Steve Harper is getting a little fed up with the Newcastle squad doing well in training, but not being able to produce that good form on match days.
Steve Harper - fed up with team shooting themselves in the foot
In addition of course the team keeps shooting themselves in the foot with silly mistakes.
While Steve Harper is the second choice goalkeeper at Newcastle he is still one of the senior players and whenever he talks he’s down to earth and tell it like it is.
Here’s what Steve Harper told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle today:
“The manager is the perfect man to lift us out of this. He knows the club inside out and can help us.”
“We started brightly last week at home and gave away a poor goal before conceding the killer.” “We need three points and the sooner we get them the better.”
“It’s frustrating we are putting good quality work in on the training field but it’s not happening on match days.” “There was a bit of a fightback when Abdoulaye Faye pulled a goal back. But 3-0 is a mountain to climb.”
“We gave ourselves something of a lifeline when we scored and then shot ourselves in the foot.” “That seems to be the tale of what we are doing at the moment.”
“Until we stop doing that we will be our own worst enemies.” “We have to stop that.” “It’s a collective thing, we have to win and lose as a team.” “We have to fight for this club.”
While Steve will definitely get the start against Blackburn Rovers this Saturday, it’s still not clear what will happen to Shay Given for the rest of the season. The latest news is that Shay will seek a second opinion about his now chronic groin injury.
Shay Given - continually troubled by his groin these last 18 months
Given is scheduled to visit a top European specialist after an initial prognosis was that an operation would be necessary.
Were not sure that an operation right now wouldn’t be the exact right thing to do. It just doesn’t seem right that Shay has to keep coming out of games injured and it can hardly be good for him that he keeps re-injuring the groin. It’s turned into a physical weakness for him and the sooner it’s fixed the better.
It would also give Steve Harper a good run of 11 games in the side, and Steve is very close to Shay in goalkeeping skills.
We don’t think Newcastle should take any risks with Given, other than to ensure the long serving Irishman is good to go, when next season comes around.
What do you think about this?
Comments welcome.
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46 responses so far ↓
1 chris_toon // Feb 28, 2008 at 18:42
i fink harper is a betta keeper thn given - well now neway ne1 else or just me lol
2 Leo* I HATE NICKY BUTT // Feb 28, 2008 at 18:44
i think you mean that it would be good for him to get an operation….?
3 Leo* I HATE NICKY BUTT // Feb 28, 2008 at 18:47
you know when i read the title i thought, hear we go, another article trying to destabalise the toon, due to the double story in on article, as i thought that it meant that harper was fed up because given is getting a second opinion…
4 ToonUSA // Feb 28, 2008 at 18:51
Chris I think he has been below par since his injury and i don’t think he is back to the way he was before the West Ham game. Harper can be the transition guy for the youngsters Kurl and Foster. I would even consider getting some $$ for Given in the summer.
5 scotty // Feb 28, 2008 at 18:55
If Shay has been carrying this injury for so long then why is he being selected? Come on man it’s not rocket science!!! We have more than a capable, if not better deputy than him in the local lad. Krul and forster also looking the part we have no worries in this department at all.
6 cooldj // Feb 28, 2008 at 19:10
lol leo at least you didn’t get in first either.
7 GP // Feb 28, 2008 at 19:13
Krul is recovering from a dislocated shoulder, and I think he’s going back to Falkirk for the remainder of the season when he comes back. If he comes back before the end of the season anyway.
8 Leo* I HATE NICKY BUTT // Feb 28, 2008 at 19:15
cooldj i think you must be a bit of the pace today, its still 3-1
9 Stamford Toon // Feb 28, 2008 at 19:17
Keegan should not have taken a chance playing Shay against Man U. It was foolish
10 cooldj // Feb 28, 2008 at 19:17
yeah man busy day(unlike some mister bruce almighty
). busy week in fact but i, like the toon, will bounce back strong this weekend!!
11 Leo* I HATE NICKY BUTT // Feb 28, 2008 at 19:22
its munich now… great film. then syrianna next. another great film
12 cooldj // Feb 28, 2008 at 19:24
seen munich-fantastic but long. never seen syrianna but i have seen goal-well before i walked out
13 Tom_Toon // Feb 28, 2008 at 19:26
syrianna, nooooooooooooooooooo, poor poor film, like munich though
14 Leo* I HATE NICKY BUTT // Feb 28, 2008 at 19:26
haha goal film is too bad. “newcastle is playing full ham” haha. made me crease
15 briss // Feb 28, 2008 at 19:29
Given kept getting selected because he is better than harper, even though the latter is a local lad Given is far more experienced and his dive is like a puma, its simply amazing. Harper is a close second though i give him that
16 cooldj // Feb 28, 2008 at 19:50
anyone seen no country for old men if so what did you think of the ending??
i want to see there will be blood but i’m still watching last years films (half way through last king of scot)…
17 Leo* I HATE NICKY BUTT // Feb 28, 2008 at 19:52
i havnt seen country for old men, but last king of the yocks is a good film.
we have turned this clog into a general man disussion about anything haha
18 mikeygd // Feb 28, 2008 at 19:59
shay seeking a second opinion about if or not harper is fed up?
19 Ian // Feb 28, 2008 at 20:25
I am suspicious that at the moment the team is being chosen from their training field ability, however as many managers have said before it is amazing how players who can produce quality in training cannot transfer the same ability to the real games, maybe that is why Edgar keeps being overlooked. Maybe why Smith has been played upfront instead of midfield and so on.
20 Tripp // Feb 28, 2008 at 20:37
NCFOM is a nihilistic pile of shite. I didn’t like it, as you can tell. It didn’t deserve best picture, but it wouldn’t be the first time that the academy (a pack of plonkers IMHO) got it all wrong.
Glad to see Harps getting a go. Given needs to get fixed and needs a rest.
21 Tripp // Feb 28, 2008 at 20:39
NCFOM is a nihilistic pile of shite. The academy got it wrong on the best picture award. But then, what can you expect from that lot (bunch of plonkers).
Good to see Harps get a go. Given needs a rest or he’ll never really recover from the injury at Hammers.
22 Tom_Toon // Feb 28, 2008 at 20:46
rather have smith up front than in midfielder, but preferably nowhere.
23 scott 9 // Feb 28, 2008 at 21:20
i heard keegan taliking on sky sports saying he wants maybe 3,4,5 new players well i think hell nedd about 8 but if he were to only get in 5 the would need to be 5 top class players somethin like
a top class cb-10m +
aiden mcgeady 13m+
scott brown 9m+
pandev 11m
steve sidwell 4m
24 hanzemre // Feb 28, 2008 at 21:25
Yeah Harper is about right as our team were only good in training (shooting practice/clever movement/ defend as a whole or something like that) but “it’s not happening on match days” so he must be referring to Butt, Barton, Smith’s performance..hehe
25 Hadji // Feb 28, 2008 at 21:36
I’ve never seen Scott Brown play,is he good?
26 Nasty // Feb 28, 2008 at 21:50
Of course they play well in training……………….they’re playing against themselves, LOL!
27 Gloryhunter // Feb 28, 2008 at 21:51
…. and they’re still playing with themselves….
28 cooldj // Feb 28, 2008 at 22:32
lol anyone still around.
29 Gooderz // Feb 28, 2008 at 22:51
We could do with a new midfield boss too. I’d love to see Carrick come home but if that’s not possible then maybe Lorik Cana is worth a go.
He is one of those players, along with Kahlenberg, who are at a good age and skill level who could come in and add some talent into the squad without costing the earth which would be the case filling up the squad with McGeady, Brown, Carrick, Bentley, and every other Brit we’ve been linked with.
30 Tom_Toon // Feb 28, 2008 at 23:04
Ive mentioned cana many a time but id prefer a better passer.
31 GeordieUSA // Feb 29, 2008 at 3:30
I think it’s ironic of “Leo* I HATE NICKY BUTT ” talking of comments that destabilize the team.
You’d think we’d all want to pull in the same direction and dare I say support the team, but his choice of email name is not likely to inspire confidence.
I know we’re all allowed an opinion - mine is that if a number of managers have thought Butt good enough for team selection he’s probably doing something right. Yes, and before I get the abuse I recognize that I’m not an expert.
32 geordie_jordan // Feb 29, 2008 at 4:54
there will be blood is amazing!!!! just saw it last night, it’s still in theatres over here in asia. “i’m finished!!!!!”
33 Gooderz // Feb 29, 2008 at 7:50
I thought you may have, but I’ve only seen him recently. I agree his passing isn’t great but if someone is going to sit in front of the defence to allow the remaining midfielders to join in with attacks freely, I’d rather have him than Butt anyday.
But as I said, I’d prefer Carrick and he is a well-rounded player.
34 AdamCF // Feb 29, 2008 at 7:59
I think that Given’s need this op for a while as much as he’d hate to admit it. He hasn’t been able to fully extend in his kicking motion, so if he wipes the rest of the season with the op and rehab he should be cherry come August
35 Ian // Feb 29, 2008 at 8:01
Central midfielders of the best quality seem to be bought and sold without anyone knowing they were up for sale in the first place, a little whisper then a few days later the deal is done, unlike strikers, defenders and wingers, Keegan has a history of finding brilliant players in those positions, I am just going to sit back and wait and see who he brings in, I think he will already have a handful of targets and he will spend in that area.
36 cooldj // Feb 29, 2008 at 8:32
lorik cana is definately a player i would like to see….
37 Callum // Feb 29, 2008 at 8:45
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3212740,00.html
Good news - Martins to sign a new 5 year deal within 2 weeks =)
38 elfer // Feb 29, 2008 at 8:50
there’s no doubt, that give is one of the worlds topclass goalkeepers!! with harper we have a solid no 2 and so given should be given a rest to cure his groin fully - we’re in save hands until then.
but when given returns no doubt, that he adds some magic to us, so he’s clearly no 1 and ever will be!
39 Bill F // Feb 29, 2008 at 9:14
Right Shay, you have residual scarring in the area that suffered serious damage when someone sank their foot into your abdomen and is an region of weakness which is likely to flare up when under stress. It is highly likely that this will be an ongoing issue with you. You have had a great career but I think it may now be time to step down and take up a coaching job. It’s a shame and a prognosis I make with some reluctance as you have been a wonderful Icon and and at times saviour for the club but sometimes you just have to accept it and move on.
There a second opinion. Although I am not an expert and could be wrong.
As some one who has studied and practises TCM
I base my opinions on the fact that the muscular and fascial components of the body are interconnected and a weakness in a proximal area (or even a distal area) can and will effect other parts. This is probably accentuated when the core abdominal muscles were the prime injury site.
40 Bill F // Feb 29, 2008 at 9:16
Aparently we are interested in Gomis (as well as a million others) now he would be a great buy.
41 Rich // Feb 29, 2008 at 9:16
Anyone see we are linked with a 12million pound move for Bafetimbi Gomes? Anyone know anything about him??
42 Rich // Feb 29, 2008 at 9:17
We also appear to have signed Lamine Diatta on a 1 year deal
43 Bill F // Feb 29, 2008 at 9:24
Rich you must have posted your comment same time as me, I have seen him several times in the French highlight games and he looks great. Very much like Drogba.
44 Rich // Feb 29, 2008 at 9:38
Bill F haha i just noticed that we must have posted them about the exact same time. Good good, my mate said the same Bill, hes in a Drogba mould, strong and fast. Lets hope we can get him in for next season then !!
45 Gooderz // Feb 29, 2008 at 9:46
So we are bascially going to have the Senegal defense then. They shipped 6 goals in 3 pretty poor games at the ACN. That doesn’t fill me with a great deal of confidence.
46 scott 9 // Feb 29, 2008 at 11:56
hadji- i think scott brwon is a great player but thats just my opinion but i no alot of people that rate him aswell hes a great attacking midfileder like a barton type but without being mental he can play right mid but his main positiion is a attacking mid hes a good passer of the ball just what we need in my opinion that we could realisticly get
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