Mancini open to Given exit

[Florida Blue]

Did Joe Hart used to pinch your lunch money at school or something Smurf?

No, he's just not Irish.

It'd be madness to play Given tomorrow night- on the back of Saturday Hart needs to keep going now, you don't take a 'keeper out of the team after being outstanding, that's just stupid. As far as I'm concerned he's in until something happens, be it injury or a complete loss of form (that doesn't mean throw him out after one mistake). Not expecting either of those things to happen any time soon, so much as I admire Shay's ability, if his mindset is that he doesn't want to work like a trojan to try and win his place back, then let him go somewhere nice and easy where he's not challenged. I remember him saying he came here with one eye on winning trophies and having much greater success than he did at Newcastle- did he expect it to be a free ride?

Not sure I totally agree CTK. We have a match Monday, once a week is normal. I would let Shay play, keep him fresh for other cup matches, and in the event Hart goes down. While I agree Hart needs to keep going, nothing wrong with giving Given a start, especially if he is not going anywhere.

I am scared to death of the prospect of Taylor as our only true cover. Having someone like Fulop on the books would surely put this issue at ease, but he is not an option. Hmmm where is Carlo Nash these days??

[Blue2]

Looks like he's off to Celtic with a 24 hour recall clause.

Now that would be an excellent deal for us.

[Florida Blue]

Did Taylor go to Romania? If he didn't and Hart gets a minor knock that takes him out of game, or gets sent off for whatever reason, Given must play, and then becomes cup tied. I don't really see the logic here, you might as well play him. Also, if he goes on loan and gets cup tied for another club and Hart is hurt, are we really going to try and carry on in Europa with the likes of Taylor and whomever??

[FA cup winners 2006]

Different situations, Hart had his first team place for City before and lost it because his performances weren't good enough. He hadn't earned the right to take back his first team place so I think people were annoyed with his "play me or I'm off" attitude when he still had to prove he merited that spot.
Given has done nothing but good in that role and him being dropped for it is a bit strange. When you play to a world class level constantly and still get dropped for it you can't blame him if he wants to leave. I don't think the guy can play any better, the reality is Joe was picked over him either because of age, fitness record or nationality and knuckling down and working hard isn't going help him any on those grounds.

The only way Shay will get his place back is if Hart's form drops (which I suspect it will before long) but you can't expect him to wait around for that to happen. If Shay does join Arsenal and turns them into a dangerous force its on Mancini's head.

totally agree with this. As well as joe played on saturday, there is still question marks over him. I dont think he has the concentration to pull of that wonder save when he has been quiet for large periods of the game. with birminham last season and the spurs game this season he has been kept involved all game. look at the sporting lisbon game pre season, their 1st goal should have been dealt with very easily but he didnt seem to have a spring in his step at all.

Another side Joe needs to work on is his controlling of the game. On saturday a couple of times he rushed out to distribute the ball when calming down the play was clearly a better option.

Joe is goning to be a great keeper but i still think he needs another year or two, preferably under Shay at the club

[Nick]

Pissed off if given goes, hart has some winning over to do with his bullshit interviews and the fact that given has been one of the best keepers around for around ten years and hart has had barely more than one good season.

if we have a 24 hour recall and its a loan then id be fairly pleased.

stuart taylor is absolutely gash though.

[Florida Blue]

Different situations, Hart had his first team place for City before and lost it because his performances weren't good enough. He hadn't earned the right to take back his first team place so I think people were annoyed with his "play me or I'm off" attitude when he still had to prove he merited that spot.
Given has done nothing but good in that role and him being dropped for it is a bit strange. When you play to a world class level constantly and still get dropped for it you can't blame him if he wants to leave. I don't think the guy can play any better, the reality is Joe was picked over him either because of age, fitness record or nationality and knuckling down and working hard isn't going help him any on those grounds.

The only way Shay will get his place back is if Hart's form drops (which I suspect it will before long) but you can't expect him to wait around for that to happen. If Shay does join Arsenal and turns them into a dangerous force its on Mancini's head.

totally agree with this. As well as joe played on saturday, there is still question marks over him. I dont think he has the concentration to pull of that wonder save when he has been quiet for large periods of the game. with birminham last season and the spurs game this season he has been kept involved all game. look at the sporting lisbon game pre season, their 1st goal should have been dealt with very easily but he didnt seem to have a spring in his step at all.

Another side Joe needs to work on is his controlling of the game. On saturday a couple of times he rushed out to distribute the ball when calming down the play was clearly a better option.

Joe is goning to be a great keeper but i still think he needs another year or two, preferably under Shay at the club

I don't get this, he was voted the top keeper in the PL by his peers. So you want him to sit on the bench or go out on loan when he can be gaining valuable experience playing with guys who will be here for years to come? I don't look at this as a one year project, Hart could be our keeper for the next decade. Get him the experience now. TBH goalkeeping is not what is going to hold up back this year, he needs to play top team football for us. I am a huge Given fan, but the baton needs to be passed now, our future does not rest on the 2010 season, it rests on the next few years with Joe Hart as our keeper.

[Buffalo Soldier]

I wouldn't mind if Given went to Arsenal, he'd be a slight improvement on Almunia.

That's like saying Messi is slightly better than Buster Phillips.

Given is infinately better than Almunia.

[Im_Spartacus]

http://www.football365.co.uk/story/0,17 ... 13,00.html

Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given missed the flight back with the rest of the squad following the 1-0 Europa League play-off first leg win against Timisoara in Romania to have treatment on an old shoulder injury.

Given, who did not feature in the match after manager Roberto Mancini favoured England number one Joe Hart, was instead on the 0640 scheduled flight from Timisoara to Munich, where he would have the treatment.

The Republic of Ireland international told City fans at the airport he was having further treatment from a specialist on his shoulder, which he dislocated in April in the 0-0 draw against Arsenal.

Given, who needed surgery on the injury, was due to return to Manchester later on Friday.

[Wooders]

The real question is do we have the most "play on words-able" goalkeeping duo in the prem - I think its a "given" and that we should take "hart" from that

[ENIAM NAM]

The real question is do we have the most "play on words-able" goalkeeping duo in the prem - I think its a "given" and that we should take "hart" from that

It's such a Shayme we can't Taylor him into our plans!

[Wooders]

The real question is do we have the most "play on words-able" goalkeeping duo in the prem - I think its a "given" and that we should take "hart" from that

It's such a Shayme we can't Taylor him into our plans!

This is Gunnar get silly