The Rambling view from the City perspective

The Club have announced that Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given has become the 4th signing of the transfer window.

Shay Given is a quality goalkeeper. He's better than Joe Hart, indeed better than just about every other goalkeeper in the Premier League. In fact you could argue he is the best goalkeeper in the Premier League and it would be a reasonable argument.

Hmmm... lets think about that for a moment. The Big four have Almunia (Arsenal), Reina (Liverpool), Cech (Chelsea) and van der Sar (United). I don't think Given is better than them, but I'd say he is of the same quality. Villa have Friedel and if there was one keeper that I'd say was better than the lot it would be Friedel.

Bolton have Jaaskelainen who is an interesting case. The Finn's best game is probably better than any of the others best game even if week in and week out the top six are better than him.

The list of England goalkeepers include Robinson at Blackburn and his positioning issues are ones I've talked about before. Carson at West Brom and Kirkland at Wigan neither of whom could be considered in the top half of Premier League keepers. James at Portsmouth still has his calamity moments but would you honestly say he was better than Jaaskelainen or the others I deem above him?

Green at West Ham and Gordon at Sunderland would slot just below Jaaskelainen with Everton's Howard, Fulham's Schwarzer and Newcastle's new number one, Harper in a group below that.

Tottenham's Gomes is a bit of an unknown quantity in that he was so poor initially but had a better rep than that which leaves Myhill at Hull, Turnbull and Middlesbrough and Simonsen at Stoke at the bottom of the list.

Hart I'd put in with Green and Gordon as I would with Cudicini and Foster the back ups at Spurs and United respectively. Probably even put Kuszczak in their as well.

So City have made a significant upgrade to the position and I can't really argue with that. Although to my mind I was hoping we would add a veteran back up rather than a goalkeeper who would come in and be the new number one. Where does this leave Joe Hart? To continue his development he needs games so should he go out on loan? And if so then don't we still need a veteran back up keeper?

A better player is a better player and Given is an upgrade.

As always I welcome your feedback at wallace.poulter@gmail.com