Mancini open to Given exit

[King Kev]

Did Joe Hart used to pinch your lunch money at school or something Smurf?

[Blue2]

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.

Wondered when you would reappear after your "mong" outburst before the Spurs game. Played well young Joe didn't he?


Disagree about Given doing nothing wrong - he wasn't good enough last season
and imo Joe has got the nod due to Mancini thinking that he is the better keeper, nothing to do with the reasons you mention. Mancini is hardly likely to put an inferior keeper in when his job is on the line if he doesn't get results.

[smurfsdabomb]

Pressure from cook to sign and play english players for PR reasons. Why else would they be spending that amount of money on guys like Lescott and Milner. Do you really believe its on merit or that there aren't better targets available for the same price? And also why guys who blatantly aren't good enough like Richards, SWP and Johnson are allowed stay around while guys who probably are like Ireland and Bellamy are shipped off.

Having the England #1 and a few others in the squad are good for PR, keeps the british media on their side and provides a counter-argument to the whole ruining football thing.

[King Kev]

Did Joe Hart used to pinch your lunch money at school or something Smurf?

It's ok, I have just worked out why you don't like him.

It's because he's keeping an Irishman out of the team right?

[Socrates]

Pressure from Cook for PR reasons? Another classicly idiotic comment, you have excelled yourself smurf. You do know Given doesn't qualify as England and Wales trained for the 8 from 25 rule?

[Mase]

Pressure from cook to sign and play english players for PR reasons. Why else would they be spending that amount of money on guys like Lescott and Milner. Do you really believe its on merit or that there aren't better targets available for the same price? And also why guys who blatantly aren't good enough like Richards, SWP and Johnson are allowed stay around while guys who probably are like Ireland and Bellamy are shipped off.

Having the England #1 and a few others in the squad are good for PR, keeps the british media on their side and provides a counter-argument to the whole ruining football thing.

The money for English players is always going to be higher than for Yohan Bloggs from France simply just because they are English. If Lescott cost us £10million no one would say a word. Money isn't tight at the moment so if we really want a player that much AND they are English we're going to have to pay premium.

[daveh1962]

Pressure from cook to sign and play english players for PR reasons. Why else would they be spending that amount of money on guys like Lescott and Milner. Do you really believe its on merit or that there aren't better targets available for the same price? And also why guys who blatantly aren't good enough like Richards, SWP and Johnson are allowed stay around while guys who probably are like Ireland and Bellamy are shipped off.

Having the England #1 and a few others in the squad are good for PR, keeps the british media on their side and provides a counter-argument to the whole ruining football thing.

Absolute BS you pay a premium for top English players. Which Johnson are you referring to Michael if so the guy has been injured long term and isnt due back til January. Id Adam then you are just being stupid. Listen Given and Hart have been watched and Mancini and the coaches have decided to go with Hart they acknowledged it was a difficult decision but based on Saturdays performance they have got an excellent keeper I appreciate the season is long and he could make mistakes and suffer a drop in form. Therefore Given has the decision to make does he stick around to see what develops or does he leave now its up to him.

The thing about Taylor is he is a good keeper and the only reason he didnt play when Given got injured was that he was injured at the same time

Its absolute BS to suggest any decisions about who gets in this side is a PR stunt and is so laughable I am not even sure why I am responding

[Colin the King]

Did Joe Hart used to pinch your lunch money at school or something Smurf?

No, he's just not Irish.

It'd be madness to play Given tomorrow night- on the back of Saturday Hart needs to keep going now, you don't take a 'keeper out of the team after being outstanding, that's just stupid. As far as I'm concerned he's in until something happens, be it injury or a complete loss of form (that doesn't mean throw him out after one mistake). Not expecting either of those things to happen any time soon, so much as I admire Shay's ability, if his mindset is that he doesn't want to work like a trojan to try and win his place back, then let him go somewhere nice and easy where he's not challenged. I remember him saying he came here with one eye on winning trophies and having much greater success than he did at Newcastle- did he expect it to be a free ride?

[Ted Hughes]

Hart's younger & bigger, that's the reason he's in. Surely people have heard/noticed what the club have been saying for the past 2 years about building from & bringing through young players? It was always going to be the case that, wherever possible, the younger players would take precedence. That doesn't mean that ALL the older players have to go right now, but most will be phased out.

If Given wants to go, it's perfectly understandable & fair enough to me. The outfield players get rotated, if the keepers don't it's his only choice if he wants to play football. Good luck to him whatever he decides.

[john@staustell]

Pressure from cook to sign and play english players for PR reasons. Why else would they be spending that amount of money on guys like Lescott and Milner. Do you really believe its on merit or that there aren't better targets available for the same price? And also why guys who blatantly aren't good enough like Richards, SWP and Johnson are allowed stay around while guys who probably are like Ireland and Bellamy are shipped off.

Having the England #1 and a few others in the squad are good for PR, keeps the british media on their side and provides a counter-argument to the whole ruining football thing.

Absolute BS you pay a premium for top English players. Which Johnson are you referring to Michael if so the guy has been injured long term and isnt due back til January. Id Adam then you are just being stupid. Listen Given and Hart have been watched and Mancini and the coaches have decided to go with Hart they acknowledged it was a difficult decision but based on Saturdays performance they have got an excellent keeper I appreciate the season is long and he could make mistakes and suffer a drop in form. Therefore Given has the decision to make does he stick around to see what develops or does he leave now its up to him.

The thing about Taylor is he is a good keeper and the only reason he didnt play when Given got injured was that he was injured at the same time

Its absolute BS to suggest any decisions about who gets in this side is a PR stunt and is so laughable I am not even sure why I am responding

I agree with you. Apart from this bit:

The thing about Taylor is he is a good keeper

I have seen no evidence for this.

[Socrates]

Did Joe Hart used to pinch your lunch money at school or something Smurf?

No, he's just not Irish.

Precisely my thinking when he first made a complete tool of himself calling Hart a cunt. In fact, I think I said it...

[BostonBlue]

Pressure from cook to sign and play english players for PR reasons. Why else would they be spending that amount of money on guys like Lescott and Milner. Do you really believe its on merit or that there aren't better targets available for the same price? And also why guys who blatantly aren't good enough like Richards, SWP and Johnson are allowed stay around while guys who probably are like Ireland and Bellamy are shipped off.

Having the England #1 and a few others in the squad are good for PR, keeps the british media on their side and provides a counter-argument to the whole ruining football thing.

This doesn't even warrant a civil response, what an utter load of bollocks. Where you laughing at yourself while you typed that?

[paulmclaren]

If we do sell Given,. it has to be what we paid for him.
He's got over 6 years left in him.
He's a damn keeper.

[Socrates]

If we do sell Given,. it has to be what we paid for him.
He's got over 6 years left in him.
He's a damn keeper.

Was this him?

[youtube]qKHc-U2FNHk[/youtube]

[Slim]

Pressure from Cook for PR reasons? Another classicly idiotic comment, you have excelled yourself smurf. You do know Given doesn't qualify as England and Wales trained for the 8 from 25 rule?

A home grown player is defined as one who, irrespective of his nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the Football Association or the Welsh Football Association for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).

Date of birth 20 April 1976 (1976-04-20) (age 34)

1994–1997 Blackburn Rovers

Where's your math at?

[the_georgian_genius]

I wouldn't mind if Given went to Arsenal, he'd be a slight improvement on Almunia.

Shay Given = World class shot stopper, a good all round goalkeeper.

[Socrates]

Pressure from Cook for PR reasons? Another classicly idiotic comment, you have excelled yourself smurf. You do know Given doesn't qualify as England and Wales trained for the 8 from 25 rule?

A home grown player is defined as one who, irrespective of his nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the Football Association or the Welsh Football Association for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).

Date of birth 20 April 1976 (1976-04-20) (age 34)

1994–1997 Blackburn Rovers

Where's your math at?

Better than yours clearly? Signed for Blackburn in the SUMMER of 1994 so cannot have completed 36 months by either his birthday in April 1997 or the end of the season a couple of weeks later. Did he have a complete season I guess is the question?

[Slim]

Pressure from Cook for PR reasons? Another classicly idiotic comment, you have excelled yourself smurf. You do know Given doesn't qualify as England and Wales trained for the 8 from 25 rule?

A home grown player is defined as one who, irrespective of his nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the Football Association or the Welsh Football Association for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).

Date of birth 20 April 1976 (1976-04-20) (age 34)

1994–1997 Blackburn Rovers

Where's your math at?

Better than yours clearly? Signed for Blackburn in the SUMMER of 1994 so cannot have completed 36 months by either his birthday in April 1997 or the end of the season a couple of weeks later. Did he have a complete season I guess is the question?

Sadly, you just continue being wrong. He turned 21 in the season of 96-97.

93-94 Celtic <----contract ran out, left on a free in the summer.
94-95 Blackburn
95-96 Blackburn
96-97 Blackburn <---turned 21 here.

Now Harold, let's put this in simple terms, can you count to three?

[Socrates]

Pressure from Cook for PR reasons? Another classicly idiotic comment, you have excelled yourself smurf. You do know Given doesn't qualify as England and Wales trained for the 8 from 25 rule?

A home grown player is defined as one who, irrespective of his nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the Football Association or the Welsh Football Association for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).

Date of birth 20 April 1976 (1976-04-20) (age 34)

1994–1997 Blackburn Rovers

Where's your math at?

Better than yours clearly? Signed for Blackburn in the SUMMER of 1994 so cannot have completed 36 months by either his birthday in April 1997 or the end of the season a couple of weeks later. Did he have a complete season I guess is the question?

Sadly, you just continue being wrong. He turned 21 in the season of 96-97.

93-94 Celtic <----contract ran out, left on a free in the summer.
94-95 Blackburn
95-96 Blackburn
96-97 Blackburn <---turned 21 here.

Now Harold, let's put this in simple terms, can you count to three?

As you would gather if you read the question bit at the end of the post I was unaware you could count complete seasons, thought it had to be 3 years and I'd added it up to a maximum of 34 months before his bithday/35 months before the end of that season. Absolutely no need for the agression, suggest you use your amazing numeric skills to count backwards from ten before you start typing.

[Beeks]

Looks like he's off to Celtic with a 24 hour recall clause.