Given is back in the first team today:ball:
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Given is back in the first team today:ball:
Harper was playing well besides in recent seasons Given has been so injury prone it's a wise policy to give Harper a few games because you're going to need him again quite soon. Given moved around a fair bit early in his career having spells with both Celtic and Blackburn Rovers where he was never given a decent run in the side. He has been no. 1 for a long time at the Magpies. Given stayed with Newcastle United primarily because his wife and children like living in the area. He said as much in an interview sometime last year. I cannot give a link cause I don't remember exactly which media outlet/website , I read it on (it may even have been TV)but I do remember him saying that directly to a question posed by an Irish journalist.
Thought given did well today although he conceded 3 goals good save from elano and ireland in 1st half that kept them in it.. On other irish note dunne and ireland player really well too.
He did make a boo-boo at one point though, mis-controlling a back pass and very nearly gifting a goal. No fault for the goals - Elano's free-kick was amazing, millimetre perfect. I'd say Harper is still knocking, if not pounding, on the door, it'll be interesting to see how Given reacts to the competition. It's weird how Harper and Given look so alike, reminds me of myself and Brad Pitt. Mwahhaha. :cool:
Big Sam's first big decision and he bottled it.