Archives for "Premier League Keeper News"
GIVEN SET FOR FULHAM SWITCH
Fulham boss Mark Hughes is hoping to sign Shay Given on loan before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
The Cottagers’ current first-choice keeper, Mark Schwarzer, has been the subject of two bids from Arsenal and the veteran Australia international is eager to join the Gunners.
Although Hughes is willing to let the 37-year-old go, he insists Fulham must first find a replacement and Given has emerged as his prime target.
The Manchester City keeper has seen Joe Hart reclaim first-choice status after returning from last season’s loan spell at Birmingham.
City boss Roberto Mancini would like Given to stay and provide competition for Hart but at 34, the Ireland international wants regular first-team football.
That could come at Craven Cottage, where former City boss Hughes succeeded Roy Hodgson this summer.
“Mark Schwarzer has made it clear that he would like to go to Arsenal so we are trying to look at other options,” said the Fulham manager.
“I’m always interested in quality players and Shay Given is a quality player. Make of that what you will.
“But I have said that if we can’t get anyone else in, Schwarzer will have to stay.”
Hughes signed Given from Newcastle for a cut-price £8million in January 2009 and he soon proved his class in the City goal.
However, Given lost out to Hart in the battle to start the season as City’s first-choice keeper and the new England number one looks set to hold onto his place having been in sparkling form.
Fulham still looking for new No1
Fulham manager Mark Hughes will still maintain his pursuit of an experienced goalkeeper to replace the unsettled Mark Schwarzer despite Pro GK endorse keeper David Stockdale’s excellent performance in frustrating Manchester United yesterday.
Stockdale’s made penalty save from Nani three minutes from time.
He put in a fine display and helped Fulham to go on get a late equaliser, Brede Hangeland making amends for his own goal with a thumped header in stoppage time.
Stockdale is only 25-year-old and was making only his third Premier League start, following a clean sheet at Bolton on the opening afternoon, and has impressed with his shot-stopping.
Yet there are concerns that the new Fulham manager Mark Hughes is concerned at the youngster’s lack of senior experience could eventually catch up with him if Schwarzer, who was apparently still nursing a back injury, were allowed to move and a replacement not recruited.
“Stockdale has done very well and is a good young keeper,” the Fulham manager said. “We’ve been impressed with what we’ve seen since we’ve been here, and he’s arguably been the star man in both games.
“He’s been outstanding and, had this game gone to 3-1, it would have been United’s. We’re pleased with what he’s producing at the moment but it’s always difficult for young keepers. They get by initially on adrenalin and enthusiasm, but can they keep it up over time? It’s a long season and you’ve got to be careful with them.”
Stockdale had this to say “That’s another showing I can go to the manager with and say: ‘There you go. That’s what I can do,’” “I was just trying to get the lads out of the deep muck. It’s hard enough trying to dislodge Mark Schwarzer at the best of times but I’ll just take it day by day now and see what happens.”
Schwarzer is at the subject of two £2m bids from Arsenal to date.
Hart keeps sticks for Europa League clash with FC Timisoara
Man City manager Roberto Mancini has this afternoon confirmed that Joe Hart will retain his place between the posts for Citys next game.
Hart was outstanding in the goalless draw at Tottenham on Saturday after being handed the jersey in preference to Shay Given.
Reports this afternoon sujest Mancini sees no reason to change things, which could push the experienced Republic of Ireland international closer to the exit door.
‘Joe Hart will play,’ said the City boss. ‘I had a very difficult choice to make before the Spurs game because I have two world-class goalkeepers. It is difficult for one of them to sit on the bench.
‘I respect Shay Given a lot. He is a good man and I want him to stay, but I also understand any decision he might make.
Joe Hart is an official endorsee of Umbro and wears Umbro goalkeeper gloves.
Given ‘will request Arsenal loan’ as Manchester City start with Joe Hart
Rumours this morning suggest that Manchester City Goalkeeper Shay Given could be set for a surprise loan transfer to Arsenal before the end of the summer transfer window after it emerged that Manchester City will name Joe Hart as their first-choice goalkeeper for this season.
Roberto Mancini has so far refused to name his number one for the upcoming campaign, with both Given and Hart playing in pre-season.
However, reports suggest Hart – who, at 23, is considered to be the future first-choice for club and country – will win the nod, which will prompt Given to put in a transfer request.
Arsene Wenger is known to have been in contact with City to enquire over the availability of both their first-team shot-stoppers as he looks to install a more reliable man between the posts for 2010/11.
A loan deal, rather than a permanent transfer, will be the most likely move to be sanctioned, but City will struggle to keep Given, 34, happy on the bench.
He is expected to make an official request to leave if Hart starts the season-opener against Spurs on Saturday – giving him licence to join the Gunners on either a six-month or season-long loan.
Shay Given is officially endorsed by Puma and wears Puma goalkeeper gloves.
Almunia insists he still has a future at Arsenal
Goalkeeper Manual Almunia insists he still has a future at Arsenal and says he doesn’t have to convince anybody about his ability.
“I don’t need to convince anybody, I just do my job,” Almunia told Sky Sports.”I have a couple more years on my contract and that’s it, I’m an Arsenal player.”
Almunia has been linked with a move to La Liga after apparently falling out of favour with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
Wenger has recently targeted goalkeepers Mark Schwarzer and Federico Marchetti in a bid to bolster the position
Keeper hails Pompey boss
David James has today hailed Avram Grant, James feels that he would have kept Portsmouth in the top-flight if he had been boss all season.
Grant took the rains from Paul Hart
in November with Pompey of the Premier League with just seven points from their opening 13 games.
Since then the club have gone into administration, a nine-point deduction and a further player exodus but Grant has still managed to lead the side to the FA Cup final.
The England stopper told The News: “Avram is hands down the best manager we’ve had since Harry. ”That’s not a direct criticism of any individual because the circumstances in which the managers have had to work under since Harry left have been difficult.
“But if Avram had started the season, things would have been very, very different.
“His methodology is very different to a number of previous managers and I am confident we would have stayed up, it’s as simple as that.”
He added: “Could any other manager have taken us to the FA Cup final like he has?”I don’t think another manager could replicate that achievement. I am not surprised other clubs are being linked with Avram, he is a very good manager.
“It reminds me of a lot of the players we have lost – Pompey’s loss will be someone’s gain for sure.
“To be able to motivate the team to go through what we’ve been going through and be successful in the FA Cup takes a lot of effort and, dare I say, a lot of intelligence.“The man has been awesome and I have the utmost respect for him.”
He added: “As a team, Avram has kept so much harmony in the changing room with what he’s done.
“We had the potential and propensity to fall apart at any given moment. There was a lot of unrest before the last transfer window, where people weren’t getting paid and it was getting a little bit vocal in the changing room.”It kind of dissipated quickly. Avram’s instructions were basic – you have got to play football.
“The meetings we had and the way he expressed his thoughts kept people together.”When you listen to him doing his meetings you walk out and think “yes, good” – you feel better.
“You hear about these clubs falling apart left, right and centre but we knew we were together and we kept together.”The result, without a doubt, has given us the basis and foundation to be successful in the Cup run.
Liverpool eying Wolves ace Hennessey.
Liverpool are reportedly interested in Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey as back up to Number 1 Pepe Reina.
Reina last week out pen to paper on a new six-year contract that will replace his current deal and extend his Anfield commitments until 2016.
However, Hennessey is keen for more first team football and Wolves’ £7m valuation would prove obstructive.
Ferguson expects Number3 Foster Still to be at Utd next season
Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Fergusion says he expects Ben Foster to still be at the club next season. The 27 year old stopper had been tipped to earn a place in Capello’s World Cup squad before a lack of action saw him slip off down the pecking order.
Now the United Number 3 Foster has little to no chance of going to the World Cup after spending the season not even making the United bench, Foster has been linked with a summer move and Tottenham are rumoured to be leading the chase to sign him.
However United boss Ferguson insists Foster does not need to quit Old Trafford to fulfil his ambition of becoming England’s No1, he told the sun newspaper
“Ben has been unfortunate he made some mistakes earlier this season and Tomasz Kuszczak got in, his form has been great. Every time he played he was outstanding. for us”
“What do I do? Pick Ben because he is English or go with form?
“Ben has fantastic talent and I am sure he will be tremendous next year.
“The boy has just signed a new contract and has never said anything to me. So as far as I am concerned, he will be here.”
Uhlsport’s Reina’s Commitment To The Cause
Liverpool’s under fire manager Rafael Benitez has fired a rallying cry to his players as an example set by goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
The top shot-stopper is on the verge of signing a long-term contract.
“It is important to show that commitment and Pepe’s an example for everyone, and to the rest of the players for the future,” Benitez is quoted by The Sun as saying.
“If we want to achieve things we have to do them properly. The manager, the staff, the whole club – everyone in all the departments.
“One good or bad year doesn’t make the difference, you have to see the big picture.”
It has been a long rough season for Liverpool, having bowed out of the Champions League at the Group satges, with exits in the League Cup and FA Cup.
“The expectations were really high at the beginning of the season,” added Benitez.
“When we didn’t win a few games there were a few comments.
“There was a bit of uncertainty and also the confidence of the players was affected, but that is something we have to manage.
“My motivation is to win trophies. I want to be contenders in every competition, so we have to stay together to bring the best out of everyone.”
“The most important thing, though, is the future of the club – not just one good or bad season, and the best thing we can do is focus on the football.”
“My own position is not the issue,” he said.
“It’s not a case of ‘oh Rafa’s not guaranteeing his future,’ I don’t need to say anything about that.
“I have a very good vision about the future, and that’s not just about whether we win or lose over one season, it’s about having the consistency over how we do things.
“We know in the Premier League there can be a massive difference when you’re talking of money, size of stadiums and all those things.
“But one bad season, although it’s really disappointing, is not the main thing – the main thing is concentrating on the future.”
Villa line up United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak
Reports in this mornings paper sudggest that Aston Villa are weighing up a move for Manchester United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak.
The Tall Pole wants more games and it’s today been report in the Sport Mail that Villa want competition for 39- year-old Brad Friedel.
The 27-year-old stopper has made less than 30 Premier League appearances for United since joining in the summer of 2006.
‘I have waited for four years and I enjoy my time here, but maybe I need to change it.’
Tomas kuszczak wears Adidas Goalkeeper Gloves
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