Newcastle-Online comment: July 15th 2004
I've long suspected that Shearer and Bobby don't see eye to eye and
in a way I can understand why our Captain isn't particularly enamoured
with his manager. Shearer is a Toon supporter first and foremost,
it will have hurt him just as much as it's hurt me and you seeing
Bobby waste millions over the years, seeing players underperforming
yet constantly being picked by Bobby, seeing players not earning their
wages.
But his latest comments to the Chronicle, which read out loud and
clear that he will not stand for not playing week in week out in the
upcoming season to the point of claiming he would leave if that were
to be the case are bang out of order and surprisingly uncharacteristic
of the man. Never one to let his guard drop Shearer may have revealed
what none of us want to know - that all is not United in camp Newcastle.
Hot on the heels of the so-called rift that has 'developed' between
Freddy Shepherd and Bobby these comments are ill-timed and serve to
cause even more unrest - especially among us supporters where morale
is very low at present and faith in the management is wearing thin.
After last seasons showing, inactivity in the transfer market despite
being linked with lots of players, the one signing that we have made
- another teenage prospect and a frustrating 'silence' from the club
it's positive action we need not more reasons to be downbeat.
But reading Shearer's comments makes me personally wonder what the
hell is going on at our club and who is actually in charge - and I
doubt I'm alone on this either.
Shearer has a right to expect a place in the starting lineup because
he is the one player we can rely on, he has gave his all in the seven
plus years that he has topped our goalscoring charts and player of
the year awards. He has put his body through so much turmoil to often
drag our club out of the mire - many of his performances have bordered
on the astonishing. In his final ever season as a professional player
he will want two things badly; to win a trophy with his
team and to break Wor Jackie's record of which he is a mere 28 goals
shy of doing so. He more than anyone deserves to eat those two carrots
dangling in front of his face and being linked to the likes of Beattie
and Kluivert could hamper his quest.
However by going public he is undermining not only Bobby but Fat Fred
too - in fact the whole club and our season. His comments could hamper
the club's quest. We desperately need a new striker of quality (what
with Bellamy's knee...), indeed we desperately need a replacement
for Big Al himself, but by throwing his considerable power and influence
about, any moves for a Beattie or a Kluivert may have to be shelved
until he retires - and where will that leave us in the meantime?
Do we simply make do with Bellamy, Shola and Chopra? One is always
injured, one isn't exactly the ideal partner for Shearer and the other
is untested and inexperienced. If we were to go into the season with
those three competing to partner Shearer as our only strikers it doesn't
bode well for a make or break season and what if the Number 9 picks
up an injury? Then we are knacked.
Or does Bobby go out and buy a 'squad striker' to fill the gaps? In
which case he'd be repeating his mistakes of buying players who aren't
good enough for the first-team therefore another Lua Lua case could
develop and we don't want that. Interestingly (or worryingly) Bobby
started with Chopra alongside Shearer yesterday against Thailand,
is Chopra being prepared for more first-team football next season
as the 4th choice striker?
His start would suggest so, especially in light of Shearer's comments
and if that is to be the case and we don't sign this experienced goalscorer
that we desperately need then something is seriously wrong with our
club and the question is Shearer bigger than NUFC may have been answered.
Our Number 9 needs a certain striker to play off and the ones we have
been linked to aren't that (Bellamy type) player and those experienced
'big name' goalscorers that we have been linked to aren't going to
sit on the bench waiting for a 33 year old Legend to bow out are they?
Shearer, the consummate professional and the one man we can all rely
on has done himself, the club he undoubtedly loves and us supporters
a disservice with these comments which smacks of arrogance, egotism
and selfishness - things I never thought I'd say about the man that
made me run into the street shouting and screaming: "we've signed
Shearer!" in my delight at seeing the Toon buy the one player
I wanted the club to sign more and above any other player - a legend
and a hero to yours truly.
I only hope these comments have been took out of context, if not I
hope Shearer breaks wor Jackie's record, wins that trophy that he
more than anyone deserves and then we can finally move on to life
without him - which may not be such a bad thing after all. |
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