best keeper in the prem?

[Nic83]

Given is a good keeper but come on man, take off the green-tinted specs. That comment has some worth. Look at Carson this season - Charlton's player of the year. Look at Foster - Watford's player of the year.

It is much, much easier to shine as a keeper if you play for a **** team and have a lot of shots to save.

If you think Given is better than Cech, Reina or even Van Der Sar, then you're delusional mate. He's not.

Given would probably be in the top 6 keepers in the Prem.

I was laughing at the mention of James, Friedel and JJ.

Why do people continuosly say I'm biast when i say Given is a class act. I'm not - The fact that I'm Irish just means that i pay more attention to Givens career which is why I can safely say he's one of the best around. Cech is the only keeper better than him (if even) in the prem.

If given played for a top side, this argument about him looking good beause he has a lot to do would be put to bed.

Look at it another way - If Reina played for Newcastle and has so much more to do, maybe he's be found out? Yuo just can't say. Given rarely makes mistakes and he is forever pulling out unbelievable performances for Ireland and Newcastle. Just ask Thierry henry who he thinks is the best keeper in the prem!

[Neil Young]

I was laughing at the mention of James, Friedel and JJ.

Why do people continuosly say I'm biast when i say Given is a class act. I'm not - The fact that I'm Irish just means that i pay more attention to Givens career which is why I can safely say he's one of the best around. Cech is the only keeper better than him (if even) in the prem.

If given played for a top side, this argument about him looking good beause he has a lot to do would be put to bed.

Look at it another way - If Reina played for Newcastle and has so much more to do, maybe he's be found out? Yuo just can't say. Given rarely makes mistakes and he is forever pulling out unbelievable performances for Ireland and Newcastle. Just ask Thierry henry who he thinks is the best keeper in the prem!

Maybe you're right. However the trouble with our own bias is that we're usually not aware of it.

I personally don't think Given is all that. For a start he's a bit short for a top keeper these days.

[saveferris]

I think that Carlo Cudicini has become the forgotten man in the Prem, its a shame he is on the bench so much. Van Der Sar, Jaaskelainen, Lehmann, Given and James are all good too but those three are the best


1)Cech
2)Reina
3)Cudicini

Actually I forgot Ben Foster as mentioned on here. He had an excellent season, so would put him 3rd.

[Shaggy]

Reina is ****ing miles better than Given.

[Nic83]

Maybe you're right. However the trouble with our own bias is that we're usually not aware of it.

I personally don't think Given is all that. For a start he's a bit short for a top keeper these days.

He's actually 6'1 although he doesn't look it on the TV.

Oh, he's got massive hands too!

[Neil Young]

He's actually 6'1 although he doesn't look it on the TV.

Oh, he's got massive hands too!

Yes, he does look small on TV (it's odd that) but I knew he was 6'1" which is a bit short.

[dww]

He's actually 6'1 although he doesn't look it on the TV.

Oh, he's got massive hands too!

Given himself has said he does extra stretches and other workouts to make up for his lack of height. I'm not sure I believe the quoted heights of players these days as you often see two players of nominally the same height next to each other and there is a difference of a couple of inches.

To be fair height is only one attribute, but I do think the enormous build of Cech is part of what makes him better at crosses than either Reina or Given.

[Neil Young]

Given himself has said he does extra stretches and other workouts to make up for his lack of height. I'm not sure I believe the quoted heights of players these days as you often see two players of nominally the same height next to each other and there is a difference of a couple of inches.

To be fair height is only one attribute, but I do think the enormous build of Cech is part of what makes him better at crosses than either Reina or Given.

There are all sorts of variables obviously but height, build, athleticism, etc. are becoming more and more important. If it's true, as it seems to me to be, that outfield players are getting bigger, so keepers need to be bigger as well.

What do they say about boxers - a good big one is better than a good little one? Surely the same has got to apply to goalkeepers too.