Shearer's task is crystal clear
If you could call it a party, it went flat pretty quickly but for Alan Shearer and Newcastle United the hard work is only just beginning and while the Chelsea match didn't deliver any points - it did deliver a reality check.
Shearer is a no nonsense bloke and typically made a no nonsense entrance to life in the St James's Park dugout.
It was nowhere near the atmosphere that met Kevin Keegan on his two stints in charge and a world away from the 8-0 win over Sheff Wed in Sir Bobby's first home game as boss, nobody seemed surprised that even the arrival of Big Al in the end couldn't lift a set of demoralised players.
Some might say Shearer's managerial debut ended in defeat against Chelsea, but some may argue back in 2006 he scored the goal that took him beyond Wor Jackie's tally of 200 in the game against Portsmouth as player/joint manager with Glenn Roeder.
Then the 2-0 win over Pompey marked the start of a long run of decent form that transformed Newcastle from Premier League strugglers to a European outfit in a matter of months, many give as much praise to Shearer for that run as Roeder, and didn't it all turn sour under Glenn once the influential figure of Big Al retired?
Perhaps but that is a debate for another day and a debate that could get overshadowed by the biggest and worse thing to happen to Newcastle for two decades, top flight relegation.
This time with just seven games left now, his task is much more difficult.
Having watched the game now several times against Chelsea, the first half offered, as Shearer put it, a few positives but it seemed that there was a lack of confidence and belief in Newcastle.
Newcastle now need to find 12 points from the remaining 21, starting at Stoke.
Whether it can be done or not is another matter but that is the task on Shearer's hands.
Many say Shearer has nothing to lose and it will be the fault of the previous regime.
That much is certainly true but nevertheless will our greatest ever player, in my opinion, be the man who wants to take Newcastle down?
The answer is no of course he doesn't.
And his determination to get the job done could yet be the greatest quality that nobody else on the planet can offer at this moment in time.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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Well, saturdays match was an absalute sickner, dont get me wrong i didnt expect any points coming our way but the least i expected was a performance from this set of players under Big Al, but it just didnt happen did it? Im not sure if this is down to the attitude of the players, or wether its just a case of Shearer not having a full week on the training ground with them, lets hope its the latter.
There was no creativity, no pace, no extra fight than we got from the Arsenal game two weeks earlier. Its a bit hard to explain really, I did expect the players to come out at 150mph and get stuck into Chelsea in the first 10-15 mins, but instead they kinda limped into the game looking startled and confused.
So then 7 games left, 12 points needed so we definatly need to win our 3 home games, and somehow get a win on the road somewhere. Can this be done? In my opinion i cant see it happening even with Shearer at the helm but I wont give up hope because this is NUFC and if any team club can spring a surprise then its us, dont bet against us dropping points at home then going to anfield and winning, its the Norm at this club. Lots of twists and turns ahead, lets get behind the lads for the last 7 games and deal with whatever happens at the end of may when we come to it. TOON TOON BLACK AND WHITE ARMY!!
Saturdat's game resulted in exactly what I expected, nil points to NUFC. It was too much to expect that we would magically transform from a side with no belief and confidence into an outfit good enough to beat Chelsea.
Shearer will make a difference, however, even he needs at least a little time with the players to make a difference. I believe that come Saturday he will drop Collochini and provided Bassong and Taylor are both fit will play these two at CB with Beye on the right and Jose on the left.
Stoke are not Chelsea and don't have anything like their quality and ability so hopefully the toon players will be more relaxed about going forward and attacking them.
I believe we can win at Stoke, this would put a whole different complexion on things and give the team and the fans the lift we all need.
Sorry Lee, but at the risk of looking like an anorakâÂÅ
IâÂÂm sure BobbyâÂÂs first game in charge was a tame 1-0 away loss to Chelsea. Shef Wed was his first home match.
Its time, if your not a church going person, to get down and start praying, Alan Shearer or not, the task is massive. In my view ashley has said lets give the fans what they want, and if we go down, i can say, well i gave you all what you wanted, very clever, for me, its to little to late, the dye is cast, and its not being negative, its just fact, to many teams are picking up points, stoke, blackburn, all picked up points, i have said it before, we must win at stoke, if we are to stand a chance, much like boro's southgate has said of there match against hull, lose and we are gone, i cannot even see Alan, bringing confidence back, if we loose at Stoke.
Lets see where we can get points
stoke - must win
Spurs - at least point
Fulham- win
portsmouth - win
Liverpool - loss
Boro - Win
Villa - loss
total = 13 points, taking us to 42
must win all three home games, without a doubt, and hope the lads can get the extra at stoke and spurs, the question is can we see Sunderland, Hull, Stoke, Blackburn etc getting only 7-9 more points from there games
That's a scary breakdown, John. Liverpool at Anfield is going to be an obvious loss. I really hope that we can pick up the points at the other games, though. We might even have a chance for 3 points at Villa after a Boro victory. Hopefully there's safely in 5th by then as well!
I'm sure that Shearer can do great things with this club!
Trouble is, other results are not going our way - though we only have ourselves (or rather, Ashley) to blame.
Next game, let's hope Bassong and Taylor are in the centre of defence and let's hope Taylor doesn't let us down as he has done on too many occasions - but he's got to be better than Coloccini is at the moment. Personally, I'd stick Carroll up with Owen and play Martins wide left - he has a tendency to drift out there anyhow and God knows he's better than Duff or Ryan Taylor. Jonas on the right - and let's hope he's better than he has been for a while. Beye at right back. Ryan Taylor on the bench, if that. Hope Louvenkrands is fit. The problem, as ever - as for the last God knows how many seasons - is the lack of creativity in central midfield. I suspect it'll be Butt and Nolan.
The best thing about Saturday was I had a canny drink and had an air of jovial c'est la vie about it all, apart fromm the kidda in the pie queue asking me if I wanted a fat lip after taking the young staff-member's time in looking for broon sarse for me pie. I told him 'nah! I want some broon sarse, and proceeded to direct the young staff-member to find me sarse, to which mr. angry put his face against mine and asked if I wanted a fat lip. It now appeared to me,in my jovial condition, like a Brian Rix farce and burst out laughing in 'his' face. He walked off with a face like an erupting Vesuveus...and no pie. Everyone there was in stitches. But my point in this 'aside' is that the natives are very nearly revolting, no pun toward his face. I looked on your blog today Lee to see the scores of angry letters....but no. there were only 4 when I started to type this, signifying an apathy I haven't seen here since Jim Smith was manager and you could lie in the Gallowgate on a sun lounger on matchdays. Big Al simply has to do it as I can't see the fans buying a re-mix of " Goin' Up", even if 'new boy Peter runs like a cheetah again.'
Hi Lee,
It was strange that we did not come out of the blocks fast and really get into chelsea.
Colocinni will be dropped on sat and we will play 3 up front as its a must win as if sunderland win we could be out of it.
Lets get into stoke and they will play 2 upfront with Fuller and Beattie and no surprises how they will play.
We need to drag a few other clubs into the mire, as i believe its us or sunderland to go down.
It's not just the fans who are apathetic, but the players.
Shearer has so little time to evaluate and then gather together the players who are up for the fight.
Collo's wimpy attempt at a tackle for the first goal was embarassing, and Duff is still playing like a headless chicken. Ryan Taylor isn't good enough, Nolan isn't fit.
Ashley has done so much damage and expecting Hughton et al to run a premiership team was idiotic. Ashley's arrogance and stubborness looks as if it has cost us our premiership status and lost him a lot of money.
If Shearer keeps this mob in the premiership with so little time to do it,
then it will even surpass his incredibler playing career.
Its going to be very difficult to stay up.
Its a case of bad management.Bad defence and bad signings.
Bad management- Four managers in one season, caretakers and a manager has a heart attack. Bless him- Im not surprised. It must be the most stressful job in the world. As fans we have a responsiblity to stop demanding borad changes and new managers. Look at Man Utd. Ferguson took years to build a world class team. We need to follow the same model , with a manager with passion and time- if Shearer helps us survive Ashley should give him the time and as much money he needs to build a strong youthful squad.
Bad defence- We need a regular back four who a strong and decent tacklers, not a bunch of prima's.
Bad signings-Why spend so much money on big names like Owen, when we could have spent money strengthening the team.
If we survive we need a reality check. If we survive...IF.
When those millionaires pull on those black and white shirts, on saturday afternoon.
Will they realise the importance of the game?
Will they realise the faith and the passion of those that stand on the terraces week in week out, and clap and wave their weak performances?
Will they realise that the same hands that clap and wave are the same hands that dug the coal to fuel a nation; were the same hands that forged the steel to build the ships that sailed the world?
Will they realise that we are not millionaires...just fans ordinary working men and women?
Will they realise that when they bank the hundreds of thousands of pounds, that Nufc is more that a football club...its a way of life. And the effects of relegation will be devastating.
Im just glad Shearer is here to be honest. He is the one that can pull of the team out of the slump it has been for years...