Venue: St James'Park, NE1. Date: 5th February 2012 Kick Off: 1.30pm Referee: Mark Halsey. Well, it was another three points in the bag for the Magpies as they passed the supposedly "magical" 40 point mark, with no less than 14 games of the Premiership season to go. Apart from this though, the most obvious salient [.

It's games like today's fixture against Aston Villa at home, that Newcastle will have to win if they are to finish high up in the league table come mid-May. Charles N'Zogbia when he was at Newcastle If Newcastle do win today and Chelsea lose to Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in the later game, Newcastle will be in joint 4th place on points, but 5th because of an [.

Newcastle fans will get a chance this afternoon to welcome a player who played 462 times for the Newcastle first team. Tim Krul can emulate Shay Given a Newcastle Shay Given will play in the opposing goal at Newcastle for the first time ever this afternoon, and Shay of course was a Newcastle star from the summer of 1997 until he left the club in [.

Venue: St James'Park, NE1 Date: 5th February 2012 Kick Off: 1.30pm Referee: Mark Halsey I never used to bother much about Aston Villa. They were just one of those "middle of the road" clubs who chug along season after season with reasonable-sized crowds but nothing particular to shout about. I got a bit annoyed at [.

Shay Given will play at St. James' Park for the first time since he left the Newcastle club in January of 2009. Shay Given while at Newcastle from 1997 through 2009 And of course with Shay leaving in that winter transfer window of 2009, Newcastle were finally relegated in the May of that year, but Shay left basically [.

Shay Given will play at St. James' Park for the first time since he left the Newcastle club in January of 2009. Shay Given while at Newcastle from 1997 through 2009 And of course with Shay leaving in that winter transfer window of 2009, Newcastle were finally relegated in the May of that year, but Shay left basically [.

The inaugural UK Football Academy (UKFA) symposium at Emirates Stadium on February 8th has been renamed The Gary Speed Football Congress by UKFA founder, Raymond Verheijen as a tribute to the manager alongside whom he worked last year to elevate the Wales football team to new heights.

As a player and a manager, Gary Speed was a model professional who embraced a forward-thinking approach and modern methods.

They obviously can't be bothered, so neither can I. It was a positive line-up, but Utd never needed to get out of 1st gear. McLeish must be giving out his instructions in Russian or something because he's managed to make some very capable players look like they haven't the first clue what they're doing.

The Euro 2012 play-offs are over and we now know all 16 teams who will be competing in Poland and Ukraine next summer. Barring any injury issues, there will definitely be some Villa interest as the Irish saw out their considerable advantage from the first leg against Estonia to book their place in the finals with a 1-1 draw in Dublin.

Chris Herd's performances have rightly earned him quite a few headlines in the last couple of weeks. Initially for the wrong reason, but lately for the right ones.

Alex McLeish has said that he's "a manager's dream; the best trainer at the club".

He will train the way he plays on Saturday by giving it absolutely everything.

Venue: Britannia Stadium, Sir Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke-upon-Trent. Date: Monday, October 26th, 2011. Kick-off: 8:00pm. Referee: Mike Dean. TV: Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports HD 1. Well, The Magpies must pick themselves up from their disappointing capitulation against Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup and prepare themselves for a trip to another of the nation's [.

The qualification for Euro 2012 is almost done. England will be in Poland and/or Ukraine next summer after comfortably finishing top of Group G, albeit by handing Motenegro an unlikely point and a place in the play-offs in the final game. Ireland also made it to the play-offs, and could be drawn against Montenegro, but Wales and Scotland miss out once again.

Aston Villa 1 (Agbonlahor 13) Newcastle United 1 (Best 57) Both teams went into this game unbeaten in the Premier League so far, but with the Magpies four places ahead in the table through an extra victory, with nearly all of Aston Villa's games being draws. And so it proved today once again. Despite being [.

Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham Kick off: Saturday, 17th Sept, 3pm Referee: Neil Swarbrick Well if stats are anything to go by, our forthcoming away clash with the Villans, the result could well be another 0-0 like the QPR match. Of course though, there's been many a time in the past when people like myself written [.

Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni saluted Richard Dunne and Shay Given for their heroic performances in a precious 0-0 draw in Moscow.
Dunne produced two superb blocks and ended the game with four stitches in a head wound as Ireland managed to cling on for their first ever point in Russia.

It's a little over 10 hours to go before the rumour mongers and speculation, erm, spasmos take themselves a much needed break. At least for a fortnight or so, then they'll be back with a vengeance, leading all the way up to the perennially underwhelming January window.
Until then, I thought I'd summarise this summer's movements to date, borrowing from the transfers page, and throw in anything that happens during the course of this afternoon and evening.

Let's get right to it. Week 3. After week 2′s "apology/unlimited transfer shenanigans" we are back to basics and building our teams for the long term... There are quite a few attacking options this week that I wish we could ... Continue reading →

Shay Given set to be declared fit for Aston Villa's clash with Blackburn - Aston Villa FC news - Aston Villa - Sport - Birmingham Mail Given will resume full training tomorrow after being advised to rest up following the slight groin problem he sustained in Saturday's goalless draw at Fulham... And Given is expected to be fit and raring to go for his and McLeish's home debuts in Saturday

Quick Reminder, Real Life Last season started out with an odd choice for manager (Houlier) who didn't make it through the year due to health reasons. The team that had been excellent the year before regressed terribly despite a lot of the same talent and they hovered just above the relegation zone for a good part of the first half.

Exclusive: Read all about it, Shay Given decides that he actually wants to play football after joining, basically Newcastle again... Given AVTV exclusive by rbondy007 Quick rundown: Aston Villa is a big club (Used to be), joke about goalkeeper age best years to come (Cheap laugh) , It will be a pleasure to play [.

So, Liverpool upped their offer to £20m, Stewart Downing handed in a formal transfer request and there's not much more that needs saying. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Stewie. Textbook no-brainer.

That's £8m more than we paid Middlesbrough two years ago, but represents a £14m profit in terms of "disposal of player's registration".

By Andrew McCarten

For many, the exit of Martin O'Neill as Aston Villa manager at the beginning of the previous season was the prime reason for their decline. When O'Neill took over for the 2006/07 campaign, Villa had finished a lowly 16th the year before under David O'Leary, managing only 42 points.

BBC Sport Aston Villa sign Shay Given from Manchester City on five-year deal.

In probably the most cost effective transfer in the close season to date, Aston Villa today signed Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper Shay Given to a 5 year deal.

Given is widely regarded as one of the top goalies in the Premier League despite having spent most of last season on the bench as backup to Manchester City's England goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Aston Villa have completed the signing Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given from Manchester City.
The 35-year-old has signed a five-year contract at Villa Park after the clubs agreed an undisclosed fee.
Given told the club's website: "Aston Villa is a huge club and I'm really excited to be joining.

Rep.of Ireland Number One Shay Given (35) looks set to be wearing an Aston Vila jersey next season after Villa agreed a deal believed to be £4m for the Manchester City Stopper last night.

News in the Daily Mirror today that new Villa manager Alex McLeish will move for Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given in a £4M bid for the player. Shay Given - moving to Villa? Shay always wanted to play football, and we were just a little surprised when he agreed to stay at City last season, [...]

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Moving on from my previous article on Gary Speed, it is now time to profile another ex Newcastle United legend from the past decade. This time focusing on current Manchester City and Ireland international goalkeeper, Shay Given. Born April 20th 1976 in Lifford, County Donegal, Ireland, Shay started his career at his boyhood club, Celtic, [.

Fresh from their triumph in the underwhelming Nations Cup, Ireland face a crucial test away to Macdedonia in Skopje on Saturday evening. Going into the match Ireland are level with Russia and Slovakia on ten points so with half of the matches remaining to be played, all three sides stand an excellent chance of qualifying for next year's finals in Poland and Ukraine.

Several sites in America reported over the extended weekend that the deal for Brad Friedel had already gone through.

While there was no official word over here, sources in the US were claiming that a two year contract had already signed. With no word from Tottenham this morning, rumours continued and some names both old and new have emerged in connection with the goalkeeping ‘vacancy' at White Hart Lane.

Robbie Keane expects his Ireland team-mate Shay Given to be back playing Premiership football next season.
Manchester City goalkeeper Given has endured a frustrating year at Eastlands after losing his place in the team to Joe Hart.
The 34-year-old Donegal born goal stopper is expected to move on in the summer and Keane has underlined the qualities the former Newcastle goalkeeper offers.

Shay Given will be fit to play for Ireland in June's European Championship qualifier in Macedonia. Irish goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly confirmed in Dublin that Manchester City back up keeper Given will be fit in time for the club's first FA Cup final since 1981.
The Donegal goal stopper missed the March win over Macedonia after undergoing surgery on another shoulder injury in February but is back in full training with his club.

Giovanni Trapattoni's goalkeeping problems for the upcoming European Championship qualifier against Macedonia later this month continue to mount with news that Keiren Westwood failed to return for the second half as his Coventry side went down to a 4-1 home defeat to Bristol City at the Ricoh Arena.

Record Irish goalscorer Robbie Keane is a doubt for Ireland's Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia on March 26th, as he recovers from a calf injury.
Keane's participation in the Ireland squad is ‘touch and go' as it is estimated that the crucial qualifier may come a week before Keane gets the all clear to resume playing.

Ireland international goalkeeper Shay Given will find out this week if he needs to go under the surgeons knife after the Man City goalkeeper sustained a shoulder injury in training.
Man City manager Roberto Mancini revealed "He has a shoulder problem and next week he will go to the doctor in London to see if he needs surgery,"
Should The Donegal born keeper require surgery he would be certain to miss Ireland's crucial European Championship qualifier with Macedonia in Dublin next month and would a major blow to Giovanni Trapattoni's preparations for the game.

Spurs and Liverpool set to dominate transfer deadline day 1. Sergio Aguero Harry Redknapp has apparently launched a £38.5 million (€45 million) for the Atletico Madrid striker. While that triggers a release clause in his contract, the deal has hit a stumbling block over an additional £10-13 million tax fee due to the Spanish government [.

There comes a time in a footballers life when he must put his feet up and take a rest. Usually, this happens when they turn 35 , but for some, there resting is done between the 1st and 70th minute of a game and if they are lucky, the whole 90 minutes plus stoppages...I'm talking, of course, about bench-warmers.

We have seen the report out in the last day or two saying that Shay Given could be coming back to Newcastle United. Shay Given the great goalkeeper while at Newcastle But there is not truth in that rumor at all, it's made up nonsense, and why would Newcastle ever want to take Shay [...]