Cheap imitations - Good or Bad?

By 4two
May 30 2004

It seems like James Beattie wouldn't mind joining Newcastle United, but is he the man for the job? Would he fit in?

Southampton hit-man James Beattie has expressed an interest in joining Newcastle United. 

The 26 year old target man is a proven Premier League Goalscorer and could be seen as the idea replacement for  Alan Shearer. 

Saturday's Daily Mirror contained the following quote from the Player.

''I am more than happy at Southampton but if a big offer came in for me from them (meaning Newcastle), or anyone, I would have to talk to the chairman,''

James Beattie is a certainty to score 20 goals a season at a top six Club. Yet replacing Alan Shearer is a going to be an immense task. No one doubts that Beattie knows where the net is, but Alan Shearer has more to his game than being his clubs top goalscorer. It's hard to explain what that thing is, but it certainly won't be replicated by bringing in another Geordie target man. 

Is Beattie the man? Should the Toon be looking at someone else? Or should we forget talking about replacing Shearer and not go for another type of Striker?. Just remember how Sunderland faired when trying to replace Quinn....

Would signing James Beattie be an attempt to replace Alan Shearer with a cheap imitation of a Footballing Legend? Let us know by filling in the box below.