Gemmill 36827 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Nothing bigger than the Shearer factor Michael Walker Wednesday August 31, 2005 The Guardian From whatever perspective, near or far, it did not seem possible that Alan Shearer could be a more influential presence at Newcastle United than he is already. Bigger than the chairman Freddy Shepherd and the manager Graeme Souness, Shearer's status as an old-fashioned yet here-and-now hero is incontestable. Yesterday, however, Shearer became even more significant. As Souness said yesterday morning: "Michael met Alan Shearer and that clearly helped our cause. He has obviously been phoning Michael a lot and he has been able to paint a very attractive picture of Newcastle United for Michael." In being the key figure in persuading Michael Owen to spurn Liverpool and join Newcastle from Real Madrid, Shearer has flexed managerial muscles for the second time this summer and the ripples will be felt every time Owen finds the back of the net. On the second weekend in June while on holiday in Portugal, Shearer met Scott Parker over a drink to sell him the idea of leaving Chelsea for Tyneside. Parker, already softened up by Shearer's friend and predecessor as captain Robert Lee, heard what Shearer had to say and on June 14 he joined Newcastle. Tottenham, the club Parker and his father supported, also wanted him but a combination of money and Shearer means that Parker is now Newcastle's No17. Now Shearer has done it again with Owen, who will be given the No10 shirt that was worn by a certain Craig Bellamy not so long ago. Last Friday Shearer admitted to endless telephone calls to Madrid telling Owen not only what great potential the club has but about the city's fascination with it and also the Northumberland countryside. Owen likes his rural idyll in Flintshire and it was no coincidence that when he arrived for talks on Monday he was taken to near Morpeth rather than St James' Park. Owen and Shearer share more than an agent in Tony Stephens: they own horseflesh, play golf at the drop of a tee and have a common-sense approach to their lives and careers. Both players also know their market worth and it will not have gone unnoticed by Owen that Newcastle's salary trumped the provisional one Liverpool had to offer. Now Shearer and Owen must not disappoint each other, though given Owen's liking for St James' - 14 goals in 11 appearances there for Liverpool - that is unlikely. His first appearance in a black and white shirt will be at home to Fulham on Saturday week. After that it is Manchester City, Sunderland and Birmingham City at home, Blackburn, Portsmouth, Wigan and West Brom away. Newcastle will now be viewing those fixtures with a different sense of anticipation. Owen is joining a club yet to score a Premiership goal this season but then at Newcastle United feast often follows famine. Only for another famine to come along. Jog back to last season and Newcastle went from January 1 to April 2 losing only one of 17 matches. An FA Cup semi-final had been reached, a Uefa Cup quarter-final too. Then on the afternoon of April 2 Lee Bowyer punched Kieron Dyer and Newcastle won only two of their remaining 12 games to finish 14th, their worst Premiership placing. Shearer looked distraught and proclaimed the Uefa Cup exit at Sporting Lisbon to be the worst night of his professional life. He had retracted his decision to play on for another season and felt the Uefa Cup finally had offered him an opportunity to win silverware with Newcastle. Given that and the way he has been starved of chances this season, it would be entirely understandable if Shearer was regretting that change of mind. Yesterday's developments should give him more to ponder, such as Jackie Milburn's record of 200 Newcastle goals but also the question of him becoming Newcastle's next manager. A theory has arisen that Shearer wants to take a couple of years off from full-time dedication to football and play golf and work for Match of the Day. But the signings of Owen and Parker, though not solely down to Shearer, must make him and others realise the calibre of players Newcastle could attract with him as manager. It was being said last night that Nolberto Solano was on his way back to Newcastle to supply the crosses for Shearer and Owen. It was also being said that the man calling Solano was Alan Shearer. Fair play to Shearer. Shows he's clearly got some clout when it comes to attracting big names (even though Owen's his mate). Sounds like he might well be playing a part (and having a say?) in the fact that we're after Solano again too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattM4 0 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 This quote about Shearer offering to give up his NuMBER 9 is bothering me, it's bollocks to be honest. first of all he knew very well, unlike the press apparently, that Owen is a number 10 guy... and with it being vacant, Owen would want that one more than anything. Secondly Shearer is already registered with the #9 for this season and has played with it in Europe and the league. so Owen couldn't have had it even if he wanted it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueStar 0 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 This quote about Shearer offering to give up his NuMBER 9 is bothering me, it's bollocks to be honest. first of all he knew very well, unlike the press apparently, that Owen is a number 10 guy... and with it being vacant, Owen would want that one more than anything. Secondly Shearer is already registered with the #9 for this season and has played with it in Europe and the league. so Owen couldn't have had it even if he wanted it 24063[/snapback] Shhhh! Remember, Newcastle is closer to Chester than Liverpool if he ever wants to visit home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sima Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Aye, that part of the story is bollocks tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeazesMag 0 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Food for thought. Maybe he will be a top manager, he's sold the club to Owen, he's done what Keegan did to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sima Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Interesting to see he has so much influence at the club, but a little disconcerting at the time. Don't get me wrong I think it's great he's been involved to sign what look like being excellent servants in Parker & Owen I just find it more proof of his abnormal influence at the club. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Interesting to see he has so much influence at the club, but a little disconcerting at the time. Don't get me wrong I think it's great he's been involved to sign what look like being excellent servants in Parker & Owen I just find it more proof of his abnormal influence at the club. 24178[/snapback] spot on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeazesMag 0 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Interesting to see he has so much influence at the club, but a little disconcerting at the time. Don't get me wrong I think it's great he's been involved to sign what look like being excellent servants in Parker & Owen I just find it more proof of his abnormal influence at the club. 24178[/snapback] good point there mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Food for thought. Maybe he will be a top manager, he's sold the club to Owen, he's done what Keegan did to him. 24172[/snapback] I think it's important to overplay the influence of Shearer, that way you don't have to give Souness any credit at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 36827 Posted August 31, 2005 Author Share Posted August 31, 2005 Interesting to see he has so much influence at the club, but a little disconcerting at the time. Don't get me wrong I think it's great he's been involved to sign what look like being excellent servants in Parker & Owen I just find it more proof of his abnormal influence at the club. 24178[/snapback] spot on 24179[/snapback] If this "abnormal influence" is being used to bring top players to the club, I don't have a problem with it. The club used Shearer brilliantly to land Owen, that's all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeazesMag 0 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 (edited) Food for thought. Maybe he will be a top manager, he's sold the club to Owen, he's done what Keegan did to him. 24172[/snapback] I think it's important to overplay the influence of Shearer, that way you don't have to give Souness any credit at all 24185[/snapback] hmmmm maybe, but I don't remember Shearer signing for Newcastle and telling us it was because Peter Beardsley influenced his decision [did make me smile though ] Edited August 31, 2005 by LeazesMag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sima Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 If this "abnormal influence" is being used to bring top players to the club, I don't have a problem with it. The club used Shearer brilliantly to land Owen, that's all. 24186[/snapback] It lends to the conspiracy theory about Robson dropping Shearer against Villa and walking out of the door a few days later. Do you expect him not to have the "How can you drop me? Look what I have done for the club." if he suddenly finds himself on the bench, because I don't think he's that selfless. The only reason he is staying on is because he wants Milburn's record, regardless of him saying otherwise. He has got a tendency to put his best interests infront of what happens on the pitch - example Valerenga (A) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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