Unsurprisingly it will be Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse who take the headlines for Newcastle United tomorrow morning after the Senegalese duo both found the back of the net in Newcastle’s win against Aston Villa today. However, one man who was equally as important for the Toon was Tim Krul, as two first-half saves in particular from Darren Bent kept Newcastle on level terms. Krul has been fantastic all season and has outshined his teacher who was in between the sticks in the opposition’s goal this afternoon.
Shay Given was a fantastic servant for Newcastle United. The Irish goalkeeper played for Newcastle for a dozen years from 1997 till 2009 and racked up over 400 appearances for the Magpies, pulling off save after save after save. Sound familiar? Well that’s exactly what Tim Krul has done for Newcastle this season and with his reputation rocketing all the time, if he stays at St James’ for a dozen years as well then the Magpies will be able to rely on their goalkeeper for the next decade.
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At 23 years of age, Krul can go as far as he wants in the game. He is already an outstanding shot-stopper, has great presence at the back and inspires confidence in the defenders in front of him. Before today’s match he spoke to nufc.co.uk and clearly recognises the assistance that he got from Given in his early years at the club. Krul stated: “He’s my teacher. He taught me a lot when I came to the club so I owe him a lot, and I’m looking forward to seeing him.”
There are few better teachers to have than Shay Given. He was and still is an excellent goalkeeper, but Krul arguably has the potential to be better than Given, if he isn’t already. The Dutchman is three inches taller at 6ft 4in, enabling him to be safer under crosses. The only thing that is slightly disappointing from time to time from Krul is his kicking, but he has plenty of time to work on that and as long as he keeps the ball out of the back of the net then I won’t be complaining.
While neither goalkeeper could do anything about the three goals today, if you’d have asked me who I’d want in goal before the match then I’d go for Tim Krul. There isn’t a goalkeeper in the Premier League in better form right now than the Dutchman and the Newcastle pupil is outshining his teacher Shay Given.
Tim might not be on Twitter, but click on Ba and Cabaye below to see who are the Top TEN Newcastle Tweeters
