Robson not to blame for Magpies’ fall, says Given
Given, with three clean sheets for the Republic of Ireland in his last four internationals, refused to consider the possibility of leaving the club after another barren season.
"I'm very, very happy at Newcastle. We've got a good squad of players and people shouldn't forget that. We finished third last season and we've got to be looking to get back into the Champions League next season and hopefully win a trophy as well," he said.
Given is a hero on Tyneside. However he is desperately keen to repay that support with some silverware.
"I'd like to win something, for sure," he said. "I'm 28 years of age and I hope I have nine or ten more years left at the top. But you don't want to look back over your career and finish with next to nothing.
"But there's a lot of players at our club who are in the same boat and there's no reason why we cannot win something at Newcastle. We've got to be really positive and focused and ,hopefully, we can do that, even if there are a lot of clubs chasing the same couple of prizes."
Given is set to play his 59th international tomorrow against Romania. He played his first in 1996 against Russia and, after jousting with Alan Kelly and Dean Kiely for several seasons, established himself as undisputed number one in 2001.
The secret of his success is hard work and a constant search for improvement "Every season I'm trying to improve as a goalkeeper. People say that goalkeepers keep improving into their thirties and I work hard in training to try and improve.
"You just try and be consistent as a goalkeeper and try and limit your mistakes. Inevitably, you will make mistakes, but you must bounce back from them and it's been a pleasing season. Obviously, it would have been better had we been more successful and qualified for the Champions League and won the UEFA Cup or something, but, on a personal level, I'm fairly happy with my form."
The retirement of Kelly and Kiely left manager Brian Kerr with only one experienced goalkeeper and in recent matches he has offered playing time to Nicky Colgan (Hibernian), Joe Murphy (West Brom) and Paddy Kenny (Sheffield United).
The goalkeeper laughed when he spoke of the rapidly changing scene with Ireland in the past year.
"I was just looking around me today and I am now one of the oldest players in the squad," he said. "We've got some very good and talented young players coming through and they will be all delighted and excited about these games and, hopefully, there will be a few making their debuts as well. That is exciting for anyone to make their debut for their country and they'll be looking forward to it."
He is looking forward to Newcastle stepping up their challenge in the Premiership.
"We've got a good squad of players and, hopefully, we'll bring in a few more during the Summer. If we do, then we can compete again next season. It's a big club, the fans are fanatical with huge support, home and away. All over Europe this year, they've been superb and we want to win things for them as much as for ourselves."
He refused to tolerate the suggestion that the closing weeks of the season when they lost to Southampton and drew with Liverpool somehow reflected badly on manager Robson. They finished fifth in the Premiership, a position that got them into the UEFA Cup, whereas last season they were third and qualified for the Champions' League.
"Bobby Robson has been brilliant since I've been there. We were fighting relegation when he took over and people forget that.
"Okay, we finished fifth, but we're back in Europe again. Obviously, it is disappointing it's not the Champions League, but I think when you do well for a few seasons expectations go through the roof but it is up to us as players to deliver.
"We know this year we haven't lived up to expectations. Last season we finished third and next season we've got to do better than fifth.
"People might be blaming the manager but it was more or less the same players who finished third 12 months ago who slipped to fifth. Some players have got to hold their hands up and say we've got to do better and that's what we've got to do next season."
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