Tapped Up [01/04]
I thought at first it was a April Fools; I’m sure the majority of others reading the morning papers this morning did too, but with Alan Shearer apparently returning to Newcastle as a temporary manager, what does it say about the football club? Desperate times call for desperate measures? Or Does Mike Ashley know something we don’t know?
My views on managers earning their trade before taking on big positions is something I’ve stressed before; experience has proved that theory correct in the past, especially this season with Ince and Adams: just because you were a top quality player doesn’t mean squat when you’re wearing a suit or tracksuit on match days. Come back when you’ve had 5 years with teams playing to only 2,000 fans every Saturday.
Does this apply to Shearer too? Of course. Sure, the crowd will be much louder against Chelsea and for the rest of the season, but when form and morale is low and tactics are failing, what past experience gets you out of that? This isn’t Roy of the Rovers, this is Premier League survival, and nine out of ten Chairmen won’t forgive and forget.
It’s unfortunate about Joe Kinnear and his health. He may not have been first choice for some, but give credit where its due, he was ballsy enough to take it on short term. Sure their form isn’t that great, but with a season under (what will now be) four managers, could you expect anything less?
I’ll probably get stones thrown for saying it, but I still think Newcastle would benefit by going down, as crazy as that sounds. If they do drop down leagues, lose a few players, gain a few, and hopefully build a solid team again (in a tough league, no less) then come back up as potential league winners, I can see many reasons how that would refresh them (winning streaks, goalscorers getting 20+ goals, etc etc)
However, if one more person however says the phrase “too good to go down” I’ll go crazy. Its about present form, and quality, not past experiences.
On a personal note, I’d hate to see the Premier League start without them. Has anyone thought just how odd that would be?
