[Link] Shay Given

maybe 4m not much to spend on a world class goalie but at 35, ...can we afford to throw away 4m on Shay Given for 1 or 2 seasons,with no resale value.and he does have a record of being injury prone.
rather spend my money on someone younger, but experienced.someone around 30ish.

 

Brown was 4 years ago.
Agreed but he's never fit.

 

He wasnt fit this season but other than that I cant really remember him being out injured that much ?

 

I want the Holy Goalie back

 

SHAY Given has been identified by Aston Villa as the man to solve their goalkeeping shortage.

Villa have been without a front-line keeper since Brad Friedel brought his three-year claret and blue career to an end when he opted to join Spurs earlier in the summer.

That has led to a maelstrom of speculation about the American’s successor with Blues’ Ben Foster the most obvious and popular replacement.


Even relatively unknown contenders like Monaco’s Stephane Ruffier have been linked with the club but boss Alex McLeish has set his sights on Man City veteran Given, pictured right.

Fuel was added to that particular fire yesterday evening when reports emerged that a betting company had stopped taking bets on Given joining Villa.

The club refused to comment on the issue but I understand McLeish has settled on Given as the man to shore up what at times last season was a leaky rearguard.

And the Republic of Ireland international is understood to be keen on a move away from Eastlands because he is desperate for first team football having spent most of last season on the sidelines.

The 35-year-old has fallen behind former Blues goalie Joe Hart at City and there are no signs of the England man yielding his place to his rival.

Given made only four appearances for City last season, all in their ill-fated Europa League campaign, and ten for his country.

Given has been patient but is now keen to kickstart his stalled career and in that respect, with only Brad Guzan and Andy Marshall in reserve, Villa represent a decent option.

Having settled on Given as their first choice Villa must now agree a fee with City for a player who has more than two years left on the contract he signed when he joined the FA Cup winners from Newcastle in 2009.

City paid £7m for him then and will want to recoup much of that since they will have to find a replacement themselves.

Another sticking point could be Celtic’s interest. Just last month Given spoke glowingly about the Scottish club although they would not be able to match the financial package Villa could put together.



Read More http://www.birminghammail.net/birmi...lkeeping-target-97319-28959987/#ixzz1QgEY6oam

 

As a club we couldn't match Villa financially.

However, if we make a move for Given I think it will be funded by Dermot Desmond.

So we will just have to pray that the man with the moustache digs deep for Shay.

 

Hand on my heart I'd love to see Given at Parkhead, but I'd certainly be loathe to pay out the quoted £4m asking price for him. Admittedly, he is a top class keeper, but at 35 it's a big big gamble, bearing in mind he has reportedly got shoulder problems. Yes, Id love him between the sticks for us, but not for £4m. I dont know the answer to our goalie problem, don't fancy Forster, certainly not at £2m for Newcastle's 3rd choice keeper. Pardew can work it right up his jacksie.

 

Don't see DD digging deep for this signing tbh

 

tbh, I would have thought this would have been a priority signing for us. thouht he played well in irelands matches in the cup. Fair enough he's 35, but to even et 3seasons atleast from him, would pay for itself, and having said he'd take a wage drop, would we be at much of a loss?

 

There looking for 4m

 

Actually, over the course of his career, Given has not actually been that injury prone, he got injured last season but that can happen to anyone.
Don't know what budget Celtic have but 4 mill sounds fair enough, he's still top class. Also, keepers can play on longer than outfielders, look at Brad Friedel and David James, i wouldn't write Given off yet.
However, there is talk of Villa buying him, hope it's not true, he deserves a bigger club.

 

Forster would be the better long term option. Think he is going to be a great keeper. Had a good season last year, yet has been demonised for some fans for not being Artur. 24/44 clean sheets is exceptional.

Given is a wonderful keeper and if the club feel that can push the boat our for him then great , but £4m will eat into a massive chunk of Neils transfer kitty, and I imagine his huge wages will be a barrier as well.

If anyone says that he should play for us because he is Irish/Celtic fan etc, then forget it. Money always talks. Given will be no different and will go to the club that offers him the best deal.

 

It's true that any move is likely to be influenced by financial considerations. Regarding Forster, while some criticism of him has possibly been harsh, i'm not convinced yet that he's good enough for Celtic- there's a scarcity of good keepers available though but sorting out the number one position will be crucial if Celtic are to get the league back next season.

 

Appreciate what your saying, and no doubt that Forster has some improvements to make. But for a rookie keeper to come in at 22 years of age and keep more clean sheets than Boruc ever managed, behind an ever changing defence was nothing short of remarkable. Can honestly say he has only had one game that I think he cost us, and that was his first game against the huns.

Other than that went about his job fine. I dont believe for a minute that he was the reason we didnt win the league last season.

 

What does good enough for Celtic mean nowadays?

We unfortunately and frustratingly have to shop in a different market from other clubs...and not just the big teams!
Our pishy wee league and crap revenue see to that.
If any club offer more money than us we are hiking and it becomes a hard sell...Yes we have an amazing set up,history etc and I like to think that this is an attraction for players but unless money is not their * we are up * creek without a paddle!
As far as i'm concerned...if we can convince either Shay Given or Forster to sign whilst fending off other intrested clubs then i see this as a victory and would only be too delighted to have them in Paradie.

 

I personally feel that our style of play also helped Forster out, we did well playing the possession game most of the season and kept the ball out of his half. I think he has had less to do overall than anything Boruc had to put up with the last few years.

 

So we could just put anyone in then? Why dont we just put Zaluska in goal if thats the case.

C'mon thats a poor argument. Bit like saying that Hooper only scored those goals because of the style we played, in that case stick any striker up front.

Give Forster a bit of credit, and also Lennon for bringing him in. If he doesnt sign and we dont get someone that is as good as him next season we will be thinking back to him as one that got away.

 

Spot on. Objectively, Forster offers better value and will allow us to spend money where it needs to be spent. On a quality CB and Striker.

 

Is Forster even for sale? If so, for how much?

 

I don't think he's put a foot wrong and can't be blamed for a whole lot last season. He deserves credit, but my opinion is that he wasn't tested much and Newcastle didn't seem to think so either, but that guys a douche anyway. He's not worth more than 2m and for 4m you get a class keeper. That should be our priority. According to reports we are only interested in maybe 2-3 players this window, if that's the case then he should be quality players and will cost a little bit extra.