Given vs Ruddy vs Guzan
The keeper speculation just keeps on coming, and today saw a number of interesting stories emerge concerning the number one position at Villa Park. We’ve discussed Given a lot on here, and it really is a debate that seems to split us Villa fans. He had a poor European Championships, but he didn’t look completely fit and this has only served to heighten the speculation regarding his Villa future. We’ve now been linked to Norwich and England keeper John Ruddy, and of course this is an easy link to make. Here is a couple of sentences from the Mail report:
‘The Canaries are considering a swoop for the highly-rated teenager (Jack Butland) after it emerged that former boss Paul Lambert was attempting to lure current No 1 John Ruddy to Aston Villa. Butland is third-choice in England’s Euro 2012 squad having been called up later following an injury, ironically, to Ruddy.
Ruddy, meanwhile, would replace Shay Given as Villa’s No 1. The 36-year-old Republic of Ireland great has suffered with injuries and loss of form in recent seasons.’
In another report linking us to Ruddy, this time in the Mirror there was also an interesting point regarding Guzan, namely that we’ve offered him a new deal:
‘They have offered a new deal to his back-up Brad Guzan, but could still go for Ruddy.’
As I’ve written previously I’d have no problem with Given continuing as our number one next season and I’m sure he’d do a good enough job. If he continues to struggle then maybe we could look at him, but I don’t think we need to make any knee-jerk decisions based on a poor Euros. He has his faults, as do all keepers but with QPR having just signed Rob Green, I’m not even sure there are many potential suitors for the player, especially with the wages he’s on.
I like Guzan a lot, but even if the report is true and he has been offered a new deal I just can’t see him coming back. He deserves to be a number one somewhere, and it would be a bit of a surprise if it were to be at Villa, even if he has performed well when given a chance with us. I can’t see him coming in to sit back on the bench, and I can’t see Lambert making him first choice. Hopefully he gets a chance at a Championship club, and gets to start week in and week out.
I know Ruddy was extremely highly praised last season, and at 25 years old he is still young. He made the original England squad for the Euros, before having to pull out through injury. Looking at the records for each keeper last season I was a little bit surprised to see how many Ruddy had conceded, and here are the games played and goals conceded (in the league) for the three keepers mentioned in this article:
Given: 31 games, 45 goals conceded.
Ruddy: 37 games, 63 goals conceded.
Guzan: 7 games, 8 goals conceded.
What do you all think? Any of these three you’d like to see as our number one next season? Any other name? Personally and as I keep saying I’d be happy to keep Given, and use any transfer budget to spend on areas of more pressing need, but that’s just me. How about you lovely people?
UTV.
Aston Villa News 24/7
Ruddy will not be going to Villa.
https://twitter.com/Johnruddy86/status/215892834685943808
Saw it mate as I was finishing this off! Haven’t seen much of Ruddy, interested to hear your thoughts on him. As I wrote I know that plenty rate him highly.
No, my opinion is simple bring back Guzan as he was just prime to our stay up, i have doubts of Given this season even though he is a top lads. We need to think on moving the club forward and improve the back 4 too, Im sure that Lambert will improve all areas but for 2 seasons now we have been surviving on the brink so no to Ruddy and Bring back Guzan or even just buy a fresh keeper from europe
He really is a solid keeper. Been with us for 2 years and on the whole I’ve been really impressed. He had massive shoes to fill after Feaser Forster left and it took him time to settle as he made a few costly errors. Once he got the love from the Norwich supporters his confidence rocketed and has gone from strength to strength. I think like a few of our players that Lambert signed, he will go on to bigger things. Just glad he wants to stay a bit longer unlike Lambert and Holt.
Thanks mate much appreciated. Always good to hear from the linked players supporters to find out more on a player. I think he’ll do well in the future, be surprised if he moved to us though, especially given his recent twitter update! Thanks again.
Lazy press link anyway.
Can’t see us replacing Given, and unfortunately I can’t see Guzan staying – he has reached that stage in his career where he needs to be a number 1. He’s good enough to do that at a mid table premier league club (If Given left I’d happily give him a chance), he should be looking at the premier league or high championship at the very least, if not abroad.
More likely we’ll sign a cheap number 2 and get on with building the rest of the squad.
Personally I cant see that Shay Given has done too much wrong post Brad Friedel.
He’s never let us down, has made some crucial saves at key times in games, and was arguably more responsible than any of his colleagues, for us remaining a top flight outfit.
Unless he wants out, and I cant see why he should, I think that he should remain our number one starter for 2012-13. Hopefully too, come the new campaign, he’ll find himself protected by a much more cohesive back four unit, a back four comprising possibly one or two new faces.
I must admit to not being a big Brad Guzan fan, so I’m not overly concerned that his future looks to lay elsewhere, but clearly we have to bring in a short term back up for Seamus, as I’m not sure that Benji Siegrist, although he impresses and gets better and better each time I see him, is quite yet ready to be our regular number two.
I presume that Andy Marshall will still be with us come the August big kick-off? Actually, whenever I’ve seen him perform, at admittedly only reserve team level, since arriving at Brum B6, he’s looked quite competent, and I think that on a short term basis he’d be an adequate cover for Given.
Ruddy? Not seen much of him obviously, but from the little I have seen, he hasn’t looked anything special. Quite an average keeper in fact. That he made the initial England European Championship squad was due to the dearth of decent English born keepers, rather than any attributes he (Ruddy) might possess.
Some good points as per Glensider. It will be very interesting as you mention to see how Given does perform with hopefully a much more solid and reliable back four in front of him.
That’s why the goalkeeping position isn’t too much of a priority for me. Defense and midfield are where we need to strengthen much more urgently, and I’m very intrigued as to the type of player Mr Lambert chooses to bring in.
Ruddy is far from an average keeper, he is a very, very good one. the goal stats are misleading because we had such an abysmal defence last season, but keep an eye on the lad, and the more you watch him, the more you’ll realise how good he is. He has a big future ahead of him.
You gave no reason for for not being a Guzan fan. Don’t forget Given got heart earlier in the season and Guzan did a great job covering for him. Their stats we’re comparable and Guzan faced some difficult teams (granted it was a small sample size). Given is old and won’t be able to keep in form if he keeps getting injured (twice in six months?). If we’re building a team for the future I say we do exactly that.
Get Butland and Ruddy in can’t go wrong… Given looked unfit and tired at the euro’s and i think a couple of the goal’s a younger keeper would have saved.. sorry Shay i think it’s time for you to go into coaching..
I cant comment or debate the merits of Jack Butland jonah, never having seen him play.
In fact, up until he was named as a late replacement to join the England Euro 2012 squad, I have to admit that I was totally ignorant of him, never even having heard his name.
If however you can assure me that he’s a better young prospect than Benji Siegrist, which would indeed make him a very special ‘keeper, then I might just be able to see some logic in us making a move for him. Otherwise I’ll continue to throw my weight behind Siegrist as the long term answer to any goalkeeping problems we might encounter in the seasons ahead.
As I’ve said, he’s not quite ready yet, but he’s getting there.
Replying to yankee_villan regarding Brad Guzan. It’s just my personal opinion, based on what I’ve seen of him these past few seasons. I just dont have confidence in his abilities and capabilities. He’s a so-so goalkeeper, has plus points, possesses failings.
He’d be just fine as a long term understudy to a number one ‘keeper, making the odd appearance here and there, but as for playing week in, week out? No thank you, I dont think so. I believe that his limitations would soon show through.
Just my opinion though. I’m not attempting to make out that I’m right and you’re wrong. Anyway its something not really worthy of too much discussion. Brad Guzan wants regular first team football, and as things stand at Brum B6 right now, that scenario was never going to happen.
As for Worcester Canary’s response telling me that Ruddy is far from being just an ‘average’ keeper. I’ll take your word for it my friend. I dont watch him week in, week out. You presumably do.