Shay Given is set to join Middlesbrough on a free transfer after Middlesbrough made a move for the experience Irish keeper. This comes as a bit of a shock since many fans believed that it would be Brad Guzan that would be shown the exit door, but recent reports claim that Guzan might be back in favour next season.
Given was Villa’s first team keeper towards the end of last season filling in for Guzan since the 3-2 defeat to Manchester City. Given did spend time on loan at Middlesbrough two seasons ago where he had a successful loan spell.
This will allow Sherwood to target a new goalkeeper with David Button and Tom Heaton remaining high priority targets after Stoke rejected Villa’s £4 million bid for Begovic in late June. Additionally, Given was on a high wage of roughly £50,000 a week, this will give Sherwood more wage money to spend on new targets as well.
This is a transfer that most Villa fans can get behind, it’s neither good or bad, it’s a transfer where many Villa fans will be ok. Given was signed by McLeish on a 5-year contract and has spent 4 years at Villa, 3 of those Given played as second fiddle to Guzan. Nonetheless, Given did have a superb first season, also played a role as assistant manager to Paul Lambert in the 2013-14 season and his experience did benefit the likes of Guzan, Steer and Siegrist.
well all talk of randy selling have gone quiet and now we are back to the bargain buys . if GUEYE doesn’t get his work permit don’t worry we can always get joey barton. QUALITY .
you have to laugh 🙂
CALM DOWN PEOPLE
its only a back up keeper. the window has not closed yet.
Joey Barton??? I wouldn’t rule that out one bit
villa’s two big name signing of 2015 joe barton and Emmanuel Adebayor lol.
can you imagine this site would go into meltdown and i would hit the bottle .
Hit the bottle????your a late starter MATE.
Yet another shit, Lerner financed transfer window. So far we have:
1. An Injury prone RB/CB who hasnt played in the PL for at least the last 2 seasons.
2. A player who’s never played in England and is struggling to get a work permit and.
3. A free transfer keeper who couldnt even get into the first team at a Championship club.
******happy days my arse******
Yes MATE but yet there still are some who for some unknown reason have optimism.
At least 2 of the 3 signings are players most of us have heard of. Surely that’s an improvement on previous transfer windows? 😉
B6….. Is it an improvement though? I cant see where or how they are better than Okore, Sanchez and Gil for example!
You misunderstood my post Langford. What I was saying is it’s an improvement on previous signings that I doubt most of us had heard of. At least now we have progressed by signing players people have actually heard of. 😉
But…I had heard of both Okore and Sanchez (world cup). I admit that I’ve never heard of Gil, but then again neither have I heard of Gueye or Bunn…..so we can agree that we have both heard of Micah Richards? 🙂
But….I stated MOST of us would of heard of …not all Langford……MOST! Yes we can agree we have both heard of Micah Richards, although I thought it was Viv Richards we had signed….I have also heard of Micah Richards. Have you heard of Viv Richards?
Do you mean Sir Vivien Richards? Is he our next signing? Will he be playing with pads and helmet on? 🙂
He never played with a helmet on. Balls whizzing at 100 mph and he only ever wore a soft cap.
What a player!
That’s him!!! Sir Vivian Richards. I don’t think we’d be able to pay his wages so I can’t see him being our next signing. 🙂