Big Sam Backing From Goalkeepers Union
Last updated : 19 May 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor
The two Newcastle goalkeepers are best of friends, and both were quick to say the next Newcastle manager had to have a strong character to root out the trouble-makers that don't want to play for the club.
Shay Given: "The job Sam Allardyce did at Bolton was fantastic and hopefully he can do the same with us and get this massive club moving forward again.
"It has been such a long time since we won a trophy and the new manager will know the pressure that he will be under from day one.
"It is a new era again, and it is a new start. It is up to every single player to impress the new manager. The players have got to perform for him."
"We have got to start looking forward. We have had a poor season, there's no getting away from that. It has been disappointing and we have got to improve.
"It is frustrating that we have not had a manager that has been able to guide us to a trophy in the 10 years that I have been here, but hopefully they have got the right person in now to move the club forward."
Steve Harper: "I'm sure he is the right man for the job. We need someone to sort out some of the players. The attitude has not been right for some time now. A change had to be made."
Nicky Butt has also claimed some of his Newcastle team-mates do not care about the club - and insisted the new manager must solve the problem immediately.
Nicky Butt: "Hopefully, he will sort a few things out. The majority of the players in the changing room work hard and are good professionals. But there are a few who, generally, don't want to play for the club. The sooner that is sorted out, the better.
"I am not one to criticise my team-mates, but there are genuinely one or two players who don't want to be here. There are some players who have bad spells, but they give 100% in every game.
"But when there are other people who have the ability to do well, yet don't always want to do well, that is wrong."