Pedro has said that he thinks Alan Shearer should be appointed Bobby Robson's number 2, something to do with him being a future manager and he should be groomed for it.

However, would this make a difference? Surely, if Bobby and AS are working together every day AS will pick up things - he already is looked upon as the main man by all the youngsters.

What do people think of this idea? I know it's been talked about umpteen times but this is the first I've heard from Pedro about it.

-- Anonymous, October 25, 2001

Answers

Any Point?

-- Anonymous, October 25, 2001

Yeah - he might play fewer games ;-)

-- Anonymous, October 25, 2001

The state of play at the time will have a big say I reckon. If, by some completely unforeseeable miracle, we're ruling the premiership roost when he takes over, he'll be under so much pressure to maintain the momentum, he might wish he'd never been born.

If, on the other hand, we're as high flying and full of promise as we are now, he might be under so much pressure to increase the momentum, he might wish he'd never been born.

Either way, it's a case of 'Bollix to learning the trade, go for it Al, Sky's the limit', unless ITV get their act sorted.

-- Anonymous, October 25, 2001

As an employee of NUFC, I reckon Beardsley should keep his opinions on key internal appointments to himself.

-- Anonymous, October 26, 2001

I'd like to think that unless he's a total doughnut, Shearer is watching YBR in action so a formal promotion shouldn't be necessary. Besides which, you never know whether this "blue chip" mafia really exists: formally promoting a blue chip player to a quasi-managerial position at this point could cause further divisions.

-- Anonymous, October 26, 2001

TRICKY.

get tricky as manager!

-- Anonymous, October 26, 2001

I've said it before, but making shearer a manager would be the worst thing that NUFC could do. In order to maintain premiership status we need someone that can motivate and cajole performances out of players, not bleat on at the ref when things aren't going well (Roeder likes to blame everyone but himself)Of course shearer wants the best for the club, but putting him at the helm isn't the way to do it. We need someone capable of success, shearer at this point in life has to taste failure in management in order to achieve success. Let me just say he has been a great servant for the club, he could've been so succesfull at Manure, but he chose us. For that we are grateful.

-- Anonymous, October 26, 2001

Nah, every winner believes he has lost only because of external (cheating) forces. Fergie and refs, playing over the 90 minutes is a prime example. It comes down to total self belief and the need therefore to blot out all other possibilities for failure.

Bobby shows an even face to the world, but never blames himself, Shearer is the most non-committal (spelt b-o-r-i-n-g) post match interview there is, and asset I would say.

-- Anonymous, October 26, 2001