Assuming at a player level it was started by Hughie Gallagher and to this day is carried on by Big Al, the legend of the 9 shart has been alive for over 60 years, the question I ask in terms of modern day football, how do the fans view this, the players reaction to it, we all know the board past and present are aware of it and a succession of managers have commented upon it. What concerns me is , does it affect the progress of the club?, does it influence the buying policy? and lastly are we kidding ourselves. Okay I give you the legend Wor Jackie(converted winger), Len White(converted winger)r.i.p, who played in some lousy team picks and also in potentially good Newcastle teams, Supermac(converted full back), Andy Cole and finally Alan Shearer. Top of the heed, some may think I have missed out their fav, but in reality guys like the Mighty Wyn were just in my view run of the mill players, he plays for Bolton, scores two with his head at the Leazes in a cup tie, frightens the sh-t out of our defence, gotta sign him, no 9 shirt and all that, okay on balmy Fairs Cup nights he scared 6 bells out of the continentals of that period, setting it up for a more natural goalscorer Pop Robson. in between the ones listed above we have had at times a lot of dross wearing the journos oft quoted "No 9 Shirt". We have waxed lyrical about Big Dunc, and most of the big plodders we have introduced, statistics (Jonno) prove that the most consistent scorers at the club have been the Gallaghers, Whites, Coles of this world long before the words pace and movement became fashionable. When Super-Mac bulged the rigging the crowd would sing out his praises in unision, this never swayed my view that in all probability the artitecht of the goal would be Terry Hibbitt with a 40 yard pass,reported by the papers next day, at the time largely ignored by the support brainwashed on the No 9 Myth. Anyone who can get you 20+goals a season is obviously good value, I appreciate that, anyone that can gain you 15 points a season also (see Scmeichal), but more than anytime this is a team game, we at Newcastle still are in a time warp in regards to "The No 9 Shirt", always a good fill in for a lazy journo. The present incumbent Alan still carries on the tradition (?), Jonnos posting on the Big Al thread got me thinking about this topic, that`s dangerous. I suppose what I am trying to say in context is "Arise Sir Stephen" but hey as Cloughie would say don`t forget Matty and the other two. Noticeable apart from Alan the most prolific goalscorers for Newcastle have been smallish, stocky , pacy guys, hhmmmmmmm. I have said that already, well its 03.00, see ya

-- Anonymous, September 22, 2000

Answers

Good topic Buff. A one that has also had myself questioning the  No 9 myth and how relevant it is in the modern game. In their time the Shacks, Macs Wyns and Quinns were a integral part of building a team around the Goalkeeper, Center half and Center forward formation but as mentioned several times on this forum it does seem to be a thing of the past and the real successful teams seem to have moved towards pace rather than power alone. As proven by our own, to what I reckon to be our finest team in the Beardo, Cole, Sellars period. Where the fast passing and one touch football was a joy to watch.

This brings me to the question  Was Shearer the right player to buy at that time? Yes it was romantic. Geordie hero signs for home club etc but to me that meant building the next 5 yrs around a player who, to some, was past his prime and forcing the team to play to his strengths i.e. -an outdated game. Yes you may say that the Mancs have Yorke who is a similar type of player but they have the flexibility to change their format to suit the opposition. I cant see us dropping Shearer at any time. How many people can hold their hand on their heart and say we now play more attractive football now. How many times has the long ball been pumped up front in hope rather than a structured build up?

So the question is  If you could turn back the clock would you sign Alan Shearer again Considering all the events since his signing has it been good for the club? Was he signed by Keegan to please the crowd or as a genuine strategy for the future? Does the fact that Shearer is never subbed or dropped hinder selection and flexibility?

PS I only included Quinn cos hes the only one that rhymed.

-- Anonymous, September 23, 2000

Most definitely food for thought Buff. But are you saying we love our no.9s to the point we ignore other the importance of other positions, or that guile, speed and trickery a la Owen and Cole are more important than barnstorming centre-forwards of old in the current game? I'd agree with you on both points regardless. I recall feeling a bit miffed when Sir Les got the no.9 shirt taken off him, but why did it matter so much? As has probably been long evident by my postings I've long nursed a suspicion the attention given to, analysis of his form and fitness, and general glorification of our current no.9 hasn't always been in the best interests of the club. Without wanting to sound like Gordon Lee football is a team-sport.

(Just back from my hols in sunny Slovenia. Guess whose shirt was the only one spotted all week? Toon Army everywhere)

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

pre and post injury are two AS's---he now needs to play to his enormous strengths.. crossing and heading near-post or hanging around just outside the box for chances created by our main strikers that will come along when he relinguishes the number 9 POSITION and proves his continued quality still wearing "the number 9 shirt!!!!of NUFC!!!

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

If you could turn back the clock would you sign Alan Shearer again

Most definitely Yes. He's done a lot for NUFC since he arrived and I believe he will continue to do so for some time to come. That's what makes me so disappointed that he's not doing the biz right now. It's frustration not antaganism.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000