Shearer: "I am not a pundit anymore"
By Tyne-Talk
April 25 2009
Newcastle United manager Alan Shearer has always said that he has kept his options open when it comes to returning to his TV pundit job with the BBC, even going as far as to say he will be back so to keep the space on the sofa.
However, his clearest indication that he could be having second thoughts and is thinking about committing to Newcastle United came in a recent interview when he corrected himself, to refer to his pundit job in the past tense. He said of the clubs current situation; "I am not a pundit any more. I am now the manager. I don't really care what people on the outside say, probably they didn't care what I said when I sat there on a Saturday night a month ago. Everyone has an opinion. I respect that, because that's what I do - that's what I did. I respect it, but listen to it? No. The situation we are in doesn't make me nervous at all. This is where we find ourselves and I am excited there is a battle on my hands. We can't look any further than survival now. But you would hope one day the club can be at the top end of the table again, challenging. That is the aim - to keep them up and then I look at things and see where we go after that and say "That's how we take things forward." Shearer acknowledged the imbalance left by the current transfer policy at the club, he said; "There is a lack of balance. That is there for everyone to see. It has been there all season. It is frustrating, but I am not complaining becuase I knew the situtation when I said I would come and help. There is only 1 left back and only 2 left sided players here."
We have only won four games at home in the league all season. Now I am asking the players to win 3 of our 5 games left. So what? I am expecting them to win 3.
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Sheare for manager next season. The jury's still out.
I agree completely.
If he's going to stay on, I hope he's given a chance, that is, the funds to fix it.
if he had taken the job on a permanent basis in april, only to find there was less money available for transfers than he had expected, he would have to leave, and risk being called a quitter. this way, he retains his leverage til the transfer window opens. if ashley aint going to spend, shearer gives the job back to kinnear and walks away. i dont think ashley can afford that, whichever league we are playing in.
i have wasted a lot of time trying to second guess ashley, mind you, i still dont know what he is. this isnt an attempt to reopen that can of worms by the way, that can wait til less urgent times!