EAMON DUNPHY SAYS that Shay Given committed a ‘crime’ by playing through injury for Ireland during last summer’s European Championships.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Sport At Seven on Monday evening, the pundit was responding to the news that Given has made himself available for selection to Giovanni Trapattoni, despite retiring from international football in the summer.
Dunphy is adamant that Kieren Westwood should keep his place between the sticks for the World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria in March, and that Given should not be allowed back into the fold.
“(Given is) not in the Villa team and I think we have to be respectful of Westwood, who is the number one goalkeeper,” Dunphy said.
“I think Given looked overweight and was clearly unfit during the European Championships. I don’t think that’s a forgivable crime. I wouldn’t have him.”
Neither Given nor Westwood is first choice at their current Premier League clubs.
The 36-year-old lost his place to Brad Guzan at Aston Villa and has only featured twice in the top flight, while all of Westwood’s games at Sunderland have come in the League Cup.
Given revealed at the weekend that he has spoken to Trapattoni about a potential return in the green jersey.
“I have spoken to Giovanni and he knows I am available.” the Donegal man wrote in his column in the Irish Sun.
”He is going to stick with the new players against Poland and I understand that.
“Keiren Westwood, David Forde and Darren Randolph are the goalkeepers in the frame for that game. I wish them well. I am not looking to stand on their toes. But, as I told Giovanni, I am here if one of them gets injured.”
Wholeheartedly agree with Dunphy, Given can’t get his place in arguably the worst Villa side in 20 years.
Plus, he’s said his goodbyes to the Ireland squad, why go back?
It hurts to say this but Dunphys right
Pat Spillane your a legend. Just wanted to say that!
I think Given is doing this for all the wrong reasons. He’s not getting a game at Villa so he wants to play in order to keep himself in the spotlight and hopefully get a move to another club.
He’s an Irish legend and I think he should just leave it at that.
Been a big Given fan for years but Dunphy is right on this one.
Shay did this country proud, he made his bed, now lie in it. Enjoy your retirement.
Low and behold. Dunphy makes a controversial comment. That’s funny. I haven’t seen in the papers for a while. Sure he was due one of his infamous rants to get himself into the spotlight again.
Shay it has been a great keeper for us but his time is up. It’s time to move on but Shay has a lot of great days don’t just remember the bad ones.
Given is done , time to move on , what would this say to our other keepers ? as bad as Trap is , lets hope he does something right , dont bring Shay back, times up.
David o Leary your a legend. Just wanted to say that!
Arsehole
Dunphy or Given?
Hey red thumbs! Im just seeking clarification from Finbarr!
Dumphy sorry folks
Dunphy is right. Given was absolutly useless at the euros. He was promptly dropped by his club after. Now he is looking to use the Irish team again for his own selfish purposes. Makes me sick.
Dunphy is bang on. Given was our worst player at the euros and is now putting himself in the shop window due to being dropped by villa.
Dunphy is right for the wrong reasons, and Given is wrong for the right reasons.
That’s a brilliant comment Richard. Oscar Wilde would have been proud, if he was allowed.
Cleverest comment of the day.
Im not sure if Shay was overweight during the Euros. Buf he did appear to have an issue with one of his hands. It was actually my 12 year old son himself a GAA keeper who asked what was wrong with Shays hand as he was not catching or holding the ball right.
Paddy Cullen just announced that hes available for a return to the Dubs if Heffo wants him!
who? and what?
Passus welcome back
In fairness to Shay he had to put himself forward, if he wasn’t fit Trappatoni shouldn’t have picked him.
Even when Shay was in his prime , always felt he was way overrated .
Go back to sleep Barry
He was good for his club but over the years he was amazing for Ireland and the reason that we eked out many of our draws and some scrappy wins. He was a great goalkeeper for Ireland but I think his time has come.
Shay has been our greatest ever keeper, pity the way it finished up for him in the euros but he should defo leave it at that now. Unfortunately, will prob be quite some time before we get someone nearly as good.
Keano! Keano! Keano!
What a day to cherish. Dunphy and Keaveney both courting controversy the same day. Ireland’s two premier mouthpieces vying for attention at the same time. Awesome.
who’s Keaveney and what’s he said ?
Agreed. What Keaveney said was shocking.
Even though Given is a fellow Donegal man and a legend I think this is a major mistake coming back it could all end in tears for him, Dumphy is right in this one
Sean your near right , but have too agree with Derek he just makes theses comments to get his name up there , I have no respect for him at all
I think it’s a bad idea for Given to come back. Always thought he was world class & he’s probably the best keeper we’ve ever had, but it’s time to give the other lads a go.
Dunphy has surpassed himself this time. Given has never committed a ‘crime’. Remember watching Nighthawks Rehashed’ over Xmas when Dunphy was clearly guilty of committing a real offence.
Great in his day but now we back stab him !!!
Not one comment posted here to suggest any form of backstabbing.Just honest opinion and a valid one in my view
Dunphy really is a prat, when he is commenting on Irish players he must think they should be on a level par with the likes of brazil.
Who is he anyway to comment about anyone, he needs to come out with statements like this to stay in the papers
Em. He’s a football pundit.
Em.. He’s nothing more than an arsehole pundit
Believe it or not he was at fault for Henry handball against us and one of the reasons He never got a top team because He didn’t command his box good enough! Roy Keane said years ago He was only after caps and by staying at Newcastle He lacked ambition. Think He was right
Wise up. Given was at fault for Henry keeping the ball in play with his hand?
‘Roy Keane said’….obviously a Man United fan.
Can we just get Cluxton in?
Cluxton has more important matters to attend to
Given has been great for Ireland over the years. I hope he isn’t tarnished over the Euros. At the end of the day and at that stage of his career perhaps too much was being asked of him. Rather than focus on Given blame the manager that picked him!!
Shay was a fantastic keeper but it makes no sense bringing him back when we wont qualify for Brazil and he will be too old for the start of the Euro qualifying campaign.
I don’t think Shay should be brought back. But, big mouth Dunphy is in no position to say its unforgivable. Given has served Ireland well over the years.
Did his country proud over 99.9% of career in the ireland jersey, most memorably in my view against Iran in Lansdowne road in late 2001, making two brilliant saves to keep a clean sheet that ultimately got us to World Cup ’02.
BUT, it was indeed a bad misjudgement to declare himself fit for Euro 2012 when he clearly wasn’t anyway near 100%. He did cost us against Croatia in fairness (not that we would have got out of group anyway). It’s unfortunate that his only real mistake came right at the end of his career. He should just let it lie now and enjoy his retirement with no lasting injuries and plenty dough in the back-pocket. Good luck Shay.
6-1
Eamo talks a lot of poo but he is spot on here.
A Bit harsh eamon.not much of a crime but i think he should stay retired and give youth a Chance.
another packie bonners d last thing we want…hes past it.
I wonder what Rafa Bentiez thinks of this ?
lost 6 nil too Germany he cant make it any worse.
Dunphy ,your a tube …. Full of air
Gggf
Shay is a great goalkeeper, but he has not been right.
Dunphy u are dead right and, as ever, u buck the Irish trend and say it like it is!
Is it not time to send Dunphy off to the knackers yard?