The Shay Given situation

**Noelys Guitar** · 30/05/2008, 10:35 PM

If Given fails to regain his place (and I don't believe he will start the season as first choice at Newcastle) he has to move to a new club pronto. He must be playing first team football come the Georgia game otherwise Kiely must start.

**Razors left peg** · 30/05/2008, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

If Given fails to regain his place (and I don't believe he will start the season as first choice at Newcastle) he has to move to a new club pronto. He must be playing first team football come the Georgia game otherwise Kiely must start.

Personally I dont think there will be an issue, as long as he is fit he will prove himself to be a much better keeper than Harper during preseason and will be first choice come start of season

**bellavistaman** · 30/05/2008, 10:54 PM

No issue what so ever IMO, shay will always be irelands no1, and newcastles when hes fit

**SilkCut** · 31/05/2008, 3:09 AM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

If Given fails to regain his place (and I don't believe he will start the season as first choice at Newcastle) he has to move to a new club pronto. He must be playing first team football come the Georgia game otherwise Kiely must start.

Would'nt worry too much about Kiely starting. We are fortunate to have him back he is a top class keeper and deserves to be back in the premiership. Good for given to have the competition again.

**seanfhear** · 31/05/2008, 12:23 PM

people seem to forget that shay given has been dropped a few times during his time at newcastle.Mind you he has always managed to reclaim the number one spot.It looks as if newcastle will be going nowhere fast unless they get a sugar daddy that is willing to spend. Maybe keegan can work some magic but it is going to be very dificult without money.If given regains full fitness then a move to genunine competitive premier club or even abroad would be worth considering.It surprises me that clubs such as aston villa or spurs would not be interested in given.He will have to prove his longterm fitness first

**Greenforever** · 31/05/2008, 1:06 PM

Shay Given or Dean Kiley, couldn't care less which plays, both great keepers. Also 2 true gentlemen, if only we had the same problem in centre midfiled, centre back, etc, etc,

**Razors left peg** · 31/05/2008, 1:11 PM

Originally Posted by Greenforever

Shay Given or Dean Kiley, couldn't care less which plays, both great keepers. Also 2 true gentlemen, if only we had the same problem in centre midfiled, centre back, etc, etc,

Very true

**shakermaker1982** · 31/05/2008, 1:58 PM

Since that Harweood incident he has been very injury prone. Fingers crossed the rest this summer will let the body heal.

**Maroon 7** · 31/05/2008, 3:12 PM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

If Given fails to regain his place (and I don't believe he will start the season as first choice at Newcastle) he has to move to a new club pronto. He must be playing first team football come the Georgia game otherwise Kiely must start.

If he's fully fit he'll be first choice at Newcastle.

**Seagull-4-life** · 31/05/2008, 3:31 PM

The day newcastle drop given is the day we win the league!!!

**Irish Magpie** · 31/05/2008, 4:09 PM

As a newcastle fan i can honestly say that very few ppl realise just how good steve harper is!! very little between him and shay and i would not be surprised if he kept shay out of the team.

**zenokelly** · 31/05/2008, 5:05 PM

Originally Posted by Greenforever

Shay Given or Dean Kiley, couldn't care less which plays, both great keepers. Also 2 true gentlemen, if only we had the same problem in centre midfiled, centre back, etc, etc,

I really have to disagree with you there. I would find it hard to pick 2 from 4 very decent players, if A. Reid, S.Reid, Carsley and Ireland were all available in September.

My preference would probably be the two Reids but Carsley had a very strong season for the 5th place team in the premiership and Ireland didn't let himself down at all for City, with a pretty much a guaranteed spot all season for a good outfit.

Then if J. O' Brien stays injury-free for a while you could throw him in to the mix.

So 5 strong players available in the centre IF ALL FIT!

**Greenforever** · 31/05/2008, 6:05 PM

Originally Posted by zenokelly

I really have to disagree with you there. I would find it hard to pick 2 from 4 very decent players, if A. Reid, S.Reid, Carsley and Ireland were all available in September.

My preference would probably be the two Reids but Carsley had a very strong season for the 5th place team in the premiership and Ireland didn't let himself down at all for City, with a pretty much a guaranteed spot all season for a good outfit.

Then if J. O' Brien stays injury-free for a while you could throw him in to the mix.

So 5 strong players available in the centre IF ALL FIT!

First I'll learn to spell

Andy Reid and Stephen Reid i'd agree with if both fit

Carsley I dont expect to be around much longer,

The less said about S Ireland the better

O'Brien has potential but time will tell.

So I'd say 2 possibly 3 for 2 postitions.

**Maroon 7** · 01/06/2008, 4:14 AM

Originally Posted by Irish Magpie

As a newcastle fan i can honestly say that very few ppl realise just how good steve harper is!! very little between him and shay and i would not be surprised if he kept shay out of the team.

Harper is a decent backup keeper.

To even compare him to Given on talent terms is a bit of a nonsense. Then again leaving him in goal would be a typically Newcastle move.

That said not a bad keeper at all but not in Shay's class.

**SkStu** · 01/06/2008, 7:36 AM

Originally Posted by Maroon 7

Harper is a decent backup keeper.

To even compare him to Given on talent terms is a bit of a nonsense. Then again leaving him in goal would be a typically Newcastle move.

That said not a bad keeper at all but not in Shay's class.

to be fair its pretty common knowledge that Harper is one of, if not the best back up keeper in the premiership - and would be good enough to start for most Premiership teams.

**Noelys Guitar** · 01/06/2008, 10:32 AM

According to a couple of Sunday papers Newcastle want to sign Westwood from Carlisle.

**paulie_walnuts** · 01/06/2008, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Ciaran

It'd be unthinkable for Newcastle to drop Given. Out of the question.

Obviously you don't watch Newcastle much.

Harper has proven himself to be a very good goalkeeper, both late last season and a few seasons ago, when he kept Given out of the team for most of the 98/99 season, even a cup final.

Given will have his work cut out to get back in, rightly so, he was in a bit of a comfort zone at Newcastle. He's more than capable of getting back into the side, but to indicate that it would be unthinkable for him to be dropped is slightly blinkered.

**Irish_Praha** · 01/06/2008, 1:40 PM

If Shay is fit at the start of the season but Harper keeps him out of the Newcastle team then I think Kiely should start for us at least until Shay is getting some games and maybe longer if he keeps putting in solid performances. If Kiely wasn't available I would play Given without match fitness ahead of all the other options. This shows that is was important to get Kiely back.

**Noelys Guitar** · 01/06/2008, 2:04 PM

Originally Posted by Irish_Praha

If Shay is fit at the start of the season but Harper keeps him out of the Newcastle team then I think Kiely should start for us at least until Shay is getting some games and maybe longer if he keeps putting in solid performances. If Kiely wasn't available I would play Given without match fitness ahead of all the other options. This shows that is was important to get Kiely back.

I'd agree with that