THE CASTLE by Andy Blackwell
From Mike Hooper to Shay Given Newcastle
United have had their fare share of goalkeepers in the 90's. But who was
the number 1 of them all. Most people would argue that it would be Kevin
Keegans signing Pavel Srnicek although his other signing Shaka Hislop is
having the games of his career at West Ham. The worst keeper has to be Mike
Hooper for the obvious reason he was dodgy hence the chanting from the terrace:
"Dodgy Keeper, Dodgy Keeper, Dodgy Keeper"
He was never a premiership goalkeeper but whatever happend to Hooper.
Pavel Srnicek and Shaka Hislop are probably
every ones favourite. The duo where signed by Keven Keegan in his 5 years
of glory at St. James'. Shaka was signed from Reading and even though he
looked dozy sometimes he was an outstanding buy. Pavel was one of Keegans
early signings when we got promotion from Division 1 to the premiership
to declare ourselves as one of the biggest names in British Football if
not European. Pavel & Shaka battled all season for the no.1 spot 95/96
96/97 and 97/98 seasons but Keegan gave them both the same amount of games.
Dalglish was the new manager in 97/98 and there was now a new contender; Seamus Given who was a big hit with the Scumberland fans when he went on loan was signed from the managers former club Blackburn. The young Irishman showed great potential and received many Irish caps while at St. James'. There was three keepers of the castle at St. James' but two of them were to loose out. Dalglish sold Hislop to West Ham just after his first England International call up and Pavel Srnicek was released on a free transfer just to be picked up by Sheffield Wednesday after a spell in his native Chezc Republic.
Lionel Perez was drafted in after Sunderland failure to gain promotion over Charlton in the Nationwide Division 1 play-offs as the new number two for Dalglish. The new look Newcastle squad had familiar faces as Dalglish tried to build a stable side but lost out and after just two games in 98/99 against Charlton & Chelsea he was sacked or did he jump and was replaced by the "sexy football god" Ruud Gullit. Ruud stuck with the three keepers of Given. Perez and Harper who was now well into his 8th year at the club. Perez never got into the flow and Harper was given his Newcastle debut after 8 years with the club. On a foggy night against Boro' Harper played the game of his career in a 2-2 draw at the Riverside. Harper was to go on and play in the F.A. cup final against Manchester United at the end of the season.
A new
season at Newcastle started in 99/00 with a lot of speculation between manager
and captain not getting on. But another two new keepers were to be brought
in. The first was Belgian Keeper John Karelse who was brought in after Uniteds
worst Premiership start in their history. He was the keeper in Southampton's
demolition of the Toon Gloom in a 5-2 defeat at the Dell. One day before
the Tyne & Wear derby former Newcastle no.1 Tommy Wright was signed
on loan from Manchester City and played a reasonable game even though Ruud
Gullit resigned after the nights 2-1 defeat against the Scum.
So out of all these I have to choose which keeper was our all time no.1. First I have to dismiss Karelse, Perez and Wright as they have just signed and Perez was a total flop much like his saves. That leaves Harper, given, Hislop and Srnicek. I can't say Harper as he has only played a handful of games but has been at the club through their highs and lows. So who is it Given, Hislop or Srnicek. I am going to say Pavel Srnicek. The big Czech was a big hit with the fans and staff. He was their right from the start of the Keegan and revolution era.