Shay Given out for three months

roryc

BBC wrote:

The fitness frustrations continue at Eastlands for goalkeeper Shay Given


Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given may be sidelined for up to three months because of a shoulder injury.

The 34-year-old, who has only played in four matches for City this season, will visit a specialist on Wednesday.

City boss Roberto Mancini said: "He has the same injury he had last year and I think that he needs an operation."

Already ruled out of the Republic of Ireland's home Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia, Given might not play for club or country again this season.

Mancini added: "It's a disappointment for us and him. We've lost a good goalkeeper.

"Last year we had the problem in the last three games because we lost him to injury and I hope this year it is not the same."

With City sealing an FA Cup fifth-round place against Aston Villa after overcoming League One side Notts County on Sunday, Given will be anxious to be available for a potential trip to Wembley if the club make the final on 14 May.

And if the Eastlands team continue to progress in the Europa League he will be desperate to be fit for the final in Dublin on 18 May.

However, having been displaced by Joe Hart as City's number one and without a single Premier League appearance in the 2010-2011 campaign, Given could conceivably have played his final game for the club.

In the absence of the former Newcastle keeper, Stuart Taylor looks set to act as Hart's deputy, while Mancini admitted he would probably be forced to recall David Gonzales from his loan spell at Leeds United.

Given also damaged his shoulder in April, which prompted City to sign Marton Fulop on an emergency loan deal from Sunderland for their final three games of the 2009-10 season with Hart on loan at Birmingham.

The four games that Given has played for City this season are the Carling Cup defeat at West Brom in September and three Europa League matches, with his last appearance in a 1-1 draw at Juventus on 16 December.

His injury is also a huge blow for his country with the Republic, currently second in Group B, facing Macedonia at the Aviva Stadium on 26 March.

Republic boss Giovanni Trapattoni said on Tuesday: "Shay's presence in the squad has always been extremely important and he will certainly be missed. That said, we have good options in Keiren Westwood and Joe Murphy."

Better news for Trapattoni involved captain Robbie Keane who looks likely to recover from a calf strain for the Macedonia clash.

Not good news at all for Ireland...

peabutler

If Westwood continues to play well and impresses in the upcoming internationals he should stay in goal until Shay plays 1st team football again. He is a good keeper playing every week and will make a move to the Premier League this summer.

roryc

I would rather lose any other player than Shay. He has kept us in contention in so many games in the past... My Dad coached Joe Murphy up until he went to Tranmere so would like to see him get a call up, but this is the worst possible time to lose crucial players.

We have Macedonia on the 26th, with the return leg on 4th June. Hopefully Given is back for the second game.

sydsad

that is a massive blow but westwood will now get to prove himself. He is a good keeper but i wonder will he have the same presence as givers for Ireland. The back 4 need to be on the same wave lenght if you get me.

Communication is key obviously. I hope he does well. Given wont last forever. I wish he could though haha.

gimmick

Just as well all those other keepers have been blooded in dueing the meaningless friendlies over the years.

Oh wait.....

:rolleyes:

Neil3030

Good thing City have Hart for cover.

That_Guy

I knew carrying a back four for his entire career would catch up with him someday.

Paully D

Is it just me that doesn't think this news is a disaster then?

Given hasn't played regular football for quite some time now and IMO he's looked very, very rusty in his outings for Ireland. I felt he was poor against Russia and wasn't really tested in the other 3 games.

He's certainly a very good goalkeeper, but he's getting on a bit now to say the least and perhaps it's time Ireland looked to the future by starting Westwood who has had a good season, is playing regular and deserves a proper chance.

That_Guy

Paully D wrote: »

Is it just me that doesn't think this news is a disaster then?

Given hasn't played regular football for quite some time now and IMO he's looked very, very rusty in his outings for Ireland. I felt he was poor against Russia and wasn't really tested in the other 3 games.

He's certainly a very good goalkeeper, but he's getting on a bit now to say the least and perhaps it's time Ireland looked to the future by starting Westwood who has had a good season, is playing regular and deserves a proper chance.

Trap says:



But I fully agree with you lad.

noodler

Paully D wrote: »

Is it just me that doesn't think this news is a disaster then?

.

Yes.

AgileMyth

Paully D wrote: »

Is it just me that doesn't think this news is a disaster then?

Given hasn't played regular football for quite some time now and IMO he's looked very, very rusty in his outings for Ireland. I felt he was poor against Russia and wasn't really tested in the other 3 games.

He's certainly a very good goalkeeper, but he's getting on a bit now to say the least and perhaps it's time Ireland looked to the future by starting Westwood who has had a good season, is playing regular and deserves a proper chance.

Hes easily our best option in goals. Westwood has a lot left to do to prove himself deserving of a starting place. Given is a top class keeper who would be first choice at most clubs anywhere in the world, Westwood, or any other alternative we have, are nowhere near being in the same class.

roryc

Paully D wrote: »

Is it just me that doesn't think this news is a disaster then?

Given hasn't played regular football for quite some time now and IMO he's looked very, very rusty in his outings for Ireland. I felt he was poor against Russia and wasn't really tested in the other 3 games.

He's certainly a very good goalkeeper, but he's getting on a bit now to say the least and perhaps it's time Ireland looked to the future by starting Westwood who has had a good season, is playing regular and deserves a proper chance.

IMO he's looked rusty because he's not getting game time with City. He needs to move to a club where he will be first choice, preferably in the Premiership.

Van der Sar is 40 and still first choice at United, I have no reason to believe Given can't go on for another 5 or 6 years. At least get us to the 2014 WC.

I think Ireland's frailties will really show up once we are left without a world class keeper.

noodler

I think Macedonia at home is a game we can probably afford to lose him for.

I think the squad is looking its strongest for years right now.

Granted, we have no one like Given but Westwood or Kenny would make decent replacements (both are likely to be PL keepers next year).

If Keane is missing we have an impressive Shane Long to partner Doyle as well as EPL scorers like Best and, to a lesser extent Walters. Not to mention Stokes banging them in up in the SPL.

We have so many wide options: Duff, McGeady, Hunt, Lawrence and now Coleman (depending on how Trap uses him).

Still problems in the spine though.

Paully D

roryc wrote: »

IMO he's looked rusty because he's not getting game time with City.

I totally agree, but he's not going to be leaving there in a hurry.

He's on a big wage that not many clubs can afford to offer to a goalkeeper. I'd go as far as saying only the current top 6 would realistically be interested in him because of his wage (possibly Villa too), and Manchester City won't sell to any clubs they consider rivals i.e, the current top 6.

Lets not kid ourselves here, he's not exactly doing everything he can to leave City either, is he? Yes, they don't want to let him go, but he's on a big wage and considering he's on the last big contract of his career who can blame him for not pushing for a move.

Unless Villa make a serious offer for him in the summer (although they could well end up sticking with Freidel for another season) then I'm not so sure where his move is going to come from and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him end his career on the bench at Manchester City.

roryc

Why do you think he is in no rush to leave? Just because he's not b*tching and moaning in the papers...

He never came across as someone who would be more interested in money than getting a game. He stayed at Newcastle far longer than he needed to when he could have left for a top four club on a few occasions over the last decade.

If I remember correctly he said he was happy staying at Newcastle, and his family not wanting to move had something to do with it. Therefore I think he would be a perfect replacement for Van der Sar if United wanted him, as it would mean him not needing to move anywhere and Im sure the wages wouldn't be a big issue.

He needs to leave Man City at the end of the season.

tonycascarino

Paddy Kenny should be called up but I wouldn't bet on Trapattoni to do so.

roryc

Do you still have any connections with the Irish team?

Paully D

roryc wrote: »

Why do you think he is in no rush to leave? Just because he's not b*tching and moaning in the papers...

He never came across as someone who would be more interested in money than getting a game. He stayed at Newcastle far longer than he needed to when he could have left for a top four club on a few occasions over the last decade.

If I remember correctly he said he was happy staying at Newcastle, and his family not wanting to move had something to do with it. Therefore I think he would be a perfect replacement for Van der Sar if United wanted him, as it would mean him not needing to move anywhere and Im sure the wages wouldn't be a big issue.

He needs to leave Man City at the end of the season.

If he wanted to go he could have made the effort mate. When players want to go club's virtually can't stop them. There's been so many examples over the years of player power winning through for it to be coincidence all the time. If he really wanted to leave then he'd be handing in transfer requests, bitching and moaning in the papers etc. He was quick enough to hand in a transfer request when he wanted out of Newcastle, so he could easily have done it again if he wanted out of City. The fact is he's on a lot of money at Manchester City and doesn't want to let that last big contract slip away.

Have you got any evidence of times when he could have moved to a top 4 club? Because AFAIK there's no concrete evidence of this. Top 4 clubs just haven't made proper moves for him and Manchester City were the first club of this kind to do so. Lets not forget that he was playing Champions League football and competing for Europe with Newcastle for a lot of his time there.

Manchester City won't sell him to United, so whether he'd be a good replacement for VDS or not, we'll never find out.

He does need to leave Manchester City at the end of the season, but unless Aston Villa make a serious offer for him then I can't see it happening as City won't sell to top 6 clubs and others don't need a goalkeeper or can't offer him anything near the wage he's on at Manchester City.

As someone else has said, Paddy Kenny should be called up to replace him in the Ireland squad, rather than my initial shout of Westwood. Kenny has had an excellent season with QPR who'll be in the Premier League next season.

WoollyRedHat

When I heard of this, I thought of the lack of time Westwood has been given in playing time in Friendlies, in the eventuality that Given would ever be injured for any length of time. However Westwood is playing in goal on a week-to -week basis and is rated highly in the Championship and gives it his all. Tbh the lad has a lot of patience, which is to be admired and he plays well for his country and is no bad choice to replace Shay. He played in Trapatoni's first ever game, against Serbia.. hopefully Given will now get time to recover.