have told him that they can't match his weekly wages here, but that they can give him a longer contract. This way, he gets the same amount of money and it's easier for them to stay on top of their annual expenditure for FFP.

If he gets to 38 and they feel he's a bit over the hill, they can sell him for a small fee to a lesser side and write off the rest of the contract. It makes perfect sense for all parties concerned in my opinion - City, Villa, and Shay.

[HeyMark]

Does that mean the fashion parade will be in Birmingham next year?!?!

They were some of my favourite OS videos.

[Dubciteh]

Praised city and the fans, fair play to him:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011 ... ston-villa

[Alioune DVToure]

Praised city and the fans, fair play to him:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011 ... ston-villa

What a class act. Should be held up as an example to all players.

[Chinners]

Praised city and the fans, fair play to him:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011 ... ston-villa

Good read that ...

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Praised city and the fans, fair play to him:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011 ... ston-villa

What a class act. Should be held up as an example to all players.

This.
There's absolutely no need for parting shots when you leave a club. Professional football is what it is. Players move on, sometimes you lose your place and so on.

[ross.mcfc]

Praised city and the fans, fair play to him:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011 ... ston-villa

What a class act. Should be held up as an example to all players.

This.
There's absolutely no need for parting shots when you leave a club. Professional football is what it is. Players move on, sometimes you lose your place and so on.

I've said it time and time again. Look how happy he looks on the pitch and in the dressing after the FA Cup final and compare it SWP who looks like he's at his Gran funeral.