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I certainly hope that [urlnp=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/aug/30/shay-given-stays-manchester-city?CMP=twt_gu]THIS[/urlnp] article is true.

I would feel happier about it if there had been a few quotes though.

It will be I think, as Daniel Taylor seems to be a fairly decent reporter and not a sensationalist like some of them out there.

Dont think we will have any ins tomorrow, but Robinho and Santa Cruz going out would be likely.

Well let's hope this is the end result of this saga. I would've completely understood if he'd wanted to leave and play week in week out elsewhere but at some point he is going to get another chance for us. An injury to Joe, loss of form. It's got to be worth sticking around till January at least and seeing how the land lies then

Really hope this is genuine, would love to see him stay and fight for his place.

There is definitely few Italians involved in the situation.

Same here, i hope for once this is true.

He'll fancy his chances of winning back his place. Hart made a mistake yesterday with the goal and Shay will get a chance during the international break to impress.

If it's up in the air then he has a chance.

Unless Hart has a total breakdown in form then Shay has little chance of getting the No. 1 spot back. If he has decided to stay though I think Mancini will give him games in Europa League etc. Mancini was never going to play Shay in any games when there was a chance he would be off to another club.

BobKowalski wrote:Unless Hart has a total breakdown in form then Shay has little chance of getting the No. 1 spot back. If he has decided to stay though I think Mancini will give him games in Europa League etc. Mancini was never going to play Shay in any games when there was a chance he would be off to another club.

Agree Mr K

I'll take Hart on points. His longer reach and height will cause Given problems, but I'm not sure he's got the power to stop him. Don't fancy either against Friedel in the decider though.

Give Given the Carling Cup and he has a chance of a winner's medal. If Arsenal had come in, he'd be off, but what's the point of joining Fulham, other than to play? He's hardly likely to win something, which is surely what he wants.

BobKowalski wrote:Unless Hart has a total breakdown in form then Shay has little chance of getting the No. 1 spot back. If he has decided to stay though I think Mancini will give him games in Europa League etc. Mancini was never going to play Shay in any games when there was a chance he would be off to another club.

I disagree. If Shay is staying then it means that he thinks (or has been told) he has a chance. He's possibly received certain reassurances that will encourage him to stay till Christmas and see what happens. For example, he's been told that his Ireland spot is safe (no surprise really).

Remember that Hart has lost his place several times so far in his city career and has gone through patches of indifferent form. He'll need to be on top of his game to hold off Given, and if he's playing that well, good for us!

Though I think Hart's No 1 spot is reasonably safe, Given staying is good news for us. Hart is good but still can learn plenty from Given.
It also keeps Hart under pressure to play well and keep improving.
Given will get plenty of games, even from a position as No 2.

john68 wrote:It also keeps Hart under pressure to play well and keep improving.

that's the key for me. I can't see Mancini chopping and changing keepers too much....at least not until the defence looks to be pretty solid (...which it is starting to look like will be the case soon) and then only for the cup competitions.

BUT the presence of Given and the fact that he wants the No 1 spot back will likely get the best out of Hart

Would we have seen the performance we saw at Spurs without the threat of Given taking the jersey...maybe/maybe not but I certainly think the sense of pressure Shay's challenge adds wouldn't do any harm to Joe or to City

Be very happy if this is true. Can't believe that Arsenal haven't made more of an effort to get either Given or Schwarzer though to be honest....it's a massive own goal by Arsene IMO not just being prepared to pay over the odds to land one or the other