Shay Given Deserves Better Than Manchester City
When Shay Given left Newcastle United last year it was a devastating blow. One of the best goalkeepers in Europe, the loss of the Irishman was profoundly felt.
Given was Newcastle's Mr Reliable, and arguably their best player. When he decided to leave, we knew there was something going badly wrong behind the scenes under Joe Kinnear.
Few blamed him for wanting to leave, even if he effectively went on strike to ensure he was allowed to leave, but has he swapped one basket case club for another one by moving to Manchester City?
At St James' Park, Steve Harper has proven to be a more than able replacement and few people still hark back to the days of Given. As good a goalkeeper as he was, and as nice a guy as he was, Newcastle have moved on, downwards, but on nonetheless.
Yes, Given escaped relegation to the Championship and would surely have been sold if he had stayed in the summer, but are things going sour at the City of Manchester Stadium already?
Personally, I've always felt Manchester City would struggle to realise their new found potential. The Sheikhs have plenty of money, but very little understanding of football as the sacking of Mark Hughes betrayed.
Furthermore, they can't even sell out their ground week to week, despite all the hullabaloo surrounding them.
They want Manchester City to be one of the biggest clubs in the world, but they aren't even the biggest club in Manchester and never will be. You can't rewrite 50 years of history just because you are a billionaire.
They would have been far better off buying Newcastle United, although I don't want to be distracted into opening that particular can of worms now.
I just wonder what Given is thinking? He must have been mightily relieved at escaping the mess at St James' Park. Ten years without a winners medal of any kind, he gave valuable and loyal service for a decade and went in search of silverware - and wages of more than £80,000-a-week.
We wished him luck, but all he has had to show for his efforts at Eastlands is money in the bank and a soap opera behind the scenes at a club which looks as though it will change managers with alarming regularity and employs Craig Bellamy!
City were knocked out of the FA Cup at Stoke City this week, their last chance of silverware this season. Manchester United accounted for them in the semi-final of the Carling Cup, Given left exposed by his defenders at a corner just seconds after making a match saving save.
Hmm, where has he experienced that sort of thing before and where have we heard him talking like this before?!
"We were disappointed, obviously, after last night - it was a huge disappointment for the players, the club and the supporters," said Given. "But what can you say? We're knocked out of the cup and we have to move on."
Asked if he thought it was too early for people to be questioning Mancini's position, Given said: "Yes. It is a big club, obviously, and there is huge expectation at the club now, but we have to just try and take a deep breath and try and finish the season on a high.
"We are very much in contention for fourth spot and we've got to focus on that. Hopefully we can do that and then reassess things in the summer."
Given is a top goalkeeper, one of the best I've ever seen, and deserves better. The question is, will he ever get it at City?
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Luke Edwards - is Chief Sports Writer of The Journal and uses his blog to give a unique and entertaining insight into events at Newcastle United and Sunderland.
They are the biggest club in Manchester because they are the only club in Manchester. Man Utd are in Salford.
What a strange, strange article. Is this the same Given that was at fault for Stoke's 2nd goal in the FA Cup replay?
Yes he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world but he is not without flaws. And especially against teams his flaws are there for everyone to see.
To turn this into an Anti-City article is cheeky.
The author of this article either has an IQ of about 20 or is a wind up merchant. WTF had Given ever won at Newcastle and where the hell are they heading now. They might not even come up.
Given isn't even a particularly good goalkeeper. Sure he's a class shot stopper but there's a world of difference here. Our defence is petrified of Given's lack of ability to come for the ball.
I suspect that the author simply had to write something between his 5th and sixth pint of cider.
I'd sell Given tomorrow
By the way you can't turn a sows ear into a silk purse overnight and had Chelsea not benefitted from Matthew Harding's cash you would have gone to the wall years ago. You know around about the time Ken Bates was knocking up the electric fences. Remember them Luke or was you still in your nappies.
What utter rubbish.
By some of his performances of late I don't even think he deserves better than Newscastle United - and that is saying something.
This article is written by someone who clearly watches football through the medium of newspapers.
Try watching him. If he ever left his line I think he'd get a nosebleed.
Luke,
City reached the last 4 in the Carling Cup, last 16 in the FA Cup and are currently looking good for a spot in Europe next season. 95% of fans and players would be pretty happy with that and also the prospect of further investment from the clubs owners means next season should be even better.
Shay Given knows this and i suspect is looking forward to landing some silverwear in the near future, i know i am.
Salford is in Manchester !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!IDIOT
Oh and to the rest of you IDIOTS (not you MO) if Given is "NOT THAT GOOD" why did the top four teams place bids for him INCLUDING CHELSEA who in my opinion have THE most over rated keeper in world football.
Even the top coaches liken him to Buffon so think about what your saying Christ !!!!
Salford is in Greater Manchester
Trafford is in Greater Manchester
Eastlands is in Manchester!
Admitedly Given is playing behind an indifferent defence but he is no world class keeper.
A world class shot stopper, yes! but his overall goalkeeping is average and coming for crosses, even in his 6 yard box is virtually non-existent!
salford is not in manchester it is in the greater manchester county the same as stockport, wigan, bolton etc there is truly only one team from manchester and that is manchester city fc.
Who are you? Putting a picture of yourself next to your name still doesn't help.
Well Luke you really have wound a few people up with your article. Given was and is a great keeper. And Man Shitty still cannot fill their ground, Where as we who are in the championship have averaged 42500 this season.
Given is by far the best premiership goalkeeper around, shame your horrible defence doesnt help him out more often the same as ours was like when he was at Newcastle. for those city fans who think Given is hopeless compare him to Craig Gordon which Sunderland paid £9m or Scott Carson where Liverpool valued him at £12m you guys got a bargin at £6m because Given is 10 times a better goalkeeper than both these 2 put together.
I think it's probably a bit of both Robbie. Still doesn't make city a big club.
Unique insights into Newcastle and Sunderland eh Luke?
Chief Sports Writer of the JOURNAL, the one they ALL read eh?
Let's see how many supporters St James Park is holding next season if you blow promotion this year eh?
Keep your cheap snide comments for your own patch matey, we don't rate you in Manchester.
I think we can take that as a bit of a nibble from Manchester and thanks for reading, although this wasn't really meant to appeal to you! Interesting to see some of their fans criticising Shay with the old "dodgy on crosses" accusation. Still reckon the vast majority of Newcastle fans would have him back in a flash if Ciiteh don't want him anymore.
Sorry, but couldn't resist responding to Alphie "never been to Maine Road" Izzet. To criticise Newcastle fans for attendances this season is a bit like criticising Manchester United for winning trophies every year! Nice one mate. Granted I don't have a very big readership in Manchester, funny that given I write about North East sport. Although we have just bought the Manchester Evening News so...
I'm a Newcastle fan and for years on end when we had a 'shakey' defence I said the only player we never changed was the keeper. We spent loads of money on 'top' defenders but were still poor at the back. Top teams have top keepers and top keepers help their defences by coming for crosses and winning fouls etc. given does none of that unfortunately. You could have knocked me down with a feather when reports of citys 'shakey' defence eminated early in the season. there is one common denominator.......
I wouldn't say he deserves better Luke, he choose City and good luck to him but for 80k a week he is well rewarded.
As for the Man City fans their defence has been terrible all season and Given has done wonders but what on earth are they doing reading this, nothing better to do in that great city!
Sounds like sour grapes to me Luke!
Given gave us ten excellent years of his career, who could blame him for wanting a change with the situation at Newcastle?
Find something interesting to report for a change?
I can't believe it. Given always pushed himself and complained if Harper was picked, but Harper was lways the better goalkeeper. SBR gave Harper more chances than any other manager, but it was always a case of Given complaining in the background.
Frankly after the latst Given and Harper displays how can anyone say Given is better than Harper.
Given has got exactly what he deserves. A bulging wallet. I don't feel any sympathy for the mercenary a******e