Shay Given

[marko1892]

I think it's easy to forget just how long Shay Given has been at the club, We signed him from Blackburn in 1997 and by the time this season has finished it will be 10 years he has been at the club. Put into account that his contract extention will keep him here for another 4/5 years, Providing hew retires then he will have spent close to 15 years at the club.

 

In that time He has been regarded by many as the best keeper in the premiership and to Newcastle fans the saving grace between the posts that has kept us in games and kept Newcastles position in the league safe. It's only fitting that Given also has a testimonial, although a long way off.

 

It would be criminal of Newcastle to not let the guy have a testimonial after the years of loyal service he has given the club, lets not forget if he wanted to really leave there would be no shortage of offers from other premiership clubs. I hope the board of St. James' recognise this and do what is right.

[Yorkie]

Give him one when he retires, aye. It's shit doing it when they're still playing, like the Rob Lee one. Which everyone has forgotten.

 

Unsurprisingly.

[marko1892]

Give him one when he retires, aye. It's shit doing it when they're still playing, like the Rob Lee one. Which everyone has forgotten.

 

Unsurprisingly.

 

Thats what I mean, I'm not on about giving him one now, I'm saying that he should get one absolutely no question about it, Shearer got one, Lee got one, Given is owed one.

[Ronaldo]

i agree but why are you makin this point when he's at least 6 years off retiring 

 

rob lee has yet to retire right? it was best the club gave him his testimonial in 2001-02 when his exit was imminent

[Guest Invicta_Toon]

*Shay owed something by Toon shocker*

[Guest Knightrider]

There are still some cocks who think he's average

 

Arguably the best money we have ever spent and we will realise just how good a 'keeper he is when he's gone. I'm more conecrened about replacing him one day than I was replacing Shearer. Goalkeeping is such a specialist position it will be very hard to pick up a top top 'keeper. Hopefully Krul will develop into one, I have high hopes of him.

[marko1892]

There are still some cocks who think he's average

 

Arguably the best money we have ever spent and we will realise just how good a 'keeper he is when he's gone. I'm more conecrened about replacing him one day than I was replacing Shearer. Goalkeeping is such a specialist position it will be very hard to pick up a top top 'keeper. Hopefully Krul will develop into one, I have high hopes of him.

 

Aye my thoughts aswell, Ive never seen this Krul lad, didnt catch the Palermo game but my dad was adament that he should have started yesterday over Pav.

[Guest smoggeordie]

There are still some cocks who think he's average

 

Arguably the best money we have ever spent and we will realise just how good a 'keeper he is when he's gone. I'm more conecrened about replacing him one day than I was replacing Shearer. Goalkeeping is such a specialist position it will be very hard to pick up a top top 'keeper. Hopefully Krul will develop into one, I have high hopes of him.

 

Aye my thoughts aswell, Ive never seen this Krul lad, didnt catch the Palermo game but my dad was adament that he should have started yesterday over Pav.

 

Shame he's injured.

[Ronaldo]

to be honest, he isn't quite as good as some like to make out either

 

a goalkeeper's main reason for being there is to save shots, but they are also responsible for preventing opportunities (box domination) and distributing the ball effectively, Shay is average at very best in these aspects.

 

great keeper, but the 'elite' don't have any weaknesses

[Guest teepee]

to be honest, he isn't quite as good as some like to make out either

 

a goalkeeper's main reason for being there is to save shots, but they are also responsible for preventing opportunities (box domination) and distributing the ball effectively, Shay is average at very best in these aspects.

 

great keeper, but the 'elite' don't have any weaknesses

 

but there have been very very few better keepers in the epl over the last couple of years - schmeichels (well, peter schmeichels that is...) come along very rarely.

 

 

[aimaad22]

to be honest, he isn't quite as good as some like to make out either

 

a goalkeeper's main reason for being there is to save shots, but they are also responsible for preventing opportunities (box domination) and distributing the ball effectively, Shay is average at very best in these aspects.

 

great keeper, but the 'elite' don't have any weaknesses

 

Everybody has weaknesses.

 

The likes of Henry and Ronaldinho would be in the so called 'elite' group of footballers. But they have weaknesses. Its just that their strenghts overshadow their weaknesses most of the time.

 

 

[aimaad22]

Mind you Shay is not bad in those situations you mention. He catches a lot of what he comes out for,and looks in command. When I see much larger people like Lehmann hesitate and so often fumble balls when dealing with corners etc, I often think Shay is better than most in those situations as well.

[Dokko]

to be honest, he isn't quite as good as some like to make out either

 

a goalkeeper's main reason for being there is to save shots, but they are also responsible for preventing opportunities (box domination) and distributing the ball effectively, Shay is average at very best in these aspects.

 

great keeper, but the 'elite' don't have any weaknesses

 

Everybody has weaknesses.

 

The likes of Henry and Ronaldinho would be in the so called 'elite' group of footballers. But they have weaknesses. Its just that their strenghts overshadow their weaknesses most of the time.

 

 

 

True.

 

Buffon drifts in games, Casillas is shockingly inconsistent, Cech's kicking is poor, Van Der Sar is total dog shit for top corner shots, Lehman is a total cock and vastly over-rated anyway, Reina is pathetic in the air and Given's distribution is poor.

 

All the worldclass keepers have their faults, i've just picked the glaringly obvious with each one. Ask a level-headed fan of each keeper and they'd point out even more.

 

 

[Yorkie]

There are still some cocks who think he's average

 

Arguably the best money we have ever spent and we will realise just how good a 'keeper he is when he's gone. I'm more conecrened about replacing him one day than I was replacing Shearer. Goalkeeping is such a specialist position it will be very hard to pick up a top top 'keeper. Hopefully Krul will develop into one, I have high hopes of him.

 

Aye my thoughts aswell, Ive never seen this Krul lad, didnt catch the Palermo game but my dad was adament that he should have started yesterday over Pav.

 

Shame he's injured.

 

Shouldn't have been in the squad if he was injured.

[Gallowgate End]

 

Buffon drifts in games, Casillas is shockingly inconsistent, Cech's kicking is poor, Van Der Sar is total dog shit for top corner shots, Lehman is a total cock and vastly over-rated anyway, Reina is pathetic in the air and Given's distribution is poor.

 

 

what about Paul Robinson... 

[Guest Invicta_Toon]

 

Buffon drifts in games, Casillas is shockingly inconsistent, Cech's kicking is poor, Van Der Sar is total dog shit for top corner shots, Lehman is a total cock and vastly over-rated anyway, Reina is pathetic in the air and Given's distribution is poor.

 

 

what about Paul Robinson... 

 

he's good enough to be somebody's fourth choice keeper I reckon

[Dokko]

 

Buffon drifts in games, Casillas is shockingly inconsistent, Cech's kicking is poor, Van Der Sar is total dog shit for top corner shots, Lehman is a total cock and vastly over-rated anyway, Reina is pathetic in the air and Given's distribution is poor.

 

 

what about Paul Robinson... 

 

he's good enough to be somebody's fourth choice keeper I reckon

 

 

 

[Dinho lad]

 

Buffon drifts in games, Casillas is shockingly inconsistent, Cech's kicking is poor, Van Der Sar is total dog shit for top corner shots, Lehman is a total cock and vastly over-rated anyway, Reina is pathetic in the air and Given's distribution is poor.

 

 

what about Paul Robinson...

 

[NE5/]Better than Given and I'm always right.[NE5/]

[Delima]

True.

 

Buffon drifts in games, Casillas is shockingly inconsistent, Cech's kicking is poor, Van Der Sar is total dog shit for top corner shots, Lehman is a total cock and vastly over-rated anyway, Reina is pathetic in the air and Given's distribution is poor.

 

All the worldclass keepers have their faults, i've just picked the glaringly obvious with each one. Ask a level-headed fan of each keeper and they'd point out even more.

 

How about Ben Foster? He has no obvious weakness, and he is good in everything. The next Peter Schmeichel. He should play between the sticks for England instead of Robinson.

[Dokko]

True.

 

Buffon drifts in games, Casillas is shockingly inconsistent, Cech's kicking is poor, Van Der Sar is total dog shit for top corner shots, Lehman is a total cock and vastly over-rated anyway, Reina is pathetic in the air and Given's distribution is poor.

 

All the worldclass keepers have their faults, i've just picked the glaringly obvious with each one. Ask a level-headed fan of each keeper and they'd point out even more.

 

How about Ben Foster? He has no obvious weakness, and he is good in everything. The next Peter Schmeichel. He should play between the sticks for England instead of Robinson.

 

[Dinho lad]

True.

 

Buffon drifts in games, Casillas is shockingly inconsistent, Cech's kicking is poor, Van Der Sar is total dog shit for top corner shots, Lehman is a total cock and vastly over-rated anyway, Reina is pathetic in the air and Given's distribution is poor.

 

All the worldclass keepers have their faults, i've just picked the glaringly obvious with each one. Ask a level-headed fan of each keeper and they'd point out even more.

 

How about Ben Foster? He has no obvious weakness, and he is good in everything. The next Peter Schmeichel. He should play between the sticks for England instead of Robinson.

 

 

I didn't want to laugh. I thought maybe Delima was some kind of a genius but nobody here realises it yet.

[Dokko]

True.

 

Buffon drifts in games, Casillas is shockingly inconsistent, Cech's kicking is poor, Van Der Sar is total dog shit for top corner shots, Lehman is a total cock and vastly over-rated anyway, Reina is pathetic in the air and Given's distribution is poor.

 

All the worldclass keepers have their faults, i've just picked the glaringly obvious with each one. Ask a level-headed fan of each keeper and they'd point out even more.

 

How about Ben Foster? He has no obvious weakness, and he is good in everything. The next Peter Schmeichel. He should play between the sticks for England instead of Robinson.

 

 

I didn't want to laugh. I thought maybe Delima was some kind of a genius but nobody here realises it yet.

 

[Dinho lad]

Nah, only joking, Delima. Got nothing against ya!

[Wullie]

True.

 

Buffon drifts in games, Casillas is shockingly inconsistent, Cech's kicking is poor, Van Der Sar is total dog shit for top corner shots, Lehman is a total cock and vastly over-rated anyway, Reina is pathetic in the air and Given's distribution is poor.

 

All the worldclass keepers have their faults, i've just picked the glaringly obvious with each one. Ask a level-headed fan of each keeper and they'd point out even more.

 

How about Ben Foster? He has no obvious weakness, and he is good in everything. The next Peter Schmeichel. He should play between the sticks for England instead of Robinson.

 

laugh.gif

 

That you're serious is terrifying.

[Guest KeithKettleborough]

These days no one DESERVES a testimonial if they are playing at the highest level. They were given to loyal players on poor wages as a boost to help see them through retirement from football when most would be involved in low paid jobs or even on the dole.

 

All they do these days is make rich guys even richer or boost their egos (and probably finances through sponsers, interviews etc) or allowing them to be thought of as saints as they donate money to charity (sorry Al and even Quinnie).  I am sure Shay would donate too but I am a bit cynical and think that they and indeed the club (receipts from catering, drinks etc) still benefit from the "benefit".

 

The day that one of these multi-millionaires has a testimonial and decides to match the amount raised from the game, you will see me demanding knighthoods, keys to the country never mind the Toon and Town Moor. and even degrees from every uni in the country for them. Until then though, I will view them as very lucky players to be worshipped by the Toon for so long, amazingly well paid (a lot of it by us), and none in need of the now unnecessary Premiership testimonials.