Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Bids for Given and Santa Cruz reported

After another relatively quiet day on the transfer front, some activity was reported on this evening with suggestions that bids have been made for Shay Given and Roque Santa Cruz.

The Mail reports that an £8 million bid for Given has been tabled, whilst The Times states an offer of £15 million has been put to Blackburn for Roque Santa Cruz - but does indicate that either Tal Ben Haim or Nedum Onouha are included in any deal.

Both players have of course been linked regularly with us but I still have reservations about both players. Yes, Hughes got the best out of Santa Cruz last season at Blackburn but is it not an indication that no other side appears interested in him?

Maybe we have to trust Hughes's judgement given his close relationship with the player but prior to him joining Blackburn, Bayern could not get rid soon enough and he does have a chequered injury record.

The phrase 'one season wonder' is written all over him.

As for Given, he is a good 'keeper but I don't share the view that he is world class. I think there is a case you can argue that because of his workload in the Newcastle goal, the perception of him is skewed slightly.

What I think would be a better fit for Joe Hart is for a solid, experienced number 2 to come in and push him to continue to elevate his game rather than bring in a decent 'keeper to replace him and push back his progress - perhaps terminally.

Unless we can go out and land a Buffon or Casillas, we should steer clear of trying to replace Hart.

vote it up!

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Shay given wooooooooooooo hoooooooooooooo getthe lad in

Anonymous said...

couldn't be more wrong about given and hart but I do agree with RSC

Anonymous said...

I agree completly about Given, if we get Given it will only hurt the progress of Hart. What we need is an older, closer to retirement keeper to play the two spot and push Hart to more sucess. Hart is a great young keeper, whom we need to keep starting.

Anonymous said...

Agree with the comments on Shay... I think City have a keeper that has the potential to be one of the best and a good second keeper would be more suitable than him sitting on the bench until Given makes a few howlers (and that hasn't happened for Newcastle or Ireland yet). Don't want him to become another Scott Carson or Ben Foster - young and has potential but never going to realise that potential while scratching himself on the bench.
As regard RSC, I can't see why we didn't go in for Defoe when he was available - much the same money but we could have got a proven premiership scorer over a number of seasons. When he's playing regularly he'll get goals.
Think we also need to concentrate on getting Daniel Sturridge more game time - he looks to be a super player.
Anyone like to see Anelka come back??- he'll be getting the huff soon enough when he realises that being top scorer in the premiership doesn't mean he won't be benched when Drogba's back to full fitness and Scolari won't play them together. I'd have him before RSC as well and again I'd assume a similar asking price.

Anonymous said...

Deary deary me all the hart backers have blinkers on or havnt seen him play, he is not close to bein finished article and learning your trade in a prem team is not the route you go down,get given in, if anything hart is very poor in alot of areas communicatin with the defence being the main one. Get shay given in if we can get him if hart is as good as you hart backers say he wont have a problem gettin in the team. p.s i sit behind the goal he is piss poor at alot of simple things

newsoftheblues said...

goal keepers are important for defenders they need to command their box and organise the players infront of him.

Hart isn't in command in his box, he is very vunerabel at set pieces, his distribution is awful and at the moment, he doesnt look like a keeper who could win you a game.

He isnt the finished article and we shouldn't risk our own developing in the worry that him sat on the bench for a few season will hinder him. He will have to accept it, he's too young' doesnt make good decisions and we need a good goalie to replace him.

given is one of the best goalies in the league and has been for sometime, he would be an ideal choice. the only hughes target i agree with.

Anonymous said...

Given is a good keeper and Santa might have done well last season, but paying these ridiculous amounts for a 32 year old and a 28 year old or so, is obsured. Amelia an Italian international or Hoff the Hamburg Keeper are both better options, and Podolski, 10 million for a 23 year old is a bargain.

Mike (CTID)

kay said...

O M G. if we are looking for back up for hart why pick this dwarf who couldnt deal with a single corner in a million years {just like the rest of our defence}
if were going down the rout of new golie, lets get buffon, the 8 million could pay his first six months salery.
cyprus blue.

Anonymous said...

A solid keeper to push Hart? But not Given... Come on mate if Given wouldnt push Joe then there aint many who could! I understand he needs to progress, this would add to progression, hes never really had to fight for the No. 1 spot?

newsoftheblues said...

therr are plenty of top keepers out there asgood and much better than given... but hughes is obssed with premier league experience

Anonymous said...

WHY PICK THIS DWARF LMAO PETER U RIDICULOUS PERSON SHAY GIVENS ONE OF THE BEST KEEPERS IN THE LEAGUE AND HAS TO BE IN TOP 15 EASY IN THE WORLD.SOMETIMES I THINK PEOPLE LEAVE COMMENTS FOR THE SAKE OF IT ANDSONT HAVE A CLUE 8 MILL FORGIVEN IS A SNIP HIS AGE IS IRRELEVANT HE HAS 4 TO 5 YEARS IN HIM EASY.