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Roberto Mancini would understand if Shay Given decides to quit Manchester City, but hopes the goalkeeper will stay at the club.

Given was overlooked in favour of Joe Hart for City's opening Premier League game of the season at the weekend and the England keeper impressed in the 0-0 draw at Tottenham Hotspur.

City boss Mancini insisted after the match at White Hart Lane that his decision to select Hart did not mean Given was now his second choice.

However, prior to the start of the campaign, Given revealed he would seek talks with Mancini regarding his future if he was on the bench against Spurs.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 22,00.html

If Arsenal make a bid for Given, they will turn into a top team.
They've been shit ever since Seaman left.
Every keeper they have had minus seaman under Wenger has been shit.

Hmmm, I thought we wanted 2 top class players for each position?

Last I read he met Mancini, had a pay rise and plays in Romania. But you never know with these papers!

An ex-Newcastle player (can't for the life of me remember who) working on an American TV station claimed the other day that he had recieved a text from Shay saying that he had signed for Arsenal.


*edit* It was Warren Barton

If he wants to go then fuck him and he should be dealt with in the same way Bellamy was - ie do not sell to a top club.

Sel him to the arse but don't give him away at a silly price. whilst he's an improvement on anything that they have currently got, he won't come off his line for crosses as we all know and the bigger teams have this sussed. It will be interesting to see whether Wenger wants to do business with us or go for the cut prize Schwartzer.

Giving Given to Arsenal would be like airlifting in supplies of rocket launchers to an enemy city before you try and invade them.

smurfsdabomb wrote:Giving Given to Arsenal would be like airlifting in supplies of rocket launchers to an enemy city before you try and invade them.

Exactly. It would be beyond stupidity to let Given go to Arsenal, loan or otherwise.

Well Shay was on the play to Romania, so at the very least he'll be in the squad for Tiramisu.

Haz wrote:Well Shay was on the play to Romania, so at the very least he'll be in the squad for Tiramisu.

I would say it is pretty simple, if he plays tomorrow, he is not going to anyone of any merit. If he plays in Europa, is he cup tied for Champions League as well? I would think that would pretty much be the end of Arsenal speculation if it does.

Florida Blue wrote:

Haz wrote:Well Shay was on the play to Romania, so at the very least he'll be in the squad for Tiramisu.

I would say it is pretty simple, if he plays tomorrow, he is not going to anyone of any merit. If he plays in Europa, is he cup tied for Champions League as well? I would think that would pretty much be the end of Arsenal speculation if it does.

Mancini has said Hart will remain in goal for the game. From OS:

“I will make maybe two or three changes but we have the players that allow me to do that,” declared Mancini as the squad landed in Romania.
“I was pleased with the spirit and the fight at Tottenham. They are a good side that has been together for a long period of time.
"They were very good in the first half but we played well in the second and had 61% of possession. To dominate the ball like we did was excellent.
We still need time to gel as a unit - I only had all the players for one day before the match, so I want to see more of them in this tie
“Joe Hart will play. I had a very difficult choice to make before the Spurs game because I have two world-class goalkeepers. It is difficult for one of them to sit on the bench.
“I respect Shay Given a lot. He is a good man and I want him to stay, but I also understand any decision he might make.”

I hope Given is content with the bench again :-(

Don't see any posts saying that if Given thinks he is good enough, he should stay and fight for his place. Whereas when the roles were reversed, there were plenty saying that about Hart.

If Given has any confidence in his own ability he should stay and fight for his place in the team.

King Kev wrote:If Given has any confidence in his own ability he should stay and fight for his place in the team.

Thanks for that Lee

Blue2 wrote:

King Kev wrote:If Given has any confidence in his own ability he should stay and fight for his place in the team.

Thanks for that Lee

It's all part of the service sir.

Bizarre. I'd of thought Shay would play this game for sure.

dazby wrote:Bizarre. I'd of thought Shay would play this game for sure.

So would I. Unless Given doesn't want to be cup-tied...
I hope thats just my paranoia speaking.

That was the understanding I had also from the reliable British press.

God I hate Warren Barton... How he gets on t.v. I will never understand...

Blue2 wrote:Don't see any posts saying that if Given thinks he is good enough, he should stay and fight for his place. Whereas when the roles were reversed, there were plenty saying that about Hart.

Different situations, Hart had his first team place for City before and lost it because his performances weren't good enough. He hadn't earned the right to take back his first team place so I think people were annoyed with his "play me or I'm off" attitude when he still had to prove he merited that spot.
Given has done nothing but good in that role and him being dropped for it is a bit strange. When you play to a world class level constantly and still get dropped for it you can't blame him if he wants to leave. I don't think the guy can play any better, the reality is Joe was picked over him either because of age, fitness record or nationality and knuckling down and working hard isn't going help him any on those grounds.

The only way Shay will get his place back is if Hart's form drops (which I suspect it will before long) but you can't expect him to wait around for that to happen. If Shay does join Arsenal and turns them into a dangerous force its on Mancini's head.