Looks like Shay is on his way

[GM]

[ElDiablo]

Kinnear must be so gullible, same thing happened with owen when he came out with the 60/40 thing, the players are obviously just telling him what he wants to hear and he's taking it as gospel. I'm really really worried about this window now.

[GM]

What's the use of worrying? Just a waste of energy. You can only deal with things once they've happened. And none of us has any control over how things will pan out with transfers.

[ChezGiven]

Never realised that £12m was their offer for Bridge. I reckon any other club would have got him for about £6m.

 

I'd ask City for about £18m in that case. Seriously. Every player has his price and if they're throwing stupid money around...

 

Thats basically the up and down of it. If a new big spender comes into the market, you may aswell take advantage of it.

[NE5]

The idea of him playing for Tottenham makes my blood boil. Hopefully not.

 

people like you are going to have to get used to the idea that clubs like Spurs think bigger, act bigger than we do.

 

This is why Gazza and Waddle went there for that reason, despite what other people that say they are long term supporters will tell you.

 

The blip of the Halls and Shepherd, where we correctly punched our weight above clubs like this, is well and truly over.

 

 

[NE5]

If he has to go I'd rather he went for tuppence than line Ashley's pockets to the tune of another £10m.

 

For me as an NUFC fan they can double it and still fuck off.

 

absolutely great to see one person without their heads up their arse.

 

Great post.

 

 

[Guest Chris P]

Never realised that £12m was their offer for Bridge. I reckon any other club would have got him for about £6m.

 

I'd ask City for about £18m in that case. Seriously. Every player has his price and if they're throwing stupid money around...

 

Thats basically the up and down of it. If a new big spender comes into the market, you may aswell take advantage of it.

 

Take that tab out yer gob man

[ChezGiven]

Never realised that £12m was their offer for Bridge. I reckon any other club would have got him for about £6m.

 

I'd ask City for about £18m in that case. Seriously. Every player has his price and if they're throwing stupid money around...

 

Thats basically the up and down of it. If a new big spender comes into the market, you may aswell take advantage of it.

 

Take that tab out yer gob man

 

[midds]

Never realised that £12m was their offer for Bridge. I reckon any other club would have got him for about £6m.

 

I'd ask City for about £18m in that case. Seriously. Every player has his price and if they're throwing stupid money around...

 

Thats basically the up and down of it. If a new big spender comes into the market, you may aswell take advantage of it.

 

Take that tab out yer gob man

 

 

[Guest Toon Barmy]

Shay Given - great goalkeeper but nowhere near as good as the media hype. 

His best displays have been in games where we were hammered and the flow of the game was towards him, like the great shot stopper he is it was no surprise the Liverpool defeat again showed him at his best. He does not however command an area like a great goalkeeper would.

Last season was the only one I can recall where Steve Harper played enough games to make any sort of comparison and on the basis of that, Harper's record was MUCH better than Given's in terms of points gained and goals conceded.

So maybe the repacement is already there (most fans felt Harper should have started this season as first choice) and with two very able young keepers coming through eventually they are going to need to see some way to progress otherwhise we will lose them.

Shay's been a great servant - although he did spit the dummy out when he didn't get his own way, but at his age and with the cover we have in that position I'd take Man City's hand off if a stupid bid is put on the table.

 

Scary that you believe we have the quality of Given waiting in the wings

[Cajun]

The idea of him playing for Tottenham makes my blood boil. Hopefully not.

 

people like you are going to have to get used to the idea that clubs like Spurs think bigger, act bigger than we do.

 

This is why Gazza and Waddle went there for that reason, despite what other people that say they are long term supporters will tell you.

 

The blip of the Halls and Shepherd, where we correctly punched our weight above clubs like this, is well and truly over.

 

 

 

Gazza, Waddle, Jenas....

 

 

 

 

 

:colo:

[Cronky]

Shay Given - great goalkeeper but nowhere near as good as the media hype. 

His best displays have been in games where we were hammered and the flow of the game was towards him, like the great shot stopper he is it was no surprise the Liverpool defeat again showed him at his best. He does not however command an area like a great goalkeeper would.

Last season was the only one I can recall where Steve Harper played enough games to make any sort of comparison and on the basis of that, Harper's record was MUCH better than Given's in terms of points gained and goals conceded.

So maybe the repacement is already there (most fans felt Harper should have started this season as first choice) and with two very able young keepers coming through eventually they are going to need to see some way to progress otherwhise we will lose them.

Shay's been a great servant - although he did spit the dummy out when he didn't get his own way, but at his age and with the cover we have in that position I'd take Man City's hand off if a stupid bid is put on the table.

 

Scary that you believe we have the quality of Given waiting in the wings

 

Realistically, goalkeeper is one position where we have good cover. If we can tempt the likes of Spurs or Arsenal to release a player for one of our weaker positions in a swap deal, then that would be good business.

[Benwell Lad]

Selling Given and making Harper the permanent number 1 would be taking 2 steps back.

 

The FACTS would tend to disagree.

 

Last season's records league records.

 

HARPER  Played 19  Points gained  26  Goals for 26 Goals against 23. Average goals conceded per game 1.21 - record extrapolated over full season  - 52 points -  i.e 10th in league.

 

GIVEN    Played 19  Points gained  17  Goals for 19 Goals against 42. Average goals conceded per game  2,21 - record extrapolated over full season -  34 points - i.e 19th in league (relegation)

[Benwell Lad]

Shay Given - great goalkeeper but nowhere near as good as the media hype. 

His best displays have been in games where we were hammered and the flow of the game was towards him, like the great shot stopper he is it was no surprise the Liverpool defeat again showed him at his best. He does not however command an area like a great goalkeeper would.

Last season was the only one I can recall where Steve Harper played enough games to make any sort of comparison and on the basis of that, Harper's record was MUCH better than Given's in terms of points gained and goals conceded.

So maybe the repacement is already there (most fans felt Harper should have started this season as first choice) and with two very able young keepers coming through eventually they are going to need to see some way to progress otherwhise we will lose them.

Shay's been a great servant - although he did spit the dummy out when he didn't get his own way, but at his age and with the cover we have in that position I'd take Man City's hand off if a stupid bid is put on the table.

 

Scary that you believe we have the quality of Given waiting in the wings

 

The FACTS would tend to back me up.

 

Last season's records league records.

 

HARPER  Played 19  Points gained  26  Goals for 26 Goals against 23. Average goals conceded per game 1.21 - record extrapolated over full season  - 52 points -  i.e 10th in league.

 

GIVEN    Played 19  Points gained  17  Goals for 19 Goals against 42. Average goals conceded per game  2,21 - record extrapolated over full season -  34 points - i.e 19th in league (relegation)

[Guest Edd]

Given has returned to form this season, but Harper was certainly better last year.  There were a few threads insisting that Harper should keep his place, that we should cash in on Given then etc.

[Colos Short and Curlies]

If Citeh want him that badly then we should be looking at including Elano or Johnson in any deal (or even Jo.....??)

[Guest afternoonfix]

If he has to go I'd rather he went for tuppence than line Ashley's pockets to the tune of another £10m.

 

For me as an NUFC fan they can double it and still f*** off.

 

absolutely great to see one person without their heads up their arse.

 

Great post.

 

 

 

 

cut off your nose etc...

[NE5]

Shay Given - great goalkeeper but nowhere near as good as the media hype. 

His best displays have been in games where we were hammered and the flow of the game was towards him, like the great shot stopper he is it was no surprise the Liverpool defeat again showed him at his best. He does not however command an area like a great goalkeeper would.

Last season was the only one I can recall where Steve Harper played enough games to make any sort of comparison and on the basis of that, Harper's record was MUCH better than Given's in terms of points gained and goals conceded.

So maybe the repacement is already there (most fans felt Harper should have started this season as first choice) and with two very able young keepers coming through eventually they are going to need to see some way to progress otherwhise we will lose them.

Shay's been a great servant - although he did spit the dummy out when he didn't get his own way, but at his age and with the cover we have in that position I'd take Man City's hand off if a stupid bid is put on the table.

 

Scary that you believe we have the quality of Given waiting in the wings

 

its even more scary that people don't understand the signals it is sending out if he wants to leave.

 

Quite amazing how money is now coming before having quality in the dressing room of the club. We'll have the biggest bank balance in the championship soon.

 

 

[NE5]

The idea of him playing for Tottenham makes my blood boil. Hopefully not.

 

people like you are going to have to get used to the idea that clubs like Spurs think bigger, act bigger than we do.

 

This is why Gazza and Waddle went there for that reason, despite what other people that say they are long term supporters will tell you.

 

The blip of the Halls and Shepherd, where we correctly punched our weight above clubs like this, is well and truly over.

 

 

 

Gazza, Waddle, Jenas....

 

:colo:

 

you're a fool if you seriously think the sale of Jeanarse and the circmstances of it compares to those of Waddle and Gazza.

 

 

[Cajun]

The idea of him playing for Tottenham makes my blood boil. Hopefully not.

 

people like you are going to have to get used to the idea that clubs like Spurs think bigger, act bigger than we do.

 

This is why Gazza and Waddle went there for that reason, despite what other people that say they are long term supporters will tell you.

 

The blip of the Halls and Shepherd, where we correctly punched our weight above clubs like this, is well and truly over.

 

 

 

Gazza, Waddle, Jenas....

 

:colo:

 

you're a fool if you seriously think the sale of Jeanarse and the circmstances of it compares to those of Waddle and Gazza.

 

 

 

I should have added a smilie, oh wait...

[oldtype]

Shay Given - great goalkeeper but nowhere near as good as the media hype. 

His best displays have been in games where we were hammered and the flow of the game was towards him, like the great shot stopper he is it was no surprise the Liverpool defeat again showed him at his best. He does not however command an area like a great goalkeeper would.

Last season was the only one I can recall where Steve Harper played enough games to make any sort of comparison and on the basis of that, Harper's record was MUCH better than Given's in terms of points gained and goals conceded.

So maybe the repacement is already there (most fans felt Harper should have started this season as first choice) and with two very able young keepers coming through eventually they are going to need to see some way to progress otherwhise we will lose them.

Shay's been a great servant - although he did spit the dummy out when he didn't get his own way, but at his age and with the cover we have in that position I'd take Man City's hand off if a stupid bid is put on the table.

 

Scary that you believe we have the quality of Given waiting in the wings

 

The FACTS would tend to back me up.

 

Last season's records league records.

 

HARPER   Played 19  Points gained  26  Goals for 26 Goals against 23. Average goals conceded per game 1.21 - record extrapolated over full season  - 52 points -  i.e 10th in league.

 

GIVEN     Played 19  Points gained  17   Goals for 19 Goals against 42. Average goals conceded per game  2,21 - record extrapolated over full season -  34 points - i.e 19th in league (relegation)

 

That's a neat thing you're doing comparing Given's worst ever season (due to injury,) to what's probably Harper's best.

[NE5]

The idea of him playing for Tottenham makes my blood boil. Hopefully not.

 

people like you are going to have to get used to the idea that clubs like Spurs think bigger, act bigger than we do.

 

This is why Gazza and Waddle went there for that reason, despite what other people that say they are long term supporters will tell you.

 

The blip of the Halls and Shepherd, where we correctly punched our weight above clubs like this, is well and truly over.

 

 

 

Gazza, Waddle, Jenas....

 

:colo:

 

you're a fool if you seriously think the sale of Jeanarse and the circmstances of it compares to those of Waddle and Gazza.

 

 

 

I should have added a smilie, oh wait...

 

 

thats how you do it

[Guest Phil K]

Well, Shay's been loyal and got f*** all back for it - he knows how we bleed - I don't blame him one bit.

I thank him for what he's done and loyalty shown but....he can walk away, we can't.

[NE5]

Fans are putting Ashley back in the dock

 

Jan 3 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

 

Shay Given’s statement of intent on Thursday night was the worst possible way for Newcastle to enter a crucial month. Mark Douglas reports.

 

IT is possible to plot the demise of Mike Ashley’s credibility in the eyes of Newcastle United supporters through his derisory performances in the transfer window.

 

While he arrived too late to have any impact in the summer of 2007, Ashley’s hesitation 12 months ago when the newly-installed Kevin Keegan was desperate to add to his squad provided the first evidence of flaws.

 

The summer of 2008 was the nadir. Money was spent but offset by the sales of James Milner and Emre, and the unholy mess created by the Ashley- inspired power structure paved the way for a frustrated Keegan to walk out and bring the club to its knees.

 

Now, the need for Newcastle’s owner to dig deep is pressing – not just to restore his reputation now that he is in it for the long haul again but for the small matter of keeping United in the Premier League.

 

Joe Kinnear has illustrated through his adept handling of United at full-strength that they are capable of finishing just above mid-table when fully staffed, but the pitiful performance and embarrassing result against Liverpool served as a warning of what happens when resources are stretched.

 

Newcastle need at least five new players of Premier League quality simply to survive and that will require a personal cash injection of around £20m before taking into account any cash raised by sales.

 

Yet a clearly harassed Kinnear dropped the first hints yesterday that a substantial amount will have to be raised by player sales. Asked whether he was now aware of the amount of money that he would be given to spend in January, the Newcastle manager took a long pause before looking at a press officer sat to his left.

 

"I am aware what we have offered for players," he eventually answered. "There are certain players I am trying to sell at the moment, so a lot will depend on how much I get back for that. Those players cost decent money.

 

"Will there be surprise exits? I would not have thought so. None of the big boys but maybe other players who have come in to the value of £16m for three of them.

 

"That's in Dennis Wise's quarters now. He is the one wheeling and dealing, he is the one selling them. We're trying to get funds back in and he is aware of the players I want. We are talking to a lot of clubs at the moment."

 

That is not the bullish declaration that we have become used to from Kinnear when talking about cash.

 

It could be a double bluff to drive down the asking prices of their targets but such tactics rarely work, and Kinnear is too indiscreet to follow through with it.

 

Just as worrying is the prospect of losing Shay Given and Michael Owen, Newcastle’s two most important players. Kinnear is adamant neither will leave this month, but his unequivocal assurance that the Ireland goalkeeper will be staying was undermined when he admitted that if Ashley sanctioned the transfer of Given he would be powerless to stop it.

 

From a business perspective, there would be logic behind selling Given. £8million for a 32-year-old is a good return and with Steve Harper ready to step into the breach.

 

But Kinnear is a football man, and he is astute enough to know the damage done to the club by the departure of Given would not be mitigated by millions in the bank. As well as being one of the best goalkeepers in the top flight, Given is part of the fabric of the club – supremely popular with supporters and a calm and collected authority in the dressing room.

 

Combined with the crippling injury list that has made today’s FA Cup tie with Hull one to be endured rather than enjoyed, it is the worst possible start to a crucial month.

 

Kinnear’s reflex reaction when confronted with problems is to come out fighting and he was true to form in a combative Press conference yesterday lunch-time. Football journalists bore the brunt of his frustration but Given’s representative, the highly-respected lawyer Michael Kennedy, was not immune either.

 

Kinnear cast doubt on Kennedy’s claims that Given was unhappy ("I don’t have an unhappy player on my hands") and even went as far as to question his authority in acting on behalf of his goalkeeper – claims robustly denied from Ireland a few hours later.

 

It all adds up to more confusion at St James’s Park, where a follow-up statement from Ashley is sorely required to silence some of the doubts. The contradictory nature of Kinnear’s public statements is hardly helping, but at least he is robust in his insistence to Ashley and the club’s power brokers that investment must be made.

 

"I have explained the seriousness of situation to Mike Ashley, yeah," he said in his parting shot before boarding the team bus.

 

So the transfer window again becomes a crucial examination of Ashley’s intentions. Allow Given to leave, and don’t provide a substantial transfer budget for Kinnear to rescue United’s season, and Newcastle’s owner has again failed the test. The consequences of that would be unthinkable.

 

seems like someone has been reading my posts ............

 

This one for the Ashley apologists

 

 

[buzza]

I also think that if we got 8 million for shay it wouldn-t be a bad deal. We have steve harper who is as good as the secoind tier of goalkeepers in this league.

It is a damning statement when one of our longest serving and quite loyal players decides to call it a day, he knows we are going nowhere with ashley at the helm.

Happy days ...