Shearer And That Substitution – An After Thought

By Carys Baptist
August 6 2004

Many people have commented on a “huge rift” between Sir Bobby Robson and Toon Hero Alan Shearer and others have spoken about an “authority issue” but are either of these things true?

"I don't know of any player who is happy to be brought off, whether it be a friendly or an FA Cup tie and I'm not different from the rest of them. And if you are happy at being brought off you should not be a professional footballer."

These words spoken by Alan Shearer after he made way for New Striker Patrick Kluivert are both true and wise words.

Many people have commented on a “huge rift” between Sir Bobby Robson and Toon Hero Alan Shearer and others have spoken about an “authority issue” but are either of these things true?

Alan Shearer is a professional footballer and proud to be in such a position as well. He has enjoyed a healthy career and is adored by thousands of fans across the world. His attitude towards football is nothing short of professional and so why would he suddenly decide now was the time to cast all that aside and cause a problem between himself and the very well respected Sir Bobby Robson?

In other words he didn’t. He showed his disappointment at being substituted in a friendly. Had he have lashed out and launched a verbal attack then I’m sure things would be a lot different and perhaps there would be a means to all the rumours circulating but there wasn’t.

Shearer has only played one 90 minutes match pre season and this is one of his reasons for asking questions when subbed midweek.

Sir Bobby Robson also spoke out giving his reasons for not playing Shearer alongside Kluivert just yet

"I've not played Shearer or Kluivert together yet as I see them as very similar players. I am not saying they cannot play together, but Craig Bellamy is a runner and the other two are good holding players."

Both players (Bellamy and Shearer) will have their turn aside of Patrick Kluivert and despite Shearer only playing one full set of 90 minutes I’m sure he will prove his fitness when it comes to Middlesborough next week. The season will be including a slight rotation pattern to accommodate each player and the players will accept that.

But for people to be questioning the respect Shearer has for Sir Bobby does seem a bit far-fetched.