Newcastle Right Not To Stand in Shay Given’s Way

He has served Newcastle United for more than a decade and has won the northeast club so many points over the years with outstanding saves, so it is probably about time the St. James Park board did a favor for Shay Given.

When Newcastle’s first-choice goalkeeper takes a look at the Premier League table, he sees his club languishing only two points clear of the relegation zone. A keeper who makes remarkable saves week after week deserves much better than that, and Given is right to look elsewhere amid all the chaos at St. James Park.

So, with Newcastle’s recent savior seeking a move to Manchester City, it is right that he should be allowed to follow his ambitions after so many years of dedicated service to the club.

It's not that Given does not like Newcastle; he would stay if they were doing well. It's that Given wants a fresh start at a club that can offer a greater chance of winning a trophy or playing European football.

Surely that is not too much to ask for a 32-year-old who has shed sweat and blood for Newcastle for such a long time. There are not too many years left in his playing career and his chances of winning silverware are running out.

Newcastle will undoubtedly miss Given if he does move on as expected, and manager Joe Kinnear today expressed how disappointed he would be to lose one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League.

"I have bent over backwards to keep him. I've tried to make him stay," Kinnear said. "He wants a new challenge and he wants to speak to Manchester City ... He's done 11 years here and I think he wants a new challenge. I would be heartbroken to see him go because he is one of the best keepers in the world. But Man City keep banging on the door to talk to him.

"It's out of my hands and I am still waiting for the final outcome."

But no matter how much Newcastle tries to persuade Given to remain at St. James Park, the goalkeeper needs only look back a few weeks to when his side was battered 5-1 by Liverpool in their own backyard.

Given was outstanding that day, thwarting countless goal-bound attempts from the likes of Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt, but still conceded five goals because Newcastle were defending so poorly. It was the biggest hint to him that he should think about moving on.

It is about time this world-class goalkeeper was playing at a stage that matches his ability. He deserves trophies and he deserves European football. So he is right to look elsewhere. And Newcastle are right to let him.