Aston Villa

Shay Given: 'Tim Sherwood has similar traits to Sir Bobby Robson'

By Simon Sinclair, Reporter | 10 March 2015

Aston Villa keeper Shay Given believes that new boss Tim Sherwood has similar attributes to those of legend of the English game Sir Bobby Robson.

Aston Villa keeper Shay Given feels that Tim Sherwood has similar traits as a manager as Sir Bobby Robson.

Sherwood has provided a lift to the Villans in his brief time in charge as he guided them to the semi-finals of the FA Cup courtesy of a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion, which followed a victory over the Baggies last week in the Premier League.

Given, who played under Robson at Newcastle United, feels that Sherwood has a similar way of dealing with his players to what he experienced during his days under the former England manager.

Given is quoted as saying by The Mirror: "I know Tim from our Blackburn days. We were players together and he was a leader then as the captain, he captained Blackburn to the Premier League title, and he's very much the same.

"He's so positive on the training ground, so positive in the stadium and the players are responding to that. Bobby Robson is one of the best man-managers I've ever worked with, he knew how to get the best out of players, and that's one of Tim's biggest traits too.

"He speaks to people on a man-to-man level as well, he takes players aside, he puts his arm around them and he knows if players need a rollicking or a pick-me-up. Tim has spotted that from day one, and at half-time you could see the fire in his belly, and you could see a few of the lads thinking: 'he's up for this'."

Villa face a huge match against fellow top-flight strugglers Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.