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Given hoping for reality cheque

 

By MARTIN BLACKBURN

 

January 03, 2007

 

SHAY GIVEN is praying Newcastle open the cheque book and bring in new players this week.

 

The keeper admits the current injury crisis is the worst he has known in 10 years at St James’ Park.

 

Despite being without 12 senior players, Glenn Roeder’s battle-scarred troops still scrapped their way to a 2-2 draw with Premiership leaders Manchester United on New Year’s Day.

 

But Given reckons the time is right to bring in new faces ahead of the FA Cup tie with Championship leaders Birmingham at the weekend.

 

He said: “It would be nice to get a couple of new players in this week so they don’t get cup-tied after the games on Saturday.

 

“I don’t know what the crack is in terms of new signings but we all know we need to get some new players in quickly.

 

“The chairman is aware of that and he has said before he wants to strengthen. The manager has his targets and in an ideal world we would get them in this week.

 

“You could see against United we only had 11 fit players to put in — there are more injured players than fit players.

 

“We need new faces to add numbers to a small squad. If we get the great quality of player as well, then that will help the squad no end.

 

“It’s not just about numbers, it’s about the calibre of players coming in, too. We need both, we need new faces but we also need good players as well.”

 

With Newcastle in the bottom half of the table and out of the Carling Cup, Given feels Saturday’s FA Cup clash at St Andrew’s is vital to their season.

 

He said: “It is a huge week for the club and hopefully we will get a few players back.

 

“The treatment table has never been so busy during the whole time I have been with the club.

 

“I can’t put my finger on why. that’s the way it is.”

 

Given himself has played through the pain barrier at Everton and against Manchester United despite struggling with a groin injury. He also suffered a tear in his bowel during the game at West Ham in September, which sidelined him for two months.

 

Michael Owen, Damien Duff, Shola Ameobi, Nicky Butt, Charles N’Zogbia and Stephen Carr are among the 12 Toon stars currently on the treatment table.

 

Meanwhile, Given had some words of advice for new Toon hero David Edgar, 19, who scored a stunning equaliser against United.

 

He said: “David is a right-footed centre-back playing at left-back and that sums it up. To come in and get the equaliser is fairytale stuff.

 

“He has had a great game but he has to progress as a player now.

 

“He has to build on it and use the experience he gets from playing football matches.

 

“But it’s a great start for him to grab the equaliser against Manchester United.”

 

 

 

 

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Guest teepee

he's really started to speak up a bit more over the last seasons - hasn't he?

 

but i sort of agree - a quick signing or two could help put my mind at ease, but i wont panic if they don't go through so quickley.... we all know it can be tough...

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Guest nufc1984

he's really started to speak up a bit more over the last seasons - hasn't he?

 

but i sort of agree - a quick signing or two could help put my mind at ease, but i wont panic if they don't go through so quickley.... we all know it can be tough...

 

He's started opening his mouth, because he knows he's an important figure himself and has the right to say it.

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We need reinforcementsJan 3 2007

 

 

 

 

By Luke Edwards, The Journal

 

 

 

 

 

Shay Given has urged Newcastle United chairman Freddie Shepherd to move rapidly in the transfer market after the Irishman admitted the squad was on the verge of breaking point because of injuries.

 

The Journal understands that Manchester United's England international Wes Brown is a Newcastle transfer target, with Middlesbrough's Chris Riggott another who is interesting boss Glenn Roeder as he attempts to boost his defencive options this month.

 

Southampton's wonder-kid Gareth Bale is another wanted by the Magpies manager and, while the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Real Madrid have been following the 17-year-old's progress, United could benefit from the fact the youngster has privately intimated he wants to join a club who will give him regular first-team football.

 

But it is up front that Newcastle's plans are causing the most confusion, with Peter Crouch adamant he will not be leaving Liverpool, while Everton manager David Moyes has insisted James Beattie is not for sale, despite dropping him for the 3-0 win over Newcastle last Saturday.

 

 

United's makeshift side did a magnificent job against aspiring champions Manchester United on New Year's Day, with rookie defender David Edgar's late strike securing a battling draw. But Given, who has returned far quicker than usual from a groin problem to ease his manager's plight, warned they cannot maintain their revival unless re-enforcements arrive to bolster a squad which has performed valiantly to cope without so many key players in recent weeks.

 

 

"Our team was strung together against Manchester United, we were struggling to get the bare minimum of players out there," said Given, who was full of praise for young defensive trio Edgar, Paul Huntington and Steven Taylor after their determined effort against the Red Devils.

 

 

"The treatment table has never been so busy during the whole time I have been with the club. I walked in there on Sunday and there was a board up with all the names on, and there were more injured players than fit players, which is no exaggeration. It's really bad and I can't put my finger on why."

 

 

He continued: "It would be nice to get a few new players this month - but even nicer to get some in this week so that they don't get cup-tied after the FA Cup games on Saturday.

 

 

"I don't know what the craic is in terms of new signings but we all know that we need to get some new players in and pretty quickly. The chairman is aware of that and he has said before he wants to strengthen in January.

 

 

"The manager has his targets as well and in an ideal world we would get them in this week, but that doesn't always happen. You could see against Manchester United that we only had 11 fit players to put in, we need new faces to add numbers to a small squad.

 

 

"There are a few players on the treatment table who aren't far away and, if we get the right quality of player as well, then that will help the squad no end. It's not just about numbers, it's about the calibre of players coming in, too."

 

 

Newcastle's medical staff will work frantically to get players back in time for the tricky looking FA Cup trip to Birmingham City, although captain Scott Parker is suspended and Nicky Butt is struggling with an ankle injury.

 

 

But Given is full of admiration for the way the squad has rallied around each other in the club's time of need.

 

 

He said: "Manchester United are a top team and they had their full squad up here, but we showed real character. We stuck together when we had to and we certainly deserved a point and could have actually won.

 

 

"It's nice, because I think they will be champions, if not champions then they will be very, very close. They have been on fire recently, beating teams up and scoring lots and lots of goals. They scored two against us but we gave them a real fight.

 

 

"The lads deserve a lot of credit because we had a lot of young lads out there but they stood up, were counted and became men. They had to do that. There was no alternative."

 

 

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We need reinforcementsJan 3 2007

 

 

 

 

By Luke Edwards, The Journal

 

 

 

 

 

Shay Given has urged Newcastle United chairman Freddie Shepherd to move rapidly in the transfer market after the Irishman admitted the squad was on the verge of breaking point because of injuries.

 

The Journal understands that Manchester United's England international Wes Brown is a Newcastle transfer target, with Middlesbrough's Chris Riggott another who is interesting boss Glenn Roeder as he attempts to boost his defencive options this month.

 

Southampton's wonder-kid Gareth Bale is another wanted by the Magpies manager and, while the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Real Madrid have been following the 17-year-old's progress, United could benefit from the fact the youngster has privately intimated he wants to join a club who will give him regular first-team football.

 

But it is up front that Newcastle's plans are causing the most confusion, with Peter Crouch adamant he will not be leaving Liverpool, while Everton manager David Moyes has insisted James Beattie is not for sale, despite dropping him for the 3-0 win over Newcastle last Saturday.

 

 

United's makeshift side did a magnificent job against aspiring champions Manchester United on New Year's Day, with rookie defender David Edgar's late strike securing a battling draw. But Given, who has returned far quicker than usual from a groin problem to ease his manager's plight, warned they cannot maintain their revival unless re-enforcements arrive to bolster a squad which has performed valiantly to cope without so many key players in recent weeks.

 

 

"Our team was strung together against Manchester United, we were struggling to get the bare minimum of players out there," said Given, who was full of praise for young defensive trio Edgar, Paul Huntington and Steven Taylor after their determined effort against the Red Devils.

 

 

"The treatment table has never been so busy during the whole time I have been with the club. I walked in there on Sunday and there was a board up with all the names on, and there were more injured players than fit players, which is no exaggeration. It's really bad and I can't put my finger on why."

 

 

He continued: "It would be nice to get a few new players this month - but even nicer to get some in this week so that they don't get cup-tied after the FA Cup games on Saturday.

 

 

"I don't know what the craic is in terms of new signings but we all know that we need to get some new players in and pretty quickly. The chairman is aware of that and he has said before he wants to strengthen in January.

 

 

"The manager has his targets as well and in an ideal world we would get them in this week, but that doesn't always happen. You could see against Manchester United that we only had 11 fit players to put in, we need new faces to add numbers to a small squad.

 

 

"There are a few players on the treatment table who aren't far away and, if we get the right quality of player as well, then that will help the squad no end. It's not just about numbers, it's about the calibre of players coming in, too."

 

 

Newcastle's medical staff will work frantically to get players back in time for the tricky looking FA Cup trip to Birmingham City, although captain Scott Parker is suspended and Nicky Butt is struggling with an ankle injury.

 

 

But Given is full of admiration for the way the squad has rallied around each other in the club's time of need.

 

 

He said: "Manchester United are a top team and they had their full squad up here, but we showed real character. We stuck together when we had to and we certainly deserved a point and could have actually won.

 

 

"It's nice, because I think they will be champions, if not champions then they will be very, very close. They have been on fire recently, beating teams up and scoring lots and lots of goals. They scored two against us but we gave them a real fight.

 

 

"The lads deserve a lot of credit because we had a lot of young lads out there but they stood up, were counted and became men. They had to do that. There was no alternative."

 

 

 

Bale would come here then.

 

Manu: Evra, Heinze

Arsenal: Clichy, Gallas

Real? : I not seen a lot of them this year.. I'm guessing it's still Carlos? He wouldn't go to spain, surely?

 

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Guest thompers

Nobby has the last laugh there, thick irish twat, 4 playing alongside Nobby? Surely it is Nobby + 3 others, as we play with 4 at the back.

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Nobby has the last laugh there, thick irish T***, 4 playing alongside Nobby? Surely it is Nobby + 3 others, as we play with 4 at the back.

Obvious what he meant and it makes sense, unless you take it literally.

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Guest thompers

Nobby has the last laugh there, thick irish T***, 4 playing alongside Nobby? Surely it is Nobby + 3 others, as we play with 4 at the back.

Obvious what he meant and it makes sense, unless you take it literally.

 

It makes sense... if we played with a back five.

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Nobby has the last laugh there, thick irish T***, 4 playing alongside Nobby? Surely it is Nobby + 3 others, as we play with 4 at the back.

Obvious what he meant and it makes sense, unless you take it literally.

 

It makes sense... if we played with a back five.

And if you can separate the literal from the metaphorical.

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Guest thompers

Nobby has the last laugh there, thick irish T***, 4 playing alongside Nobby? Surely it is Nobby + 3 others, as we play with 4 at the back.

Obvious what he meant and it makes sense, unless you take it literally.

 

It makes sense... if we played with a back five.

And if you can separate the literal from the metaphorical.

 

Ok metaphorically, the back 20 has been great alongside Nobby, who is at least 56.

 

Does this also make sense?

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Guest thompers

Nobby has the last laugh there, thick irish T***, 4 playing alongside Nobby? Surely it is Nobby + 3 others, as we play with 4 at the back.

Obvious what he meant and it makes sense, unless you take it literally.

 

It makes sense... if we played with a back five.

And if you can separate the literal from the metaphorical.

 

Ok metaphorically, the back 20 has been great alongside Nobby, who is at least 56.

 

Does this also make sense?

No.

Why would the back 20 be a meaningful metaphor in this context btw?

 

Just a random incorrect figure replacing the incorrect figure that Shay used in his setence. You said it makes sense if you seperate the literal from the metaphorical so I assume that it doesn't matter which incorrect figure you use?

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Nobby has the last laugh there, thick irish T***, 4 playing alongside Nobby? Surely it is Nobby + 3 others, as we play with 4 at the back.

Obvious what he meant and it makes sense, unless you take it literally.

 

It makes sense... if we played with a back five.

And if you can separate the literal from the metaphorical.

 

Ok metaphorically, the back 20 has been great alongside Nobby, who is at least 56.

 

Does this also make sense?

No. Is the 'back 20' a commonly used phrase in football parlance btw?

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Guest elbee909

Nobby has the last laugh there, thick irish twat, 4 playing alongside Nobby? Surely it is Nobby + 3 others, as we play with 4 at the back.

 

Perphaps Shay was including himself in the defence?

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Guest thompers

Nobby has the last laugh there, thick irish twat, 4 playing alongside Nobby? Surely it is Nobby + 3 others, as we play with 4 at the back.

 

Perphaps Shay was including himself in the defence?

 

Describing himself as "very young"?

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Guest elbee909

Nobby has the last laugh there, thick irish twat, 4 playing alongside Nobby? Surely it is Nobby + 3 others, as we play with 4 at the back.

 

Perphaps Shay was including himself in the defence?

 

Describing himself as "very young"?

 

If he can describe Solano as being 56 years old then he's obviously prone to exaggeration :)

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