There have been lots of stories about Shay Given yesterday and today about showdown talks with new manager Sam Allardyce. The tone is characterized as even hostile with Shay wanting to have it out with Big Sam.
But when you read what Shay actually said and forget about the sensational headlines, then it’s all very logical and sensible.
All Shay says is that he needs to sit down and talk with his manager. He wants to see what Sam is thinking and have a discussion with him, which Shay admits he hasn’t done yet.
Shay Given – Newcastle’s star goalkeeper training for Saturday’s Slovakia v Ireland game
It all seems perfectly logical to us, but here’s what Shay actually said, as he prepared for the Ireland game in Slovakia on Saturday.
“I haven’t really spoken to the manager yet,” “I’ve gone away with Ireland so I haven’t had time to sit down with him, so I’ll have to do that when I get back after these games.
“I’m not sure what his thinking is or whatever, but obviously I’ve been out for a while with my groin and I played on Wednesday night, so maybe he felt that it was better for me not to play on Saturday and put too much pressure on it.â€
“We’ll see what happens. It’s good to have competition in every position in the club, so if that’s the case then I’ll have to see what happens.â€
“I don’t really know what his thoughts are because I haven’t spoken to him and he hasn’t spoken to me. It’s hard to say what his thinking is for the future, but I’m really just focusing on these games now.”
Now does that sound like someone who’s upset or worried about things at Newcastle? We don’t think so and believe we should take these reports with a large pinch of salt. We just think it’s the press winding things up – again.
Shay has been one of Newcastle’s very best performers over the last 10 years and is the best goalkeeper in Newcastle’s history. He has saved the team on countless occasions. It just happens that able deputy Steve Harper – who hasn’t played much over that period – has come in and played extremely well. Sam is right to continue with Steve in goal but it will not be long before we’ll see Shay between the posts again. Don’t think it’s not possible for Big Sam to keep both goalkeepers happy at Newcastle United.
Comments are welcome.
67 comments so far
Darren
Sep 6, 2007 at 2:57 AM
Comment #41@ RICH
Mock all you want I’m just telling it like it is, Allardyce prefers Harper, I can’t go into how I know so sorry. I’m not too happy about it personally as I rate Given the better keeper but that is what is going on – as I said if I am proved wrong then give me as much shite as you want.
And no matter which way you put it Given was left out at the weekend, he was on the bench at Boro, started -v- Barnsley then was back on the bench for the Wigan game – so no Rich, Given wasn’t injured (do you go to matches at all????)
Tripp
Sep 6, 2007 at 3:27 AM
Comment #42@ Darren
“as I said if I am proved wrong then give me as much shite as you want.” Apparently, you don’t really trust your inside information when you qualify it like that. How many times was Given injured last season? He aggravated the problem again this summer. Continuing to play him without giving him a break is precisely why there were so many injuries last season. The “injury crisis” was the result of a thin squad (quality wise) and Roeder’s insistence on return the better players too soon. We faced relegation because we couldn’t score a bloody goal at SJP against rubbish sides. The best a goal tender can do is keep you in a game. You can’t win if you can’t score! These bizarre rants by you an Sinbad O’Conor really don’t contribute anything. If you’ve got a decent argument, by all means, enlighten us, but check the “I know but I can’t tell you” rubbish at the door. You’re not going to change any minds with that bollocks.
Johnny Utah
Sep 6, 2007 at 4:43 AM
Comment #43Why care…aren’t you happy we are winning or drawing games and not losing?
Harper looks good, wait for him to mess up and then bring in Given…and so on.
Rotation systems are great and the competition has to make the team stronger. If Given plays well when he gets his chance (which he always does) then Harper will be back on the bench.
I will be a happy man to see these repeat injuries or tweaks as a thing of the past. Rushing people back does nothing good for the player or the team.
Jim
Sep 6, 2007 at 7:38 AM
Comment #44Press cannot help but try and stir thinGs up at SJP,must be the southern mob
rich
Sep 6, 2007 at 7:58 AM
Comment #45As i said before Given was injured, the same re-occuring injury so its not like he has just been replaced by Harper for no reason.
and as for these people saying they have ‘inside’ information that big sam doesnt like Given i think thats pure rubbish, i remember before the Burnley game Big Sam said in an interview ‘I hope to get Given back on the field, hes been nursing his injury for a while now and is still getting back to fitness but the Burnley game should be a good run out for him’ something along those lines.
really sounds like Big Sam doesnt like Given.
Jeezus.
apan
Sep 6, 2007 at 8:05 AM
Comment #46given just recovered from an injury, why rush him? BSA knows what his doing
Toon Chicken
Sep 6, 2007 at 8:18 AM
Comment #47Shay’s married to a bonny lass from Hexham. He loves life in the Toon. He won’t be going anywhere – except maybe back to Ireland when he retires.
He’s just come back from injury and will have to prove himself in training and with the reserves, just like Michael Owen did.
Don’t worry, it won’t be too long before we see Shay back between the sticks. Remember, form is temporary but class is permanent!
Lamesley Mag
Sep 6, 2007 at 10:57 AM
Comment #48BSA continues to look after his players and does not rush them back quickly. Shay has 2 international games this week; Harper has none.
We all agree, Shay is No-1, but Harper is an adequate deputy and it’s essential we do not rush Shay back to soon. If Shay has any knid of strain after returning from international duty, expect Harper to start at Derby……
Bosck
Sep 6, 2007 at 11:21 AM
Comment #49Quite simply sinead the club would be better off without supporters like you.
Exactly how do you quantify your claim that there is a rift within the squad. All evidence suggests the opposite. some of the characters with previous history of stirring trouble have left, two more that were accused of it last season have gone out of their way in recent interviews to praise the manager and club. We are unbeaten and gradually gaining momentum even before the team has gelled.
All the noises coming from every squad member interviewed are positive.
Allardyce has of course been talking about owen and martins, because that us who the press continually ask about due to the fact that owen is englands number 1 striker, so the press will want to know if he is playing.
as for the claims about harper being prefered to given i have just checked every major football site i can think of for reports from allardyce even remotely suggesting harper is prefered. the only ones you can find is allardyce talking about when given will be back. allardyce will take things slowly and bring given in gradually so as not to aggravate the injury. if he has too good games for ireland then we may see him back in but he has to be 100% fit first.
most of this is just the press spouting rubbish, as they can not find there usual favourite negative stories about newcastle so are twisting words and making them up. the fact that some fans on here are jumping on the band wagon shows how fickle some fans are.
oh and you guys dont need to be quite so harsh on southerners there are a few of us that are ok!! i’m a born and bred southerner but the toon are my one and only team!!!
Bosck
Sep 6, 2007 at 11:32 AM
Comment #50oh yeah i should point out that harper is also a legend in my eyes for a different reason to given. Given to me has the slight edge over harper but i’d still say harper is in the top 10 keepers in the league, he could have been no.1 at most other clubs but he has stayed loyal to his home town team and is ready to play whenever called upon and just work hard for the squad.
You dont find many players these days with such a loyal and hardworking attitude.
Darren
Sep 6, 2007 at 11:40 AM
Comment #51Now I know you don’t attend games Rich, when did we play Burnley?
The rest of you can keep the muck coming all you want but time will tell. I’m not anti Newcastle or anti Given and I’m not pro Harper. I’m just telling you like it is. And sorry I could put the name on here of who told me this but do you not think that would cause more trouble than it is worth?
If people don’t want to believe it then fair enough but what is the point of this blog otherwise? It is to promote discussion yet I am being flamed for giving you an informed piece of info. God help me if I just expressed an opinion. Without the comments this blog would just be a rehash of Chronicle/Nufc.co.uk articles along with the usual “we think sam is clever/great/excellent/correct/experienced/a motivator” line stuck on the end.
Bosck
Sep 6, 2007 at 12:19 PM
Comment #52darren the point of this site is to promote a discussion, and stating opinions would be perfect and noone would have a problem with you for doing so.
However to state what you claim are facts but not give us any evidence to support them is not creating a discussion or stating an opinion, it is making a statement and expecting everyone to accept it totally unsubstantiated.
I dont see what the problem is with telling everyone who told you, if it is true then it is hardly going to remain a secret as harper will continue to play in front of given, so why would your source care about being revealed. If it is not true then they may face reprocussions but then they shouldnt have said it in the first place if it wasnt true and they couldnt back it up.
Bosck
Sep 6, 2007 at 12:26 PM
Comment #53and finally, why if allardyce prefers harper to given would he allocate the squad numbers; 1 to given, and 13 to harper. if harper was going to be his first choice he’d get the 1 shirt.
rich
Sep 6, 2007 at 12:55 PM
Comment #54@ Darren –
Barnsley, Burnley, Bolton their all the same 😀 i posted that at like 7:30 in the morning my brain was just kick starting.
as one of the previous posters says your not getting flamed for your opinion, its because your saying you know something for a fact but you cant say how or why you know.
you say you cant name the person, but seriously, do you think Sky Sports News are giong to write a front page story that someone on a blog said Terry Mcdermot told him that etc..etc..
no, only we pay attention to what you say, no newcastle officials will care, no one in the press will care.
so their is no reason for you not to reveal how you know what you are saying.
If you just attemped to add a slight bit of credence to your claim then people wouldnt get so annoyed.
SS
Sep 6, 2007 at 1:11 PM
Comment #55Its a slow day for news in the papers once the transfer window closes……
lets give them something else to write about.
Elvis was spotted at the training ground just before the transfer window closed – BSA planning a shock bid in January. Its true – but I cant reveal my sources
Some ancient maps unearthed in the city library last week , prove conculsively that SJP was built on the site of an ancient indian burial ground. MA is going to physically lift and move the ground onto the town moor during the next international break so the site can be cleared. Its true but I cant reveal my sources.
Arsenal are going to have 6 points deducted – Officials found a button in the home dug-out which could reduce or extend the goal posts by as much as 4 inches. Its true, but I really cant reveal my sources.
Scientists at Newcastle University, have identified that because the numper of pages in the tabloids stays the same, the amount of bollocks printed in newspapers is inversely proportional to the amount of real news there is to print.
etc etc.
Ed Harrison
Sep 6, 2007 at 1:19 PM
Comment #56Bossck – that’s not true – they would just keep the same squad numbers – they are allocated right at the start of the season when training starts….and players already having numbers very rarely are changed – even for goalkeepers.
SS
Sep 6, 2007 at 1:32 PM
Comment #57and apparently….
During his recent medical, prior to joining Wigan, doctors were astonished to find that self styled defender, Titus Bramble, actually has his feet attached to the opposite legs. BSA paid for an operation to have them reversed out of his own pocket.
Scientists at Newcastle University have also discovered that the chant of “Keanoooooooo” can attract seagulls from many miles, and acts as a natural laxative for the species. Representatives from the Stadium of Shite were unavailable for comment.
The BBC announced today that Luciano Pavarotti’s dying wish was for his body to be preserved and left on display in an executive box at Saint James Park. Fans at the club will be encouraged to wave at the famous deceased tenor at half time, in a deal which will see a similar arrangement for singer Cliff Richards in the opposite direction to Inter Milan in the near future.
La La La – easy money…….
WelshWizard
Sep 6, 2007 at 1:59 PM
Comment #58SS
your a funny Guy/Lass….
Bosck
Sep 6, 2007 at 2:18 PM
Comment #59ed – i know the squad numbers were allocated at the start of the season and are rarely changed. but the top goalkeeper at a club invariably wears the no.1 shirt. therefore if allardyce did prefer harper as has been said, then when the allocations were done at the start of the season he would have allocated the number 1 shirt to harper.
Sinead
Sep 6, 2007 at 7:50 PM
Comment #60Bosck
I’m not really much of a Toon fan, when I say that, they’re not my first team, but I like them but looking at how some of ye “fans” are talking about Given, who if he had any sense should have walked years ago. I don’t know anymore. If he’s still put on the bench in the next game and then the next then he should walk. It’s just not logical that a better keeper sits on the bench after everything he’s done for the club. I don’t care how loyal Harper has been. The truth is that I don’t believe for a second that he would of stayed if a club like Arsenal wanted him.
But the way some of ye are talking about Given’s a joke. Ye wouldn’t even be in the Championship if Given hadn’t been there with ye. Ye are so blind to that though, it’s allways annoyed the hell out of me that ye always took him for granted. Always even if ye say ye don’t I actually don’t think that ye realise how lucky ye are.
Those of ye who think Harper is just as good or Given’s only a small bit better are kinda delusional.
Ye, admit it or not, most of ye think that ye don’t need him anymore, because ye’ve played a couple of games and haven’t lost. Ye think that ye don’t need him anymore. So why not sell him and get a striker eh??
This is from another article and I think that it’s the real reason why Given isn’t playing….
“Given is one of the best in Europe, and for the past couple of years I have believed that if Harper was getting regular first-team football he would have a chance of playing for England.”
Em, anyone see the hidden agenda in there??
If things keep going the way it’s going, then Given will be gone by the end of the season. And the way some of ye are acting and the new found “confidence” or should I say cockiness of the club, he’s better off.
Sinead
Sep 6, 2007 at 8:02 PM
Comment #61I don’t mean that about all Newcastle fans, some are grand but like, come on..
Bosck nobody wanted Harper, I don’t think ye would of stayed if someone like Arsenal or a list of top clubs he would have left. Given though, he did have offers, he’s one of the best keepers in Europe and yet he chose to be loyal and stayed behind one of the worst defences in England. He’s given so much to the club like and he’s the patience of the saint to stay there.
WelshWizard
Sep 6, 2007 at 8:26 PM
Comment #62@ Sinead
Given is the best keeper in the EPL and one of the top keepers in Europe but the way you talk about him and dis the Newcastle fans makes me wonder, “Are you his Mother”
Have you actually read what he’s said on our official site today, doesn’t seem like he’s about to have “showdown talks”
Sinead
Sep 6, 2007 at 8:47 PM
Comment #63I’m sorry but ye actually can’t see it, ye can’t. Ya I read that. And the showdown talks thing is just the media messing around, winding everyone up. Maybe if ye weren’t so biased ye’d see how ye’re actually acting.
Jóhann
Sep 6, 2007 at 10:11 PM
Comment #64Really I´m I reading correctly? Sinead take you for example. Newcastle would be in the Championsship if it wasn´t for given. OH really? How did you find that out? Have you lived that life before or?
I understand if people like a player and support him but don´t be stupid. It´s obvious to see that Harper has less flaws than Given. Harper has made his mistakes. If you think about it, he comes into a big game with no support from anyone, does it really surprise you when he makes one mistake? And to talk about that damn mistake. It was on his left foot, don´t expect him to be perfect he´ll only learn from that. Next time he´ll put it to a throw in.
Given is a legend blabla. That infuriates me a lot when people say that. Legend for what? “Keeping us in the championsship haha” He was as much of a part of that “Titus Bramble” defense as any. He isn´t commanding enough, vocal enough or trusty enough. Given has good positioning and reflex saves. But when the ball is heading for the corner, no way given is gonna get there. Trust me you will see this better in the future. You So called blind given fans will see when Harper gets his run why results go for the better. Not because Bramble is gone, it´s simple because we have a better keeper. And when Tim Krul comes in goal who is one of the best potential keepers I have seen then we´ll see a true world class keeper.
And yes some one was angry because Cech was called the best. Dude what you say is the other way around. Cech makes Terry look good and all of the rest of the defense. Why isn´t Terry as superb with england? Yeb I see you found your answer yourself.
Rich
Sep 6, 2007 at 10:14 PM
Comment #65I stopped reading Sineads ramblings after she said:
“I’m not really much of a Toon fan…”
I think we have all noticed.
And most Toon fans are like me, they hold Given in as high regard as Alan Shearer, both legends of equal status IMO, its just one gets more cover in the press because he was a striker and the press dont really splash top class saves across the back page.
Given = Toon Legend
Shearer = Toon Legend
i just hope when Shay retires at the ripe old age of 40 we will erect a bronze statue along side Shearer & Jackie, he deserves it.
DaithÃ
Sep 6, 2007 at 10:28 PM
Comment #66sinead you should really calm down. no need to read so much into things
Sinead
Sep 6, 2007 at 11:10 PM
Comment #67Jóhann
See you are one of many Newcastle fans who take him for granted. If Given leaves, (just say the press aren’t exagerating things) then I’d like to see you repeat yourself.
We did see Harper have a run of games and we finished lower then ever last year. Injuries or how bad the teams played never made a difference before when Given was in goal. And you’re actually dilusional if you think that Harper is better then Given.
I would love if Given played for us, but apparently ye’re too good for him. I’m not a blind Given fan but you seemed pretty blind, by the bias. Wow ye won or and drew 6 matches. OH..