Star Given disappointed with point

Stuart Brennan

November 02, 2009

SHUT OUT: Shay Given

SHAY Given thanked his lucky stars after saving a penalty to earn City a point at Birmingham - but revealed his side remained disappointed with the result.

The Republic of Ireland keeper denied James McFadden from 12 yards as both sides took a point apiece from a goalless clash at St Andrew's.

He said: "It was a bit of luck I suppose. It's a bit of a lottery, penalties, for goalkeepers, and luckily I've gone the right way and got a strong enough hand to get it away."

The spot-kick, for Nigel de Jong's handball, was the first awarded against City this season, and Given quipped: "I hope it's the last as well! It probably was a penalty looking back, I think Nigel's hand was a bit high and it was the right decision.

"Luckily for us we've managed to keep it out and we've kept a clean sheet. I think we can play better than we did today and we'll take a point."

But he continued: "We're disappointed, these are games where we're looking to pick up three points.

"Credit to Birmingham, they had good spirit and a good workrate in their team. It's a hard enough place to come, they won last week and I suppose they took a lot of confidence from that."

Is Given City's best keeper ever? Have your say.

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Blueflu, Ireland (02/11/2009 at 11:15)

Well done Shay, you saved your team mates today turning in another great performance for City. Hopefully you won't have to do too much of that kind of last ditch work against the French on 14th and 18th.....

Swiss Blue (02/11/2009 at 11:59)

I think there were plenty of posts at the start of the season suggesting Ireland should have been rested as his performances were below par. On the strength of his substitute appearance yesterday, he still is. It's amazing how much better players become when they are out of the team when compared to a perceived "under performing" starting player. All of a sudden he should be the first name on the team sheet everytime! That's not the case (IMHO). I accept we were poor yesterday, and without Given, we would have lost. But things aren't that bad guys (4th in the League, last 8 of the LC). Hughes wants to get games into Santa Cruz, because he wont get match fit without them. But he also needs some decent service. It would make sense to me to play two wingers when he is in the team and get more balls into box. Weiss must be due a run out soon as SWP looks off the pace at the moment. Although he beat his man 4 or 5 times yesterday, his service was shocking, and I reckon I could jink past Liam Ridgewell a couple of times in a game. Bellers always gives 100% but he is not a winger - he is better when he plays more centrally and allowed to drift into the channels. Final point on those knocking JL. It cannot help Lescott chopping and changing the back 4 every week and he will grow into the position more when (hopefully) things settle down. We has played alongside Kompany, Richard and Toure in the last few games.

IS IT REALLY 33 YEARS, TAMESIDE (02/11/2009 at 12:03)

im sorry but hughes has to go not good enough

jerseyblue, jersey (02/11/2009 at 12:09)

The formation and personnel are all wrong for me in midfiled and attack. We are playing with two wide men that become four attackers when breaking forward. Both wide men though are not crossing and finding a man. Often SWP as he did in the first minute yesterday is losin the ball. With Barry running forwrad that leaves us totally exposed. At time yesterday we played in a 4-1-1-4 formation. Birmingham had a flat 4 of midfiled that domintaed. Ireland is not out of form. His role is too deep. when he moves forwrad Tevez is in his way blocking his runs. Without Ireland we have no creativity to find a striker or wide man or a through ball. I would go with this formation for the next away game:

De Jong Zabaleta Ireland Barry Petrov

Adebayor.

De Jong and Barry could cover the full backs and provide cover when Irekland moves forwrad. Zabaleta would provide energy in the middle and work rate. This is more solid. It would protect our over run defence. Adebayor can hold the ball up for the runs of Petrov, Ireland, Zab, Barry. If we need a goal we can remove De jong for Bellamy up top.

Dont say this is too defensive. We were supposedly attacking yesterday but hardly had a shot!!

ethan, Gloucester (02/11/2009 at 12:50)

shay is a brilliant goalkeeper, but hey if its going to be like this having spent 200mil on players and our keeper gets man of the match again!! we should of just spent 200mil on buffon.

City players and the manager need to wake up all that money spent and we are very much beatable of the teams below us and if that's not a enough if Burnley beat us look how many points they are to city.

Hughes look at the facts de jong is a great player but we need to play Ireland and go for teams not defend them all the time.

And the young lad weiss come on what's he got to do, I was there at the Barcelona game and trust me he was brilliant give him ago before you lose your job!!

Blue Jazzman, Marple (02/11/2009 at 13:08)

Thanks Shay

Didsbury Blue, Didsbury (02/11/2009 at 13:35)

ethan, Gloucester (02/11/2009 at 14:00)

Didsbury Blue, Didsbury

Trust me the owners will not be happy, as for having lost only 1 counts for nothing 4 games 4 draws means 4 points, 8 points lost!

Taggart , Ulverston (02/11/2009 at 14:03)

More shots than them yesterday, more possession, more corners. We are sitting in a Champions League place and we've only lost one game in a match that should have ended before they scored. Even Real Madrid don't win 5-0 every week. Some people are never happy.
Didsbury Blue, Didsbury
2/11/2009 at 13:35

Spot on mate. On a like for like basis against the same teams last year we are 8 points better off and have the 3rd best defence in the Prem....

BristolStevefromOldham, bristol (02/11/2009 at 14:53)

Tameside: "I'm sorry but Hughes has to go..." But why are you 'sorry'?

albatross, bury (02/11/2009 at 14:54)

Interesting post jerseyblue. Totally different formation and ideas to mine (on Verdict thread), but food for thought - soooo much better than the blindly anti-Hughes posts, and even worse, the name calling ones on here.

trubluTaplow, Taplow Bucks (02/11/2009 at 15:30)

re ONE point at Birmingham

Shay;

BRILLIANT (again),..... but he's our LAST line of defence !

It's saying something when our goalkeeper, gets the

MOM award;......what were the other defenders doing ?

Maybe being too casual , thinking; 'another Scunthorpe',

................. as were the forwards !

ted knott, droylsden (02/11/2009 at 20:04)

Did you see the manner of which Mike Dean pointed to the spot after De Jong accidently handled (armed) the ball to award the penalty?
He seemed really chuffed with himself....

The Chief (02/11/2009 at 20:24)

I'm not sure that Shay's our best-ever GK, but he's certainly a brilliant shot-stopper. Keep those clean sheets coming!

Regarding our current form, as soon as we get a settled defence with an understanding of one another, that's half the problem sorted. It would allow midfielders like Barry to roam forward a bit more, rather than panicking about any instability at the back. It would also be easier to accommodate an attack-minded Ireland to play in an advanced role, safe in the knowledge that there's a reliable defence to thwart any opponent attacks. However, it takes time for defences to gel, so let's show some patience and support in the mean time.

Think it'll be an open game v Burnley though and I'm predicting 3-2!

The Chief (02/11/2009 at 20:42)

Gerry Gow's jockstrap (03/11/2009 at 01:46)

Best Keeper around at the this time. We are very lucky to have him. Why did M.H play Dejong & Barry in the same team. We should look to beat the likes of Brum. So either one of them with stevie Ireland. Ireland likes to push up & help the forward line. Of which Santa cruz does not look anywhere near fit. Plus Ireland will get back & defend. Play Dejong & Barry against the likes of Chelsea where you need a more defence side away from home. Also when going for the throat give Petrov a start before we loose him.

Batmanho, Robinhos big brother, Bat Cave, Brazil (03/11/2009 at 02:05)

Ted Knott,
I absolutely agree, the guy couldn't wait to give it could he!

paulo jackson (03/11/2009 at 11:01)

Just a thought how many times was Schmichel (dont know about the spelling) mom for the rags in sirs formative years!!!!??

Andrew Shaw (03/11/2009 at 12:08)

I think everybody was disappointed that we only got a point in a game we should have won comfortably. But in the end, we should be thankful for Given because we would have lost that with Hart in goal. A clean sheet, after weeks without one, and a point away would normally be a decent haul but having drawn previously, this really was the one that got away and although the defence looked much better, the attack was, although hardly light weight, largely ineffectual and apart from a couple of long range efforts, I can't remember Maik Taylor having a save to make worthy of the name. That was the really disappointing aspect because I doubt one of those Birmingham players would have even made our squad and we should be winning games like this if we want fourth place. If we don't win games like this then it will be top six only. However, it is only one match and we are picking up points at teams where we have previously lost so it is not all doom and gloom.

Andrew Shaw (03/11/2009 at 12:10)

Pity Mike Dean couldn't be doubly chuffed by pointing to the spot again when Tevez was upended, Ted. I can see why he gave the first. I cannot see why he didn't give the second.

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