Shay Given just can’t wait to get going again for Newcastle United, in the upcoming season, which will be his 12th at the club he joined from Blackburn Rovers in 1997.
Shay Given - starts his 12th season with Newcastle
Shay talked to the Evening Chronicle today:
“We need to get it going. We’ve got the gaffer in charge now and hopefully we’ll sign a good few players as well.”
“That’s important because our squad is very small.”
“It’s my 12th season here and this is a fantastic club.” “It’s a great place to play football.â€
Given has experienced lots of European football in his career at Newcastle, and even some Champions League football when the great Bobby Robson was manager of the club.
But last season was extremely disappointing with a very poor 12th-place finish, and Given spoke about Newcastle’s chances this coming campaign.
Given continued:
“We have to try to improve on last season and push up the league.”
“I don’t want to say we are going into Europe because it won’t happen overnight.” “But a lot depends on how we start the season.â€
“It’s a clean slate for everybody. Kevin has a pre-season to get everybody fit and he started looking at people at the end of last season.”
“He knows we need to strengthen as well so hopefully that will be the case.â€
Keegan got off to a tough start in his second stint as manager, and third stint at the club he loves. But it still took 10 games to register the first win, but after that Newcastle went on a good 7 game unbeaten streak, during which they played some very good looking football.
We have to admit to having high hopes for this season, but it will be so important for the lads to get off to a good start, and if we do that then anything will be possible, as confidence builds in the squad.
There is still some significant transfer business to complete at the club too,before the end of August, and we would like to see another 5 top class players arriving on Tyneside.
Comments welcome.
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70 responses so far ↓
1 geordie4life // Jul 14, 2008 at 14:10
First class legend wouldnt of blamed him if he left after all his good service, true newcastle great, should be captain in my opinion!!!!
2 Leo // Jul 14, 2008 at 14:19
hear is his rally call that comes every season, i think he knows we are on the cusp of signing some big names and he is trying to ‘big up’ the club
well this maybe hopeful thinking
3 Punk Skunk // Jul 14, 2008 at 14:20
Good to see Shay’s still up for it!..
…Great enthusiasm from him…Also, like the way he, apparently, quashed the rumours of a move to arse so quickly…Yes, 2 top keepers at the Toon!..
…He’s defo been here long enough to warrant the armband, but i personally always prefer an out-field player as captain!..
4 THELONGSHANKS // Jul 14, 2008 at 14:20
Shay given is a legend and the envy of so many big teams.Still 5 years easy left in him.
5 Davies // Jul 14, 2008 at 14:26
Good lad Shay. Keep up the positive PR.
6 LoonyToon // Jul 14, 2008 at 14:28
great servant, top player, over the moon that he is staying….has kept us in many a game over the years…still has a great deal to offer this club
7 ToonTimbo // Jul 14, 2008 at 14:30
He is a brilliant goalie and even after he leaves/retires, he will always be an unofficial ambassador of the club (as is Solano) and always speak highly of NUFC (unlike that rat Luque)
8 WIGAZ // Jul 14, 2008 at 14:32
Class act all the way! on his day prob best shot stopper in the league how many points has he saved us over the years, lets hope we can assemble a strong back line in front of him or Harper so it aint such hard work for them! RB is sorted Beye, Taylor & faye ok but i thnk we need a top CB in there! shame we lost woodgate! Shorey or bridge for LB! no point getting someone in who aint as good as Enrique, it’s gotta be quality!
9 Punk Skunk // Jul 14, 2008 at 14:33
Future Freeman of the Toon!..
…He’ll get to graze his sheep etc!..
10 WesToon // Jul 14, 2008 at 14:35
gr8 example of a quality football player aswell as human being!!! Always respectful,tactful and sincere,what a bloke,What a footballer,true Geordie hero!!!
11 ToonTimbo // Jul 14, 2008 at 14:37
Its a shame the game of football doesnt have two goalies in the team because we have the two most loyal goalies in Britain (if not the world)!
12 Yahya Ahmad // Jul 14, 2008 at 14:42
Shay Given’s a legend! He’s been so loyal to us!
13 ToonTimbo // Jul 14, 2008 at 14:48
Yahya Ahmad,’you have basically just coppied wot i have said in my last two!
14 WesToon // Jul 14, 2008 at 14:59
Sorry Guys,change of topic…ANY REAL NEWS on Arron Spear?? Where is the Lad??
15 daiv // Jul 14, 2008 at 15:11
Fantastic fans, fantastic ground ,, fantastic manager. We just need some fantastic players to make us a fantastic team. I’ll leave MA alone for once.
16 Tommy // Jul 14, 2008 at 15:15
If it wasn’t for Given and Shearer, I dread to think where we would be languishing right now..
Sends shivers down the spine..
17 WesToon // Jul 14, 2008 at 15:18
Ciao everyone,have a gr8 evening,back early tomorrow morn!! Once again,thanx Ed for 1 hell of a website & congrats on 6mill hits!!! May there be many more!! HOWAY THE LADS!!!
18 Black and White Blood // Jul 14, 2008 at 15:23
He’s been one of our key players every season for the past 10 years. Nevertheless, in my opinion, Shay Given did not perform anywhere near his best last season - If were to start where he left of last season, I would much rather see SH in the net!
19 Kash2 // Jul 14, 2008 at 15:27
Has anyone noticed that Alan Oliver no longer writes regularly for the Chronicle?
20 daiv // Jul 14, 2008 at 15:28
When do we think MA will realize his publicly stated dream that NUFC will challenge for the league again and do we believe MA will be in charge when we win it? He’s cleared the club’s debt in one swoop. The league in two years?
21 geordieboy // Jul 14, 2008 at 15:31
Very tongue in cheek Daiv!!!!!!
22 Fernando // Jul 14, 2008 at 15:40
Daiv- I think the league in 2 years especially with the inspired signings of guthrie and jonas. I think once you are relegated this season the first division title is a real possibility the following year. Barring injuries and players being jailed off course.
23 daiv // Jul 14, 2008 at 15:45
GEORDIBOY
Maybe three years then? Perhaps we can buy some even more astute signings for half a mil rather than the dear currents ones at£1/2M. Some on this blog seem to think that the cheaper the player is, the better he is and the club is being really clever and shrewd. hartlepool for the league then on £15K transfers?
24 geordie4life // Jul 14, 2008 at 15:57
id rather us bring in cheaper decent players than waste money on so called big superstars like we have in the past and got us nowhere, luque boumsong are 2 examples, we need good young players with passion that want to play for us and will give it there all, id rather a player like guthrie who is gonna give us 100% than some 30 year old ex world class player who just wants to pick up his 80 grand a week wages
25 daiv // Jul 14, 2008 at 15:59
geordieboy
…And the players have to take a massive pay cut (just to show them that MA really means business), pay for the club’s soap and cleanout the training ground’s bogs. That will instil discipline in them and show them where this club is going.
26 Punk Skunk // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:02
Aye, well done Ed, 6m hits & still goin’ strong…
…Albeit with 1/2m from disillusioned spuds!..
27 Kash2 // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:04
Fernando - The last 2 times Spurs met Newcastle in the EPL, what was the score? Also, where did Spurs finish in EPL last season?
28 Punk Skunk // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:05
Last 5x…
29 daiv // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:07
Geordie4life
Most clubs buy expensive rubbish. We excel at it. If you have the right manager the risk is greatly reduced. KK is the right manager but is being given no financial support. I would agree with you if we had Souness ar Allardyce in charge. The problem withthis club in the past has been that we appointed the wrong managers. IF Shepherd had appointed Mourinho 10 years ago BFS would be a virtual hero. Because one thing for sure, he supported the managers financially. (he also took over their role and bought rubbish himself and i’m glad he’s gone)
30 Kash2 // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:08
@Fernando: Also, what do you mean by this comment:
“I think the league in 2 years especially with the inspired signings of guthrie and jonas.”
It doesn’t make sense. I think you’re missing a verb in there. Don’t worry mate, Dyslexia is common nowadays!
31 Fernando // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:12
i do believe you beat us the last 5 times and we finished 1 place above you.Cant remember the scores as one off games dont tend to stick in my head unless they are cup finals of course .
32 micepie // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:16
Well, this is something new I think!?
Newcastle United have offered a trial to Georgy Terziev with the Bulgarian defender already training with Kevin Keegan’s Tynesiders.
The 16-year-old linked up with The Magpies on Monday after being granted permission by Nafteks to spend a week with the Premier League club.
After already spending some time with Newcastle in April, the second stint confirms the North East club’s interest in the youngster.
Dennis Wise and Tony Jimenez appear to be working hard behind the scenes to run the rule over some promising talent from the continent.
Lens forward Kevin Monnet-Paquet has also crossed United’s radar, according to reports in France.
The 19-year-old is not willing to play Ligue 2 football next season and, although Le Mans are in pole position to snap him up, Newcastle are also rumoured to be watching developments
33 Tom_Toon // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:19
Monnet-Paquet has been dubbed the new Henry, the proper one, not all te other ‘new Henry’s’
34 WIGAZ // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:20
Ha ha all of a sudden the spud has memory loss! i belive it was 4-1 at 3 point lane & 2-0 at SJP! berbatov & keane did nowt too i belive! look foward to taking another 6 off you this season & maybe knock you out of a cup kicking modric in the arse on the way! TOON!!!!
35 Punk Skunk // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:24
Kevin money-packet…Excellent moniker!..
…& he’s got somethin’ in common with KK!..
…Btw, it was 3-1 at SJP, 4-1 at white flag/no hart lane!..
36 reillers // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:29
12 years later and he’s still as enthusiastic as he was when he first came. You’d think by now the likes of our top class defenders like Bramble down the years, mixed with a dozy clumsy Harewood, a badly under preforming team, and being passed over for the armband God knows how many times would have knocked that out of him. But not wee Shay.
He could have so easily left and walked on to any other team in the premiership and take the no.1 shirt. But he didn’t, I think him and Harper who’s been fantastic for us as well, should sit that idiot Ronaldo down and teach the so called best player in the world a thing or two about loyalty.
I’ve got a good feeling about Given this season, I’m hearing good things from the camp, good things from him and look at him now, he’s like a wee lad on Christmas morning. You didn’t see that when Allardyce was here. He’s a very popular player in the club, what he feels tends to be the general feeling in the club. Which is always good.
I wish we could have 2 keepers on the pitch, I wish the lads in front of them would pull themselves together because I’m sick to death of having to watch one of them play a complete blinder and only to concede a goal because of pathetic defending. Yet they still have the enthusiasm. We have, without a doubt the best 2 keepers in the premiership.
As for Given I haven’t seen him like this for so long, you’d see him in interviews after the games and he’s frustrated because the lads in front of him just can’t or wont work. But now, now he’s raring to go, like a dog on a lead, fitter then he’s ever been. His hard pre, pre season training clearly did him a lot of good. I can’t wait to see the wee lad play again. It’ll be a hell of a battle for the no. 1 jersey. But you can tell he really, REALLY wants it. He deserves the captains armband a lot more then Owen, who wants more and more money, constant contract talks.
According to our poll it’ll be Given who starts, but let the best keeper win. I can’t wait. It should be a good season..I hope.
37 Kash2 // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:30
“Cant remember the scores as one off games dont tend to stick in my head unless they are cup finals of course .”
Again doesn’t make sense. How can playing us twice in a season count as one off games. We played you twice.
Don’t they teach the 3 R’s in North London? Obviously NOT!
38 Punk Skunk // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:35
Aye, aren’t cup finals the ultimate in one-off games?..Strange!!!!!!!!!!!!!..
39 Spyro // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:37
Skunk, dont get dragged down to his level, the guy is pitiful, even his fellow Spurs fans think so
40 salinger1 // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:45
What’s wrong with you lot? Are you all BLIND? Or do you have your collective heads buried in the sand? The FACTS are obvious. We have a paper thin squad with NO genuine world class players (what do you think Given is ACTUALLY saying here). For God sake we can barely field a competent midfield 4. Oh sorry, James Milner is (yet again), going to become a world beater this season, is he? Get real man. We’ve got a chairman who has clearly miscalculated due to his lack of due diligence and who is patently irritated by fans’ suggestions that he should stump up for players. We’re going to be crap again this year – put your house on it.
41 Kash2 // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:46
@Punk: I think you have an admirer in Spyro!
42 sirjasontoon // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:47
Love Shay Given…proper pro and not interested in the bright lights of london him and harper are class.
Few more signings (5 if possible)not world class stars bored of that wish now..just good commited pro’s that want to wear our shirt with pride and with a great attitude.
PS Ed great to have the real blog back really missed it : )
43 Fernando // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:49
Wigaz- with all due respect the gap in quality is huge after this transfer window with us looking to bring in even more quality. If you think you will take 6 points of us next season you are living in dreamland.Thanks for the spelling lessons kash2. Hope its giving you a hard on acting all high and mighty.
44 sirjasontoon // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:49
fernando=boring
45 Punk Skunk // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:51
…Aye, i was conversin’ with kash 2!..
46 Punk Skunk // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:53
SirJason, diggin’ y’new attitude man…
47 Tom_Toon // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:54
Fernando - Same every year from you idiot spuds.
Kaboul - Best young defender in France
Boateng - Best young player in Germany
etc. etc.
Spuds suffer from delusions of granduer by even contemplating they can get into the top 4.
48 Spyro // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:54
oh, thought u was conversing with the spud
49 sweendog // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:54
Shay given is pure class .. and importantly loves the toon .. roll on these top signings coming this week..
50 Punk Skunk // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:55
Hey Kash, me & spyro are like that (crosses fingers!) …We share opinions mate!..I tend to agree with you also bro’!..
51 Punk Skunk // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:57
@ spyro…Na, after sussin’ him as a spud sometime back & callin’ him a pleb, i just ignore him & have a go via others remarks!.. Lol!..
52 sirjasontoon // Jul 14, 2008 at 16:58
Fernando I am not being funny but i have tried to put my finger on what inspires you to waste your time and everyone else’s on here…I really can’t put my finger on what your motive is or where you draw satisfaction from doing what you are doing.
The word irrelevant springs to mind and probably sums up what appears to be a very sad life you must be leading.
Don’t get me wrong i love to chat with other teams fans to a certain degree but I actually do feel a genuine sadness and sympathy for somebody who does what you do.
Feel free to explain what satisfaction you gain from what you are doing?
What does it feel like?
53 sirjasontoon // Jul 14, 2008 at 17:01
Punk Skunk cheers fella..i am turning over a new leaf…at the end of the day I was born in wallsend loved the toon since I was aged 3 and want to be much more positive now.
54 Chennai Toon // Jul 14, 2008 at 17:02
@Fernando
even you have ronaldinho in your pathetic spuds team you cant beat us mate………..if you think that your team can get atleast a single point in the 2 games you are in dreamland…………………
55 Punk Skunk // Jul 14, 2008 at 17:04
Good lad, that’s all we can do mate, otherwise we’ll gan radged!..
…We can rant & rage all we like but it’ll change nowt!..Sometimes it is kool to get it off y’chest like!..
56 Toon_Ksk // Jul 14, 2008 at 17:16
I can’t remember the last time Spurs played Champions league football? Can someone give me a reminder?
Spurs is definitely a top club, a pity they are not in the European Club Association(ECA). Why are they not considered top 5?
Answer: Newcastle > Spurs, FACT.
57 Kash2 // Jul 14, 2008 at 17:16
@Fernando: Where are you actually from?
You never seem to answer this question!
There is no need for the conversation to become crass. Whether I am aroused by your lack of education is the business of myself and my colleagues who have to put up with my tent pole!
I am just highlighting the education differences between Geordies and SPUDS. Thats all.
I feel that I have proven that many of us on this blog have justification for our comments. The only justification you have given us, is that Spurs won a “ONE OFF” game in the cup final.
Well done, I’m happy for you. Maybe you’ll win the UEFA cup next season?! Who knows!
58 sirjasontoon // Jul 14, 2008 at 17:17
Punk skunk..I just get properly frustrated with it as like everybody i want success and trophies and don’t want us to get left behind by other clubs.
I am sure KK and the staff know what they are doing and I will leave it to them to manage team affairs from now on.
Feels good to be positive…!!
Geordies for life : )
59 Kash2 // Jul 14, 2008 at 17:21
BORN A GEORDIE, DIE A GEORDIE, MAGPIES FOR LIFE!
60 Punk Skunk // Jul 14, 2008 at 17:32
Sirjason,
i hear ya’ man…it gets proper depressin’ sometimes…But, like y’say, we gotta keep the faith in the set up!..
…I really don’t think that we’re bein’ left behind, just some of the other teams seem to be tryin’ what we’ve been doin’ in recent years, spendin’ big in the hope it’ll do them some good…But there are no gaurentees in this game…All managers make good signings & bad…I’m likin’ that change of tack by the Toon atm, it’s startin’ to remind me of when KK was last here & that’s gotta be a good thing…If we can get a few good players in that wanna play for us & KK, we’ll be able to build again!..Also, like last time, no one will suspect us, so we’ll be underdogs again, for a change!..
…Remember?..
…NUFC, 1st, last & always!..
…TOON, TOON!..
61 Punk Skunk // Jul 14, 2008 at 17:35
Spiderman, Spiderman…He’s an Argentinian!..
…Feel free to add another line!..
62 sirjasontoon // Jul 14, 2008 at 17:41
Totally agree..They must know what they are doing and like you say moaning is going to change nothing…liking the new youth policy and building for the future and i am sure Ashley will be bringing in some more senior players I have no doubt in that.
63 sirjasontoon // Jul 14, 2008 at 17:45
spiderman spiderman he is an Argentinian
when he scores he dons a mask
I’m so glad it’s not a basque : )
64 Punk Skunk // Jul 14, 2008 at 17:48
Lol!..
65 Punk Skunk // Jul 14, 2008 at 17:50
Yes mate, we gotta be lookin’ at another 3 1st teamers, at least!..But yea, liking the youth drive!..Ho’way!..
66 harrier // Jul 14, 2008 at 18:20
great words reillers!
Fernando - talk to us when you have actually seen your club in the champions league.
67 fernando // Jul 14, 2008 at 19:50
We may not make the champions league(especially as berba has just gone) but at least we are trying and will keep trying until we get there. We have made the uefa cup for the past 3 seasons but that isnt enough for levy and ramos.
What is newcastles ambition? The signings you have made suggest you are aiming a little bit lower than us. You may be signing youngsters but we are doing that too having signed lennon, huddlestone, bostock, rose etc, who are the best around in there age groups.
Kash2- We make a habit of winning one off games in cup finals. Infact we have done it in every decade since i was born.
68 il capitano // Jul 14, 2008 at 23:59
“Given has experienced lots of European football in his career at Newcastle, and even some Champions League football when the great Bobby Robson was manager of the club.”
He also played Champions League football in 1997. Anyone remember the great 3-2 win over Barcelona, seems like a long time ago, but Shay Given was our goalkeeper that night:)
69 Lutterbach // Jul 15, 2008 at 1:45
Nice interview, Saint Given is a LEGEND.
Uh, and Newcastle will reach TOP6.
70 howaytheladsII // Jul 15, 2008 at 5:29
He is a legend, he gives his best to Newcastle
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