Shay Given thinks the excellent win over Valencia last Saturday, will give the lads the confidence they need, when they go to Old Trafford next Sunday, for the start of this seasons’ Premier league.
Shay Given - confidence high in Newcastle camp
It turns out that Steve Harper was supposed to start the game on Saturday, but suffered a slight injury and so Shay stepped in and played the full game.
We’re still not sure who will start against Manchester United, since Kevin Keegan has still not played his hand on this one yet.
Given talked about last Saturday’s game:
“If you reeled off their whole team, they are all big names in Europe.â€
“They have a fantastic team, and even the ones who came off the bench are well known international players.â€
“It’s a nice boost for us. We know that pre-season games aren’t the most important thing, but it’s given us some confidence going to Manchester United next week.â€
“We had only won at Hartlepool before Valencia, but now we’re building up to Sunday.â€
“The pre-season games are about fitness and we have to be ready to rock at Old Trafford.”
Given must be delighted with the way his Irish team-mate Damien Duff is playing right now, and the Irishman is showing his best form ever at Newcastle.
Duff’s great header after 78 minutes cancelled out Joaquin Sanchez’s first-half goal, and James Milner struck in injury time, to give Newcastle a hard-fought and fully deserved win.
Shay continued:
“We’re delighted to get a win over a good team,”
“The winner was late in coming, but better late than never.â€
“We really worked hard in the game and deserved our win in the end.”
The real challenge starts on Sunday for the lads, and as we’ve said before, anything but a loss will be a win for us.
We must get a good start to the season, and make it one that really counts, because it’s so important for the Newcastle club that we do very well this season.
Comments welcome.
22 responses so far ↓
1 Lacedaemonian // Aug 11, 2008 at 19:23
Aye I think Man Utd will be a different game though.
2 Rob Lee // Aug 11, 2008 at 19:25
With Given on form this season and Coloccini / Bassong at heart of defence we’ll fly this season….if we get at least two new signings! Anyone heard any rumours of who might be coming in todays transfer news?
3 Christoon // Aug 11, 2008 at 19:33
fingers crossed, valencia had a strong side out on saturday and i doubt they wanted to lose so it was an amazing effort fron the toon, man u will be tough but with their injuries and the mancs expecting an easy start i honestly think they will be surprised, maybe an early goal for the toon that will wake united up, mmm we’ll see, fingers crossed
4 Bill F SPLASH THE CASH ASH // Aug 11, 2008 at 19:35
Portsmouth were bloo*y lucky not to get thrashed on Sunday, the chances ManU had and squandered. We are going to have to hit the ground running to get a result even without their star players. Still it’s a new season and it’s eleven v eleven (depending on what team KK picks, oops better not say any more there) as they say. The main thing is that we do not go there expecting to lose, players and fans alike.
5 ADtoonAM // Aug 11, 2008 at 19:37
hey lads never posted on here before but always read ur comments and enjoy the crack lol, find this link quite a laugh too read th comments. http://manutdblogger.com/united-vs-newcastle-more-zebra-bashing-anyone/
6 ADtoonAM // Aug 11, 2008 at 19:40
any body here wish it was sunday now, a know I do, lol.
7 beye the great // Aug 11, 2008 at 19:44
i hope we just dont get thrashed
8 toonbully // Aug 11, 2008 at 19:51
Fact is Manu haven’t had to buy any players really . Therfore their side is not full of unknowns , the squad all know each other , and even their ‘ weakened ‘ side stuffed a Pompey side , who on paper looks top 5 or 6 material , and thats the way Harry wants them to be.
Honestly I think we will struggle at Old Trafford on sunday , we still don’t know what our final squad is , who is fit , and who is playing where , not really good prep againts the Premiership Champs .
I would love to say a draw but my head says 3-1 ManU …SORRY>>Lads……..
9 Mad_Magpie // Aug 11, 2008 at 19:59
Anybody know much about Aleksander Solli? He’s from Norway and has been invited for a trial. Sorry if already mentioned. Here is the Norwegian link:
http://www.moss-dagblad.no/mer_fotball/1-divisjon/article3713367.ece
10 davi // Aug 11, 2008 at 20:03
Nothing to do with Football.. but is still Newcastle.
I have just heard about the murders of the two Chinese students in the area and am totally gutted.
Firstly for the lives lost of two innocent young people who were a long way from home - trying to improve their lives.
Secondly that so many people in Newcastle have invested so much recently into showing the world that it is a place of art, culture, sport, industry and with a cosmopolitan inclusive community which - by enlarge - doesn’t have any of the racial tensions, such as you find in other major UK cities.
I remember walking through the city centre not so long ago with my Japanese girlfriend and hearing gangs of twat lads shouting racist comments… I put this down as a rare case of the ignorant retard minority but in the back of my mind worry that there are still pockets of people who resent the world beyond there own twisted inbred backyard…
My thoughts are with the families of the two students and I hope that the city will make every effort to show people that Newcastle is a safe and welcoming part of the world after all.
11 reillers // Aug 11, 2008 at 20:05
Oh aye, we need a good start. What he says, it tends to be the general feeling in the club. He’s a good wee lad, doesn’t go on for the sake of it. I think he’ll start a head of Harper, he’s done well, he’s worked really, really hard in pre season and pre, pre season while everyone else was soaking up the sun. I think Keegan will start Shay. When both keepers are fully fit, Shay is the better one in my opinion and I think, I hope he’ll start Given.
12 ed_speed // Aug 11, 2008 at 20:31
hi guys ed here ( ed speed)
good piont davi, newcaslte is a far nicer city than some of those midland sh1t holes, this is bad news indeed, hopefuuly a one off.
cheers, ed
13 toonbully // Aug 11, 2008 at 20:50
Mad Magpie , that links aboot as useful as given me instructions on how to get to Scarborough via Moscow . Its all in bleeding Norwegian , do a look Nordish like??
14 CRAIGG // Aug 11, 2008 at 21:10
Look if we win its incredible, If we draw its fantastic and if we lose nobody would raise an eye brow.
There is nothing to lose and its best to get it out of the way.
15 Tjodalf // Aug 11, 2008 at 21:36
hehe, æ e norsk å te å me trønder. Å æ shønnt ailt æ.
16 Punk Skunk // Aug 11, 2008 at 21:54
Tjodalf, where did you get that craaazy keypad?..
17 Lasse // Aug 11, 2008 at 22:25
Vær hilset Tjodalf!
Bodøværing her
Men la oss ikke drive disse engelsmennene til vettet med disse rare ekstrabokstavene vi har
Don`t know anything about this guy. Plays for the norwegian version of the championship. Regarded as one for the future. Plays for the norwegian U18 team.
Claims he is to play a friendly with the Newcastle- reserves and some first team players. He will hopefully be gentle with little Micky
18 k-man // Aug 11, 2008 at 23:00
He will play in a “behind the door” friendly with us this wednesday.
19 clinta // Aug 12, 2008 at 7:53
It’s just important we don’t get smashed (again) really! for the teams confidence, so we can have a decent little run as apart from game one we’ve got an easier start than most.
but like craigg said, nothing to lose so who knows?
20 Optimist // Aug 12, 2008 at 8:32
Valencia struggled last year in the Spanish League. Nothing to get too excited about.
21 Aussie Charlie // Aug 12, 2008 at 12:21
Stuff Man U. Scholes is old, that ronaldo fella is injured, Carrick secretly wishes he was playing for us and their backs are all hideously ugly. Duff for another hat trick
22 Mexi-Toon // Aug 13, 2008 at 3:33
Really, Ronaldo is out injured, along with Rooney,
Nani is suspended, Anderson is in the Olympics, so, they won’t have their strongest side out there. Let’s pray we can pull out a win!
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