Steve Harper: I love this basket-case club

[Jimbo 175]

WE REALLY ARE LOONY TOONS!

 

But I love it at Newcastle, says Steve Harper

 

 

STEVE HARPER - my heart is in this crazy club!

 

By MARTIN HARDY, 12/09/2009

 

STEVE HARPER reckons he could write a best-seller about the crazy goings-on during his time with the Toon.

 

After 17 years at St James' Park and 18 different managerial appointments, the Newcastle keeper has just about seen it all. But he won't be putting pen to paper just yet.

 

Harper, 34, said: "I will resist the urge to write a book, although I think I would sell more copies than JK Rowling.

 

Mad

 

"It is a basket case of a club. Newcastle is either top of the mountain or bottom of the trenches. There is no middle ground.

 

"We're either going to win the Champions League or go into the Conference. That's the way this place is. It's been like this for a long time."

 

He added: "After 17 years I STILL haven't got my head around the way it works - and I don't think I ever will. This place is as mad as you want but I love being here."

 

For once - after 12 months of high-profile departures, relegation down to the Championship and owner Mike Ashley's failure to find a buyer - Newcastle are now talking where it counts. On the pitch. Played five, won four. Unbeaten so far this term.

 

Harper added: "The more you win the less you will hear of the bad side of the club. This club is an easy target and has been for a long time. It is up to us to change that.

 

Puked

 

"We have a bunch of players who want to prove people wrong. We have been shot at and puked at that often and for that long that we now have a group who want to show what they can do.

 

"The players want to shut the doubters up. There were people who made it clear they didn't want to be here and play in this league. That's up to them.

 

"We don't hold anything against them. It was important we knew as a group of players who wanted to be here and who was up for the challenge and the fight. You'll see that."

 

Loan

 

The Geordies travel to Cardiff today with Harper hoping to extend his current total of 360 minutes without letting in a goal.

 

The stopper is happy with the team's start but wants owner Ashley to bring in some reinforcements on loan.

 

Harper added: "If we add a couple of players then we can have a right go at getting back in the Premier League. If we don't get any more then it will be very tough."

[Tom 14021]

After years at St James' Park and 18 different managerial appointments, the Newcastle keeper has just about seen it all. But he won't be putting pen to paper just yet.

 

Or 11...

[The Fish 11058]

Maybe including the "interim" fellas, like Carver et al?

[Jimbo 175]

Maybe including the "interim" fellas, like Carver et al?

 

chuck in a Pearson or a McDermott or five.

[Asprilla 96]

A boring fact, but I sold Harper his first settee when he moved here. He lived in whickham (i think) and helped me get it off the van. It was really naff and looked liked this.