09/25/2000. From Soccer Age: Just like at the same stage of last season Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has not been in goal scoring form with just one strike from seven games and that was from the penalty spot. However, unlike last year the amount of criticism the clubs top forward has received has been noticeable only because there hasnt been any. Admittedly Newcastle were bottom of the Premiership last year and most of the attention surrounded his relationship with the club boss Ruud Gullit but this year I have hardly heard any comments about his poor form. There is one very good reason for this - apart from Newcastle fans nobody cares how well he is playing this season?

After retiring from international football during the summer it doesnt matter to most English supporters whether Shearer is banging in the goals any more. Last season whenever I heard that Newcastle had scored I always wanted Shearer to have got it because, after all, if Shearer is in form then England could only have benefited. But now Im looking for somebody like Kieron Dyer or Carl Cort to find the back of the net for the Magpies.

However, just for the time being Im going to look at the former England striker and assess what must be going on inside his head. After deciding to quit the international arena after Euro2000 Shearer ended his long association with the England football team which started just before the 1992 European Championships. Many players have played longer for their country but, for somebody who has constantly been in the limelight during that time, Shearer must be glad to have a little of the pressure raised from his shoulders. However he looks a little confused and lost at the moment because he doesnt know how to cope with retirement. It is a common problem that many people face when they are 60 or 65 and, as unfortunate as it might sound, a lot of people give up at that age. Im not saying that Shearer is going to die or anything like that but in football terms he appears to have given up.

Where is the hunger? For the past ten years, and in particular the last three or four, Shearer has constantly been trying to prove his doubters wrong and has been able to do so most of the time. But now he has nothing to prove. Many people have suggested he should move into management and undoubtedly he will do just that, probably to take over as Newcastle boss. It might come sooner than expected because at this stage of his career he is looking for a new challenge.

The question whether he could make a good manager is almost impossible to answer. The best way to look at it is to assess his qualities and match them against the qualities that the best managers around have. Shearers greatest assets are his determination, his patriotism towards Newcastle and England and his footballing ability/knowledge. These qualities will certainly help but he also has some negative points. He was never a team player and although he claimed to be only happy if the team won he always looked happier if he scored. Additionally, Shearer is not the best person to deal with the media, which is so important these days, and he has had personal problems with managers and team-mates including Ruud Gullit and Andy Cole.

In management terms he is still young though and will learn more about the game when he actually tries management. The list of excellent international players who have failed as managers is long but there are a number who have successfully made the transition. I think he could make a good manager but he needs to be careful which job he takes on first of all. The worst choice would be Newcastle because the job is far too big for him at the moment. He should take over a First Division club like Sheffield Wednesday, Wolves or Nottingham Forest because they cant drop any lower (or at least they shouldnt!) but have everything to gain. Of course its not quite as simple as picking a club to run because managerial posts dont come along on call (just ask Joe Kinnear) but Shearer has been in control of most of his career so far and he will be hoping to do the same now.

Shearer might still have a few years left playing but on the evidence of this season that doesnt appear to be the case. It isnt the first time he has been written off and usually he bounces back and in the past I always knew he would but now Im not so sure. Perhaps it is time for Shearer to seriously consider moving into management before the start of next season

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2000

Answers

Retirement?????????

He's only 30 for fips sake. A good 4 years younger than Teddy Sheringham who is enjoying something of a renaissance. Fair enough he's having a bad spell but like the article says he's on the same tally as this stage last season and he ended up with 30 goals then.

Just give it a few weeks 'til the bairns sleeping a bit better. :o)

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2000

Everyone harps on about his lack of pace and his age but if you compare him with players like Bergkamp, Sheringham ect they don't have the pace either and Shearer still scores more than them.

This will all be forgotten when he starts scoring again. In fact I'm glad articles like this are printed in a way, because it gives him the incentive to prove these doubters wrong.

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2000

Actually, on the management point, I read yesterday NUFC are starting his management programme next season.

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2000

It's over for WGB.....

Oh Teddy Teddy...he came to Man United and he won..............

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2000