For years now we have watched the Dutch goalkeeper grow in something verging on world class.
And given the option of Krul or Given ... I'd go for Krul hands down.
They were at 100 yards apart at St James' Park on Sunday, and although I would never try an undermine what Given achieved on Tyneside, Krul was the more composed, focused and "in the zone".
The Aston Villa goalkeeper insists he has no regrets about leaving Newcastle United in 2009 ... and we wish him well ... but he wouldn't get into the Newcastle team if he stayed.
Shay Given: "At one point I did think I'd be at Newcastle for life but then things change and you change yourself.
"Sometimes you can go a bit stale at one club but when I left it felt right.
"It gave me a new challenge and a new lease of life. You can get stuck in your ways.
"I enjoyed my 11-and-a-half years there but in the last few months I thought I needed to try something new.
"People might say to me, 'Oh but Newcastle are above you in the league, I bet you wish you were still there', but I am genuinely really happy at Villa.
"I do not regret leaving Newcastle at all - and I don't regret any of my time there either."
On Tim Krul ...
Shay Given: “Tim has been fantastic and one of the reasons why they are so high in the league is his form.
“He’s been playing really well, making saves and keeping the team in games.
“Sometimes they are sneaking 1-0 win and he’s been man of the match and he deserves credit for that.
“He’s taken his game to a new level and has been one of the keeprs of the season.
“I used to help him as much as I could.
“But with Tim being Dutch, a lot of the Dutch players have that sort of belief, some people say arrogance, but it is not – it is more a belief in themselves.
“He has the belief that he can be one of the best keepers there is and I think that rubs off on the team.”