From the Evening Standard

Glenn Roeder is the latest Premiership manager to support the campaign to bring back Alan Shearer for next month's World Cup finals.

The West Ham manager, whose side face Shearer's Newcastle at St James' Park tomorrow, has added his voice to those of Bobby Robson, Glenn Hoddle and Graeme Souness in calling for the striker to return to the national team. Since when has YBR called for Big Al to return to the England team?

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2002

Answers

Didn't we all say he'd be begged to return? I think Robson may have said he was still good enough for England, but that Al's mind was made up about retirement from internationals.

Sven asked about Shearer's availability, but didn't get anywhere.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2002

Roeder should piss off and mind his own business. If Al doesn`t want to go then he doesn`t want to go. He did his time in an England shirt and ended up being crucified despite being our best striker since Gary Lineker.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Come on folk, this is all wonderful news. It must be music to Shearer's ears to hear so many clamouring for him to come out of international retirement - there can hardly be a bigger ego boost for the lad. Remember the stick he was starting to take towards the end of his international career? - this redresses the balance nicely. It would be great if Sven does ask Al along (tho I can't imagine he will). Al can politely and graciously decine (and then punch the air and shout "Yes!!" when the phone goes down!)

Al has done the right thing (for himself) by chosing the time of his own departure. Several players over the years have been hurt at their exclusion from the England team (notably Keegan and Gazza I remember) and it is great that a legend like Shearer has not had to suffer this sort of ignominy, which is bound to come, sooner or later, in such a competitive game.

Rest up well this Summer Alan and let's see you back in August, all guns blazing, for Geordieland's far more important international campaign.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002

Could not agree more with you, Jonno.

We should aal be ecstatic...it's a Win/Win/Win/Win situation.

1.The rest of the country seem to realise what they've lost.

2.The media are just the hypocritical media they always will be and are lauding him and calling for him to change his mind. (Oh, he HAS to enjoy that so much after the stick he took for so long.) Did y'all see that 200 goal tribute on Sky ? One guy on the phone-in after the match (non-geordie) seriously suggested that someone in authority should ask the Queen to write to Shearer personally !!

3.Alan has had the best season on the field for a long time and I can't remember ever seeing him so happy and relaxed in intervews etc.

4.AND HE'S ONE OF US AND HE'S OURS AND HE'S BACK HOME TO STAY. coming back next season, relaxed, fit and strong- after the first good quality rest for bliddy years - ready for the CL and ready with the rest of the team to show we're going to be serious contenders for the Premiership title from now on.

Yeeeeeeehaaah !! Ain't life grand.

-- Anonymous, April 28, 2002