oh they really didn't say that

Quite honestly it was a headline that few copy-writers could resist and I honestly have to hand it to him for holding out. However per the Newcastle web-site it was pronounced that "It's a Given, Shay's Best in the League says Joe." How often a title is bigger than an article but for a Monday evening post it certainly is worthwhile. Yet the crux of the article is true because the Republic of Ireland 'keeper has saved the day for the Magpies on many occasions.

Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear gushed:

"He's the best goalkeeper in the league, no doubt. When you need great goalkeepers you need them to react to the unexpected and that first save from Frank Lampard was excellent. He's made another couple of good saves after that and if you're going to get a point at places like Stamford Bridge you need goalkeepers like Shay Given. But we defended fantastically well as a team and I couldn't fault anyone, I'm very proud."

Likewise as proud and yes it's a given.