Stevo985 Posted July 20, 2011 VT Supporter Share Posted July 20, 2011 Isn't he essentially a down-grade from Brad Friedel? Given is 10 times the player Friedel ever was. Never really rated him, I feel people only thought he was good was because the MOTD panel used to rave about him, but that was only because of his age. I can only assume you don't have eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villan-scott Posted July 20, 2011 VT Supporter Share Posted July 20, 2011 Friedal was a good keeper for us, but I lost a lot of faith in him last season, and now looking forward to having Given between the sticks, who I believe is currently the better keeper, which at the current time is all that matters, it doesn't matter who was better 10 years ago, but imo Given was :winkold: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barry'sboots Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 It is hard to comment on Given when you only see him on MOTD or in live games against the Villa. I always thought, in his Newcastle days, he was an excellent keeper but I thought the same of Brad in his Blackburn days. Like many, I became somewhat frustrated with Brad over the past season or so. Still a great shot stopper but not particularly commanding in and around his box and slow off his line. I felt that contributed to the downturn in our defensive stats last season. I am hoping that Given will remain injury free and can deliver on his Newcastle form. I think his understanding with Dunne could mean we see instant results on defensive co-ordination and solidity. I think he will be an upgrade. I am also hoping that, towards the end of Given's contract, Siegrist is coming through and doing a Joe Hart on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 . Like many, I became somewhat frustrated with Brad over the past season or so. Still a great shot stopper but not particularly commanding in and around his box and slow off his line. I felt that contributed to the downturn in our defensive stats last season. You just described Shay Given too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shillzz Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Given the lack of senior players in the current squad, I think it was very much a sensible idea to get Given in ahead of Foster. I'm also starting to doubt if the transfer funds would have been made available for Foster, but either way, I think McLeish made the sensible choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Why though? Ben Foster is 28 years old. It's not like he is a kid or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beasley14 Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 . Like many, I became somewhat frustrated with Brad over the past season or so. Still a great shot stopper but not particularly commanding in and around his box and slow off his line. I felt that contributed to the downturn in our defensive stats last season. You just described Shay Given too! Only the commanding from crosses bit, IIRC Given is pretty good coming of his line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P3te Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Video of Shay being introduced to the Villa fans at Star City at kit launch http://yfrog.com/n757rz good **** that's an embarrassing video Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barry'sboots Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 . Like many, I became somewhat frustrated with Brad over the past season or so. Still a great shot stopper but not particularly commanding in and around his box and slow off his line. I felt that contributed to the downturn in our defensive stats last season. You just described Shay Given too! Only the commanding from crosses bit, IIRC Given is pretty good coming of his line. I don't think many PL goalies command on crosses any more. Hennessy at VP was the only one I can really remember last season coming out and collecting crosses. I meant more talking to and organising the defence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 Cech and Gomes can be commanding though the latter is prone to drop it in his own net. As for Given, made a fine stop from Emerton adn looked solid enough today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgyknees Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 Video of Shay being introduced to the Villa fans at Star City at kit launch http://yfrog.com/n757rz good **** that's an embarrassing video Cheesy and very funny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu_The_Villan Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 Elvis would have been proud of that entrance I bet Given felt like a right plum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BleedClaretAndBlue Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 Yea Given was decent today. Im happy we have a keeper who CAN save a penalty now. Unbelievable how many pens we gave away over Friedels time with us, and not a single save. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted July 27, 2011 Moderator Share Posted July 27, 2011 Haha, that video is cringe. He really wanted the escalator going about twice as quick as that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSufferingVilla Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 One thing struck me in today's game, at one point Given was forced to parry a shot and he parried it about 40 yeards away from the goal. Friedel, great keeper that he was had a brutal habit of parrying the ball straight into the path of an on rushing attacker. It used to drive me nuts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejoker Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 Very impressed with Given today...apart from one fumble early on, he looked very assured and made 2/3 top saves. The defending as a whole was superb compared to last season too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makouns-knitwear Posted July 27, 2011 Share Posted July 27, 2011 One thing struck me in today's game, at one point Given was forced to parry a shot and he parried it about 40 yeards away from the goal. Friedel, great keeper that he was had a brutal habit of parrying the ball straight into the path of an on rushing attacker. It used to drive me nuts.. Agreed, Friedel as good as he was did have a tendency to parry to the nearest attacker, think a good sign of how much of a good keeper he is shows in his concentration having very little to do then pulling off a great save from Emerton, long may it last. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boumasbabies Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 Outstanding today. He could do no more This gentlemen is what a bargin looks like Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLax Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 Man of the match today, the only bright point against chelsea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markavfc40 Posted July 30, 2011 Share Posted July 30, 2011 He was superb today. It could easily have been 5 or 6 without him. I am hoping his performance and the fact it was only 2 - 0 doesn't mask over how poor we were and the fact that major investment is needed if we are to do anything other than be mid to lower table, or worse with 3 or 4 injuries to key players, this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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