Steve Harper

[Wullie]

More than good enough imo. If his name wasn't steve harper, he'd be getting raved about.

[Tooj]

Stop acting like you've just received a quick blow to the stomach when you take a goal kick ffs.

 

not the only keeper who's kicking could be better, but he's been playing really well and for me deserves to keep hold of the shirt.

 

 

 

I agree, the jersey is his to lose tbh. It wasn't a dig at his kicking, which is much better than Shay's, it just annoys me when he does that.

[Guest shearer_united]

I read about him being linked with a Liverpool move. Not sure how true is that. But if it is, i think he deserves a move out, he's been here too long and not much is gonna change for him if he stays. I would like him to leave knowing he might have a better time career-wise; being in a time where he would be the regular starting GK rather than a substitute (under Given).

 

You think he'd move to Liverpool as a 1st teamer?

I dont think he would be a liverpool first-teamer, but he probably would in some other team.

 

 

So just a general move out of the club? Aye, i would have agreed before the start of the season but he's pretty much too important to let go with Given out of sorts.

 

Can see Given getting the huff before regaining his former self tbh, Harper could be 1st teamer here by merit rather than default if things don't change.

 

 

I agree now is a critical time, a bad move to get rid now.

However, Though in a few years time i would like to see Harper in some other team, And Shay Given used as a substitute GK with a New GK taking his place.

 

I hope Tim Krul becomes a top-class goalkeeper in our squad in a few years.

Does anyone know how he's doing in the club he's on loan at ?

 

He broke his arm (or dislocated his shoulder) in Jan and came back.

 

His spell there though the fans reckoned he was canny and kept some scores down, but basically their back 4 were shocking and it was target practise for him.

 

Thanks for the info .

 

There's only so much a Goalkeeper can do with a leaky, unreliable Back-four.

Cheers

[Guest alex]

Would be a better idea to cash in on Given now imo if you think we need a new 'keeper. I'm happy to stick with what we have though.

 

I'm happy, but if we got an offer for Given now it would be worth considering.

 

However the best of Given is yet to come, his peak is a couple of seasons away, but he does need focus on the areas he lacks in, if he does he'll be the best keeper in the league when he reaches that peak.

 

He's had enough GK coaches now though, it seems his faults are permanent.

 

 

You say that but if this season is anything to go by he's past his peak. I'm willing to see what he can do etc. when he's fully recovered but he's never looked the same since that clash with the ex-West Ham fella.

[Dokko]

Would be a better idea to cash in on Given now imo if you think we need a new 'keeper. I'm happy to stick with what we have though.

 

I'm happy, but if we got an offer for Given now it would be worth considering.

 

However the best of Given is yet to come, his peak is a couple of seasons away, but he does need focus on the areas he lacks in, if he does he'll be the best keeper in the league when he reaches that peak.

 

He's had enough GK coaches now though, it seems his faults are permanent.

 

 

You say that but if this season is anything to go by he's past his peak. I'm willing to see what he can do etc. when he's fully recovered but he's never looked the same since that clash with the ex-West Ham fella.

 

David James at his age having his best spell for me suggests there could be a lot more to come from Given. James has bigger faults than Given at his age, concentration crippling his credibility as a top keeper, he sorted it in the end.

 

I can see Robinson taking the same path as James and later in his career becoming a top keeper, i just hope Given does the same.

 

Its taking all this time for Harper to show he's good enough for a 1st team place.

[Guest Heneage]

Always gonna be a backup.

 

why? what makes you say that?

Lacks the leadership skills to be a good keeper, very quiet, takes a donkeys bollock with kicks as well, Good goalie but prefer Given.

 

worst post of the year

 

Given is the least communicative keeper in the prem, is a horrible organiser and his kicking is a disgrace. Harper is streets ahead in terms of talking to his defence

 

Worst post of the year? Calm down. I prefer Given, i've sat and watched him as long as you have and he is a better keeper, he's pulled us out of more holes and is better than Harps.

[Ronaldo]

Always gonna be a backup.

 

why? what makes you say that?

Lacks the leadership skills to be a good keeper, very quiet, takes a donkeys bollock with kicks as well, Good goalie but prefer Given.

 

worst post of the year

 

Given is the least communicative keeper in the prem, is a horrible organiser and his kicking is a disgrace. Harper is streets ahead in terms of talking to his defence

 

Worst post of the year? Calm down. I prefer Given, i've sat and watched him as long as you have and he is a better keeper, he's pulled us out of more holes and is better than Harps.

 

it baffles me that you had a go at Harper's leadership, when that is clearly something he is better at than Given

[Guest Heneage]

When i've watched Harper he is always slow when it comes to distribution, and just generally organizing the lads. I acknolwedge I've not seen Given recently but I always remember he tends to boss em about well.

[Newcastle Fan]

Given is far worse in orginzing the defence than Harper.

[toontownman]

Harper predictably has done well, he is a much better keeper than anyone outside newcastle will ever give him credit for. I wouldnt cry into my cornflakes if we managed to get some good money for given. doubt we would get half as much as people on here would reckon though.

[Wullie]

Its taking all this time for Harper to show he's good enough for a 1st team place.

 

It's taken him this time to get in ahead of Shay Given. Bit of a difference, especially when it's a goalkeeper, only one position and one which doesn't tend to get rotated too much - not to mention Shay being invincible until Car Crash Harewood smashed into him.

 

Certainly you can question his ambition but I've never questioned his ability, despite a couple of ricks when he's had to come in out of the cold. I've always felt him good enough and always been happy to have him come in when Shay's been out, rather than relying on some youngster or some cheapo foreigner who you know little of.

 

If it wasn't for Beye being awesome-o, I'd say he'd be a major contender for player of the season.

[Rich]

I have a bit of an irrational dislike for Harper, like. Dunno what it is, but he frustrates me.

 

It might be his goal-kicks, or more specifically how slow he takes them... or his slightly portly frame... I dunno.

 

Wouldn't mind us signing a "proper" 'keeper this summer, but it won't happen.

 

For those claiming him to be a "leader/organiser" - he doesn't do any talking on the pitch, and I sit close enough to him to know.

[Guest jrl19295]

Stevie should be No1?

He far better than Shay?

[Dokko]

Stevie should be No1?

He far better than Shay?

 

Are you asking us or telling us?

[Zero]

I have a bit of an irrational dislike for Harper, like. Dunno what it is, but he frustrates me.

 

It might be his goal-kicks, or more specifically how slow he takes them... or his slightly portly frame... I dunno.

 

Wouldn't mind us signing a "proper" 'keeper this summer, but it won't happen.

 

For those claiming him to be a "leader/organiser" - he doesn't do any talking on the pitch, and I sit close enough to him to know.

 

I think the answer is simple --- he doesn't look like a star.

[oldtype]

I think Harper suffers from pretty much the same strengths and weaknesses as given. Good shot stopping but poor organizer etc. Although Given's shot stopping is (or was pre-Harewood, at least) superhuman compared to Harper's mere "very good," while Harper is slightly better in the air.

 

I see no evidence whatsoever that tells me that Harper is better than Given at organizing the defence. This season Given lost his biggest strengths due to not being fully fit, and Harper was a better option. Harper's a good keeper and probably one of the top 3 backup keepers in the league, but I'd rather have Given if both were at 100% effectiveness. Whether Given will ever get back there again is another matter.

[Ronaldo]

When i've watched Harper he is always slow when it comes to distribution, and just generally organizing the lads. I acknolwedge I've not seen Given recently but I always remember he tends to boss em about well.

 

not trying to have a go, but everything i've read from you is on the verge of madness

[Ronaldo]

Would be a better idea to cash in on Given now imo if you think we need a new 'keeper. I'm happy to stick with what we have though.

 

I'm happy, but if we got an offer for Given now it would be worth considering.

 

However the best of Given is yet to come, his peak is a couple of seasons away, but he does need focus on the areas he lacks in, if he does he'll be the best keeper in the league when he reaches that peak.

 

He's had enough GK coaches now though, it seems his faults are permanent.

 

 

You say that but if this season is anything to go by he's past his peak. I'm willing to see what he can do etc. when he's fully recovered but he's never looked the same since that clash with the ex-West Ham fella.

 

David James at his age having his best spell for me suggests there could be a lot more to come from Given. James has bigger faults than Given at his age, concentration crippling his credibility as a top keeper, he sorted it in the end.

 

I can see Robinson taking the same path as James and later in his career becoming a top keeper, i just hope Given does the same.

 

Its taking all this time for Harper to show he's good enough for a 1st team place.

 

Given's reflexes are slowing with age, he's not going to get any better

[junkhead]

Would be a better idea to cash in on Given now imo if you think we need a new 'keeper. I'm happy to stick with what we have though.

 

I'm happy, but if we got an offer for Given now it would be worth considering.

 

However the best of Given is yet to come, his peak is a couple of seasons away, but he does need focus on the areas he lacks in, if he does he'll be the best keeper in the league when he reaches that peak.

 

He's had enough GK coaches now though, it seems his faults are permanent.

 

 

You say that but if this season is anything to go by he's past his peak. I'm willing to see what he can do etc. when he's fully recovered but he's never looked the same since that clash with the ex-West Ham fella.

 

David James at his age having his best spell for me suggests there could be a lot more to come from Given. James has bigger faults than Given at his age, concentration crippling his credibility as a top keeper, he sorted it in the end.

 

I can see Robinson taking the same path as James and later in his career becoming a top keeper, i just hope Given does the same.

 

Its taking all this time for Harper to show he's good enough for a 1st team place.

 

Given's reflexes are slowing with age, he's not going to get any better

yeah, because he's 50 now..

wake the fuck up people, even Cech, Button and Cassillas have had shite seasons.

some of you are very quick to write off 10 seasons of brilliant performances..

[Tooj]

Yeah, wake the fuck up people!

[sicsfingeredmong]

'Distribution' has always been the short straw in his repetoire, along with his hesitancy when dealing with crosses but his shot-stopping skills made up for it. And we needed these attributes over the past few seasons - ie. post SBR - because the team mostly played on the defensive backfoot. More genuine chances against us, more shots on goal against us, in essence he prevented from losing more premiership points during this period when he was at best.

 

The problem as i see it, and this also relates to supporter sentiment as to not wanting to let an iconic figure go due to his 'years of excellent service' despite there being warning signs which point to the contrary, is that age & injuries - especially the last one: the collision with Harewood - are catching up with him.

 

The club made a big mistake by not phasing out an age & injury weary Shearer when the time was right, the club effectively allowed him to dictate the terms of his retirement. Because of his status it would have been politically incorrect not to do so. Behind Shearer & Speed, and of the three players mentioned Speed was moved on prematurely imo, Given is the next long-serving figure on the honour roll and is looked upon in a similar light.... and deservedly so. But the same mistake cannot be made twice, if form dictates otherwise.

 

Keegan has been away from the club for over a decade, cries of 'but what about Given's service over the past decade, that has to mean something' most likely means little to him when evaluating the goalkeeping situation. To him there is no such thing as an predisposed pecking order, regardless of form. The same selection criteria should have applied to Shearer as well.

 

If Keegan has other plans - ie. phasing Given out of the goalkeeping picture - then so be it. Kudos go to him for not adhering to the politically correct path, by not treating some players, or 'fans' favourites', as protected species.

[Guest toonlass]

Steve Harper has been a damn good keeper since Shay has been out. He has kept us in games and even though he is slow he does actually talk to his defence more than Given. I used to sit in the front row of the Leazes and always thought Shay was too quiet with the back four. Steve Harper never has been. At least you can hear him shout at the defenders. Shay's confidence has been shot since the Harewood incident. Tim Krul should be brought through as our keeper asap tbh.

[Ronaldo]

Would be a better idea to cash in on Given now imo if you think we need a new 'keeper. I'm happy to stick with what we have though.

 

I'm happy, but if we got an offer for Given now it would be worth considering.

 

However the best of Given is yet to come, his peak is a couple of seasons away, but he does need focus on the areas he lacks in, if he does he'll be the best keeper in the league when he reaches that peak.

 

He's had enough GK coaches now though, it seems his faults are permanent.

 

 

You say that but if this season is anything to go by he's past his peak. I'm willing to see what he can do etc. when he's fully recovered but he's never looked the same since that clash with the ex-West Ham fella.

 

David James at his age having his best spell for me suggests there could be a lot more to come from Given. James has bigger faults than Given at his age, concentration crippling his credibility as a top keeper, he sorted it in the end.

 

I can see Robinson taking the same path as James and later in his career becoming a top keeper, i just hope Given does the same.

 

Its taking all this time for Harper to show he's good enough for a 1st team place.

 

Given's reflexes are slowing with age, he's not going to get any better

yeah, because he's 50 now..

wake the f*** up people, even Cech, Button and Cassillas have had s**** seasons.

some of you are very quick to write off 10 seasons of brilliant performances..

 

Cech hasn't had a shit season

 

Cassillas is world class, is younger than Given and Button is a racing driver so I dont see how that matters

[Swissmag]

Would be a better idea to cash in on Given now imo if you think we need a new 'keeper. I'm happy to stick with what we have though.

 

I'm happy, but if we got an offer for Given now it would be worth considering.

 

However the best of Given is yet to come, his peak is a couple of seasons away, but he does need focus on the areas he lacks in, if he does he'll be the best keeper in the league when he reaches that peak.

 

He's had enough GK coaches now though, it seems his faults are permanent.

 

 

You say that but if this season is anything to go by he's past his peak. I'm willing to see what he can do etc. when he's fully recovered but he's never looked the same since that clash with the ex-West Ham fella.

 

David James at his age having his best spell for me suggests there could be a lot more to come from Given. James has bigger faults than Given at his age, concentration crippling his credibility as a top keeper, he sorted it in the end.

 

I can see Robinson taking the same path as James and later in his career becoming a top keeper, i just hope Given does the same.

 

Its taking all this time for Harper to show he's good enough for a 1st team place.

 

Given's reflexes are slowing with age, he's not going to get any better

yeah, because he's 50 now..

wake the f*** up people, even Cech, Button and Cassillas have had s**** seasons.

some of you are very quick to write off 10 seasons of brilliant performances..

 

Cech hasn't had a s*** season

 

Cassillas is world class, is younger than Given and Button is a racing driver so I dont see how that matters

 

Come on, don't tell me that you are not aware of Gianluigi Button? You're mixing him up with Jenson Buffon, mate... :-)

[Ronaldo]

Would be a better idea to cash in on Given now imo if you think we need a new 'keeper. I'm happy to stick with what we have though.

 

I'm happy, but if we got an offer for Given now it would be worth considering.

 

However the best of Given is yet to come, his peak is a couple of seasons away, but he does need focus on the areas he lacks in, if he does he'll be the best keeper in the league when he reaches that peak.

 

He's had enough GK coaches now though, it seems his faults are permanent.

 

 

You say that but if this season is anything to go by he's past his peak. I'm willing to see what he can do etc. when he's fully recovered but he's never looked the same since that clash with the ex-West Ham fella.

 

David James at his age having his best spell for me suggests there could be a lot more to come from Given. James has bigger faults than Given at his age, concentration crippling his credibility as a top keeper, he sorted it in the end.

 

I can see Robinson taking the same path as James and later in his career becoming a top keeper, i just hope Given does the same.

 

Its taking all this time for Harper to show he's good enough for a 1st team place.

 

Given's reflexes are slowing with age, he's not going to get any better

yeah, because he's 50 now..

wake the f*** up people, even Cech, Button and Cassillas have had s**** seasons.

some of you are very quick to write off 10 seasons of brilliant performances..

 

Cech hasn't had a s*** season

 

Cassillas is world class, is younger than Given and Button is a racing driver so I dont see how that matters

 

Come on, don't tell me that you are not aware of Gianluigi Button? You're mixing him up with Jenson Buffon, mate... :-)

 

you thought for a second i was being serious?