Newcastle Boss Insists Given Is Not For Sale

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Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has once again declared that Republic of Ireland International goalkeeper Shay Given is not for sale, with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Manchester City all reportedly interested in securing the services of the shot-stopper this month.

Despite reports earlier on Friday that 32-year-old has become disillusioned with life at the Magpies after 11-years at St James’ Park, with Given’s lawyer hinting that the keeper was ready to quit the Toon. Kinnear has insisted that Given, who is under contract at the Premiership club until 2011, will not be leaving Newcastle.

Kinnear said: “I'm not sure of the facts that he (Kennedy) has said or how it's been interpreted, but what I will say is Shay is contracted until 2011.

“He is our player and he is going to stay our player, it's as simple as that.

“We are not interested at all (in selling him). I want to clear that - that is probably the last time I will be talking about it.

“He is here, he is our player and he is going to stay our player.

“He is an integral part of the team, he is the best goalkeeper by miles in the league, so why should we jeopardise our chances in the position we are in?

"It wouldn't make sense, so as far as I am concerned, he is going to stay our player.”

Benitez Drops Keane To Fuel Liverpool Exit Speculation

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Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has dropped Republic of Ireland International Robbie Keane for the Premier League clash with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday. Which is sure to fuel speculation about the striker’s future at the Merseyside club just four months after Keane’s £20million transfer from Tottenham Hotspur.

Despite EURO 2008 winner Fernando Torres being out with a persistent hamstring problem, Benitez has not included Keane in the Liverpool squad that travelled to Blackburn, but has insisted that there is plenty of time left in the season for the former Inter Milan player to feature.

Keane has featured in all 15 of the Reds Premiership matches this season, but has only managed to find the net twice in the Premier League since his big-money move from White Hart Lane in the summer.

However, while Benitez has claimed there is plenty of time left this campaign for Keane to come good on Merseyside. The Spaniard also declared that Keane is just “another player” and that no one at Anfield is guaranteed a place.

Benitez said: “He is working hard in training as always. The best way to support him is by talking about how he can improve. We have to analyse everything because we have to think about him and the team.

“There are six months of the season left so I can pick him lots of times but I cannot guarantee a position to anyone.

“He is a normal player, another player. As a player you have to work hard and try and do the things we are practising in training.

“We have to win. He is in the same situation as the rest of the players. Can I guarantee the position of Agger, Hyypia, Aurelio, Dossena, Carragher, no?

“The players have to play the best that they can every week and then afterwards you decide.

“We can talk about players costing £15m-£20m at other teams and they are on the bench every week but people are not talking about them.

“For me it is not a question of the price tag of the player, he is just another player.”

Benitez also refused to be drawn on how negotiations are going on a new contract for him at Liverpool, which the former Valencia coach had hoped to be done and dusted by the end of November.

“My advisors are in contact with the club and that’s it,” he said.

“I would like to concentrate on football because they are doing their job.”

Newcastle Boss Kinnear Slams "Disrespectful" Trapattoni

Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has claimed that Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has been “disrespectful” to the Magpies after recommending goalkeeper Shay Given to clubs in his homeland of Italy.

Trapattoni revealed earlier this week that he had told two or three Serie A sides that Given would be a good proposition for Italian football and that they could do a lot worse than try to tempt the Irish shot stopper away from St James’ Park.

This has not gone down well with Kinnear, who has already warned off Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp from Given recently. With Kinnear claiming that Given, who has been at the Premier League club since 1997 is happy at the Toon and would be the last player he would want to lose.

Kinnear told The Independent: "It is disrespectful to the club. Shay has got two-and-a-half years left here, a long contract and he is very happy here.

“He is a big voice in the dressing room and a top-class goalkeeper. He's the last person we'd want to lose.

“What was my reaction? Something like he is a very good judge of a goalkeeper. Maybe he was trying to get on Shay Given's good side.”

Has He Got To Gomes?

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The Jake Briggs Column at TheProudCockerel.co.uk

A while ago a friend of mine created a loosely scientific theory for the gaffes that England goalkeeper David James was prone to so often in his earlier career. He called it Roli’s Barnet Theory of Culpability, which had a formula M=HF². This equated to H=hair, F=flamboyant and M=(night)mare. So in easy speak every time James did something flamboyant with his hair a mare was not far round the corner M=HF².

Alas I have no such explanation or theory for Senor Gomes, who seems to have been at fault for the vast majority of goals that Spurs have conceded this season. Which has surprised me for of all the signings that Tottenham made this summer, Gomes was one I expected to excel and become a cult hero at White Hart Lane.

You see I can understand mistakes and errors while playing in a team that is making them all over the pitch, as we were under Ramos, but as Tottenham under the guidance of Redknapp have started to flourish and play with confidence Gomes continues to disappoint. I admit the Brazilian has made some outstanding saves since his big-money move from PSV Eindhoven this summer, but his decision making and positional sense on crosses leaves a lot to be desired and is very reminiscent of a younger James. Not to mention his habit of hospitalising his own team-mates.

It seems that Harry is also of the same opinion and has been linked with a number of keepers since his arrival at White Hart Lane, with Spurs linked to England International’s Robert Green and Ben Foster along with Shay Given at Newcastle United, who Redknapp has publicly revealed an interest in and from further ashore Russian International Vyacheslav Malafeev at Zenit St Petersburg.

So if Gomes is to be shown the door at Tottenham in January, who is the most likely to replace the Brazilian between the posts at Spurs, Green, Roberts, Given or Malafeev?

Well if we rule out the Russian keeper then we are left with three who all know what the Premier League is about. Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has started to think in terms of use Foster or lose Foster in light of our interest and is ready to play him and offer a new deal, while the impending fire sale at Upton Park in January could see us land a reportedly unhappy Green from West Ham for a song. With the Hammers Player of the Year last season believed to be unhappy at not being on par financially with other players at West Ham.

However, I believe Given would represent the best option, having been one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the Premiership over the past decade for the Magpies. The chances of luring Given away from St James’ Park are pretty good to, with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley reportedly prepared to sell any asset he can before selling the club and with a source close to the Republic of Ireland International claiming recently that Given is still hungry to win something in his career and is prepared to leave the Toon in order to achieve that.

Sweet & Sour Injury News For Liverpool Boss Benitez

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has revealed that he expects Republic of Ireland International Robbie Keane to be fit to face Fulham at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday, but captain Steven Gerrard is a major doubt for the visit of the Cottagers.

Keane, who injured his shoulder in the win against Bolton Wanderers at the weekend has withdrawn from the Ireland squad to face Poland this week, but Benitez has insisted that the withdrawal from the Irish squad was merely a precaution.

“Robbie Keane's injury is not serious,” Benitez told the club's official website.

“He had a problem but [withdrawing from the international duty] was just a case of prevention. I think he will be okay.”

However, the Reds boss will be without his skipper Gerrard after a groin strain forced the midfielder to pull out of Fabio Capello’s squad to face Germany in Berlin on Wednesday.

Benitez believes the Champions League clash with Marseille is a more realistic target for Gerrard, who will be out for 7-10 days after having a scan.

“Steven had a scan and he will be out for seven to ten days, depending on how he progresses,” added Benitez.

“He could be back for the Marseille game but each player is different. We have to start working with him and see how he does.”