Since May of this year former Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper has been a free agent after his contract was not extended at Hull City – who were relegated to the Championship last May.
Steve is the longest serving player in Newcastle United’s history having been at the club for twenty years from the summer of 1993 when Kevin Keegan signed him from his home town club Seaham Red Star.
Steve Harper – after his last game for Newcastle in 2013
The ACL injury that the unlucky Tim Krul picked up on Saturday night in Kazakhstan is one of the worst injuries you can get in football.
In the past it ended good careers – and one that comes to mind is that of Brian Clough – who at the young age of 27 picked up the injury playing for Sunderland after colliding with a goalkeeper.
Brian tried to return to the game two years later but he managed only three games before he finally retired from the game to go on to become one of the greatest English managers of all time.
We know that’s true because that’s what Brian said.
And of course here is in one of his very many famous quotes:
“I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one.”
Even though Brian essentially played only until the age of 27 he still managed to score 251 goals in 274 total appearances for Middlesbrough and Sunderland combined.
Back to Tim Krul.
Steve Harper has today commiserated with Tim Krul – who will have a long rehabilitation before he can come back to playing again – maybe if he’s lucky by pre-season next summer – but there’s no guarantee of that.
This is what the 40 year-old Harper told Sky Sports News:
“It is an awful injury,” “People say that breaks are better than cruciate injuries and he has got to write off the rest of the season and concentrate on getting himself right.”
“He has had one or two injuries recently as well so just when he was looking forward to getting back to top form it has come at an awful time. “He won’t be a good patient, knowing him.”
“He’ll be like a bear with a sore head in and around the training ground and medical room but I wish him a speedy and full recovery.”
Even though Steve Harper was at Newcastle for twenty years he played 199 games for us with Tim Krul currently on 185 appearances.
We have to hope that Tim has a full and complete recovery from his ACL and as soon as possible.
Comments welcome.
54 comments so far
Toon-Prodigy
Oct 12, 2015 at 11:28 PM
Comment #41Jail,
I wish he would wipe that smile off his face when he is awful! Apparantly some other player placed a curse on him it won’t name who though. Wonder who that was?
Blackley and Brownlie
Oct 12, 2015 at 11:38 PM
Comment #42Jibber Jabber
I’m simply offering Ed some constructive criticism of his articles with the sole aim of improvement of the blog.
You shouldn’t make your reader work too hard. It’s well known that readers will quickly switch off and move on if you do. I know Ed produces decent articles but some of them recently have needed some serious editing.
This latest article starts with two paragraphs on Steve Harper’s background; the reader doesn’t see the relevance. Then it jumps to Tim Krul’s injury without any link. Then it digresses to Brian Clough, his classic quotes and his record. Then it says “Back to Tim Krul”.
It’s only near the end that we find out how why were getting all this information. The kernel of the article can be divined from the paragraph:
“Steve Harper has today commiserated with Tim Krul – who will have a long rehabilitation before he can come back to playing again – maybe if he’s lucky by pre-season next summer – but there’s no guarantee of that.”
I’m sure if Ed can happily criticise in the blogosphere John Carver’s professionalism, even tangentially when it has little or no bearing to his articles, he will accept some constructive criticism from me in relation to his own work.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 12, 2015 at 11:39 PM
Comment #43Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy,
I love your blind faith but where is the evidence we are rebuilding, from what, the last shambles ? We’ve spent more money on more untested players as opposed to buy out clauses and end of contracts, they are still gambles that will be sold if they come good, how can a mindset that didn’t want to win a cup change just like that, they should actually be charged with crimes against football for admitting they didn’t want to compete in cup competitions!
Jail for Ashley
Oct 12, 2015 at 11:42 PM
Comment #44Blackas,
I thought you and jiberish were kindred spirits ?
BandB
Oct 12, 2015 at 11:43 PM
Comment #45You are really agonising over this jimmy aren’t you?
And wanting things to turn out for the best.
I really enjoy seeing you quietly thinking it through on here and always look forward to reading it.
I do.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 12, 2015 at 11:45 PM
Comment #46Blackas,
Do you actually read any of Ed’s articles anymore ?
jimmysmith
Oct 12, 2015 at 11:48 PM
Comment #47Ha, yeah, it’s true, I’m in it. For better or worse.. Guilty as charged. I’m sure I’m not the only one.
BandB
Oct 12, 2015 at 11:49 PM
Comment #48I bloody hope you are(n’t)
jimmysmith
Oct 12, 2015 at 11:57 PM
Comment #49Jail, it’s not blind faith. You’re being a bit naughty there. I wouldn’t apply such a simplistic and dismissive tag to your views
Blackley and Brownlie
Oct 13, 2015 at 12:06 AM
Comment #50Jail
Jibber Jabber and me, kindred spirits? Not likely. Just think old Jibber is good value. You can’t knock him back with a shitty stick. He’s bulletproof.
Do I read Ed’s articles? They help me keep up with what’s going on where I previously scanned NewsNow. But more quality less quantity would be preferable because some are hard going.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2015 at 12:07 AM
Comment #51Jimmy,
Maybe I’m wrong, and after eight years of cold hearted, SD driven mis management that Mashers has had a change of heart and has decided to make us a success, putting Lee Churnley in charge of it all doesn’t fill me full of hope though, Bob Moncur a board member, a relegated Beardo in charge of the youth set up, club heroes in need of jobs, misplaced PR.
Blackley and Brownlie
Oct 13, 2015 at 12:08 AM
Comment #52Jail
Do you read his articles?
Jail for Ashley
Oct 13, 2015 at 12:12 AM
Comment #53Blackas,
He’s not bullet proof at all, he’ll just disappear when proved wrong, won’t hold his hands up or apologise but straight off the mark when you do a typo or get a stat wrong because you haven’t googled it first.
jimmysmith
Oct 13, 2015 at 12:23 AM
Comment #54Yes, but don’t you think you accentuate the negative? Isn’t there also another side to the coin? And aren’t they all, positive and negative and neutral, just indicators of varying size and weight, and not evidence at all.