Michael Owen

Originally Posted by Coracao

I'm not sure on what basis Shearer would be coming into United with that attitude anyway tbf.

And of course Fergie let people get away with shit like that. Keane and Ferdinand amongst others have held United to ransom over contracts. Did Fergie bin them? No, because they still had utility to him.

Part of Fergie's genius was he knew how to individually manage people.

Keane had a point TBH. At the time, Ferguson at N'castle was on more than him by a fair bit.
Couldn't argue with Keane wanting to be paid what he was worth.

Ferdinanad - yeah, you're prolly right there. But they weren't thinking they were Jack the Biscuit, just that they wanted more money.
The Lennon incident tells you all you need to know about SOP.

Originally Posted by Fat Al

Keane had a point TBH. At the time, Ferguson at N'castle was on more than him by a fair bit.
Couldn't argue with Keane wanting to be paid what he was worth.

Ferdinanad - yeah, you're prolly right there. But they weren't thinking they were Jack the Biscuit, just that they wanted more money.
The Lennon incident tells you all you need to know about SOP.

I'm sure Fergie would have been gutted about Shearer stopping playing for England had be been at United

Originally Posted by Coracao

I'm sure Fergie would have been gutted about Shearer stopping playing for England had be been at United

You know what I mean.

i mean, booting Lennon in the head - it's not only forgivable. It's understandable.

But it shows you how quickly he'd £#%&! off if he didn't get his way.

Originally Posted by Fat Al

You know what I mean.

i mean, booting Lennon in the head - it's not only forgivable. It's understandable.

But it shows you how quickly he'd £#%&! off if he didn't get his way.

You mean like Roy Keane walking out on his country just before the World Cup?

Shearer no doubt had an ego. Most great players do though, and there have been a £#%&!load of those who have had massive success at United. In fact, it should probably be a pre-requisite.

Originally Posted by Coracao

You mean like Roy Keane walking out on his country just before the World Cup?

Shearer no doubt had an ego. Most great players do though, and there have been a £#%&!load of those who have had massive success at United. In fact, it should probably be a pre-requisite.

Keane walked out cos they were £#%&!ing incompetent amateurs.

SOP threatened to walk out cos they wanted to punish him for assaulting a fellow player.

Bit of a difference.

Originally Posted by S/Side.Red

Literally everything I'm saying is factual. Shearer may have been good enough to score in the Champions League, inspire teams to European glory etc. But he didn't. He spent his career scoring goals for Blackburn and Newcastle, where there was far less pressure.

If he's got anything about him he must wonder how he'd have done at the very top.

So £#%&!ing what? He fired one of them to the title. Blackburn's next best player was Sutton who spent his best years in Scotland. Tactics Tim was the bloody captain ffs.

Originally Posted by Buck

So £#%&!ing what? He fired one of them to the title. Blackburn's next best player was Sutton who spent his best years in Scotland. Tactics Tim was the bloody captain ffs.

So he's unproven at the elite level. Don't know why this is such a contentious point tbh.

Originally Posted by Fat Al

Keane walked out cos they were £#%&!ing incompetent amateurs.

SOP threatened to walk out cos they wanted to punish him for assaulting a fellow player.

Bit of a difference.

Fergie probably would have sided with him though.

Tactically it could have been interesting. The only time Fergie went with a goalscorer the team was set up to feed was RvN and he's suggested he thinks that was a mistake. When he sees how the goals were spread in 99 maybe he doesn't regret not having Shearer.

Was the 4-man striking options possible with Shearer around?

Originally Posted by Fat Al

Keane walked out cos they were £#%&!ing incompetent amateurs.

SOP threatened to walk out cos they wanted to punish him for assaulting a fellow player.

Bit of a difference.

Both instances are players with an ego throwing their toys out of the pram.

Fergie would likely have had no issues with Shearer at United. The guy delivered on the pitch.

Originally Posted by S/Side.Red

So he's unproven at the elite level. Don't know why this is such a contentious point tbh.

That's like saying Bryan Robson was unproven at the elite level. We know that's not true. Moreover you could argue the Premier League has been its worst state in the last six or seven years as opposed to the early 90s. The quality of defending went through a seriously laughable phase, all the money in the world just led to embarrassments in Europe and the physical nature has changed. If Shearer were playing for Newcastle now he'd be way more protected by refs than he was then.

Originally Posted by Buck

That's like saying Bryan Robson was unproven at the elite level. We know that's not true. Moreover you could argue the Premier League has been its worst state in the last six or seven years as opposed to the early 90s. The quality of defending went through a seriously laughable phase, all the money in the world just led to embarrassments in Europe and the physical nature has changed. If Shearer were playing for Newcastle now he'd be way more protected by refs than he was then.

We just had two Premier League teams in the Champions League final. And neither were even the champions.

Compare to the mid-90s when we and Blackburn could barely win a game against sides from Russia.

Originally Posted by S/Side.Red

We just had two Premier League teams in the Champions League final. And neither were even the champions.

Compare to the mid-90s when we and Blackburn could barely win a game against sides from Russia.

And two in the Europa final for what that's worth.

Originally Posted by My Name is Heath

He may be a #@&%! but his England XI is spot on.

Seamen.

Campbell
Ferdinand
Terry

Beckham
Scholes
A Cole

Lamps
Stevie G

Rooney
Shearer

Good team that

No Robbo

Originally Posted by TravellingRed

No Robbo

Probably players he's played with tbf

Originally Posted by TravellingRed

No Robbo

I think it was a best XI from the last 19 years

Originally Posted by TravellingRed

No Robbo

Assumed it was players he had played with.

Otherwise a midfield 3 of Robson, Gazza and Scholes would have been immense.

Edit: Oddly enough, that midfield would suit playing with a speedster up front rather than both Shearer and Rooney.

You know who would have gelled well in that team?

Vardy.

Seriously.

Gazza, Scholes, A Cole and Beckham feeding inot Vardy and Shearer would have been goals.

Quite common for Lippi to tell his players to go home and study non-elite strikers iirc

. " And for the man to still be producing at the highest level is really an amazing feat. After a match against Juventus I met Alex Del Piero who like myself could only speak in the most glowing of terms about Shearer. He’d terrorised the Juve defenders when the clubs met in Newcastle. They found him one of the most difficult opponents they had ever faced. The coach Marcello Lippi had been purring about Shearer’s performance. So much so that his strikers Alex, David (Trezeguet) and Marcelo (Salas) were ordered to take home videos and study Shearer’s display.” (Batistuta)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...yal-Ascot.html

Originally Posted by no fun

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...yal-Ascot.html

Boring @#%&!.

Him not you etc.

Any takes of him boozing and womanising in the book?

Originally Posted by windy waffles

Boring @#%&!.

Him not you etc.

Any takes of him boozing and womanising in the book?

One time the entire squad went down to London to take part in "team bonding" exercises. The management thought climbing up steep hills, playing the Crystal Maze (it turned out Stephane Henchoz was claustrophobic so couldn't be in the dome with the rest of us), and meditation would bring all the lads together. The senior players had another idea. When all that was done Jamie Redknapp and a few others told us all to get dressed as a new s£#%&!y club was opening that night. He knew one of the guys in charge. I have to admit I preferred nights in watching Monty Python reruns or DVDs of my goals so far but they say teamwork makes the dream work so I got suited up.

It was a nice place. Lots of beautiful women, decent music. Others were more of a hit with the ladies but I was calm just relaxing in the corner. There was one lady who caught my eye. A long legged brunette came up to me.

"Michael Owen huh...England's golden boy"

For a moment I was tongue tied.

"That's right. The Michael Owen part at least"

We both chuckled. Then I asked her name.

"Michelle"

How would you like to be Michelle Owen? I had in my mind to ask.

Jamie then popped up to us before I could.

"Michael, it's nice you've met Michelle. She's the wife of my friend who owns the place. Have you met Danny?"

%@#$&!s.

Originally Posted by Ranier Wolfcastle

Quite common for Lippi to tell his players to go home and study non-elite strikers iirc

Just checked and he scored one goal in that group too. Also a pen. Good shout