Football Update: January transfer - Shay Given has many roads ahead (Part 1)
Manchester City’s manager, Roberto Mancini has approved that his veteran goalkeeper, Shay Given can leave the club in January. There are rumors of Shay joining Arsenal, Celtics, Roma or even his former club, Newcastle United.
Without a doubt, this Irish International is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. He remained the number one goalkeeper for the Citizens last season when his outstanding performances made him appear thirty times for the club.
But despite all this, Shay's fall from being the first choice keeper in Manchester City has been meteoric to say the least. The 34-year-old was made the captain of City last season. Along with this, the club’s Italian manager also had labeled him as the
best shot stopper in the world.
Shay Given was the first choice keeper at the East lands for most of his time at the club. He was expected to start back from where he had left off when he returned from his injury at the start of this season.
The expectation was a valid one after Joe Hart had spent the entire FIFA World Cup in South Africa on the bench. Hereafter, a backlash against English veteran keepers, which led to a disastrous tournament for England, forced the England’s national team manager
to come out and start building for the future almost immediately. And so, it was the young English goalkeeper, Joe Hart, who was able to acquire England's number one shirt.
From there on, Manchester City and Mancini rowed in behind Fabio Capello declaring that the 22-year-old should be City's first choice goalkeeper for the start of the season leaving Given essentially in no-man's land.
On top of it, Joe Hart’s good performance against Tottenham Hotspurs further ensured his place in the starting eleven. He kept the clean sheet in that fixture and was also the man of the match. Joe’s impressive form also made sure that now Shay would either
have to endure a season on the bench or else look for a transfer.
But, Mancini has urged Given to stay with the club until January at the least when the club would be able to bring in another keeper as a back-up to Joe. The Irish keeper agreed to it but only if a bid for him didn’t arrive.
While all and sundry waited for the Gunners and Fulham to bid for Shay, not even a single bid came and in the end, last decade’s best goalkeeper was to find himself on the bench.
Meanwhile, when it comes to which team is in desperate need of a classy goalkeeper and should sign Shay Given? Without a doubt, Arsenal is one of those sides who should sign him.
Nobody knows why Arsene Wenger didn’t even bid for Shay during the summer despite the fact that the Irishman man is far better than anything that the Gunners have on their books at the moment. Given’s addition to the Gunners’ squad would have boosted North
London’s young team to challenge the title.
Moreover, Arsenal’s veteran goal-keeper, Manuel Almunia, hasn’t performed well last season. So, Given’s addition to their fringe squad would definitely ensure stability and strength. Shay could immediately command the respect of Mannone, Fabianski and more
importantly, Arsenal's future goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczesny, who would finally have someone of high quality to learn from and look up to.
Bidding for Shay Given is a no-brainer for Gunners, but considering that Arsenal have managed to land only a single first choice keeper in 14 years at the Emirates, one has to wonder.
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