Given ready for 109th Irish Cap
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In the absence of Robbie Keane in the Republic Of Ireland squad, owing to injury, 34-year-old net minder Shay Given will lead Giovanni Trapattoni’s side into battle against Norway in Wednesday night’s friendly international against the Scandinavians at the Aviva Stadium.
Much like the Tallaght man, Given, who will win his 109th cap during the game, has had a frustrating time at club level, as he is currently playing second fiddle to Joe Hart for Roberto Mancini’s expensively-assembled Manchester City side.
This is something that Given finds very difficult to handle, and he admits that he is not coping particularly well with it, as it would much prefer to be on the field of play rather than warming the bench at Eastlands.
“Yes, it’s frustrating. I’m not coping very well to be honest. I can’t change my situation at the minute. I’ve got to just keep my head down, and see what happens over the next couple of months I suppose. I’m delighted to be playing tomorrow. You just want to play football, and when I’m not playing it’s extremely frustrating”, Given explained.
It is no surprise that Given is beginning to ponder what he may do come January, as he has only played twice for his club this term, a Carling Cup tie against West Brom and, most recently, a Europa League defeat against Lech Poznan.
Given freely accepts that this means that he isn’t at his sharpest, and feels that he won’t be at his sharpest until he gets a run of games under his belt. “It’s very difficult to be honest. I’m working hard in training, but it’s difficult to re-enact a match situation. It’s not an ideal situation. I wish I was playing more so I could feel sharper. This is the situation I’m in though, and I can’t really change that. I played in Europe a couple of weeks ago with Man City, and there’s the game tomorrow”.
“I’m getting the odd game, but it’s not ideal. To sit here and say that I feel as sharp as I did before I’d be lying. I don’t feel as sharp as I possibly should be. If I get back in the team, or if I get a run of games, I’m sure I’ll be back up to speed”.
An awful lot has been written about Man City in recent weeks, with almost daily reports of rows betweens players, as well as rows between management and players. The Donegal-native thinks that there has been an incredible amount of attention afforded to the club this season, and is adamant that a lot of what is reported in the media is a case of people trying to make a big story from a small story.
“There’s so much written about Man City, it’s ridiculous at times. We have spent a lot of money on big name players. Outside of the club, the press are saying that there’s arguments every day with players, trying to make big stories out of small stories. That’s part and parcel of being at a club with huge ambition. That not the case at all, it is great to be here, and also with the lads at Manchester. They’re a great group of lads, and you can sometimes read too much into the speculation”.
The game against Norway, on paper, has the potential to be a very interesting affair. With a number of players missing through injury, it has given Giovanni Trapattoni the chance to experiment with some of the fringe players in the squad.
The back-four, in particular, has an unfamiliar look to it, with regular starter John O’Shea beginning alongside Ipswich-loanee Darren O’Dea in the centre, with Greg Cunningham and Stephen Kelly operating at left-back and right-back respectively.
Cunningham is a man that Given is extremely familiar with as, even though he is currently on loan at Leicester City, he is also a member of Manchester City Football Club. Given has been greatly impressed by the Galway man since he joined City in January 2009, and sees him having a long career ahead of him in an Irish shirt.
“I’ve been impressed with Greg since I started being at Man City, and playing with the first team and stuff, and he didn’t look out of place really. Now that he’s out at Leicester (on loan), I haven’t seen too many of their games, but the more games he plays the better it will be for him. The better for Ireland as well, the more games he plays. I’m sure come tomorrow he won’t look out of place at all. He’s very composed on the ball, he’s good going forward, and he’s a good defender. He’s got all the attributes to be around the Irish team for a long number of years”.
As Given states, Cunningham is a very genuine, down-to-earth type of person, which he believes will be of benefit to him in his bid to be a long-term replacement for Kevin Kilbane on the left side of the Republic’s defence.
“He’s probably one of the nicest men you’ll ever meet in the world actually. Really down to earth. Maybe it’s from his upbringing in Galway, but he’s really such a mannered guy. He thanks you for everything, and he’s privileged to speak to you. He is a real genuine guy. Kevin (Kilbane) has done really well for Ireland as well. This time Kevin’s injured, but if Kevin’s injured for a qualifying game, it’s important that we have someone who has played a number of games, and hopefully will fit in without too much strain on the team. Greg definitely will fit in without any problems”.
Though he doesn’t feature in the starting line-up for the game, it is expected that Given’s fellow county man Seamus Coleman will play some part against Norway, handing him an international debut in the process. Having put in some outstanding performances for Everton this season, Coleman’s debut for Ireland is eagerly-anticipated, and Given is certainly no different.
“Yeah, similar to Greg, I’m sure Seamus will play at some stage tomorrow. He’s got a huge future ahead of him, his displays for Everton show how good he is. Both defensively and going forward he’s an exciting player. Not too long ago he was playing for Sligo Rovers, it’s a huge rise for Seamus in a short space of time. It’s fantastic, and I do believe he’ll be around for a long time. He’s a very exciting player”.
As Thursday marks the first anniversary of Ireland’s heartbreaking defeat to France in the World Cup Play-Off, it is more than likely that every Irish player will, at some point, be asked this week about what happened in that fatal night in Paris.
Though Given is still disappointed over what happened in Paris, he believes that what happens in the future is more important than what occurred in the past, which brings his own personal situation back into perspective.
“We were disappointed in Paris obviously. The thing about football, as the manager says, you can’t look back, you’ve got to look forward. Tomorrow is more important than what happened in Paris. We’ve got to look to the future. My own personal situation isn’t ideal obviously. Everyone knows, and I’ve spoken about it in the past. We’ll see what happens over the next couple of months in that respect, and whether I’m playing football. I’ve always said that, and hopefully something might happen in the New Year”, Given added.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND TEAM V NORWAY (KICK-OFF 7.45PM)
SHAY GIVEN (MANCHESTER CITY)
STEPHEN KELLY (FULHAM)
JOHN O’SHEA (MANCHESTER UNITED)
DARREN O’DEA (CELTIC/IPSWICH)
GREG CUNNINGHAM (MANCHESTER CITY/LEICESTER CITY)
LIAM LAWRENCE (PORTSMOUTH)
GLENN WHELAN (STOKE CITY)
KEITH FAHEY (BIRMINGHAM CITY)
DAMIEN DUFF (FULHAM)
SHANE LONG (READING)
KEVIN DOYLE (WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS)
Much like the Tallaght man, Given, who will win his 109th cap during the game, has had a frustrating time at club level, as he is currently playing second fiddle to Joe Hart for Roberto Mancini’s expensively-assembled Manchester City side.
This is something that Given finds very difficult to handle, and he admits that he is not coping particularly well with it, as it would much prefer to be on the field of play rather than warming the bench at Eastlands.
“Yes, it’s frustrating. I’m not coping very well to be honest. I can’t change my situation at the minute. I’ve got to just keep my head down, and see what happens over the next couple of months I suppose. I’m delighted to be playing tomorrow. You just want to play football, and when I’m not playing it’s extremely frustrating”, Given explained.
It is no surprise that Given is beginning to ponder what he may do come January, as he has only played twice for his club this term, a Carling Cup tie against West Brom and, most recently, a Europa League defeat against Lech Poznan.
Given freely accepts that this means that he isn’t at his sharpest, and feels that he won’t be at his sharpest until he gets a run of games under his belt. “It’s very difficult to be honest. I’m working hard in training, but it’s difficult to re-enact a match situation. It’s not an ideal situation. I wish I was playing more so I could feel sharper. This is the situation I’m in though, and I can’t really change that. I played in Europe a couple of weeks ago with Man City, and there’s the game tomorrow”.
“I’m getting the odd game, but it’s not ideal. To sit here and say that I feel as sharp as I did before I’d be lying. I don’t feel as sharp as I possibly should be. If I get back in the team, or if I get a run of games, I’m sure I’ll be back up to speed”.
An awful lot has been written about Man City in recent weeks, with almost daily reports of rows betweens players, as well as rows between management and players. The Donegal-native thinks that there has been an incredible amount of attention afforded to the club this season, and is adamant that a lot of what is reported in the media is a case of people trying to make a big story from a small story.
“There’s so much written about Man City, it’s ridiculous at times. We have spent a lot of money on big name players. Outside of the club, the press are saying that there’s arguments every day with players, trying to make big stories out of small stories. That’s part and parcel of being at a club with huge ambition. That not the case at all, it is great to be here, and also with the lads at Manchester. They’re a great group of lads, and you can sometimes read too much into the speculation”.
The game against Norway, on paper, has the potential to be a very interesting affair. With a number of players missing through injury, it has given Giovanni Trapattoni the chance to experiment with some of the fringe players in the squad.
The back-four, in particular, has an unfamiliar look to it, with regular starter John O’Shea beginning alongside Ipswich-loanee Darren O’Dea in the centre, with Greg Cunningham and Stephen Kelly operating at left-back and right-back respectively.
Cunningham is a man that Given is extremely familiar with as, even though he is currently on loan at Leicester City, he is also a member of Manchester City Football Club. Given has been greatly impressed by the Galway man since he joined City in January 2009, and sees him having a long career ahead of him in an Irish shirt.
“I’ve been impressed with Greg since I started being at Man City, and playing with the first team and stuff, and he didn’t look out of place really. Now that he’s out at Leicester (on loan), I haven’t seen too many of their games, but the more games he plays the better it will be for him. The better for Ireland as well, the more games he plays. I’m sure come tomorrow he won’t look out of place at all. He’s very composed on the ball, he’s good going forward, and he’s a good defender. He’s got all the attributes to be around the Irish team for a long number of years”.
As Given states, Cunningham is a very genuine, down-to-earth type of person, which he believes will be of benefit to him in his bid to be a long-term replacement for Kevin Kilbane on the left side of the Republic’s defence.
“He’s probably one of the nicest men you’ll ever meet in the world actually. Really down to earth. Maybe it’s from his upbringing in Galway, but he’s really such a mannered guy. He thanks you for everything, and he’s privileged to speak to you. He is a real genuine guy. Kevin (Kilbane) has done really well for Ireland as well. This time Kevin’s injured, but if Kevin’s injured for a qualifying game, it’s important that we have someone who has played a number of games, and hopefully will fit in without too much strain on the team. Greg definitely will fit in without any problems”.
Though he doesn’t feature in the starting line-up for the game, it is expected that Given’s fellow county man Seamus Coleman will play some part against Norway, handing him an international debut in the process. Having put in some outstanding performances for Everton this season, Coleman’s debut for Ireland is eagerly-anticipated, and Given is certainly no different.
“Yeah, similar to Greg, I’m sure Seamus will play at some stage tomorrow. He’s got a huge future ahead of him, his displays for Everton show how good he is. Both defensively and going forward he’s an exciting player. Not too long ago he was playing for Sligo Rovers, it’s a huge rise for Seamus in a short space of time. It’s fantastic, and I do believe he’ll be around for a long time. He’s a very exciting player”.
As Thursday marks the first anniversary of Ireland’s heartbreaking defeat to France in the World Cup Play-Off, it is more than likely that every Irish player will, at some point, be asked this week about what happened in that fatal night in Paris.
Though Given is still disappointed over what happened in Paris, he believes that what happens in the future is more important than what occurred in the past, which brings his own personal situation back into perspective.
“We were disappointed in Paris obviously. The thing about football, as the manager says, you can’t look back, you’ve got to look forward. Tomorrow is more important than what happened in Paris. We’ve got to look to the future. My own personal situation isn’t ideal obviously. Everyone knows, and I’ve spoken about it in the past. We’ll see what happens over the next couple of months in that respect, and whether I’m playing football. I’ve always said that, and hopefully something might happen in the New Year”, Given added.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND TEAM V NORWAY (KICK-OFF 7.45PM)
SHAY GIVEN (MANCHESTER CITY)
STEPHEN KELLY (FULHAM)
JOHN O’SHEA (MANCHESTER UNITED)
DARREN O’DEA (CELTIC/IPSWICH)
GREG CUNNINGHAM (MANCHESTER CITY/LEICESTER CITY)
LIAM LAWRENCE (PORTSMOUTH)
GLENN WHELAN (STOKE CITY)
KEITH FAHEY (BIRMINGHAM CITY)
DAMIEN DUFF (FULHAM)
SHANE LONG (READING)
KEVIN DOYLE (WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS)
About Daire Walsh
Daire Walsh began reporting for Extratime in 2009, when he covered Kildare County's games in the League Of Ireland First Division. He currently reports on games involving the league's Dublin sides and also Bray Wanderers. … View Full Profile