Shearer for Manager? Maybe not.

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I know this is from TeamTwaddle - but:

"Alan Shearer has slammed stories that he plans to become player-manager at St James Park once Bobby Robson retires. The England skipper had been widely spoken about as a possible successor to Robson, but the 29-year old insists that he won't consider management until his playing contract at St James Park comes to an end. "I have four years left on my contract at Newcastle and I want to concentrate on playing - and playing only. "There is plenty of time for me to go into management, if or when that opportunity comes along" said Shearer."

I would like YBR to carry on indefinitely, but that may not be possible. So, if Shearer is not going to fill Bobby's boots, what other candidates are there?

This is probably going over old ground, but this is the first time that I can recall that Shearer has commented on the speculation.

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2000

Answers

That party line has been trotted out for awhile actually. And it's sensible really. I maintain that Shearer should not make NUFC his first managerial role should he decide to go into that area. Maybe if he coached for a few years. But how many managers are successful at the top level in their first job? Better for him to take his knocks elsewhere and come back to NUFC when he's really ready for it.

As far as possible successors already at the club, and to go back on everything I just said, I think Warren Barton could be a more serious candidate. He's already gotten his badges and some experience, and is undoubtedly picking the brains of Bobby and everyone else on the coaching staff. I could at least see him joining our coaching staff after his playing days are over.

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2000


My thinking is that it all hinges where Newcastle Utd Footbaal Club stand in Europe/World ratings in 2, 3, or 4years time or for that matter Englands status or lack of it, don`t discount Keegan

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2000

Buff, from a purely selfish perspective I would luv it if England stumble in the Euro and the Messiah steps down and treads the path of the third coming. However I doubt and also wish it that England play some decent footy for once and the great man succeeds. What about a successor in beardo in a few years time ??

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2000

Muzz, Forgot to add % of foreign players in squad,this can determine the choice of manager, their is also NTL to think about , and that`s a main reason why we may never see Beardo in charge, will he project the club the way they want it, Credentials for post -:

1..Geordie born or converted to the faith; 2..Ability to man manage younger players, Bobby Robson 3..Well known and respected on world stage. Trappitoni 4..Hard bastard, will to win Advocaat 5..Public and media friendly Keegan. 6..Expert in conning other managers, refs, fans Ferguson 7..Loyalty. Gradi 8..Youth O Leary 9..Humour All managers appear to have had charisma by-pass 10.Dress Sense Graham

Little bit of each and you have the ideal manager. 3..Well known and respected on the world stage.

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2000


All, 3 well known repected on world stage-insert Branagh

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2000


I know this opens it up rather than closes it down, but what about the ability to say a sentence without the work fu*k in it, less times than Peter Reid ?

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2000

My prediction for the next manager of NUFC - Alan Shearer.
Forget all the diplomatic claptrap, and also the concerns over lack of experience, and cries of "which top players have made successful managers in their first jobs?" - Big Al IS the man, so get used to it, people!
The only thing that could prevent this happening is if BR were to 'go' in the near future, say inside the next two years. If BR stays around for that period, as a minimum, AS will replace him. QED.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2000

It would be a disaster if Shearer were our next manager. He hasn't the experience yo manage a great club like ours - it's like giving the Celtic job to Barnes. He needs to get his sackings and humiliations over at a club other than NUFC. He can come top Toon as a proven manager.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2000

Not sure AS would need to get experience elsewhere before taking on the toon. As long as we stay in the prem, and we have the financial clout, up to a point, all he'll need to do is motivate the players he has, fill gaps where necessary and sort out tactics game by game.

Assuming BR's demise isn't out of the blue, and the club are serious about having Shearer as manager, they'll give him as long as possible as BR's assistant. I can't really see he'd get much from spending time in a lower division, where basically you have to clog your way out.

These days I think it's nearly more important to have the dosh first, rather than the playing staff, and if we're as world class as we'd like to think we are, the need to learn how to clog your way out of a lower division while under the financial restraints of most lower div clubs isn't nearly as important for the prem as it was even just a few years ago.

I know we all hate manure, but we could do a lot worse than copy them parrot fashion - it wouldn't bother me if we ended up equally as loathed.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2000

Hire the right person for the job. Doesn't often fail. I don't hire the best bricklayer to be the architect for my house.
So what are Shearer's managerial attributes? He's been a captain?

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2000


Geordie - I agree with you wholeheartedly. There is no way someone who has no experience of management should be given the job at a club as great as we expect NUFC to be.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2000

Still a huge question mark over AS. He showed precious little self- motivation over the last 2 seasons. His big dip in form came from an external source in RG and his resurgence was also brought about by a second party, YBR.

Whatever he is as a great striker, he was utterly hopeless at raising his own game and spurring on those around him. Added to that, contrary to the party-line, he is a lousy trainer, and I'm afraid that motivation, self-belief and get-up-and-go are absolutely fundamental to a successful manager. KK and YBR are both highly motivated, inspirational and energetic men, AS has to do a lot to convince me he can do that himself. Give him at least 2 years to replace everything he learned from KD with the outlook from YBR and we'll see what we've got.

He may well turn out to be the pukka item, but he has to prove it when he starts getting time off in the Summers by getting a coaching certificate and continuing to improve his media-relations (absobloodylutely vital these days). See how he trains without International commitments, see if he can continue to improve communication on the pitch and see how the juniors react to him. We can't afford to take another chance.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2000


Keegan says that he is shite in training, too.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2000

Keep on chirping all you want, gang - Shearer WILL be the next Toon manager, with the one proviso I made in my earlier post.

Being sacked a few times by Hartlepool Utd. and Macclesfield Town, and not being sh*te in training, aren't qualifications in thus instance.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000


Bobby Robson disagrees with you, Clarky. Anyway, being a Geordie and finally working hard enough to justify his transfer fee and his salary aren't reasons to make him manager. We had a big ego with a big head for our last manager.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000


So, while Shearer is off getting the 'experience' in lower divisions he needs to be a premiership manager, who DOES take over from BR ?

We tried one prem title winning manager and one world-class-player- who-tried-management, and both turned out to be just about the worst we've ever had, so I agree with Duncan - logical or not, AS will manage the toon, and it may as well be sooner rather than later - BR ain't going to last for ever.

Shearer will give off as many signs beforehand as did KD and RG, of whether or not he'll be any good at management, so we'll still have to take pot luck. I think football management is always a one off. By that I mean that a successful manager with one club won't automatically be successfull with another.

It's more like a governmental process rather than a manufacturing process. That's why I reckon it won't make that much difference how much previous experience he has before taking over at the toon. And we're a long suffering, forgiving lot, so if I had visions of being a manager, the toon would be one of the best places to learn the trade. Kevin Keegan didn't do that badly.

And you never know, Shearer might put the doubting thomassons well and truly in their place.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

It depends on how the position is structured, and when it happens. The only other manager around who is anythin near as good a coach as YBR, with the kind of nous required is Terry Venables. If he was available when we need him, I'd have him like a shot.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

Martin O'Neill may be available. There are loads of possibilities. The point is, would you allow a loved child to be operated on by an enthusiastic medical student? No. You'd go all out to get the proven best. Would you give a much-loved and potentiallly giant club up to management by a novice? Apparently so. The danger with Shearer is that we'll be chanting "Shearer on the dole". We aren't the most patient of supporters vis a vis managers. It's a scenario that doesn't bear thinking about. He may be a sheet metal worker's son and Lainya may have had to buy his drinks when they were courting and he may have had his doubters, but Big Al has to show the discipline to actulaly sit and pass an exam, to go and watch the bairns and reserves every week, do soccer coaching schools and show the same commitment to being a great manager as he did to being a great player. Alex Ferguson is the great example of it not being all about money even today. Eventually Big Al should be our manager, but he has played for three clubs and that's it. We oughtn't to touch him with a barge pole until he is established as a great manager. There's too much at risk for our great club and Alan himself. Choosing him after YBR would give the critics all the more reason to attribute our consistent filaure to our incurable romanticism. Er, end of homily.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

Well said, Dougal. I'd love it(just love it) if Shearer goes on to prove me wrong, but at this point in time I think he'd be setting himself up for bigtime failure to jump straight into management of NUFC. Ask me again in a year or two after he's sat at the feet of the master a bit longer...and when he has time to do coaching courses, spend more time at reserves/youth matches etc.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

Let's just say AS does try his hand elsewhere. At what point do we go for him ? If he does as well as is hoped, he may become so well established and so well thought of that we'll never get him away. And who's to say that the guy covering for him would do any better a job than an inexperienced Alan Shearer ?

And I'm not that sure that the likes of Martin O'Neil would necessarily be the answer - I mean I'd hate to think we see ourselves as just another Leicester, they're doing as well as they always do, but I wouldn't be happy with that, season by season.

It's manure we're after as far as I'm concerned, settling for anything less is a cop out. Once it was settled that Shearer was in line for the job, he could get all the experience he needs as BR's assistant - Shearer could make whatever decisions were necessary, with BR keeping him right when things look a bit iffy.

And again, what would tempt the likes of Fergie or Wenger to come to the toon, probably knowing that he's there only until Shearer's ready ? Whichever way we go will be a gamble, and I can't see that being relegated because Shearer wasn't up to it would be any worse than if it happened with somebody else in charge. And there's still no certainty that we'd win anything, whoever the manager is.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

Two words, folks. Brian, and Kidd.

Much-loved and respected, gave his all to the ManUre cause, a red through and through, carefully groomed as number two and replacement by the best manager in the country (only to be admitted through gritted teeth, but true nevertheless). Goes off to show he can do it outside of the oversize shadow cast by Taggart, and what happens? Utter disaster that the club hasn't recovered from yet.

The past two or three seasons have been bad enough for us, but still a lot preferable to Blackburn's plight.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000


So basically his qualifications are that he is a great Club and England player and a Geordie. Fine, let's get Gazza, he's cheaper and he's played abroad.

Seriously folks, there are some basic parts to being a successful manager where Al simply doesn't make the grade yet. He has to show the right stuff before he should even be considered.

1. Start training like he means it. How can he possibly get the players training well under him after setting such a bad example himself without waiting a few years until his contemporaries have moved on? It'd be like Bryan Robson introducing a no drinking policy at Boro.

2. Take his coaching qualifications. It wouldn't hurt and it would show some serious intent on his part to do the job properly.

3. Sort out his media image. He was trained by KD to give nothing away so as to prevent it being used against you. The club's current standing within the media hasn't been higher since Keegan's day despite the seats shennanigans; all down to an accessible but no-nonsesnse approach by Bobby Robson. Coming across as monosyllabic and boring will do us no good whatsoever, we want to attract people. All the pundits like Hansen go on about what a laugh Shearer is off camera, seems like he could do himself a few favours in that department.

4. Demonstrate that he can inspire players around him by giving them some vocal encouragement and direction on the field. Leading by example doesn't work from the bench.

5. Start taking an interest in the Reserves and Juniors (and not in a Dave Jones way). Simply showing up would indicate some of this passion for NUFC. Not easy for him with a young family, but he doesn't have many calls on his time that don't involve six figure sums. If he was really interested in taking over he'd be doing this for himself.

Not asking for the Earth here, just some indication that this is to be taken seriously and the job not treated as a sinecure. I don't believe in blind faith. Keegan was an exceptional motivator and Derek Fazakerley was a top-notch coach; Bobby Robson is both. On current evidence Alan Shearer is neither. We need to see a damn sight more of publicly thanking Domi for his cross on Sunday and less of the head down-"it's nothing to do with me I've done my bit I'm only the Captain after all" and only acknowledging teammates to complain about passes.

If he does these things then he is the man for the job, but until then it's another example of style over substance.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000


Couldn't agree more, Softie.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000

TSM, KK, Vialli - all did OK at the top in their 1st managerial jobs - all at Top clubs. Gullit had problems but was doing something @ Chelsea in the right directionish despite the problems.

Why can't Al cross over ?

Have KK & KD a coaching badge ?

He's a Geordie - he should be taking over a well run machine unlike KK & Gullit (& some say KD). As somebody said above it shoulnd't be too hard.

Anyway there's a lot of water to pass under lots of bridges before then. The last few years have been fine fun (& not inconsiderable pain) - lets enjoy YBR before we sort his successor.

Josh

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2000


Good discussion this one...

I don't have anything to add other than that I'm with Josh in looking forward to YBR for a few years yet :)

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000


We could (and already have) expended a lot of energy and intelligent debate on this.

There are examples of players succeeding in their first managerial position ,the most famous in my view being Cloughie who got Hartlepool the first promotion in their history after seeking re- election for a record number of times, we have seen what The Messiah achieved in no time, TSM got the double (admittedly at a club already at the top), and there are other examples.

There are many more examples of managerial failure. Kidd has been mentioned and is one of the most recent examples.

The fact is that I don't think any of us are in much of a position to judge. The man who is in such a position is YBR who is charged with restructuring the whole football side of the business, from top to bottom. I would hope that YBR will have considerable say in the next appointment.

I hold no brief for Shearer myself. Indeed, if I wanted to select someone for their passion alone I would take Bartinho who has never flagged in the United cause. If I wanted a top flight coach then I guess I would be looking on the continent for an Italian or a Frenchman. But I'm happy to give whomsoever a try IF he has the YBR seal of approval. If management has identified Al as the next manager, then I sincerely hope that YBR is running his critical eye over him and will advise accordingly.

And IF, YBR fancies Shearer for the job, then I shall be happy to go with that.

I am still hopeful, however, that someone invents the elixir of youth beforehand, and YBR can stay forever. (-;

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000


There don't seem to be any grey areas in this. Looks like we're all either wholly for Shearer taking over as soon as the time is right or for him to take over only after a suitable 'apprenticeship'.

I'm not convinced, though, that we can gain any insights into how he'll approach management from the vibes he's giving off in public now. So what if he doesn't train as hard as we might think he should ? So what if he's little better than monosyllabic in interviews ? The significant thing for me is Alan Hansen's comment. That's the Alan Shearer the players will see when he's a manager.

At the same time, all our bums could be well and truly out the window, cos when the time comes he could decide to opt out altogether and go and live next door to Douglas Hall in Gibralter or wherever.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I have to say that it would be pleasing for us to establish a boot room-type dynasty.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I'd like to have made a more thoughtful and meaningful contribution to this debate, but the lure of the blue desert AZ sky and the golf course has been too powerful this week.
I would agree with Jonno's comments that for once we have the luxury of relying on somone of BR's stature to advise the Board on the right appointment as his successor, and like Jonno I'd back his judgement.
Appointing so- called high profile managers has only worked once in recent times, with KK. The proponents of appointing the "best man available" at the time must have very, very short memories, as both TSM and TDO were just so qualified, and yet both were total, unmitigated disasters. Their abject failure lead us to crying out for someone who understood the Geordie passion - "one of our own".
Those who still seek to criticise Alan Shearer's commitment to the cause, are plainly misguided. The man bleeds B&W, and loves the Club passionately. His goals have kept us in the Premiership for three seasons running now, and in case the continuing critics don't know his record for us - he has scored 84 goals in 149 appearances. Lack of commitment? Don't make me laugh! Appointing a new manager, however experienced, is always a crap shoot. However, if BR recommends AS as his successor, I'm with him 100%, even without any experience.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

I know it's early days yet, but the model Leeds have used with O'Deary is one we could use. Like him or not, Gooner Graham is a good manager. O'Deary worked alongside him as his side-kick for a few seasons, learning the ropes without having to slug it oot in the lower divisions.

It all depends on how long YBR is around. If he's off in 2 years, then IMHO that is too early for Shearer to take over. But if he can hold the reigns for 3-4 more years, then Shearer will have a helluva tutor to learn from. I have to say, my heart tells me this would be fantastic. But my heed is still a bit less sure.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000


Clarky, don't get me wrong: I adore Alan Shearer and have done since I had the privilege of seeing his debut hattrick against Arsenal as a bairn (my first uni boyfriend supported Southampton). I just think that letting him be manager just cos he loves the club would be letting daylight in on magic.

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2000

Dougal,

So your saying that you wouldn't be prepared to give him a chance just in case he failed?!?!?!

I'm kinda on your side (for a change) about this but I think your logic is amusing :))

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000


Clarky,

You will be relieved to know that I don't agree with you :-)

"Those who still seek to criticise Alan Shearer's commitment to the cause, are plainly misguided. The man bleeds B&W, and loves the Club passionately. His goals have kept us in the Premiership for three seasons running now, and in case the continuing critics don't know his record for us - he has scored 84 goals in 149 appearances. Lack of commitment? Don't make me laugh!"

I'm afraid that that's a non-sequitur; scoring goals shows an ability to play football, not commitment to the cause. By your logic Alan clearly bleeds blue and white as he scored his record tally for Blackburn and won them the Premiership, whilst he only likes us enough to get us to 13th.

If scoring goals for Newcastle is what makes Shearer the right man to manage us then we really ought to be trailing Andy Cole, surely?

I agree entirely with trusting in Bobby Robson's judgement and he says that Shearer should forget all about mangement for the time being and concentrate on his football. Shearer is clearly no fool and is doing exactly that.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000


Gav, I won't deny that that's a factor. It would be awful for him and us if he failed. More importantly, we have to look to ourselves as an important club. How many other big clubs would trust their fate to a novice? Er, Celtic.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000

Softie,
I can't tell you how relieved I am!
From our rather tetchy earlier debates over TDO, I think you know how highly I think of Alan Shearer. While he certainly shouldn't be above criticism, and some of it has indeed been justified, much of the criticism he gets - even locally - really disappoints me.
I know he's a top star, and should be measured by exacting standards, but put yourself in his position. At the peak of his career, he has the pick of clubs to play for and allows his emotions to dictate moving back home - encouraged by KK who had done so much to position the club for long-awaited success. He's here a few short months and KK walks out (or was he pushed?). He then has to endure, indeed participate in, the playing problems under KD - who he liked and admired. He sees KD fired (or did he walk?) in controversial circumstances, and THEN lives through the RG scenario; another season of failure, another Wembley embarrassment, his manager trying to push him out the door, dropped for the first time in his career.
I could go on - but all I'm trying to say is that his dream move went to cr@p. However, he's still Captain of England, still scoring goals, and could at any time have said "screw it, I'm off". How many people would indeed have done just that? Who could have blamed him? I certainly wouldn't. But he didn't. Why? Yes, he's earning big bucks - but he could have earned the same, probably more, elsewhere. He could certainly have moved to a Club with a better chance of winning silverware.
I whole-heartedly believe, AS wants to achieve success for Newcastle United and it's supporters. Despite wealth, he's one of us at heart. He's largely maintained his form through what must have been a very difficult period for him - and let's not forget the serious injuries he's also had to overcome during this trying period
In my earlier post I was reacting somewhat to your comment - "he's showed precious little self-motivation over the last 2 seasons". I really think that's OTT, Softie.
I truly believe his goals have maintained PL status for the Club over the past three seasons, not to mention getting us to two FAC Finals and a Semi. I believe his form over the entire time he been here has been good, despite a definite, unfortunate, but IMO understandable lull at the beginning of this season.
I also believe he IS a leader on the field, and is hugely respected by his colleagues - KK and BR have told us so, and I happen to believe them.
I happen to think he will make a good manager - but as everyone on here has said, who the hell knows? It is so difficult to predict. Personally, I feel he has a number of positive attributes that could make him a top manager. I'd certainly like to see him work alongside BR until his career finishes in say 3 or 4 years, and then ultimately replace Bobby.
That, I believe, is the current plan at NUFC. Planned succession is how the very best, most professional organisations operate - it minimises the risks. BUT, it doesn't eliminate them.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2000

Clarky, you're quite right, it looks seriously OTT when stated as boldly as that. I didn't want to keep repeating myself but I should have qualified that statement.

I should have simply stressed the self-motivation part. We agree that he is a fabulous player and I would cheerfully have kissed his feet after the Semi and Leeds matches he was that impressive. The worry I have is that he hadn't raised his game once from last season's semi-final until Bobby took him on one side and helped clear his mind. I'm not trying to make him sound like an automaton, but his whole outlook and style has been changed by Bobby. My conclusion from that is that it has been Bobby who has given him the necessary motivation to wake up and remember that he is strong; i.e. not self motivation.

Last season was a totally different ball game. He had a honey-moon period when Gullit first arrived when he scored 8 goals in 10 or somesuch (I will look it up if anyone's interested) but then entered that awful dark period where he spent large parts of the game in off- side positions with his head down, or standing on the halfway line when a break was on and standing with his back to goal to the general derision of the media. Obviously it wasn't nearly so pronounced as the start of this season where things really came to a head, when the media said he was finished while many other people like myself insisted that he was simply performing way below par and was capable of far more. That was when I was most frustrated with him, since of all the NUFC supporters in the World, he was the one actually on the field with the captain's armband and the number 9 on his back and yet he looked like the least interested in doing something about our predicament.

I fully recognize that Gullit was a complete arse at allowing the personal relationships in the club deteriorate until all the spirit had been leeched out of the place, but I also feel that it is at precisely those times of adversity when you judge a man, not when everything's going his way. Alan didn't appear (I use that word advisedly, but I'd rather trust what I see than what I hear) to be able to stir himself. That is what I would consider to be self- motivation, the ability to perform at his best and galvanize the people around him to better things, but this singularly failed to happen. You quite rightly say that the responsibility for motivating the team is the remit of the manager, but that doesn't absolve the captain from appearing to wish that he was anywhere but here, especially if he has hopes of being the manager himself some time.

You'll notice that at no time have I said he'd definitely be a poor manager, I'm hoping that watching what Bobby has done will help change more than his approach to just his game. I took immense pleasure from his decision to quit international football, but time will tell how he uses the extra time he'll gain from that. I know it must become tedious to keep hearing the comparison, but I have to contrast Barton with Shearer. No contest as to who is the more talented and accomplished footballer (Shearer - I'm not entirely daft). But in coping with adversity and not losing the will to fight, Warren chests the tape while Alan's still putting his spikes on. When asked to comment on why his game seemed to improve under Gullit while others suffered, Barton simply stated that he isn't one of those players who needs to be told how good they are in order to perform.

I think about what would happen if Alan takes over and we lose our first 3 games, picking up key injuries, and the confidence of the team naturally starts to waver. Which Alan will we see then? Will YBR or another motivator be on hand to keep his head up? Will he be able to push the energy he showed at Wembley in the Semi (certainly not the 2 finals) or against Leeds on Sunday into the hearts of the players, he won't be able to go out there and do it himself, this is a different kind of quality we need here? Or will he turn into Gullit and not understand why they can't do it? Do the managerial equivalent of standing head-down in an offside position since it's nothing to do with him, he's a World Class player, everyone knows that?

I return to what I was saying before, being a Geordie simply isn't enough. The finest example of a football manager anyone will ever see has to be Bobby Robson. To us, the fact that he's a Geordie mattered after the Gullit fiasco, and was probably the only factor that made the club overlook his advancing years (thank God that they did). But his success isn't built on the fact that he's from the North East. That had no effect at Ipswich. It only affected England insofar as Robson, Waddle, Beardsley, Gascoigne and Bruce all happened to get into the side. It wouldn't have made a jot of difference to Porto, PSV or Barcelona, yet he was magnificent in all these posts. Why?

That's the stuff that Shearer needs to learn to maximize his chances of being a great manager:

The ability to talk to everyone and command attention - he even speaks to Jonno at the training ground;-)
A tirless devotion to the cause - nobody but nobody sees more Toon matches at all levels and visits so many other games on scouting missions than this guy. Not something that sits well with Alan's training style, which is why I identify that as something he needs to change his attitude to, it is possible to alter your approach to dull, menial work if you want to get something at the end of it. I'm sure Bobby doesn't go to the reserve and junior matches to be entertained, but all those hours of watching Ketsbaia fall over and Perez give goals away also reveal Stuart Green's dribbling ability (in the squad today!) and Maric's peculiar habit of doing sod all for 85 minutes and then being in the right place for a tap-in.
A peerless knowledge of tactics and ability to appraise players - don't squander the opportunity to sit at the feet of the master, Alan, soak up as much as you can, go with him to watch internationals now you aren't going to be playing in them, learn to watch it from a management perspective - if he happens to start forgetting people's names at the same time, it's a small price to pay.

From what I can see there's plenty of decent raw material to work with, and I certainly couldn't say that Shearer won't make a great manager, but I do still contend that he needs to put the hours in to earn the right. Kenny and Ruud taught us that it's the single most important post in the club: it all counts for nothing if the manager is a flawed pot.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2000


Softie,

Superbly crafted post. I agree with just about everything you say - the raw material is there, but there is a lot of work to do to craft the finished article.
Let's hope BR is around long enough to do the moulding.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2000


.......and therein lies the key to success. I think most (reasonable) folks would agree that you don't become a top manager overnight after taking off your playing boots. The ongoing role of YBR over the next few years will be key to the success of NUFC. If he isn't around to guide Shearer thru his apprenticeship, then he will need to go off elsewhere to learn his trade and Toon will have to look for an alternative (not Warren Barton, IMHO, as he would be in a very similar boat to AS) as have done Arse and 'pool. The more I think about Chewsee, the more I believe their bubble will burst - I can hear the hissing of gas already.

Retiring from international football is a start. As Softie rightly puts it, let's see what he does to replace this. The potential is there, but success is not guaranteed.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2000


Nice to hear you banging my drum about experiencce Dougal. An interesting debate between Softie and Clarky, although it will be the opinions of men like YBR and Gordon Milne, whose role should not be understimated in the succession, that count. But ignoring that, I would be very reticent about advocating AS stepping in as manager: the Liverpool-style boot room is a better idea. To throw an example up: is anybody at Old Trafford contemplating Roy Keane as their next manager? Didn't think so. Experience is valuable, as our current manager indicates far better than pages of argument could here. As far as outsiders go, I liked the idea of Van Gaal when Keegan left, and if the Catalans throw him out... Otherwise, Hector Cuper is a man who knows football pretty well.

-- Anonymous, April 29, 2000

I have followed this debate with great interest, and would at this juncture like to take an advantage of a "time out" to restablish in my own mind the facts with the help of the writers -: (a)Who originially stated from a club position that Alan Shearer is being groomed for the managership of Newcastle Football Club in the future ? (b)Bobby is getting on, the role is one of high profile, expect to be busy Summer as well as winter, the roles of Wadsworth and Milne are of interest to myself, the seeds of a Liverpool type bootroom aka- Fagan,Moran look to have been sown to protect the new fledgeling manager. (in the end Liverpool had to go foreign though for Hulot) (c)Can one of our people on the ground, now explain to me the status of Steve Clarke within the club, he is asst manager, a Gullitt appt whom YBR sought not to change during the season. To an exile the man has kept a dignified silence, or is he just happy to be in a job, collect his pay cheque and has no ambition?, is he Bobby`s right hand man?, (d)Agree with Dan. I do like Hector Cupar, for some unexplained reason I have developed a liking for Valencia and have folloewd their progress in Europe with joy, I can see no better mid-fielder than Mendatta,Lopez is exciting, Illie and Kily Gonsales both direct and it is a pleasure to watch Angloma playing like a two year old. I admire their attitude to the game and they may surprise us all. ,

-- Anonymous, April 30, 2000

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