Goodbye Alan Shearer [R]

Alan Shearer defines what a real footballer should be. He stayed at Newcastle because that was the club he loved. Money weighed less than devotion to his club and I commend him for that.

He should have performed better for England, I think he should have done more for country. But then again, I am a country before club kind of guy.

 

I think you both have valid points. In terms of his career and ambitions, the move to Newcastle was probably the wrong one, but there is an element of 'romanticism' in that he chose his favourite club instead of going for glory. He certainly could have won more, but he's written his name in the history books for other reasons.

 

I don't think he'll ever be regarded abroad with the respect that he has here (or the respect that he deserves as one of the best strikers of the last decade). His lack of honours and failure to consistently compete in the CL work against him.

 

Exactly (though I may be a bit biased ). Players who want to go to their hometown team (or stay with the first team that gave them a real chance) and are willing to take a bit less glory always appeal to me, though.

 

The thing that makes Alan Shearer such a great player and a hero is that he didn't go to Man U, he came back to his home club and played for them like he'd always wanted too. Yes he probably could have won more at Man U but he was appreciated more here.

Just because he didn't win alot doesn't make him a worse player. Any player that wins; Overall Player of the Decade, Domestic Player of the Decade, Outstanding Contribution to the FA Premier League and Top Goalscorer, the PFA Players' Player of the Year award twice, Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year and scores 379 top flight goals at an average of .5 a game isn't a bad player. His international record was just under .5 goals a game, nearly won Euro 96 and scored the goal that beat Germany for the first time in about 1000 years.

The sad thing is that because he didn't play for Man U, Liverpool or a London club he'll be forever underrated.

 

Alan who?

 

Twice.

 

Whilst I generally agree that his decision to choose Newcastle was mildly laudable in that certainly part of that decision was down to sentiment, I do think people overplay the significance of it.

Fact is, on both the occasions he turned United down, he went to a club that was offering more money. Now, that's not by any means the whole story and I'm not implying he acted in financial self-interest above anything else, but it was a factor.

Secondly, both decisions (going to Blackburn in 1993 and Newcastle in 1996) were also influenced by the genuine (if mistaken) belief that he had as good a chance of winning there as he did at United. It is only with hindsight, after all, that we now look at United as the unquestionably dominant club of the 1990's. In 1993, that was by no means the case and even in 1996 it didn't take quite the selling job to argue that Newcastle could genuinely compete for honours with United than it would now.

With regard to how he should be remembered, that's simple. He's the finest Number 9 England has produced since the 1950's. And at his peak, around 1995, he was one of the finest strikers in the world. I well remember Marcello Lippi's comment from around that time to exactly that effect.

 

I agree. In the mid 90's he was, for me, the best striker in Europe and I do believe he got a lot of respect on the continent. I think his game didn't really recover from the injury he sustained....at Goodison ?...pre season..? 1997..?

 

Well in my opinion one of the best strikers in his generation, since i started watching football he has been one of the best strikers out there, no doubt.

 

I remeber the season he won the league for Rovers he was nothing short of a sensation,as he was every season for Rovers. He became a Newcastle legend and record-breaker after his best (imo).

 

If you were to name the best players England has ever had then the names of Finney and Matthews would come up numerous times. Between them they won one FA Cup - the fact that Shearer has only one medal will not go against him.
The only things that go against him for me are that he should have quite international football at least a year before he did and his reaction to the clash with Neil Lennon.

 

England's England's Number One!!!!!

 

He may not have many medals but he has alot of respect.

He didn't sell out to(Arsenal, Lpool, Or Man U) ok maybe the Mcds thing wans't that hott but still.

He loved his club, and he played his best. By the way this wasn't his last game hes cleared to play. I hope he comes back and coaches. Hed be great. To be honest let him have Sven's job.

 

I respect his desire to play for his hometown club but he should have gone to MU for 4 seasons or so...

 

You mean glory-hunting and playing for money rather than the love of your club?

 

I became an Alan Shearer fan during the overtime world cup game vs Argentina, when with England down to 10, he was working from goal line to goal line. He showed me why he was Englands captain in that game.

 

manU or chelsea fan maybe?

love, passion, comitment, drive, shear(er) talent.

i only watch him play for 2 seasons but with alan it felt like a life time

 

Hi, i cant really picture Alan Shearer in the Man U strip that just really wouldnt be him!

 

Typically he goes out banging in the goals.

 

I'll miss his elbows and nazi salutes. ( Just kidding)

I as well think he probably expected a lot more of NFC's future when he went there. Maybe he even thought they would fair better than MUFC. It's different when looking back in hindsight, where it looks like he intentionally chose a definetly weaker club.

 

And from the penalty spot too.




Oh the irony.