VillaGoMarching Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Queens Park Rangers target new goalkeeper with Shay Given and Robert Green top of their list On the move? Aston Villa's Shay Given could spark a goalkeepers' merry-go-round Picture: ACTION IMAGES By Jason Burt, Senior Football WriterLast Updated: 9:36PM BST 21/05/2012 Queens Park Rangers are hoping to exploit the uncertainty at Aston Villa by signing goalkeeper Shay Given. If they fail they will turn to West Ham United’s Robert Green, who is out of contract next month. If Green leaves then West Ham, who secured an immediate return to the Premier League with Saturday’s play-off victory over Blackpool, are likely to move for either Blackburn Rovers’ Paul Robinson or Bolton’s Jussi Jaaskelainen, who have both previously worked with manager Sam Allardyce. Sunderland are also believed to be interested in Green, who is expected to leave Upton Park but will hold fresh talks with the club over a new deal. QPR manager Mark Hughes has identified Given as one of his key targets this summer with the likelihood being that Paddy Kenny, his current first-choice goalkeeper, will leave to be reunited at Leeds United with former manager Neil Warnock. The bond between Hughes and Given is also strong with the manager having signed the 36-year-old Republic of Ireland international for Manchester City from Newcastle United in early 2009. Given was one of several City players angered by Hughes’ sacking later that year. QPR, having narrowly avoided relegation this month, are to undergo a huge rebuilding of the first-team squad this summer. Captain Joey Barton, who faces a lengthy ban for his behaviour in the final Premier League match of the season when he was sent off against City, is likely to be asked to leave the club. Given signed a five-year contract at Villa, for a fee of £3.5 million, only last summer but with the club uncertain as to who will be the manager next season after a hugely disappointing campaign and with doubts over the ambitions of owner Randy Lerner, QPR are considering making an offer. Villa are understood to have a four-strong short-list to succeed Alex McLeish, who was sacked after the club only narrowly avoided relegation. It is headed by Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, the coach of Norwegian club Molde, Norwich City’s Paul Lambert, Wigan Athletic’s Roberto Martinez and Villa reserve team coach Kevin MacDonald, who was interviewed last week. However, there are deep concerns over the scale of investment planned this summer by Lerner while QPR are pushing ahead with a transfer policy to try to establish themselves in the Premier League and are promising Hughes the funds to compete. A permanent deal for on-loan midfielder Samba Diakaé is being discussed with new deals having been agreed with Kieron Dyer, who has agreed a one-year extension, Jamie Mackie, Clint Hill, Akos Buzsaky and reserve goalkeeper Radek Cerny. QPR have also released eight out-of-contract players: Patrick Agyemang, Gary Borrowdale, Lee Cook, Danny Gabbidon, Fitz Hall, Peter Ramage, Danny Shittu and Rowan Vine. West Ham are also drawing up their plans for the Premier League and would be interested in re-signing former midfielder Joe Cole — but only if Liverpool hugely subsidise his wages, of at least £90,000 a week, as they have done at Lille. Cole is also attracting interest from big-spending Paris St-Germain. Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CI Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Given was our best player last year so it makes sense we sell him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrackpotForeigner Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Given was our best player last year so it makes sense we sell himYeah, it's kindof a tradition :? All this means is that QPR may or may not be preparing an offer, which we would neither refuse or accept until after we have a manager. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubby Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Zero quotes. Poor work from the Telegraph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HolteExile Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Could see this coming off, unfortunately. Tottingham could do with a top class keeper too. Given, Ireland and N'Zogbia could all be vulnerable this summer, all on 60k+ a week and it might be felt that we could get far more room for manoeuvre with those three alone off the books. Whilst the latter two probably haven't been worth the financial commitment made during their time with us, Given has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I'd sell him if the money was right. The old criticism that Shay Given is a shot stopper extraordinaire who's all round game is still lacking is still true as far as I am concerned. He is a very good goalkeeper, dont get me wrong but I think his unwillingness to come off of his line is one of the reasons why we conceded so many goals from corners this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CI Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Tbh, I'd sell given Ireland and Zog and allow the new manager to reinvest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrackpotForeigner Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Tbh, I'd sell given Ireland and Zog and allow the new manager to reinvestCmon CI you can't be serious. It's hard enough to attract players to Villa when you do have some talent in the squad. These are three of our four most talented players. Do you think DB will want to stick around after watching this lot walk out the door? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CI Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Personally I'd keep Shay Given, he's a great keeper For me, Ireland and Zog are overrated and temperamental. McLeish's greatest success was getting Ireland to put some effort in The guy has been a disgrace As for NZogbia, he really has been one lazy clearing in the woods since arriving Can he do it for another manager, maybe ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrackpotForeigner Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Personally I'd keep Shay Given, he's a great keeper For me, Ireland and Zog are overrated and temperamental. McLeish's greatest success was getting Ireland to put some effort in The guy has been a disgrace As for NZogbia, he really has been one lazy clearing in the woods since arriving Can he do it for another manager, maybe ?I think we all like to hope that another manager could get Ireland to put even MORE effort in. N'Zogbia showed every sign of being well and truly pissed off with his manager. He is a ten million pound signing. It will be a measure of the next manager whether he can get the Zog playing to his potential. With fully-functional Ireland and Zog, plus Bent, we will have a potent threat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smetrov Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Not for less than £7m I know he's not worth that - but could we secure a replacement for less than that ? - (although craig gordon has been given a free !) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudevillaisnice Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Given is a funny one.. I like him as a GK and if he stayed I wouldn't mind at all.. infact i'd be happy. However one thing that does worry me is his long term contract.. if we got the right price I could see us selling.. it's no secret wages are an issue either. Replacement if we do sell? your guess is as good as mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillz Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I get the impression that this link is based purely on the fact that hughes signed Given once before and the two seemed to get along. Also with Guzan going i doubt we would sell our only remaining senior keeper. Furthermore Given has 4 years left on his contract so we are under no pressure to sell as we did with Young and Barry etc. Apart from the bit about Kenny going back to join Warnock( as he has done wherever Warnock has gone) i don't think this story has much to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brommy Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I'll believe it when I see it. Whilst no keeper is perfect, Given is one of the few players in our squad that I'd rate in the top 6 to 10 for their position so it makes no sense to sell him. Besides, name me another keeper so ready and able to keep out Warnock's efforts on our goal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I get the impression that this link is based purely on the fact that hughes signed Given once before and the two seemed to get along. ever think of taking up journalism. you already mastered most of the art Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HolteExile Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I never realised how good he was until he played for us this season. He always looked decent for Ireland and Newcastle, but he has been top class for us. There are not many keepers in the topflight who I'd trade him for- and I'd include most of the GK's in top 5/6 sides in that. I'd far rather have him than De Gea, Szczęsny and Friedel, for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briggaman Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I'd sell him if the money was right. The old criticism that Shay Given is a shot stopper extraordinaire who's all round game is still lacking is still true as far as I am concerned. He is a very good goalkeeper, dont get me wrong but I think his unwillingness to come off of his line is one of the reasons why we conceded so many goals from corners this year. This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loleagles Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 New deal from QPR for Kieron Dyer, they must have money to waste! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudevillaisnice Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 one thing I would say is QPR should forget about Taiwo and should try to sign Warnock instead.. I doubt he will turn down the move and I certainly will be able to celebrate when he leaves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillz Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I get the impression that this link is based purely on the fact that hughes signed Given once before and the two seemed to get along. ever think of taking up journalism. you already mastered most of the art Aye, all that article was missing is a headline with a pun. The old image of monkeys and typewriters comes to mind. ( Also if this somehow becomes true i will feel like a right tit...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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