Don’t you just love the Sunday papers? When they’re not busy phone tapping celebrities, politicians and the family’s of murder victims, those good people at the News of the World often come up with a decent story or two to fill the void between the giddy heights of Saturday night and the depressing drudgery of Monday morning.
The latest bit of gossip from the NOTW, is that Liverpool are planning a bid for Manchester City’s out of favour goalkeeper Shay Given, should Pepe Reina be seduced by Champions League football elsewhere. Earlier this week, Kenny Dalglish attempted to reassure fans that he would not consider selling Reina, but as the season moves to a close and the promise of Champions League football becomes more and more tempting, the Spaniard could make Dalglish’s mind up for him.
It’s common knowledge that United are chasing a world-class keeper to replace Edwin Van Der Sar with at the end of the season. Only last week they were linked with Athletico Madrid’s David De Gea, with a deal reportedly already having been made for the highly rated Spanish goalie. It would appear however that Dalglish is concerned about the interest shown by rivals Arsenal, as manager Arsene Wenger also looks to improve his squad ahead of next season’s campaign.
As a potential insurance policy, should Pepe eventually say ‘Adios’ to the Kop, the Reds have been making enquiries into Manchester City and ex-Newcastle keeper, Shay Given. Personally, I’m amazed it’s taken anyone this long to see what a potentially great signing City have sitting on their bench. Whilst at Newcastle, I considered Given to be one of the best keepers outside of the Top 4 and thought he’d become a real star at City.
Sadly for Shay, the excellent form of England’s Joe Hart has relegated him to ‘the Steve Harper role’ and I don’t doubt for one moment he’d leap at the chance to get some first team action at Anfield. If Reina moves on, a deal for Given could be the smartest decision ‘King’ Kenny ever makes.
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Why do you start the article by saying it’s daft and then end by saying it would be a coop?
Is that because a coop is something you keep chickens in?
Totally against the policy of buying young, only linked caused Dalglish bought him some 15yrs ago
Kenny signed Shay before on two seperate occasions so that’s probably were the story is eminating from. I genuinely love Pepe to stay as I firmly believe we’ll get top 4 next season. I for one think missing out on Europe could be a blessing in disguise for us. We don’t need trips to countries where they still point at airplanes every Thursday night distracting us. Should Pepe decide to move on I think Shay be be a smashing signing should City be willing to let him leave. I know he’s no spring chicken but Keepers regularly play on until 40 these days given the advancements in nutrition and sports science and you can be sure Shay is a model pro off the field. If there’s one area of the pitch where an experienced head is needed, it’s between the sticks. I don’t see the point to chancing our arm on ‘potential’ in such a crucial part of the pitch. Kenny has always known the importance of a keeper and all his sides had good ones. He spent money taking Given to both Blackburn and Newcastle and spent big money at the time with Blackburn to bring Tim Flowers in when the likes of ourselves and Man Utd were in for him so one things for certain, if Reina does leave Kenny won’t be long about bringing in a replacement. In Kenny We Trust.
Thanks for your comment!
Shay Given is an excellent keeper, and would be a great replacement for Reina should he leave Anfield. I don’t think the Spaniard will be going anywhere, now that Liverpool have hit form, but if he does Shay would be a worthy replacement.
Follow Peter Turner on Twitter @petermagpie!
No thanks!
Given is a good shotstopper, but a poor goalkeeper in most other areas – that’s why he toiled at Newcastle for years without someone like the oft-keeper troubled Man Utd coming in for him. He has no presence, he’s slow to react to trouble, he appears to have little in the way of organisational skill and will never be in a team which wins anything or indeed qualifies for the CL. He showed plenty of promise in his first few years, but unfortunately never developed into a well rounded keeper.
He’s the ultimate camera keeper – he’s still better than many you’ll see warming the bench, but that’s his level at a club with higher aspirations. I can only assume that this rumour came about because Kenny signed him twice as a youngster or wants him to serve as understudy to Reina’s potential replacement.
I should add that I know he played in the CL for Newcastle, but times have changed and the goalposts have moved. I actually think Newcastle would have been better served at the time by looking for a keeper who commanded his area and organised his defense, rather than persisting too long with one who made a suspiciously high number of flashy saves.
Organisation and command are perhaps the key attributes in a top level goal keeper and why they’re seen so much less often than those who have a propensity for picture book saves.