posted Sep 4, 2008

1. Few people know the answer, but I don't think united would've offered significantly more in modern terms, £15million at the time was enough to get a world class replacement, or not far off anybody in the world, and with the backing Jack gave us at the time I don't think it's an issue.

2. Undoubtedly, but I don't think he regrets it. Would we rather be a folk legend at a quite successful Rovers, all beit with no trophies, or would we rather be a big player for united with a heapful of medals. The worrying thing is that if he did go to united, they would've really dominated football for a long long time, and maybe not just in this country.

3. As a Scotsman I genuinely hope so! but seriously he was that good already and I don't think playing in a different team would've significantly improved him, but to think how many goals he coul've scored with that service is frightening.

4. It's very easy to blame anything and everything about Newcastle when it comes to well, most things. Fact is seeing Shearer in any other kit that the blue and white halves is depressing.

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posted Sep 4, 2008

3) but watching Germany 1 England 5, Heskey almost looked like a decent player due to his relationship with Owen and Gerrard.

Also, as a Scotsman you must have been double gutted when Gazza put Hendry on his arse before slotting home...

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posted Sep 4, 2008

As I understand it, young Alan Shearer was somewhat of a ping pong wizard in his early days at Southampton, and I'm told had the potential to be the best.

Surely the real question is if Shearer had never kicked a football, how many Olympic golds would he have achieved with his paddle/bat?

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posted Sep 4, 2008

I think this is pretty speculative as Shearer has Newcastle at heart and would never have gone anywhere besides Newcastle.

1/I think at that time Newcastle were the big spenders whilst United were concentrating on their "can't win anything with kids" (cough) policy. I can't imagine we would have got much more in terms of a fee and we certainly wouldn't have got a sell on fee as a) I don't remember them being as common place back then b) Fergie is a tight fisted Scotsman.

2/ Undoubtedly but he also loved being loved, both at Rovers and Newcastle, and as previously stated - I don't think United would have been as big a draw for him. Heaven only knows what he could have achieved in red. He's worth a hundred Andy Coles.

3/ Shearer would have scored a panful at United with Beckham and Giggs' crosses, through balls from Scholes and link up with his old mate Teddy, he would have been unstoppable at United - however the guy always gave his all for England, I don't think it would have improved his England record massively though playing with so many England teammates week in week out would have improved conversation rates a bit.

4/ He definately looked better in Blue and White halves!

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posted Sep 4, 2008

At the time Jack did not think Newcastle were a serious threat to our winning the title again but he knew if Shearer went to United that they would be unstoppable thus no sale.

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posted Sep 4, 2008

"Also, as a Scotsman you must have been double gutted when Gazza put Hendry on his arse before slotting home..."

As it happens, calling it double gutted is like calling Hurricane Katrina a mild breeze, but supporting Scotland is character building stuff, for example when my Luton fan mates complain about being 8 wins off 0 points, I tell them to stop their whining, at least they don't have to support Scotland by birth.

I have forgiven Gazza since, mind. The look of glee on my dad's face seeing the lad play the flute against Celtic is possibly the funniest thing I've ever seen.

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posted Sep 4, 2008

He's forgiven you too, well what he actually said was:

"shiny shiny butterflies, floop, dong whizz, parp"

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posted Sep 4, 2008

Shearer chose to come to blackburn over utd the first time round, so no real surprise when he ended up going to NUFC.
I know he never won anything at NUFC but 1 trophy there would be worth 10 at utd. To play in front of the people you grew up with must be fantastic.

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posted Sep 4, 2008

Jack Walker wouldn't have sold him to Man United under any circumstances. There's nothing to debate. Even the former Man United chairman Martin Edwards has an exact quote after they failed to sign him. "There was no way Blackburn would allow him to come here." In other words Jack Walker wouldn't allow it.

Peter White was no fan of Man United eiether and you just have to check the quote in my profile to see that. He wouldn't have tolerated any sale and such was the hatred towards Man United at that time (it wasn't a srime to dislike them then) Rovers fans may well have rioted had he gone to them.

Like I say though that would never have happened. Shearer is never going to say to Newcastle fans they were second choice. I'm pleased he didn't become manager here (though I would have accepted him) because he wouldn't have started on a clean slate by admitting the truth regarding why he joined Newcastle.

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posted Sep 5, 2008

Ahhh Vincent, once again not debating any of the points raised but rambling off in your own deluded arrogant way.

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"Even the former Man United chairman Martin Edwards has an exact quote after they failed to sign him. "There was no way Blackburn would allow him to come here." In other words Jack Walker wouldn't allow it."
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Why take an exact quote then add your interpretation of what it means, surely the point of an exact quote is that it leaves no doubt, so "in other words" is not necessary.

For example, Jack Walker said, as you quote many times, "think big". In other words he wanted us to watch a film featuring Tom Hanks in a Toy Shop, whilst gouging on food until we obtain the stature of the average American.

Would it be too much trouble to answer:


1) Did Rovers lose out on wonga?

2) Did Shearer cost himself the chance of further glory?

3) Did Jack / Big Al cost England?

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