Scottish Mag 3 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 SAM ALLARDYCE has revealed his admiration for Steve Harper after applauding the Toon goalkeeper’s professionalism. The Newcastle United manager is working around the clock to sign up to three new defenders before the Premiership kick-off in 18 days’ time. However, he admits he can rest a little easier knowing he is covered in the shot-stopper’s department with Shay Given, Steve Harper, Tim Krul and youngster Fraser Forster making up the goalkeeper’s union at St James’ Park. Like most managers before him at Gallowgate, Big Sam knows Harper would be first choice at plenty of other clubs in the Premiership but, with Given suffering from a minor heel injury, the United is happy to have such top-quality cover. He told the Chronicle: “Steve is top quality in my opinion but I know I can wake up feeling good and rest easily knowing that is an area in which we are covered well. “I know Steve is as good as Shay when he is called upon.” Harper made 25 appearances last term with Given missing large chunks of the season with a bowel injury and two groin strains. The Republic of Ireland international will be hoping for a much better year on the injury front, while Harper would be ecstatic to repeat the same amount of appearances this time around. Although the rivalry would create hostility in any other position, Allardyce says the harmony in the dressing room between the pair is impressive. Allardyce says: “Shay and Harps are like brothers, they have been here that long. “Harps will be happier than he as been before because he has played a lot more last season than in previous years. “Shay is disappointed because he has never had so many injuries than now. “However, I would maintain the goalkeepers are fighting healthily for that one place. “If Stevie comes in and plays well when Shay is out that is only healthy competition and that for me would be the type of big challenge for the gloves I like to see. “Certainly, with Shay playing so many games, you have to admire Steve for his loyalty and his patience at the club. “Shay is top quality and to replace him is a massive task.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 47251 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 “Certainly, with Shay playing so many games, you have to admire Steve for his loyalty and his patience at the club. Or alternatively, question his ambition/desire to actually have a career in football at all. I cannot get my head around how you can put all the effort in that's required to get to the top in your chosen sport, and then be happy to spend a decade or however long as someone else's understudy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JawD 99 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 Really scratching around for news aint they... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shearergol 0 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 Harper would be first choice at plenty of other clubs in the Championship Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney 0 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 In a recently posted article about Chopra at Cardiff(it was an old article) he spoke about Harper offering advice by saying "Don't make the same mistake that I did". Harper could have left the club whenever he liked, but chose to stay for one reason(£££) or another(£££). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GafferTape 0 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 In a recently posted article about Chopra at Cardiff(it was an old article) he spoke about Harper offering advice by saying "Don't make the same mistake that I did". Harper could have left the club whenever he liked, but chose to stay for one reason(£££) or another(£££). From what I heard, it's nothing to do with money. He's happy and settled in the area, his family are settled and he doesn't want to move them. He's doing/did whatever degree it was he wanted to do and doesn't see the need to move, as long as the club wants to keep him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney 0 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 That was only a bit tongue in cheek. The lad obviously has greater ambition for when he's finished preofessional football though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggiespaws 0 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 In a recently posted article about Chopra at Cardiff(it was an old article) he spoke about Harper offering advice by saying "Don't make the same mistake that I did". Harper could have left the club whenever he liked, but chose to stay for one reason(£££) or another(£££). From what I heard, it's nothing to do with money. He's happy and settled in the area, his family are settled and he doesn't want to move them. He's doing/did whatever degree it was he wanted to do and doesn't see the need to move, as long as the club wants to keep him. To be fair to him, that's what I'd heard. Just maybe, he holds his family stability above his football career? Maybe he enjoy's NUFC and I'm sure he'd love to play more games but not everyone want's to chase their career so single mindedly. I've met people who are better software architects than me but lack the ambition to take it further. They are happy where they are and feel less pressure as a result. A bit of a safe zone maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 In a recently posted article about Chopra at Cardiff(it was an old article) he spoke about Harper offering advice by saying "Don't make the same mistake that I did". Harper could have left the club whenever he liked, but chose to stay for one reason(£££) or another(£££). From what I heard, it's nothing to do with money. He's happy and settled in the area, his family are settled and he doesn't want to move them. He's doing/did whatever degree it was he wanted to do and doesn't see the need to move, as long as the club wants to keep him. To be fair to him, that's what I'd heard. Just maybe, he holds his family stability above his football career? Maybe he enjoy's NUFC and I'm sure he'd love to play more games but not everyone want's to chase their career so single mindedly. I've met people who are better software architects than me but lack the ambition to take it further. They are happy where they are and feel less pressure as a result. A bit of a safe zone maybe. Earlier on it wasn't as clear cut Given > all as it became later and he got a fair few games (and even held Given out until he got injured at one point under SBR). It's only really been that Given has been so terminator-esq with his lack of injuries that has meant he hasn't got more games. He might not be quite good enough to be our first choice here (if we didn't have Given), but he seems to be vastly under rated on this board and IMO could easily be a Premiership 1st choice for a club with more mid-table aspirations (not that we haven't been, just we expect more). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggiespaws 0 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 tbh, I reckon if Shay hadn't stayed so fit and Harper had played more games he'd be Englands No1. As is he's been overlooked. Perhaps if he was career minded enough to want to be England's No1 he'd have moved already. Maybe he just has different priorities and imo, we shouldn't criticise. When Shay get's injured I'm not too worried about his understudy. We have far greater things to worry about on other areas of the pitch. Harper always gives his all when he plays and does a good job. We are lucky to have him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 47251 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 I think the England's number one thing is a myth tbh. He's not that good. However, if YOU believe that to be true, I don't see how you can defend a bloke for having "different priorities" and not wanting to take his kids out of school or whatever, when you think that the alternative is that he could have been playing in World Cups/European Championsips. I mean Jesus, the bloke is a professional footballer, and you think his wife being settled in the NE is a good enough excuse to pass up on those sort of achievements. Like I say, I don't think he's good enough for that in the first place. Neither does he or I'm sure he would have done something about it by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggiespaws 0 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 The point is though, it's just my opinion. I might think that with more games and more exposure he could have been no1. However, he might not be interested in it and is therefore not something he has pursued; whether he thought he could do it or not. I used to work with a bloke who was 10 years my senior and technically better than me. Problem was he wasn't interested in the limelight even though we both knew he was the better of the two of us. At the time he was getting paid more than me too. He was happy where he was, even though he knew eventually I'd over take him. When I first began contributing to this thread I wasn't doing so with the purpose of defending him and I'm still not. I'm just offering an alternative explanation based on a loosely associated experience Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NobbySol 22 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 SAM ALLARDYCE has revealed his admiration for Steve Harper after applauding the Toon goalkeeper’s professionalism. “I know Steve is as good as Shay when he is called upon.” Haha ur having a laugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo 175 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 SAM ALLARDYCE has revealed his admiration for Steve Harper after applauding the Toon goalkeeper’s professionalism. “I know Steve is as good as Shay when he is called upon.” Haha ur having a laugh Agreed, Harps I'm sure is a great lad, and has been a fantastic servant to the club, but he's no where near Shay Given. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holden McGroin 6966 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 SAM ALLARDYCE has revealed his admiration for Steve Harper after applauding the Toon goalkeeper’s professionalism. “I know Steve is as good as Shay when he is called upon.” Haha ur having a laugh I think he could have been a few years ago. They were neck and neck at one point and under Gullit Given was having a bad time, especially with this kicking. However, Shay knuckled, down got the break in the team and has never looked back. Thus leaving Harper in the wilderness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sima 0 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 4th best keeper in the Premiership tbh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31603 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 Tbh I'd like to see Harper moved on at the end of next season and give Krul the opportunity to be Shay's deputy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0 Posted July 24, 2007 Share Posted July 24, 2007 Tbh I'd like to see Harper moved on at the end of next season and give Krul the opportunity to be Shay's deputy. My sentiments exactly. I really don't think he's that good, the only reason I would keep him would be if Krul is going out on loan somewhere to get some matches under his belt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggiespaws 0 Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Tbh I'd like to see Harper moved on at the end of next season and give Krul the opportunity to be Shay's deputy. My sentiments exactly. I really don't think he's that good, the only reason I would keep him would be if Krul is going out on loan somewhere to get some matches under his belt. I'd disagree. He's not mature enough yet. Give him a few years and yeah, ok. But for now, we need someone more reliable if/when Shay is out. Krul really pulled it out of the bag for us last season with his 'unbelievable' performance but it's a bit much to expect that more regularly. For now, Harps is a capable replacement. I agree with the earlier post on him not being as good and the the other post about them being neck and neck at one point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 31603 Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Tbh I'd like to see Harper moved on at the end of next season and give Krul the opportunity to be Shay's deputy. My sentiments exactly. I really don't think he's that good, the only reason I would keep him would be if Krul is going out on loan somewhere to get some matches under his belt. I'd disagree. He's not mature enough yet. Give him a few years and yeah, ok. But for now, we need someone more reliable if/when Shay is out. Krul really pulled it out of the bag for us last season with his 'unbelievable' performance but it's a bit much to expect that more regularly. For now, Harps is a capable replacement. I agree with the earlier post on him not being as good and the the other post about them being neck and neck at one point. Why do you think that? I reckon a season out on loan to a near by club would do him the world of good, all I've seen of him is the Palmero game but by all accounts he's been looking good in the reserves. He won't wait around forever and if he spends the next few seasons playing reserve football I think he'll be looking to move. Harper isn't going to improve any further to be a real threat to Given's place so I think we have to start looking to the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggiespaws 0 Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Tbh I'd like to see Harper moved on at the end of next season and give Krul the opportunity to be Shay's deputy. My sentiments exactly. I really don't think he's that good, the only reason I would keep him would be if Krul is going out on loan somewhere to get some matches under his belt. I'd disagree. He's not mature enough yet. Give him a few years and yeah, ok. But for now, we need someone more reliable if/when Shay is out. Krul really pulled it out of the bag for us last season with his 'unbelievable' performance but it's a bit much to expect that more regularly. For now, Harps is a capable replacement. I agree with the earlier post on him not being as good and the the other post about them being neck and neck at one point. Why do you think that? I reckon a season out on loan to a near by club would do him the world of good, all I've seen of him is the Palmero game but by all accounts he's been looking good in the reserves. He won't wait around forever and if he spends the next few seasons playing reserve football I think he'll be looking to move. Harper isn't going to improve any further to be a real threat to Given's place so I think we have to start looking to the future. Sorry, I meant he's not mature enough to take over as Shay's no2. The best way he will achieve this is to go out on loan - absolutely. I think a loan season or two with a championship club will bring him on a long way. Incidentally, I wonder when Harps contract runs out? I'd check but I'm off to make my house look less like the shit hole it is in time for the workmen coming to measure up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanTheMan 0 Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Last time Harper got an extended run in the team, in the Gullit era, he was superb IIRC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sima 0 Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Last time Harper got an extended run in the team, in the Gullit era, he was superb IIRC. Give ower man Nostalgia-tastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 47251 Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Tbf to Dan, he was about 4 at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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