Shay Given

[Freestyler]

both can't distribute a football to save their life's

both can't command their goal area

but...

Both world class shot stoppers and 2 of the best in the world imo.

 

[MCC]

Shay is top class. His performance against Russia for Ireland was superb. Joe is better though at coming out for crosses and commanding his area. Joe also has time on his side to improve. Wish Shay all the best though.

 

[sincity]

No, Hart's the same weaknesses as Given, but Given is a better shot stopper, he controls the defense better and he's a better level of concentration.

Just because he's taller doesn't make Hart better.

If Given was the better keeper he'd still be in goal for City.

No if Given was a 24 year old English keeper he'd still be in goals for City.

Given for me is the better keeper, but Hart is a better investment. Hart's great and all but I thank God we didn't sell Given to the Rags or Arsenal because he's been outstanding for Villa so far this season, and he'd be the difference between winning and loosing the title. We would not be worse off at all if he was still our no.1.

Can still see him moving to Arsenal with his current form. They desperately need a new GK... and a new defense.... and a new midfield.... and a new strike force... and..and..
14 goals conceded already pmsl

 

[9 Quinn]

Joe is far superior. Roberto made the right decision.

Wish Given all the best though...

As it stands Joe is not as good as Given let alone better! But he has youth on his side and may well go on to be better,but at the minute he certainly is not!

 

[forevermancity]

Joe is by far the better. Only irish will disagree

 

[vamps]

Shay would've been the IDEAL 2nd goalkeeper and wouldn't have done us bad in cup games. I was sad to see him go, remember when we had him in goal all season (well not the last few matches). He consistently earned valuable points with his unbeatable shot stopping.

He does have the aforementioned weaknesses, but i think all this stuff about how he's shit and Joe is so much better is just not a very good way to pay tribute to someone who has served City nobly in an important season!

 

[shikariblue]

Joe's better. Not by far but still better.

 

[Skashion]

I can't understand how people come up with this. You can look better than you are in a good team. Hart had a load of clean sheets last season, but 90% of that was down to the fact that the defense was so good, he'd very little to do.

Hart had the best shots to saves ratio in the country last season. He was also PFA keeper of the year whilst playing for a Birmingham side that without him got relegated.

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

That right there is exactly why shay given is such a second rate goalkeeper. 'Top class'? Do me a fucking favour. It's fucking bread and butter stuff for a goalkeeper, basic goalkeeping duties that given just shirks. It isn't good enough. 2nd rate

 

[Mikem93]

Joe is a MUCH better keeper, shot stopping they are basically even and thats Givens only real strength, Hart may not be as good as commanding his area as someone like VDS was but that comes with experience as well. When it comes to one on one shot stopping I can't think of a single keeper I would want facing any top striker, even when he was younger under Sven he was superb at this, I remember him making a save against Anelka where I, just like most people would put everything in my bank account of Anelka to score. The save against Jones in the FA cup Final is another example, he's a big game player and regularly makes important saves in big games.

Joe kept more clean sheets than anyone in the league last year, when did Given win that award ? Never because although he has always been a top class shot stopper, and kept us as well Newcastle before us and already Villa after us, in many games he has an air of uncertainty around him when coming for high balls and organising his defense.

In short Joe is the better keeper now and will only get better as he matures and peaks, he will be one of the best in the world in a few years time

 

[Seosa]

Given did his job when we needed him and now he's doing his job for a club targeting less than what we are. I don't wish him any malice, but I'm not arsed if he does well either to be honest.<br /><br />-- Sun Sep 18, 2011 5:10 pm --<br /><br />

Joe is by far the better. Only irish will disagree

I wouldn't say by far but he is the better keeper. I certainly agree with the latter part of your post however.

 

[Plato]

Hart is the better keeper.

 

[RandomJ]

Made me laugh that "world class save" Given did for Villa last match. It was hit from a long way away. I'd expect a League 1 keeper to get to that. Another the player kicked the ball directly at Given, he didn't know anything about it but it went down as a "world class save". I'm not saying he isn't a good keeper but people over exaggerate about him too much.

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

I'm not saying he isn't a good keeper but people over exaggerate about him too much.

...and yet never seem to pay any attention to his glaring weaknesses

 

[MyJeckyllDoesntHyde]

Joe is by far the better. Only irish will disagree

7 straight clean sheats for Ireland and 2 consecutive motm awards for Villa. We went with Joe because he has a long future ahead of him while Shay's shelf life is limited. There is nothing to choose between the 2 in terms of ability. If the ages were reversed we'd have gone with Given.

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

Joe is by far the better. Only irish will disagree

7 straight clean sheats for Ireland and 2 consecutive motm awards for Villa. We went with Joe because he has a long future ahead of him while Shay's shelf life is limited. There is nothing to choose between the 2 in terms of ability. If the ages were reversed we'd have gone with Given.

Yea we probably would, and yea there probably isn't much between them. But that says a lot when there's a 10 year age gap between them and as a very wise man once said 'Goalkeepers aren't born today until they're in their late twenties or thirties' ;-)

 

[cantona01]

I would say that when you had both, you had 2 of the top 4 keepers in the premiership. I dont think it is feasible for any club to carry two keepers of that calibre, they will want to go where they can play.

He is doing a cracking job down there - beware of returning players!!

 

[SWP's back]

I can't understand how people come up with this. You can look better than you are in a good team. Hart had a load of clean sheets last season, but 90% of that was down to the fact that the defense was so good, he'd very little to do.

Hart had the best shots to saves ratio in the country last season. He was also PFA keeper of the year whilst playing for a Birmingham side that without him got relegated.

knockout punch

 

[Wheelsy]

They don't call him Six Yard Shay for nothing.

 

[bluecroi]

Apologies for dragging up an old thread but I don't have enough posts to start a new topic, but I thought this deserved to be posted and couldn't find it anywhere else.

Shay Given: I've got Euro 2012 to look forward to, but I have to be there for Speedo's family...

It is a short sentence but it comes with a long, sad sigh. 'You've got to keep living,' says Shay Given.

Often quotations look different when transferred to black and white and for the past month since the death of his great friend Gary Speed, Given has wrestled with words, what to say, how to say it and whether to speak at all. But he has witnessed the power of them, too.

Read more: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2080522/Shay-Given-death-Gary-Speed.html#ixzz1iA5lkZuI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... z1iA5lkZuI</a>

A bit long, but worth a read.