Alan Shearer has talked at some length today about his tough new task to save the Newcastle United football club from relegation.
Alan Shearer – arriving this morning at Benton training facilities
Alan talked to the Newcastle Evening Chronicle today:
“I don’t want this to be about me.” “It’s about the football club and nothing else.”
“I was asked if I would help keep the club in the division – that’s why I’m here. I love this club.”
“But I know it will be a tough run-in. Chelsea is a hard game but I believe we can get something.”
Shearer has wasted no time in his bid to keep Newcastle in the Premier League and there were lots of photos this morning of a smiling and very fit looking Alan arriving at the training ground. And the sun was shining too!
Hey – I wonder id he’s registered to play yet ? 😀
An Owen Shearer – Michael Owen front two would still be pretty good. 😀
Apparently Alan arrived early at the training ground today ready to meet his staff, on what will be a hectic day for him, and no doubt he will try to lift the spirits of the players, to get them in the right frame of mind for the Chelsea game.
The Newcastle players have to be tickled pink with Shearer taking over, and we expect a number of them to come out today with some quotes on how the day went.
If these Newcastle players are not inspired now – then it’s a lost cause and they should be sold in the summer.
The 38-year-old Newcastle icon is now the youngest manager in the Premier League, and the Evening Chronicle is reporting Alan arrived at the training ground today at 8:30am in his black Range Rover.
And Alan cannot wait to get started and said this morning:
“I promise you that I will give it a good go.”
“I’m not bothered what has happened in the past. Chelsea is my only concern. I will be telling the players that.”
“I know some of them, but we are all a squad now and have to pick ourselves up.”
This is a huge test of Alan Shearer and also a massive opportunity, as we see how he will handle the immense weight of expectation on his shoulders. But of course this is nothing new to the man, and he’s come through before – many times for the club, during his playing days.
Shearer’s greatest strength is without doubt his mental toughness. and that came out many times when he was a player and captain of both Newcastle and England, and the man is immensely well like in the football world.
Alan is a huge personality, and the papers will just lap this one up, and so they should, but on the positive side for once.
Shearer explained that it all happened quickly last Sunday, when he got a call from Ashley and Llambias.
Alan said:
“I got the call on Sunday, had a meeting and then asked to think about it.” “On Monday I agreed to come in for eight games and hopefully we can stay up in those games.”
“It’s a tough situation, but it’s important we get through it.” “Iain Dowie is now with me and he will be playing a huge part.”
“He’s been here before with teams fighting relegation.” “He’s a good coach and the players will like him.”
But Shearer has also said he will not be here after his 8 game spell as he continued:
“This is for an eight-game spell – I’m looking no further than that. Joe Kinnear is in the job and recovering well from his operation.”
“I’m here for eight games and eight games only and I aim to try to keep this team in the Premier League.”
That’s a strange statement at the end, because everybody and their mother knows that if Alan wants the job full time, it’s his – including Joe Kinnear.
Joe even admitted earlier this season, there’s no way he could compete with Kevin Keegan or Alan Shearer on Tyneside in terms of popularity – because they are Newcastle Gods.
But this rightly takes the pressure off Joe, which is good so he can recover fully from his serious heart operation.
We had often questioned the wisdom of expecting Joe to come in and save the club, after such a serious operation – of course Joe was only too willing to do that.
We hope Joe will get involved at the club in some capacity, as he has lots of scouting contacts throughout the world, and could scout some good players for Alan.
But that will largely depend on the chemistry between Alan and Joe.
Roll on Saturday and Chelsea.
Howay The Lads!!
432 comments so far
Chizzy_Toon
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Comment #41Cheers geist.
NotAGhostToon
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Comment #42Haha as iff there abusing em!
Ashley Hole
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Comment #43Harper
R Taylor Colo Bassong Enrique
Jonas Nolan S Taylor
Shearer Owen Martins
Girth
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Comment #44hahahahahaha@ not a pretty one…
he looks like sloth like!!!
batty
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Comment #45HE,S STAYING
batty
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Comment #46YOU CAN TELL THE WAY HE IS SPEAKING
sahota
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Comment #47I can not get mine player to work. I am using Internet explorer and it just shows a text saying Shearer Conference on 2:30
Anybody else finding this issue, any solutions.
Stuart79
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Comment #48Just said he wants to be in a position at the end of the season for the fans to be calling for him to have a permanant job
shearerwonderland.
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Comment #49whenever they talk about next season
he seems to not want to deny that hes not there
i dont believe it still
sahota
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Comment #50hey everyone, I can not see the press conference. Not sure why nothing works when I open the page.
Just says Alan Shearer’s First Press Conference at 2:30 on screen instead of actual video. Any help ?
Girth
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Comment #51dodge dodge dodge
there not getting the hint are they….
geist
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Comment #52sahota… try using bbc or something
Stuart79
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Comment #53If we stay up he stays simple!
He just won’t rule out staying!
Grantosuk
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Comment #54He just said he’ll wait until the end of the season and see the direction the people want to take it.
He was asked twice in a row whether he was here next season, he replied twice with I’m here for 8 games.
By the sounds of it to me, if we stay up, and we want him, he’ll stay 😀
batty
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Comment #55I JUST LOVE ALAN SHEARER WHAT A CRACKING BLOKE
shearerwonderland.
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Comment #56hes dodging the questions about him staying over the 8 games
Stuart79
Apr 2, 2009 at 1:59 PM
Comment #57Ashley wouldn’t dare appoint Kinnear if Shearer kept us up surely!!!!!!!
batty
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Comment #58HE HID THAT DIDNT HE TRAIN BARRESTER
batty
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Comment #59agree stu but dont u meen when he keeps us up
Dragonera
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Comment #60Dowie seems a ballsy character.
Stuart79
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Comment #61Dragonera // Apr 2, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Dowie seems a ballsy character.
You’d have to be looking like that wouldn’t you?
Dragonera
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Comment #62Stuart
lol, agreed. It was great to hear Alan’s little jibe at him at the beginning. It just shows that the relationship between the two is healthy.
batty
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Comment #63i wonder if he will lend me exc box for a bit
NotAGhostToon
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Comment #64What a man! if he doesn’t keep us up who will!?
shearerwonderland.
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Comment #65im glad hes got on to the injury problems
bennytoon
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:09 PM
Comment #66All he mentioned was how we would try to motivate the team as i think he accepts he isnt a great tactitian. Problem is you cant make a silk purse from a sows ear. Newcastle are one of the 3 worst teams in the division and i still expect them to go down.
Joey Barton 666
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:09 PM
Comment #67absoloutley perfect answers from alan, he will be ere next season when we have survived.
i said yesterday about dowie being a great charecter, he really is. he does not take no shit what so ever.
whats the odds on us not losing again this season?
JoeColl87
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Comment #68Where did D.L scurry off too?
Becoming more and more evident that he is scared of the media. Reading from a script, the same stuff that was on the site anyway, then running off like a mouse. Avoiding questions or Trying to hide something?
Prince Bassong
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Comment #69Llambias’ little speech was a bit weird. He ended by wishing Shearer all the best in his 8 game run.
Now the thing is with that is he read the whole thing. He could have at least rehearsed it and memorised some of his lines, particularly the ‘all the best’ part as it doesn’t sound so convincing when read.
I was impressed with Dowie though and the banter between him and Big Al.
Big Dave
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Comment #70Joey Barton 666 i can assure you that your right when you say Big ID wont take no shit as I know him pretty well to talk to when I see him and I have seen him getting abuse from people but he can put them in there place lol
RyanToon
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Comment #71shearerrrrrrrrrrr
ronaldeano
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Comment #72I dont like the bit about JFK taking the job back in the summer
I want Shearer to stay for the next 20-30 years
Sadly we have to put up with JFK come the summer if we stay up 🙁
JFK IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH
DanToon
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Comment #73Shearer is like Fergie in his awnsering of questions, he has the magic eye. Him and Dowie will do well, Dowie is very well liked in football them two could attract some big players in the future! Kinnear best not come back if we stay up. Shearer = class act!
RyanToon
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Comment #74im SO EXCITED HES OUR GAFFER!!!!!!!!!!
beyethegreat
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Comment #75benny
youre right we may still go down but well have a better chance of staying up this way
RyanToon
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Comment #76IMO. if shearer keeps us up. there is NO WAY he will leave us.
what his saying is its up ashley and co what they want next season and it WILL be shearer
beyethegreat
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Comment #77http://www.footballfancast.com/blog/premiership/top-20-english-youngsters-chelsea-spurs-and-newcastle-take-a/11722
Dragonera
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Comment #78Ronaldeano
Not being funny, mate, but that last post is a bit over the top. Saying you want Alan for the next 20-30yrs before he has managed a single game is crazy talk. Granted we need him now for the lift he will give to everything NUFC, but try not to get ahead of yourself.
ronaldeano
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Comment #79Dan
JFK ‘IS’ coming back in the summer if we stay up
Shearer wants to watch a PL team “from the stands” next season 🙁
bennytoon
Apr 2, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Comment #80The bookies reckon his first win will come against portsmouth. 4 games away. You will e dead and buried by then.