Official Jimbo's TV Confirmation: Alan Shearer: Manager of Newcastle United

[Jimbo 175]

The Times

 

Alan Shearer finds hope from friends reunited

 

While Newcastle United are reluctant to gaze beyond the next eight games and the immediate priority of avoiding relegation, Alan Shearer regards his first managerial position as an opportunity to establish a legacy at St James’ Park. The mood on Tyneside has been transformed by Shearer’s extraordinary return — assisted by the departure of Dennis Wise last night — and that change has already infiltrated the dressing-room.

 

The chances of Michael Owen remaining at Newcastle beyond the expiration of his contract at the end of the season have been raised dramatically by Shearer’s appointment, provided the former England captain succeeds in his brief to lift the club out of the bottom three of the Barclays Premier League. That task will be onerous, but players and supporters recognise the opportunity which is beckoning. Some important battles have already been won.

 

Owen’s relationship with Shearer dates back to their attacking partnership for England and their sharing of an agent. It was cemented when Shearer, 38, played a key role in persuading Owen to join Newcastle from Real Madrid in 2005 and the pair remain close. Although there are several hurdles to be negotiated between now and the end of the season, Owen has been enthused by his mentor’s arrival.

 

Initially, Shearer’s deal will be limited to the next few weeks, but little else points to a short-term spell in charge. He has hired Iain Dowie, who has rich managerial experience, and Paul Ferris, the former Newcastle physiotherapist and a qualified barrister, to assist him at the club, while Chris Hughton and Colin Calderwood, the coaches, are likely to be retained. Neither Dowie nor Ferris are yes men.

 

Dowie played with Shearer at Southampton in the early 1990s before renewing their friendship while working together for the BBC — Shearer, whose contract with the corporation stretches until after the 2010 World Cup, is now on unpaid leave from his Match of the Day duties — and Ferris, 43, is another long-time colleague. In 1982, aged 16, Ferris became Newcastle’s youngest senior player.

 

Another frenetic day in the North East was slow to bring confirmation from Newcastle regarding their new saviour. The delay was connected to the positions of Wise, the outgoing executive director (football) and Joe Kinnear. As of Tuesday night, Kinnear, who has been recuperating from triple heart bypass surgery, officially remained in his role as manager.

 

Earlier this week, Kinnear, who is due to speak to his specialist on Monday, hinted at a redefined role at Newcastle and one that would see him effectively succeed Wise, a possibility which has now evaporated.

 

“There are no plans to appoint a replacement in this role,” the club said in a statement. It should not be forgotten that Mike Ashley, the club’s owner, had previously offered Kinnear a two-year contract extension, but Shearer’s demands have held sway.

 

Should Shearer, who will hold a media conference at the ground today, succeed in pulling the club away from demotion, he would have the power as well as the popularity to shape the club as he sees fit.

 

Safety would be worth a seven-figure sum to Shearer, not that he needs the money. He has completed both his A and B coaching badges and will have a 12-week dispensation to manage without the Uefa Pro Licence which is mandatory in the Barclays Premier League. Beyond the summer, provided he could demonstrate that he was on course to receive his coaching qualifications, there would be no official bar to his long-term appointment.

 

With negotiations continuing and Newcastle’s players enjoying a day off, Shearer was not present at the club’s training ground. The city was in thrall, however. “Mike Ashley made a lot of mistakes when Kevin was in charge and I don’t think he’s going to repeat them,” Freddy Shepherd, the former chairman, said. “Alan’s not stupid. Yes, he’ll want to stay, but on his terms. If he keeps them up, he’ll be quite rightly acclaimed for a terrific achievement.”

[bawan 0]

Alan and the squad will stage an 'open' training session for all fans to attend at St. James' Park next Tuesday. More details on this event will follow.

 

[duo 0]

Shearer audio from BBC...

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7978037.stm

I'm sure he'll stay on...........I hope anyway.

[acrossthepond 878]

Dowie confirmed as assistant which is good news. Liked Dowie when he was Palace & Charlton manager.

 

He's got a canny tendency to get sacked recently.

 

 

Harshly treated at QPR getting sacked after losing 3 in 15.

 

'Executive director' at QPR as well. Hardly a surprise I think.

[Guest Hova]

 

Tear to the eye everytime

[ohhh_yeah 2991]

 

Sir Bobby Robson's advice to Shearer can help Owen save Newcastle

Alan Shearer can keep Newcastle up if he recalls how their former manager re-invented his own career

 

 

History has a habit of repeating itself in the most uncanny ways. So much so that Alan Shearer may experience a strange sense of déjà vu when he sits down for his first tactical chat with Michael Owen.

 

Rewind almost 10 years to 10 ­September 1999. It was the night before Sir Bobby Robson's first game as Newcastle's ­manager – by coincidence against Chelsea, although at Stamford Bridge rather than St James' Park – and Robson had summoned Shearer to a private meeting in his west London hotel suite. The invitation was not to admire the views of Chelsea harbour but to recalibrate an attacking game in real peril of falling into chronic disrepair.

 

Days earlier Ruud Gullit had demoted Newcastle's No9 to the bench for a home defeat against Sunderland. That team-sheet effectively served as the dreadlocked Dutchman's managerial suicide note but Shearer was out of form and Robson knew his game needed urgent fine tuning. Shearer will see the parallels with Owen, who was dropped to the bench by Chris Hughton for Newcastle's last game, a home defeat against Arsenal.

 

Back in Chelsea Harbour a decade ago Robson informed his centre-forward that Gullit had a point and he was no longer the player who so terrorised defences while leading Blackburn Rovers to the Premier League title in 1995. The former England coach told Shearer precisely how he could reprise former glories by radically varying his off-the-ball movement and spending less time with his back to goal.

 

Although the pair did not always see eye to eye, a mutual respect was born and Shearer has recently thanked Robson for re-inventing and extending his career. Now his challenge is to do the same for Owen, a mere passenger during ­Newcastle's recent draw at Hull.

 

Granted the 29-year-old's game is somewhat different from the less injury-prone Shearer's but the pair share a voracious appetite for polishing off crosses. Owen – not the tallest of forwards but capable of a prodigious leap – scores regularly from centres, just like Shearer did.

 

The only hitch is that Newcastle's wingers, Jonas Gutiérrez and Damien Duff, have not remotely resembled Stuart Ripley and Jason Wilcox, who in their Blackburn pomp created such a high percentage of Shearer's goals. It will be interesting to see whether Newcastle's training sessions will now involve wingers concentrating on crafting balls into the area between the six-yard box and the 12-yard mark. Ray Harford, the late Blackburn coach, knew Shearer was at his most dangerous facing forwards. Accordingly he asked Ripley and Wilcox to dispatch crosses from advanced positions on either side of the opposing penalty area. Such deliveries would swing away from the goalkeeper and his defenders who typically tended to drop back to the edge of their six-yard box, leaving Shearer sufficient space to conjure yet another goal.

 

Owen's positional sense remains similarly unerring but whether he can forge a successful partnership with the pacy but individualistic and instinctive Obafemi Martins could yet cause Shearer – who must be hoping Mark Viduka makes one of his traditional springtime returns to fitness – sleepless nights. Martins might not be overly enamoured at having to sublimate his natural game for Owen's good.

 

Newcastle's latest manager always liked to be the dominant partner in any on-field relationship but dominance is a quality sadly lacking among a defence he has criticised on Match of the Day. Turning the disappointing Fabricio Coloccini into even an approximation of a £10m Argentine international defender may be beyond the powers of Tyneside's newly anointed Messiah but Shearer's BBC-inspired appreciation of the powers of televisual analysis indicate his charges could be in for a few afternoons watching tactical DVDs behind closed blinds.

 

Club insiders claim there has been a debilitating shortage of such briefings and team meetings. Significantly when the players earlier this year were engrossed in a PowerPoint presentation addressing their problems compiled by Paul Barron, the goalkeeping coach, they were dismayed to hear Joe Kinnear mock its content. Shearer may have been an old-fashioned centre-forward but he is unlikely to be so old school.

 

No hi-tech training aid or smartly worded piece of managerial oratory will compensate for Newcastle's glaring lack of pace and creativity in central midfield but Kevin Nolan can nonetheless expect to be asked to remind everyone of those late, scoring dashes which confounded so many backlines during his Bolton days.

 

Shearer's original mission when he first arrived at St James' as Kevin Keegan's record £15m signing was to bring goals and glory to Newcastle. Thirteen years on his job title has changed but the brief is essentially the same.

[BC1104 0]

I've got mixed feelings on this one. On the one hand, we're in a desperate situation and JFK is not fit to manage due to health conditions. The caretakers aren't getting the job done. So bring in a Toon hero to put some life into the squad and the supporters. I can see how that might work. On the other hand, you're putting a manager with no experience in a very tough relegation fight. It's a tough call but I don't think there were too many options available to us. I have faith, though. Shearer will meet this challenge with his usual guts and hard work and get us through this nightmare of a season with a place in the Premiership next season.

[Asprilla 96]

 

Spotted tonight in Fratellis Ponteland

Is Alan wearing a cravat?

[Guest Stevie]

Anyone know what time today's press conference is?

[peasepud 59]

Anyone know what time today's press conference is?

 

Its down as being afternoon so training is normally finished about 1, you're looking at 2 - 3ish I would think.

[Meenzer 15716]

I'm sure it's been mentioned in this thread already (i.e. I can't be bothered to read all 30 pages of the thing), but is there any compelling evidence to suggest that Shearer wasn't the key factor in the evolution of Effective Roeder à la early 2006 into Incompetent Roeder à la the rest of his reign? As imputed motivational skills go, I'm happy to chalk that one up to the fluffy-tufted fella.

[JawD 99]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7977313.stm

 

Listen to the first lass talking.

 

"Cant eat?" CANT EAT? FUCK OFF!!!

[Happy Face 29]

I'm sure it's been mentioned in this thread already (i.e. I can't be bothered to read all 30 pages of the thing), but is there any compelling evidence to suggest that Shearer wasn't the key factor in the evolution of Effective Roeder à la early 2006 into Incompetent Roeder à la the rest of his reign? As imputed motivational skills go, I'm happy to chalk that one up to the fluffy-tufted fella.

 

It has. I wasn't sure because Shearer held a coaching role during the Souness nightmare.

 

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but it seems clear to me that Shearer doesn't trust the owner or his people as far as he could throw them.

 

The story goes that they've been in talks since the back end of last week and it was basically a done deal by Tuesday night. As far as I'm concerned the 24 hour delay in an official announcement has to have been at the insistence of Shearer who wanted a public acknowledgment that Wise was out and wouldn't be replaced before anyone announced he'd taken the job.

 

To refuse to take their word that Wise would be jettisoned, implies to me that maybe he's spoken to Keegan or his confidants about how they work and isn't going to fall into the same trap.

[Toonraider 0]

I shall miss the press conference on SSN as must sleep as back in work again tonight, but I bet it will still be shown on a loop for the rest of the day! Gutted not to see it live though.

 

EDIT.

Just had a thought, maybe Jimbo could somehow delay it untill 4ish?

Edited April 2, 2009 by Toonraider

[Big Onion 0]

I'm sure it's been mentioned in this thread already (i.e. I can't be bothered to read all 30 pages of the thing), but is there any compelling evidence to suggest that Shearer wasn't the key factor in the evolution of Effective Roeder à la early 2006 into Incompetent Roeder à la the rest of his reign? As imputed motivational skills go, I'm happy to chalk that one up to the fluffy-tufted fella.

 

It has. I wasn't sure because Shearer held a coaching role during the Souness nightmare.

 

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but it seems clear to me that Shearer doesn't trust the owner or his people as far as he could throw them.

 

The story goes that they've been in talks since the back end of last week and it was basically a done deal by Tuesday night. As far as I'm concerned the 24 hour delay in an official announcement has to have been at the insistence of Shearer who wanted a public acknowledgment that Wise was out and wouldn't be replaced before anyone announced he'd taken the job.

 

To refuse to take their word that Wise would be jettisoned, implies to me that maybe he's spoken to Keegan or his confidants about how they work and isn't going to fall into the same trap.

 

I hadn't thought of that but now you mention it I reckon you're spot on there.

[JawD 99]

Said on Sky this morning that it was at 14:30.

[khay 10]

I shall miss the press conference on SSN as must sleep as back in work again tonight, but I bet it will still be shown on a loop for the rest of the day! Gutted not to see it live though.

 

EDIT.

Just had a thought, maybe Jimbo could somehow delay it untill 4ish?

 

 

It will be on the website later on in the day.

[Happy Face 29]

Another sterling piece of blogging from Ashley's lapdog....

 

Another Wise move from Mike Ashley?

 

By Lee Ryder on Apr 1, 09 09:05 PM

 

The grey skies that have hovered above St James's Park this season have continued to clear with Dennis Wise now a goner at Gallowgate.

 

On the same day Alan Shearer emerged as the Toon's new boss, Wise's controversial role as transfer chief is now well and truly at an end to the delight of Geordie fans.

 

Shearer has always maintained he would not work under a director of football and it looks like Wise's departure was all part of the deal for Big Al returning to the club as boss.

 

The Chronicle revealed all was not well between Wise and key members of the Toon board this week after we exposed a row between Kinnear and the little Cockney over the transfer of Peter Lovenrkands.

 

It was clear there were problems with JK wanting to sign Lovenkrands and Wise feeling his best days were behind him.

 

And that has been rubber stamped by his departure.

 

It would have been much easier for Ashley to do this in September.

 

Wise arrived in January 2008 and instantly sparked off speculation that it just wouldn't work out under Kevin Keegan.

 

At first Ashley backed Wise along with influential figurehead Tony Jimenez.

 

When it all went wrong Jimenez left with respect despite a series of problems between the pair and KK.

 

In many ways Jimenez left in dignified manner while Wise seemingly lacked class in my opinion.

 

A new era for Newcastle with penny seemingly dropping for Ashley.

 

 

That's right, it's Ashley that keeps making one inspired decision after another.

 

Relegation is the disease, Mike Ashley is the cure.

[Big Onion 0]

The Chronicle revealed all was not well between Wise and key members of the Toon board this week after we exposed a row between Kinnear and the little Cockney over the transfer of Peter Lovenrkands.

 

The lying cunt - I'm sure I saw that on at least two other sources before the Ronny ran it. I think dotcom was one, I forget the other. Textbook Alan Oliver

[Happy Face 29]

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but it seems clear to me that Shearer doesn't trust the owner or his people as far as he could throw them.

 

The story goes that they've been in talks since the back end of last week and it was basically a done deal by Tuesday night. As far as I'm concerned the 24 hour delay in an official announcement has to have been at the insistence of Shearer who wanted a public acknowledgment that Wise was out and wouldn't be replaced before anyone announced he'd taken the job.

 

To refuse to take their word that Wise would be jettisoned, implies to me that maybe he's spoken to Keegan or his confidants about how they work and isn't going to fall into the same trap.

 

I hadn't thought of that but now you mention it I reckon you're spot on there.

 

It'll be interesting to hear his answer when a journalist asks about his thoughts on the owner/managing director.

[Guest alex]

Another sterling piece of blogging from Ashley's lapdog....

 

 

That's right, it's Ashley that keeps making one inspired decision after another.

 

Relegation is the disease, Mike Ashley is the cure.

Ryder would have some cred if he'd been banging the 'Wise out' drum before it happened rather than saying it's a great move afterwards.

[Big Onion 0]

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but it seems clear to me that Shearer doesn't trust the owner or his people as far as he could throw them.

 

The story goes that they've been in talks since the back end of last week and it was basically a done deal by Tuesday night. As far as I'm concerned the 24 hour delay in an official announcement has to have been at the insistence of Shearer who wanted a public acknowledgment that Wise was out and wouldn't be replaced before anyone announced he'd taken the job.

 

To refuse to take their word that Wise would be jettisoned, implies to me that maybe he's spoken to Keegan or his confidants about how they work and isn't going to fall into the same trap.

 

I hadn't thought of that but now you mention it I reckon you're spot on there.

 

It'll be interesting to hear his answer when a journalist asks about his thoughts on the owner/managing director.

 

Shearer's thoughts you mean? It would be interesting if we heard his real thoughts, but I think we'll get the 'Shearer-speak' straight bat for the time being. After all Shearer is working for Ashley, although Ashley probably feels it's the other way round just now

 

On a side note, I bet Llambias is shitting himself at the prospect of working with Shearer

[Fop 1]

Don't know if it's been mentioned, but it seems clear to me that Shearer doesn't trust the owner or his people as far as he could throw them.

 

The story goes that they've been in talks since the back end of last week and it was basically a done deal by Tuesday night. As far as I'm concerned the 24 hour delay in an official announcement has to have been at the insistence of Shearer who wanted a public acknowledgment that Wise was out and wouldn't be replaced before anyone announced he'd taken the job.

 

To refuse to take their word that Wise would be jettisoned, implies to me that maybe he's spoken to Keegan or his confidants about how they work and isn't going to fall into the same trap.

 

I hadn't thought of that but now you mention it I reckon you're spot on there.

 

It'll be interesting to hear his answer when a journalist asks about his thoughts on the owner/managing director.

 

Shearer's thoughts you mean? It would be interesting if we heard his real thoughts, but I think we'll get the 'Shearer-speak' straight bat for the time being. After all Shearer is working for Ashley, although Ashley probably feels it's the other way round just now

 

On a side note, I bet Llambias is shitting himself at the prospect of working with Shearer

 

Aye, outside of MotD occasionally, he's always been very careful with the press.

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7977313.stm

 

Listen to the first lass talking.

 

"Cant eat?" CANT EAT? FUCK OFF!!!

Aye, what a fucking sight she is. The rent-a-mongs, and Steve Wraith, were out in force yesterday, giving the area a bad name. Did the Beeb or Sky or anyone else for that matter try to get in touch with NUSC?

[Jimbo 175]

What a Fugly