Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper, who captained the side against Manchester United last week, has come out today and said this weekend’s game is the “biggest game in his time at the club”.
Steve Harper – biggest game for him at Newcastle
That’s good that Steve has said that, just in case other Newcastle players don’t realize the huge mess we are in right now, and the fact that relegation is a real possibility if we don’t vastly improve our results in the final 10 games of the season.
The Easington-born star was signed for his local club back in 1993 by Kevin Keegan, so this statement says how important the outcome of Saturday’s relegation battle is, especially after he nudged out Shay Given and started the FA Cup Final in May of 1999 against Manchester United, which we lost 2-0. This is a bigger game than even that one for Steve.
Hull are on 32 points,and a full 4 points clear of Newcastle, after they scored a last minute winner in their game at Craven Cottage. That game was Hull’s first victory since December 6th and stopped a streak of 11 games without a win.
Harper told nufcTV today:
“We know how big this game is,” “Make no mistake; this really is a relegation six-pointer.”
“I said last year before the game against Birmingham at exactly the same stage of the season that it was the biggest game in the club’s recent history.”
“Thankfully that night we got a draw which kick-started a run of seven games unbeaten which ultimately kept us up.”
“And I’ve got no problem about saying this game at Hull is just as big.” “We need the three points. You don’t get these games back.”
“I look at the table and it doesn’t lie, we really are in the thick of it.” “A good result at Hull though could act as a catalyst and we need to come out and show some real character.”
“We’ve got to produce a performance like that against Man United last week; if we do that then I’m confident we’ll get a result.”
This will be a tough game to watch, unless we can go ahead like we did against WBA, but even in that game, when we were 3-1 up at half time, the last 20 minutes was agony, once WBA scored their second goal.
Hull are hardly an easy side to play either, and we’ll need to match them for spirit and effort first, and if we can do that, our extra skill should count.
But in the 3 games we’ve played against them this season, we still haven’t won.
So this will be a good time to do just that – obviously.
Comments welcome.
108 comments so far
beyethegreat
Mar 11, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Comment #81yeah batty
we should win those but how many games have we played where we shouold have woni dunno about the bricking it part some of our better more experienced players should be back by then
owen-legendary in the big g ames
gutierrez-always works hard some times too hard but you cant fault his spirit
beye-has played in finals before so should be used to pressure
taylor s-what you say about his ability but has a spot on attitued
nolan-stayed up with bolton
and there are more
beyethegreat
Mar 11, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Comment #82i batty i remember you telling me about stoke they have great fans by far the loudest this season
Alanmc09
Mar 11, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Comment #83Remember the last time we played stoke in da britannia!!dey were all ova us!
Wasnt dat big sams last game in charge!!
batty
Mar 11, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Comment #84beye iam sure stokes pitch is the smallest in the prem thats why they do pretty well at home m8
beyethegreat
Mar 11, 2009 at 11:09 PM
Comment #85alan
it was
IrishMan
Mar 11, 2009 at 11:10 PM
Comment #86Batty,
Like most of us, realised for a while we were in the soup, but Blackburn’s win tonight makes it murkier.
Alanmc09,
Originally from Cork, but now living outside Dublin.
Alanmc09
Mar 11, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Comment #87Batty-the pitch is a lot bigger than craven cottage + fratton park!
The fans are very load alrite and delaps long throws are awful dangerous!
beyethegreat
Mar 11, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Comment #88batty
i dunno but that will be a difficult game we might win with 1 of mo’s 1 chance wonders
batty
Mar 11, 2009 at 11:12 PM
Comment #89Alanmc09 i was at the game m8 ide say 50 50 but joh parkin missed a sitter yes it was his last game in charge
Alanmc09
Mar 11, 2009 at 11:13 PM
Comment #90Irishman-fairplay!up the irish!
Sum pis5-up on st.paddys day and we should have the 6 nations championship wrapped up by then!
Alanmc09
Mar 11, 2009 at 11:17 PM
Comment #91I remember watchin it on bbc alrite!!great game it was 2!parkin + shawcross both missed sitters!
Hopefully it will be far from a repeat when we play them on april 11th!
IrishMan
Mar 11, 2009 at 11:18 PM
Comment #92Alanmc09,
Wouldn’t count my chickens. We still need to beat the Welsh in Cardiff, presuming we will be going for the grand slam by then.
Alanmc09
Mar 11, 2009 at 11:22 PM
Comment #93Wales will b awful tough alrite!!our forwards are in great form though and i would prefer our backs anyday!!
Eircom league started friday-i have 30 euro on bo’s 2 win it and 50 euro on shamrock rovers 4 a top-3 finish!
IrishMan
Mar 11, 2009 at 11:28 PM
Comment #94Will check Paddy Power for odds on Eircom league. Might put a few on Cork City or Derry.
Ashley Hole
Mar 12, 2009 at 4:58 AM
Comment #95…so now we need other team help to survive!!!!
Blackburn played with energy……i hope Toon too can doo….buu buu buu!!!
bennytoon
Mar 12, 2009 at 8:37 AM
Comment #96Great result for Blackburn last night. Really pleased for them. I hope they can now stay up.
Geordiedoonsooth
Mar 12, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Comment #97Just read this article:
http://www.rivals.net/news/pgarticle.aspx?artid=13498_5040070&id=55
Alan Suddick for those of us old enought to remember the 60’s was one of our better players he played for England U23’s and should have gone on to greater things than Blackpool. Sad to hear about his illness.
komfort
Mar 12, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Comment #98batty , where are you i’ve got something to tell you.
bennytoon
Mar 12, 2009 at 9:35 AM
Comment #99This makes great reading
16 Stoke City 28 7 8 13 27 44 -17 29 8
17 Newcastle United 28 6 10 12 34 45 -11 28 5
18 Portsmouth 27 7 7 13 29 44 -15 28 4
19 Middlesbrough 28 6 8 14 20 40 -20 26 5
20 West Bromwich Albion 28 6 4 18 25 54 -29
batty
Mar 12, 2009 at 9:41 AM
Comment #100komfot here just been picking sum donkeys
komfort
Mar 12, 2009 at 9:47 AM
Comment #101batty , it was just to let you know stardust’s horse is running in the 3.20 today MOBASSHER , it’s 20/1 do you think we should have a little nibble on it ?.
batty
Mar 12, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Comment #102it must have a chance eachway komort allreay looked at it m8 and i thought aboot stardust ha
Micky Toon
Mar 12, 2009 at 9:52 AM
Comment #103Pfft – Delaps long throws for stoke are easily stopped. All you have to do is stick someone in his face. Have someone standing on the touchline right in his face. There’s nothing in the laws to prevent this.
If we do get relegated it won’t be down to anyone on the board, as some would like it to be, it won’t be down to any so called mob, as some would like it to be, it will be down to us not having the right coaches and players for a relegation battle. We need fighters in the team and in the coaching staff and at the moment we have neither. Can you really see anyone who has the charisma and guile to motivate the team for a battle? Me neither. The leader is at home recovering from heart problems and his oppo’s who he left in charge may be good technically, but don’t strike me as motivators. I hate to say it, but this is exactly where Keegans style of management would work.
komfort
Mar 12, 2009 at 9:53 AM
Comment #104batty , i think it would be the cardinal sin if we missed it …ha ha ha
DJG
Mar 12, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Comment #105The players are saying too much about this game it will only serve to big up Hull aswell.
We need a lucky goal but I don’t see us scoring many down there.
batty
Mar 12, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Comment #106Micky Toon but you say its not down to the board m8 but who employs the coaches
DJG
Mar 12, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Comment #107Even our reserves could only manage 1-1 at Hull.
Why do I feel we will all be biting our nails on Sat. Hate to say it but I just can’t see us winning but another draw wouldn’t be enough with the matches we have coming up. Owen and Harper will have to play out of their skin and neither are on good form.
Micky Toon
Mar 12, 2009 at 10:08 AM
Comment #108batty – What I’m trying to say is that the board don’t have a direct influence on what happens on match days.