I find myself wondering exactly what it is he has done to deserve such vitriol from many in the media. Football fans I suppose I can understand due to their own club loyalties but journalists seem to use any excuse to 'have a go' with varying degrees of venom. It's as if they just can't forgive him for signing for Newcastle rather than go to Manchester United. Am I paranoid? Maybe but that's when it seemed to start.

I suppose prior to Euro 96 he got a lot of stick but after his England career took off he was everyone's favourite striker before he signed for us.

He is aggressive and arrogant on the pitch but many players are, look at Roy Keane much admired by the media for a similar style. People think he is a 'dirty' player but anyone who watches us regularly would see he is more sinned against than sinner. He is also 'not the player he was' but is that a reason to hate someone so much. God the bloke should be admired for coming back from serious injury numerous times.

I really don't understand the media with this one. Many professional commentators and players seem to have total respect for him. Think how much he is praised by various managers and how many young players want to swap shirts after games.

I suppose the 'Lennon incident' played a part, whatever the truth of that. However the hatred was there prior to this so it's not at explanation in it's own right.

The reason I'm having this rant is after the usual anti-shearer stuff in the press over the weekend and the final straw today, as seen on NewsNow ( I can't put the link on ) someone in the London Standard writing that maybe we didn't win against Argentina in 98 due to Shearer's elbow. (Hmmmmmmmm I think David Beckham may have played a role.)

Maybe it's because of the predjudices of the journos themselves who support Man U or London teams generally or maybe he's just refused to play along with them but the fact is he doesn't deserve the crap they write about him.

Right rant over.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Answers

Apalling Predjudice

(I understand this bit now!!!!!!!)

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

It's easier to come out with the 'he had it coming, whatever the circumstances' than actually think and report on what happened. Lazy fat cockneys (ooh, now could that be Littlecock?) know it's an easy button to press for Mags to react to, and a nice easy bandwagon for everyone else.

Doesn't make it any easier to swallow...

ps - seen the incident 2ce, and it's even more innocuous than the Urine Runny red.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

It's partly the British disease of building people up as stars and then taking pleasure in knocking them off their pedestal. Alan Shearer is a model professional, a good role model, and a decent family man - so in truth this is the only way they can legitmately knock him. It's just pathetic.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

You know, Prince Edward said the same thing - jealously of success. I think Teddy is a raving loon, who is the product of centuries of getting too close to one's relatives, but on this occasion you, Ciara, like him are probably right.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Sorry, Clarky...saw C then the rest was a blank ;-)

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

The fact that the aforementioned rant (link should be here if I've got the html right this time in the morning)continues with a eulogy to Ken Bates tells me all I need to know about the double standards of that piece of effluence in the guise of a journo.

More annoying is this from the Torygraph, which is usually quite balanced in its Toon reporting. Did the writer bother watching The Premiership

. (I didn't - 'cos it's shite - but he seems to contradict everyone else's view of it including the notably anti- Toon Guardian.)

As is the case with most players who are sent-off, Shearer protested his innocence. D'Urso will almost certainly back his assistant and the FA will decide whether to send the case to the video advisory panel.

The evidence seen on The Premiership was inconclusive. Shearer's insistence that he did not make contact has some credibility, but the way the Charlton substitute reacts in mid-air suggests something happened.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Bollix. Knew me head wasn't fixed on yet. Allow me to turn the bold off.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Alan Shearer is a god on Tyneside and always will be. Stuff whatever any other tosser with an agenda thinks. Amen

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

"...that he did not make contact has some credibility, but the way the Charlton substitute reacts in mid-air suggests something happened."

Those fence posts must bloody hurt.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

How is it that nearly everyone outside of NUFC who comments on WGB has him down as all elbows?. He's always been the sly dirty sod that he is....just as his old mate Neil.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

You saying he's cleverer than the Prawn Sarnie Man?? No doubt, Shearer's game includes some "physical" - both give and take. But he's no dirty psycho like Keane. I wonder what you thought of Mark Hughes in his heyday??

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

...........besides, Lemon (sic) was a right little worky-ticket. Had it coming and deserved anything he got ;-)

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Don't talk such bollox LR, he's fouled much more than he fouls and rarely gets a decision these days. Don't lower yourself to joining in with the "he deserved it because of stuff he's gotten away with" brigade....i've more respect for you than that...

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

ahhhhhhhhhhh...that feels a LOT :-)

Cheers Gav :-)

BTW Screach.....Hughes was a right dirty twot! :-)

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

I mean a LOT BETTER.

hee hee

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

I think Shearer is well on his way to being a Mark Hughes figure. Hughes had the same attitude to the game, when he lost his pace he still had the technical ability to score goals (like Shearer's v Villa) but more and more became a static verison of his earlier self.

Now time for LR to say that Hughes never kicked anyone, well not until he left Man U anyway.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

.....there is no comparison whatsoever between Mark hughes and Alan Shearer. AS is/was a far better player than Hughes was, scored buckets more goals, and is not, and never has been, a dirty player. He is certainly physically tough, but has been kicked from pillar to post weekly for 10 years or more.

Hughes was a dirty get, plain & simple - and was deservedly sent off numerous times, contributing to an appalling disciplinary record. Shearer's record is actually pretty good, and his only red card against Villa was entirely unjustified.

Please don't associate Alan Shearer - the finest striker of his era, and a man with a good overall record, with that filthy sod, Mark Hughes. No bloody way, Jose!

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Lancy...the Lennon incident proves that complaints against Shearer aren't about 'all elbows'. He was definitely all feet that day. And Lennon was all bruised face.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001

Feck me Clarky..if that was bait it was damn good.....I've just dropped two valium!!

Basa :-)

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001