Newcastles high number of foreign players may weaken their chances in Sundays relegation derby against Sunderland, according to former Magpies goalkeeper Shay Given.
Brandon Dubinsky World Cup Jersey . The two sides head into the 153rd Tyne-Wear derby at St James Park, live on Sky Sports 1 HD, knowing a victory could significantly improve their chances of avoiding relegation.Sunderland sit just above the relegation zone on 25 points, ahead of Norwich on goal difference, with Newcastle one point behind in 19th position. Given, who made 354 appearances for Newcastle between 1996 and 2009, knows all about the passion and rivalry that the fixture guarantees, but is worried the clubs foreign players may not be able to deliver the result that new manager Rafa Benitez desperately needs.Speaking on Sky Sports Now, Given said: My only concern is that there are a lot of foreign players at Newcastle now. Emmanuel Riviere battles against Bournemouths Steve Cook during the Magpies 3-1 defeat Sometimes you question whether they know what it means to play in such a big game as this - what it means to the fans, what it means for them going back to work on the Monday morning?Youd like to think Benitez can get that message across. Newcastle forward Aleksandar Mitrovic is one player who has not yet had the hoped-for impact He added: Its a tense occasion. Its huge for the fans, wanting to win this game more than any other game but if you asked any Sunderland fan or Newcastle fan this week would you take a loss at the weekend and stay up, they would probably do that.Its definitely a six-pointer, theyre both in the relegation fight and its going to be so close who stays up.It looks like Aston Villa have gone, and that its between Norwich, Newcastle and Sunderland [for the other relegation places] so it looks as if one of the two big ones from the north-east are going to go down. This game at the weekend is monumental. Rafael Benitez took charge of his first Newcastle game against Leicester Its not just a normal game, its not just another Premier League game, its a very special occasion. You can cut the tension with a knife beforehand.Sunderland have won the last six Tyne-Wear derbies, while Newcastle are enduring a run of failing to score in the past four matches against their local rivals.Eight points adrift of Newcastle is another one of Givens former clubs, Aston Villa, who have managed to record just three league victories all season and the 39-year-old has deep concerns for Remi Gardes side ahead of their trip to Swansea on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD. Its bleak reading when you see the Premier League table relegation fight at the bottom and theyre so far adrift, Given said.Randy Lerner invested I think £50m in the summer, thats a huge investment. The biggest problem is the players they brought in dont seem to be up to the standard of the Premier League. Theyre sometimes good players in the French leagues or the Dutch leagues but its a big step up to the Premier League and personally I felt they should have signed more Premier League experienced players in the summer - who know the league and know what it takes to stay in the division. Also See: Clark: Biggest derby ever Benitez focused on positives Rafa v Premier League Relegation run-in predictions
John Carlson Jersey . On Sunday, hell attempt to become the youngest driver to win a NASCAR Nationwide race on Iowas short track. The 20-year-old Blaney wont be the only kid pushing a podium finish.
Ryan Miller USA Jersey . Huntelaar also had a penalty saved by Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio. The two goals brought Huntelaars total for the season to 18, level with Bayern Munichs Mario Gomez for most in the league.Edmonton Oilers 6 Winnipeg Jets 2 - The Oilers scored three unanswered goals in the third period for the win on Monday, as they snapped a six-game losing streak while handing the Jets their second straight road loss and dropping them two games below .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. It was Jordan Eberle with the goal. Mark Stuart with his second from Olli Jokinen and Devin Setoguchi tied it less than three minutes later, but poor defensive zone coverage resulted in a Sam Gagner goal and a 2-1 Edmonton lead after one. The Oilers outshot the Jets 14-7. If not for great goaltending by Ondrej Pavelec, the score would have been much worse. The Jets were much better to start the second and controlled the play. The Jets power play connected for the ninth time in eight games to tie the game. Andrew Ladd snapped an eight game goalless stretch by deflecting a Dustin Byfuglien miss fire. A great play by Brian Little to enter the zone started the play. Little snapped a season-high three-game pointless stretch with the assist. But at 16:40, again poor defensive zone coverage led to a David Perron goal to regain the lead for Edmonton after two periods. The Jets outshot the Oilers 10-7 in the second. Early in the third, the Jets went back to the power play and came close to tying the game with a Blake Wheeler shot going off the cross bar. Seconds after the power play expired, Jeff Petry came in from the right point unnoticed and made it 4-2. Taylor Haall made it 5-2 at 8:34 with the Oilers second power play goal of the game.
David Backes Team USA Jersey. After a clean hit by Stuart on Yakupov, Luke Gazdic went after Stuart to start some of the rough stuff with lots more to come. Yakupov made it 6-2 and the fireworks were on. Earlier in the game, Yakupov made contact with Pavelec. Andrew Ladd after the game saying "I wasnt happy he threw a forearm at our goalies head. That was pretty much it." After the goal, Byfuglien got a minor for slashing Yakupov. On the ensuing face-off, Yakupov and Ladd exchanged slashes; Ladd got his stick into the stomach of Yakupov and that brought everyone into it. Zach Bogosian ended up with two Oilers, as the Jets were down a man with Byfuglien in the penalty box. Somehow here were the penalties when all was said and done. Yakupov got two for slashing and a 10-minute misconduct. For the Jets, Bogosian got a spearing major and a game misconduct, Little two for slashing and a misconduct, Ladd two for slashing, two for cross-checking and a game misconduct. The final penalty total in minutes was Jets 78, Oilers 25. Final shots 30-20 Oilers. The Jets were not happy with their performance. "Frustrating doesnt begin to describe it," stated captain Ladd. "Its the same (crap) game after game." "We didnt play very intelligent," added coach Claude Noel. "The way we played you knew the game was going to get out of hand and by opening it up against this team, we got what we deserved."The Jets next action is Friday at MTS Centre against Minnesota. (TSN Jets, TSN 1290). After losing 6-0 at home against St. Louis, the Oilers got the response game they were looking for. Friday it will be the Jets turn.
Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '
