Poll: Who Should Play Between The Sticks At Spurs?

[JonnyAsh]

I can only see Given at this time. I don't think hart has taken his chane well in pre-season, whilst Given is always going to be reliable, if less spectacular.
Also, with a new and somewhat potentially inexperienced defence, (that is in terms of playing together), with the likes of Kolarov and Boetang, and the backline having themselves problems, experience will be the key factor in goal, and again that's where Shay wins.
However, I think it may be a difficult period ahead keeping Hart happy, and the future looks as uncertain as it ever has, I feel.

[salford city]

We are spoilt with two great keepers to pick from and that's why we have this poll. Personally, I'd like to see Hart as first choice - he was given his chance at Brum last season and took it getting voted into the PFA team of the season in the process. With Given in the team we saw last season how far back we then defend as he doesn't come for crosses.

[CTID Hants]

Being a keeper who is only just 23 giving "large play me or sell me"..........

If he had an ounce of sense he'd stay and learn from Shay and challenge him for the spot.

perhaps i could understand it more if he were a striker the wrong side of 30, but he's 17 years yet?

The club won't sell him just in case Given's shoulder goes again.

But to answer the original question, Shay DESERVES his place end off.

[BlueSwede]

On the evidence of pre-season so far, Given.

This.

Seconded.

Yepp. This.

I wish we would bring isaksssson back...

Not this ;)

[King Kev]

I wish we would bring isaksssson back...

I think we're ok for ballboys this season.

[ant london]

I reckon Heureleo Gomes overall is likely to be picked

But City should stick with Shay. I was all for bringing Hart back and letting him claim the first team spot but he's not impressed and his attitude isn't backed up by the level of performance needed.

[kinkylola]

I know it's risky and if it doesn't work out we are in a pretty deep hole to start the season ... but I would start Hart against spurs and lpool and make a decision about any loan move or starting spot after that. Given is a known entity and there is no question we can rely on him ... this will give him 2 more weeks of rest on his now dodgy shoulder, and Hart will have his chance to impress. If he takes it, we can all be happy that we have a great problem of 2 excellent keepers. If he drops the ball, I don't think anyone will be against giving him a loan to a mid/lower prem team. I'd love to see him go to a team like Brum again, or Blackpool and help them pick up a draw or two against our competition ...then not be able to play when we meet them. excellent in my opinion as long as it is not to a direct competitor.

[lets all have a disco]

Sorry Joe you aint impressed me.

Shay MCFC number one.

[Goaters 103]

Hart can moan to the press all he wants, and to be honest his regular veiled threats and whinges are getting a little tedious, but Given is still the better keeper.

The better keeper should always play, regardless of age of anything else and that is Given.

[mcfc1632]

no-brainer - has to be Given - Joe needs to settle down as understudy - he has his top top career on a plate - unless he gets ahead of himself and kicks off

[Sister of fu]

I am actually shocked at the change of peoples opinions. It wasn’t so longer ago several on here wrote Shay off and were praying Hart got the nod and in a similar poll im sure Hart won by some margin.

Iv said all along Shay is our No 1 and rightly so as at this moment in time he is the better keeper. I think Hart will have his time but not sure if that will be at City??

[smurfsdabomb]

Given has and continues to be the best goalkeeper in the premiership for the past decade and at 34 he's only just coming into his prime years. Hart is some nobody with promise and little else who was deemed not good enough for a then mid-table Man City side a year ago and has had a reasonably good season at another mid-table side which was transformed into "sensational" by tabloid pundits based purely on his nationality. He's basically in the position now that Foster was in this time last year, and look how that turned out, Foster being given the nod ahead of Kuszczak at the start of last year quite possibly cost Man Utd the title in the end.

If you're even debating whos better between Given and Hart you know nothing about Football.

[King Kev]

If you're even debating whos better between Given and Hart you know nothing about Football.

In your opinion of course.

[Nige]

It's got to be hart, otherwise we are taking the piss out of him. Given is excellent on his day but his kicking is rank, worst I've seen since Weaver. Give Joe 3 games to see if he really is that good would be my view.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

It's got to be hart, otherwise we are taking the piss out of him. Given is excellent on his day but his kicking is rank, worst I've seen since Weaver. Give Joe 3 games to see if he really is that good would be my view.

Now while you are free to have your opinion on this matter, I still think it's bit steep to call for Hart to get the jersey because of Givens kicking. I mean Given isn't the sharpest but Hart is absolutely awfull. That's actually worst part of his game.

Generally, why would we be taking the piss out of Hart for not choosing him as number one? He is Manchester City employee just like everyone else and it's manager who decides these things.

[edgeley blue]

Hart imo, isnt good enough for us atm. His positioning, communication and distribution simply isnt up to the standard of a team that has aspirations to win the prem. In a couple of years he will hopefully have improved sufficiently to become our number one. In the meantime Shay all the way

[smurfsdabomb]

If you're even debating whos better between Given and Hart you know nothing about Football.

In your opinion of course.

Of course but personally I can't understand why anyone would rate Hart highly. He did fine at Birmingham, I'd go so far as to say he was impressive. But he wasn't world class standard or anything on the level that would make me sit up and take note of him. He was also nowhere near the best keeper in the league last season so I don't know why he got onto the PFA team but then these are the same jokers who gave Ryan Giggs player of the year for starting 11 games so it shouldn't shock me, as well as picking Ashley Young over Superman for young player of the year the season before last. When the player in question is british logic seems to go out the window where plaudits are concerned.

[ronk]

Hart is by far the best young keeper in the premiership and he has the potential to a very important player for England.

He has bags of talent but is also prone to certain weaknesses. He's had some poor runs of form that have been mostly disguised by the fact most of the poor goals he concedes aren't his fault per say, they're just missed opportunities to make a play. He's unlucky to be behind Given, it's rare that keepers of Given's quality (and consistency) become available.

Either would be a good option, but it's clear that Given is by some margin the better one right now.

If Hart couldn't get ahead of Robert Green or David James (out of form) at the world cup then there's no real justification for putting him ahead of Given. His form for Birmingham has been completely overplayed. I can see him going out on loan again, the bench isn't the place for him, he's a developing goalie who's seen promising English talent rot on the bench. If we sell him, the key is to sell with a buy-back clause. The danger is that Arsenal or even the scum might buy him later if we let him go. Birmingham could easily justify splashing out to buy him safe in the knowledge that they could sell him that Christmas or following summer for a profit.

[Dameerto]

Given's Jedi reflexes win the day - he's too quick for his own shoulders.

[Fish111]

Given is still the best keeper in my opinion by far. Hart will be great and he is the best English keeper but he isn't nearly as good as Given yet. Bang him out on loan again. I have a sneeky feeling that Givens shoulder will give in again pretty early in the season anyway so this debate will come to an end.