Source: Daily_Mail
Shay Given v Joe Hart: The fight to be Manchester City's No 1
Manchester City goalkeepers Shay Given and Joe Hart are locked in a battle to become the club's first choice goalkeeper as the start of the Premier League season draws nearer. [LNB]Hart, 23, was highly impressive on loan at Birmingham City last season and the former Shrewsbury Town stopper looks favourite to be England's No 1 goalkeeper for the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. [LNB] Battle for No 1: Joe Hart and Shay Given both want to be first choice at Eastlands[LNB]Given, however, has been a model of consistency in the Premier League for over a decade and his game showed no signs of deteriorating last season despite his advancing years. [LNB]Both goalkeepers have notched 50 appearances each for City though Given, 34, is almost exactly 11 years older than Hart. [LNB]SHAY GIVEN v JOE HART GIVENAge: 34 (20.4.76) Height: 6'1 Career: Blackburn Rovers (1994-7) - 2apps, Swindon Town (Loan 1995) - 5 apps, Sunderland (Loan 1996) - 17apps, Newcastle United (1997-2009) - 354 apps, Man City (2009-) - 50apps. International career: Republic of Ireland (1996-) - 104 apps[LNB]HARTAge: 23 (19.4.87) Height: 6'3 Career: Shrewsbury Town (2003-6) - 54appearances, Man City (2006-) - 50 apps, Tranmere (Loan 2007) - 5 apps,Blackpool (Loan 2007) - 6 apps, Birmingham (Loan 2009-10) - 36 appsInternational career: England Under 21s (2007-9) - 21 caps, England(2008-) - 3 caps[LNB]It is Given's experience that makes him favourite to be City's No 1 for the upcoming season.[LNB]Joe Hart appears to have all the attributes required of aworld-class keeper - height, agility, command of his area and gooddistribution - but Mark Hughes decided to bring in Given for hisconsistency after Hart made a few errors in the 2008-9 campaign. [LNB]Given is third on the all time appearances list for goalkeepers inthe Premier League with 402, behind David James and Mark Schwarzer.Despite being relatively short for a goalkeeper Given has alwayscommanded his area well and is an excellent shot-stopper. [LNB]Although the wrong side of thirty Given has shown no signs that hisagility and reflexes are waning after 13 years of top flightgoalkeeping. [LNB]With both goalkeepers at crucial stages of their career anddesperately in need of games neither appear likely to sit contently onthe bench, especially given the international ambitions that eachgoalkeeper holds. [LNB]Shay GivenWas tipped for the top from a young age at Blackburn but moved to Newcastle for £1.5m in 1997 after failing to dislodge Tim Flowers at Ewood Park. Was a regular at Newcastle until his departure in 2009, where he established himself as one of the top goalkeepers in the country. Holds the record number of caps for a Republic of Ireland player with 104. [LNB]Joe HartHaving made 50 league appearances in League Two with Shrewsbury Town before he had turned 18, Manchester City spotted Joe Hart's potential by paying a fee that has risen to £1.5m. [LNB]Sven Goran Eriksson made Hart City's number one at the start of the 2007-8 campaign, and following a solid season, Hart was handed his England debut in June 2008. [LNB]He began the 2008-9 season as City's No 1, but seemingly unconvinced by Hart's ability, Mark Hughes signed Shay Given from Newcastle United for £6m in January 2009.[LNB] Although Hart's appearances were limited for the remainder of the 2008-9 campaign, he played for England Under 21s at the 2009 European Championships, scoring a penalty in the semi-final shoot-out win over Sweden. [LNB]After a highly successful season on loan at Birmingham, where Hart was named in the Premier League's team of the year, Hart looks set to be given a chance as England's first choice goalkeeper. [LNB] Other goalkeeping rivalries: Shay Given and Steve Harper (Newcastle 1997-2009)Surely the longest goalkeeping rivalry in Premier League history. Harper waited patiently in the wings for 11 and a half seasons until Given's move to Man City.[LNB] Worth the wait: Steve Harper was the Newcastle No 2 for 11 years [LNB] Harper made just 88 league appearances between 1997 and 2008, going from rookie to veteran in the process. [LNB]The 35-year-old is making up for lost time now though, he captains the Magpies and has made 61 league appearances since Given's departure. [LNB]Jens Lehmann and Manuel Almunia (Arsenal 2007-8) Top Gun: Manuel Almunia ultimately ousted Jens Lehmann as the Arsenal No 1 [LNB]After serving as Jens Lehmann's understudy for three seasons, Manuel Almunia was finally given his chance at Arsenal in 2007 after a string of errors by the German veteran. [LNB]Lehmann made several appearances in cup competitions and when Almunia was injured, though was left frustrated for the most part, criticising his manager and team-mate for his exclusion in the process. Lehmann departed at the end of the season. [LNB] Shay Given ready to quit Manchester City if Joe Hart beats him to Eastlands No 1 spotSign up to our FREE Fantasy Football game - with £40,000 in prize money up for grabsJoe Hart could be England's number one and Manchester City's number two warns Roberto ManciniMANCHESTER CITY FC
