Given Won't Be Risked

And rightly so.

Harper is a more than able deputy

Definately! I have a feeling Given may have to fight for his place.

Can't see Harper giving it up that easily and he is keeping clean sheets

aye and he'll get the lip on again if harper keeps his place.. im not sure if its just me but i dont sh it my pants when the ball is passed back to harper unlike given recently.. he was getting like srnicek but without the comedy value

Harper knows his place....I wonder if someone in the Premiership will come in for him in the summer??

So would you automatically put him back on the bench then Brad??? No questions asked???

Surely that really does say something about the authority players have if Given were to believe he could just walk in

(im not saying its not going to happen im just saying it shouldnt be assumed)

Harper is class we know that but he is number 2 and maybe its wrong but Given will be straight back in.

Chelsea have 2 good keepers and the same happens there. What I'm worried about is someone will come in for Harper and he himself knows deep down that he will always be 2nd choice.

However if Given were to sit on the bench for the first half dozen games of the new season it would be interesting to see his reaction

Actually, Chelsea have three good keepers-but as Hilario was only ever there for Mourinho they'll be down to two over the Summer.

Harper has been solid, but Given is in a different class and will probably go straight back into the starting XI. Harper's been keeping clean sheets, yes, but the team in front of him has played much better than earlier in the season.

I remember playing keeper for teams and at times getting the distinct impression that the team played better in front of the back-up, probably because they're less confident in the GK's ability to make up for their mistakes.

I believe I heard during this weekends match against Portsmouth one of the commentators saying that Given was thought to be responsible for some of the early season leaks to the press and may have lost some favor among the players. I don't recall every reading anything on here about it though, and thought it was kind of a odd thing to throw on the wall to see if it sticks. They were commenting on how many goals Shay had conceded and how the team may be playing better in part because of Harps now being in. So maybe he won't go straight in. Of course it could all just be @#$%&.

I see a man in a white coat.....are you safe to post on here??



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:04:17:08:02:54 by Brad21.

If you recall Matt, there was a report early in the season about Given leading a delegation of players who aired the squad's grievances to Allardyce. Given promptly denied it, as did Allardyce and the club, if memory serves.

The plot thickens.

I wouldnt hold given responsible for our poor run.

The defence he had ahead of him was almost non existant.

Harper has played well, but so have the rest of the team - it all fits together