EPL News: Shay Given looking for a move away from Manchester City in the January transfer window
Shay Given has once again confirmed his wish to part ways with Manchester City in the upcoming winter transfer window which opens on 1st of January, 2011. It has been a difficult season for Given as the Irish national
goalkeeper has been relegated to the Manchester City bench due to the classy form of the young goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Hart has taken over as City’s number one goalkeeper and in doing so he has knocked Given off his perch as Manchester City’s best goalkeeper. Given made his move to City in the 2009 summer transfer window from Newcastle United and in his
first season at the Eastlands, he did remarkably well in goal for the Blues.
Speaking on his situation at Manchester City, he said, “My own personal situation isn't ideal as everyone knows and I have spoken about it in the past, so we will see what happens over the next couple of months in that respect”
He added, "I want to be playing football and I have always said that, so hopefully something will happen in the New Year.
It's frustrating and I have already said I'm not coping very well, to be honest. But I can't change the situation at the moment and I have got to just keep my head down and see what happens over the next couple of months, I suppose."
Manchester City’s goalkeeper has seen less and less game time as the season progresses therefore this has made him realize he should no longer continue his career at the Blue part of Manchester.
He has hence been short of match fitness, the Irish national said, "It's very difficult to be honest. You try to work hard in training, but it's difficult to re-enact a match situation. It's not an ideal situation, so to sit
here and say I feel as sharp as I did when I was playing all the time, I would be lying. I don't feel as sharp as I possibly could be, but if I get back in the team and get a run of games, then I'm sure I will be back up to speed."
Even though he has seen relatively less action for City in the English Premier League, Given has been selected for the Irish national team squad.
On the issue he stated, "I'm having a good rest at the minute, so maybe I can add that on to the end. Look at Edwin Van Der Sar, he's turned 40 there and he is still at the top of his game, and I don't see why he can't play
next season as well, Edwin, because he's playing so well. There's definitely an argument that goalkeepers go on longer. We have normally got longer careers than the outfield players."
Given might be unhappy at City but he was certainly on the defensive when it came to explaining the speculation that surrounds Roberto Mancini’s future as the club’s manager.
Shay remarked, "There's so much written about Manchester City, it's unfair at times. We have spent a lot of money on a lot of big-name players and outside of the club; the press are trying to say there are arguments every day and trying
to make big stories out of small stories. That's part and parcel, I suppose, of being at a club with huge ambition and with fantastic owners behind us."
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