Moving on from my previous article on Gary Speed, it is now time to profile another ex Newcastle United legend from the past decade. This time focusing on current Manchester City and Ireland international goalkeeper, Shay Given.
Born April 20th 1976 in Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland, Shay started his career at his boyhood club, Celtic, before moving onto Blackburn Rovers. Whilst at Blackburn he spent loan spells at Swindon Town and Sunderland. It was at Sunderland where Shay won his first trophy, picking up the Football League Championship in 1996, this was also the same year he won his first cap for Ireland, in a friendly match against Russia at Lansdowne Road.
He joined Newcastle United In the summer of 1997, signed by former Magpie’s manager Kenny Dalglish for £1.5 million from Blackburn Rovers. This was the second time Dalglish had signed Given, previously signing him for Blackburn from Celtic in the summer of 1994. Demonstrating his athletic nature and sharp reflexes, Shay spent a total of 12 excellent seasons on Tyneside. In my opinion, he was the best ‘keeper Newcastle have ever had, certainly in my lifetime so far anyway, and one of the best shot stoppers the Premier League has ever had.
His outstanding shot stopping ability was evident from the moment he first featured for us, in a pre-season competition ‘The Irish Tournament’ at the start of the 1997-1998 season. United subsquently won the tournament (anybody else remember Rob Lee shaking the trophy over his head like a mad man?) and as an impressionable 12 year old boy, I remember thinking, not only about how much are new green ‘keepers top looked like a Crocodile / Human hybrid skin shedding, but also that we potentially had got ourselves a great player. I also remember really wanting a pair of Adidas ‘Fingersave’ gloves like Given’s and how I would be able to convince my parents to get me a pair! (more…)
Speed: Preparation, attitude, professionalism.This will be the first in a series of threads I am going to write, profiling some of my favourite ex Newcastle players from the last decade, starting with current Wales manager and MBE, Gary Speed.
Born in Mancot, Wales on the 8th of September 1969, Speed joined the Magpie’s in 1998 when Kenny Dalglish was at the helm. It was in a deal for a reported £5.5m from Everton.
The former Wales captain held the Premier League all time most appearances record with 535, until art and yoga enthusiast, David James, surpassed his record on 14th February 2009. He now sits in 3rd position overall after Ryan Giggs took the number one spot. During his career, he also held a record for having scored in every Premier League season (at the time), until Giggs again surpassed him on the 8th of February 2009 after Speed had been transferred from Bolton to Sheffield United on the 24th of December 2007. During his career he played for Leeds, Everton, Bolton and Sheffield United, collecting 85 caps, and scoring 7 goals for his country.
Although not extremely tall, Speed, standing at 5ft 8ins (1.73m) was excellent in the air at both sides of the pitch. He possessed an astute left foot and was known for his excellent set-pieces and effectiveness at winning back possession. In his early career he started as more of an attacking midfielder often operating on either flank at Leeds and Everton and his early days at Newcastle. Eventually he was used as a holding midfielder, sitting back and helping dictate the play, allowing his fellow midfield partners to focus on the attacking side of the game. He had extremely good vision and could pick a pass with ease, and was never afraid to get stuck in. (more…)
Ankle injury requires surgery.At the holy ground of St. James Park it’s always been a case of “it never rains but it pours”, which is of course the shortened version. The full idiom is “it never rains but it pours toxic waste with the occasional sharp object thrown in to further increase damage.” Not even joking.
Our long standing goalkeeper Steve Harper has already decided to stay on the bench in favour of giving young Tim Krul a chance to impress between the sticks and so far the young Dutchman has done exactly that, and long may it continue! Newcastle United may lack depth in other areas, we have a wealth of gold in our goalkeepers and have done for many years but now it seems it’s time for that young gold to start shining as Ole Soderberg will be on the bench for the important game against Chelsea this coming Sunday. (more…)
Still having nightmares about Philippe AlbertAs Manchester City celebrate their 1-0 FA Cup win over their rivals Manchester United, Newcastle prepare to break a 7 season curse.
Yes, it’s been 7 seasons since we’ve beaten Manchester United at the Cathedral on the Hill. The last time coming with a 4-3 victory, courtesy of an own goal, with the late, great Sir Bobby Robson steering our black and white ship. Of that game, both Steve Harper and Shola Ameobi remain – both of them being unused substitutes in the last fixture.
Wayne Rooney has been declared available for the game after serving his ban for swearing, and perhaps more worryingly, veteran Ryan Giggs will also be available for selection.
As a wise man once said: “F@£k”
Long time Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, will be looking for more than just a ‘response’ against the Magpies and will be looking to extend that 7 season statistic as Arsenal prepare to shorten the 6 point lead, and Chelsea still struggling to find form after a blistering start to their campaign to retain the Premier League title.
Alan Pardew welcomes John Carver back to the club.Newcastle United’s not so new assistant manager, John Carver, has given an interview on his reappointment at the club.
In it, he gave a revealing glimpse into his previous time at the club. An odyssey which started playing with the club’s youth teams in the 1980s. He then rejoined the club as an academy coach under Kevin Keegan, eventually rising to be an assistant manager under Sir Bobby Robson from 1999 to 2004 and was caretaker manager for one game, a 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers after Robson was controversially sacked by previous Chairman, Freddy Shepherd. He was then moved back to the academy in a reshuffle under Robson’s successor, Graeme Souness before eventually leaving the club. After having stints at Luton and Leeds, he eventually joined the world of Major League soccer over the pond after being appointed manager of Canadian club, Toronto F.C. in 2008. He then returned to the U.K. in 2009 for spells with Plymouth Argyle and his last club, Sheffield United.
Carver began by revealing the emotion he felt upon his return to the club, and the memories it brought back, saying: (more…)
