correct cormac - if a dog was born in a stable would it make him a horse ?

Given was born in Donegal, which is in the Republic of Ireland. People born in Northern Ireland are entitled to both a British and an Irish nationality. Given was never eligible to play for anyone else. England could do with a goalkeeper of his quality at the moment, actually. We're lucky to have him.

how about this folks, come december....skrtel left back??? could he play there. solves the problem of agger and skrtel fighting for team postitions. or agger left back just the same, he makes great attacking runs down that left wing with defending on a top level. could it be our solution?

Cormac O: Does Shay Given qualify to play for Ireland because he's Irish by birth? Or his parents are Irish or even because his grandparents were Irish? Which?

Sean H, two questions. What country does Given play for? A British one? And if you lived in Paris would that make you French? No? Idiot.

well said STEVE.D.maybe he is a manchester united supporter!!!

Shay Given is not Irish he is BRITISH pays his taxes in ENGLAND and is very proud to earn a living there.TRUE BRIT TRUE GRIT.TOOOO SHAY.

To ....stuartxland ........You need to put your skirt on and go out and play with the other girls......

Benitez wants to sign any player who has ever had a good game against liverpool. He has bought so many players that he can't remember who they all are, but if the players we don't see very often in his rotation system are symbolised by the rubbish he turned out against Spurs, then all I can say is that he has a load of cr.p on his hands.
No wonder the Yanks can't make up their mind about him.
Personally, I thought heinz was a poor player, he certainly gave away more than his share of free kicks and his positional play was dire. looks like another expensive mistake heading for Rafa's payroll.

William, I agree with both of your comments made! I do wish more people were like you and had a more realistic attitude to life. Football is now big business: sadly, nothing anymore to do with fans!

to post 23 and 25. gerrard is not captain of england,their spelt this way not as you spell it thier and league spelt this way not leauge!!!!which team do you support?

Heinze is a good player and can make his own decisions... so why don't we just keep our bloody snouts out of his business!!
p.sthese commennts have been F***ing pointless haven't they?

The Premiership is not a sprint but a marathon so maybe all the fans of the current top 4/5 teams (including myself) should WAIT until May 2009. Then we can talk and blog to our hearts content. Until then why get wound up (even as fans) about something that might never happen and unless you are a football manager, you can't do a damn thing to change the result!!

Shay at Arsenal? The Goooners problem is not goalkeeping. Just be patient the critics will star biting their fingers soon when the gooners start thumping in the goals.

I think you all are paranoid at the idea of seeing Liverpool lift the premiership. The fates are on the side of Liverpool. Chelsea under a certain Mourinho, in 2005 went ahead early and eventually took the trophy with a clear gap on man u. You all may not like it, but i now firmly believe, its liverpool's year to win it, and win it, they will.You will never walk alone........

"He is, in fact, "Irish". A separate group of people inhabiting the two Iarge Islands off the west coast of Europe."
Ok, I give up, where's the second one?

Comments 34/35 it's a wind -up! Just gossip that's all! Why should Benitez waste his money when he has a good youth academy/ Anyway, hasn't anyone told you that there's a credit crunch and that there's little money to buy these overhyped and overpaid footballers!

after having many goes at finding a decent left back - maybe heinze will have the number 57 on his shirt.

As a scouser I will be glad to see him come to us and seeing that we have had so many defenders on trial with us, maybe 57 should be on his back

Shay Given kicked Bishop Brennan up the @rse. True story.