Bruce says sorry to HarperSteve Bruce has apologised to Steve Harper for the attack he had to suffer from a mackem fan after Newcastle’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland yesterday.
Apparently the delinquent thug got onto the pitch after the game and had a pop at Steve Harper.
It’s baffling as to quite why the thug was so upset because Sunderland had just lucked their way to a draw they barely deserved.
Anyway, Steve Bruce had this to say:
“We can only apologise – thankfully Steve is not bad.
“Well done to the Sunderland fans who gave the supporter up to the police. When I saw the age of him it looked like he was still in school.
“I just really can’t understand society today. What goes through his mind when we have just scored with a minute to go?
“Why the hell he has got to come on to the pitch and confront Steve Harper baffles me.
“When you see the age of this young kid, it is quite remarkable how has got that in his mind, to run on to the pitch.” (more…)
Tim Krul - Newcastle's new number one?I think it’s fair to say that Newcastle have been blessed with great goalkeepers for quite some time now.
Obviously it has been a position that hasn’t needed much attention paid to it as we had Shay Given for so long, and he was a fantastic goalkeeper for us.
But times move on, and so did Shay, which meant that Steve Harper took over the reins as number one, a position he has had for about two years now after waiting about fifteen years for his chance. To be honest, Harper looked nailed on to keep the starting spot in goal, until an unfortunate collision with Jermaine Beckford at Everton put him out of the game for a few months with a shoulder injury.
Enter Tim Krul, who most know will probably turn out to be a top, top goalkeeper in the future, but has anyone noticed the difference? (more…)
Harper: The one with the s**te sculpture (again).Anyone who doubts Newcastle United’s players total loyalty must take a look at comments made since the derby victory.
Shola Ameobi, Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton have now been joined by long serving, and long suffering goalkeeper, Steve Harper, in endorsing Hughton’s hopes for a new contract.
Harper, who has worked with 10 managers since joining the club in 1993 should be more knowledgeable then as to what United need from their boss.
And Speaking to the Telegraphy. Harper has now outlined the characteristics which make Hughton “perfect” for United:
“He has been the ideal manager for us. He doesn’t work the crowd; he just gets his head down and gets on with the job. He doesn’t milk it; he gets on with things irrespective of things going on around him.”
“He is incredible. He is always the same, he doesn’t get carried away when things are going well and he doesn’t get too down when they are not. He is very level-headed, which is what this club needs. He is the perfect man for the job.”(more…)
Krul, Harper and Forster - Sorted.I have always felt United have been spoilt for choice with goalkeepers, for the last ten years at least, with Shay Given being and Steve Harper battling for the No.1 jersey. And now, even with Given being No.2 at Manchester ‘Abu Dhabi’ City, United are still blessed in this position.
The fact that our No.3, Fraser Forster, made his Celtic Park debut this weekend as The Hoops cruised to a 3-0 win over Hearts means that the 22-year-old could potentially add an SPL winners medal to the League One winners medal he already holds after a superb season with Norwich City last season.
Even if he did return with the two Championships to his name he will be far from guaranteed even a spot on the bench next season with United also having Dutchman Tim Krul, who has been fantastic whenever he has been called upon for the first team. (more…)
Harper happy at Newcastle.Over the last few days there have been strong rumours linking Celtic with a bid for our number one goalkeeper, Steve Harper.
Rumours are abound that Neil Lennon is looking to test the resolve of Newcastle by launching a bid for the veteran ‘keeper, but they can bid away as much as they want as I believe that Harper just wont leave, unless the bid is at such a level which makes it hard to resist for the club of course!
Harper has been with Newcastle United for approaching two decades now, but he has still only played around 200 first-team games in his career. The boyhood Liverpool fan has found himself in the unfortunate position of playing second fiddle to Shay Given for a number of years and it is only since he has moved on that the Easington born stopper has had his chance to shine in the first team.
At the ripe old footballing age of 35, Harper is approacching the twilight years of his career and will be relishing the chance of being first choice goalkeeper for Newcastle in the Premier League next season. That will serve as motivation for him and should contribute to him not wanting to upsticks and leave to go to Celtic, although if, by some strange twist of fate, he did leave then we already have adequate cover for the stopper in the shape of Tim Krul and Fraser Forster, so there is nothing to worry about in any eventuality. (more…)
