Premier League - Shearer: Escape would be best

Eurosport - Sun, 24 May 15:52:00 2009

Alan Shearer said he will celebrate the biggest success of his career if his Newcastle United side escape relegation from the Premier League.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Newcastle Alan Shearer - 0

The Magpies travel to Aston Villa needing a result to stand any chance of survival.

"It would be the greatest thing that's ever happened to me in football, bigger than being appointed England captain, bigger than winning a championship medal at Blackburn," Shearer told the Daily Mail.

Since swapping television punditry for the Newcastle manager's job Shearer has won just one of seven matches, and now with one Premier League game remaining the club's fate is out of their hands.

Their woeful form, before and after Shearer's arrival, has left them third-last in the standings, a point behind Hull City and two adrift of Sunderland.

Second-last Middlesbrough, two points behind Newcastle, are also still fighting for survival on what is sure to be a painfully tense final day of action on Sunday.

Shearer has consistently stated his belief that Newcastle can yet survive but their chances look grim.

They have won only seven of their 37 league games, just two of them away. On the plus side, one of the home wins was against Villa, who have little to play for.

Defeat at Villa Park would see Newcastle drop into the Championship for the first time in 16 years.

Even a draw or win will not be enough if Hull match their result in their home game against a Manchester United team certain to be without several big names ahead of the Champions League final.

Sunderland, at home to Chelsea, have to match either Newcastle or Hull's result.

Middlesbrough need to beat West Ham United away and hope Hull and Newcastle lose. Even then they would need a big swing to overhaul Hull on goal difference.

Reuters

Comment 47 - 66 of 66

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  1. Oh dear oh dear the Big Market will be awash with tears­ tonight !

    ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha big club my @#$% !

    From TTIOT, on Sun 24 May 6:12PM
  2. All together now:
    We'll meet again
    Don't know­ where
    Don't know when...
    But I know we'll meet­ again
    Some sunny daaaaaaaaaaaaay
    See you later Big Town­ United

    From PATRICK, on Sun 24 May 6:10PM
  3. scratch10, us geordies didn't pick that chubby @#$%­ as an owner. His folt newcastle been thru so many­ managers. Can't be easy for the players if they­ don't no who the manager is from 1 wk to next or if­ the club's gonna be sold or not.
    Respect 2 Shearer­ 4 trying cos he got he got some pride in his hometown.­
    Hope they play their best & stay up :)
    owen had­ better decide what he wants to do- play football or­ look after his racehorses

    From newcastlesonia, on Sun 24 May 4:25PM
  4. SCOUSERS IN DISGUISE.NUFC.

    YOU GVE LIVERPOOL 6 POINTS­ EVERY YEAR AND THEY STILL CANNOT WIN THE LEAGUE.

    SO­ WHEN YOU GO DOWN IT WILL BE 6 MORE POINTS THEY LOSE.

    From reddevil155, on Sun 24 May 4:13PM
  5. Hey Shearer,
    Hope you get your wish you­ will Escape The Premier League BY GOING DOWN
    A­ LEAGUE.

    JUST RIGHT FOR A BUNCH OF OVERATED,SCOUSERS IN­ DISGUISE.

    From reddevil155, on Sun 24 May 4:09PM
  6. Some of you people aren't very bright or original­ are you? a lot of the comments on here are just stuff­ taken from newspapers or even off this site then just­ mixed up a bit and posted. I remember about 10 days a­ journo wrote an article here about not being able to­ get a point a game should mean relegation - now I see­ it from some of you people.

    In the end, next season­ will be next season with ot without various clubs - no­ one will notice or care who is missing.

    From Lloyd, on Sun 24 May 4:06PM
  7. I am a Liverpool fan. What i see at Newcastle is a­ shambolic team with no ethic in it anymore. Where is­ the Newcastle team that put on great displays­ again'st Liverpool United Chelsea in the past? They­ don't look bothered to me anymore? Michael Owen is­ NOT the player he once was anymore? If Newcastle DO go­ down then Mike Ashley needs to take a good look at­ himself in the mirror & f**kin leave the club!! You­ Geordies YNWA good luck coz i wanna be playing­ Newcastle next season coz matches between Liverpool­ Newcastle are 1 of the best!!

    From lfcredsforever, on Sun 24 May 3:36PM
  8. Like many English players, Shearer is over-rated,­ overhyped! Newcastle needs to play better football. The­ media can't help you clueless players!!

    From Victor, on Sun 24 May 3:35PM
  9. So if as many believe which looks a fair point on the­ face of it a team should have 38 points to have­ automatic survival
    Are you advocating a relegation mini­ league involving all teams without 38points if there­ are more than 3 teams?

    From LEX, on Sun 24 May 3:13PM
  10. good luck newcastle. man u supporter

    From Shamir S, on Sun 24 May 2:52PM
  11. GOOD LUCK TO ALL RELEGATED THREAT TEAM...DON'T­ BLAME OR DEPENDS ON OTHER TEAMS OF YOUR MISERY­ PLIGHT!!!

    From elmarciano, on Sun 24 May 2:46PM
  12. allan.davis39 comment 42
    But what has his country done­ in the time he was playing and what trophies has he­ managed to life?

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 24 May 2:37PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    At the end of the day, Shearer is just another on of­ those English bigmouths who at best managed to lift a­ cup of tea in their careers. He is just a hanger on­ like so many in England and the whole glorification of­ such individuals is absolutely pathetic. Do the English­ people really have no one else to look up to or what?­ There were and to this day, are far better players out­ there than Alan Shearer. Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott,­ and so on. Apart from hanging around the goal mouth,­ Shearer never really got of the ground. As a manager,­ he is once again, 2nd rate even if his side manages to­ stay up.

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 24 May 2:29PM
  14. Good luck Newcastle. We want you in the EPL

    A Spurs­ supporter

    From The Realist, on Sun 24 May 2:23PM
  15. Im not a fan of Newcastle but at the same time I dont­ prefer them to be relegated. Come on Shearer,.. I dont­ think it worked that you play like a player during your­ training sessions, then on the actual game they dont­ have you on the pitch. Anyway, whatever, I wont put the­ blame on you if your club goes down.

    From Daniel G, on Sun 24 May 2:16PM
  16. From my comment 57, what I meant to say is that being­ in the Premiership should mean taking at least 38­ points from the 38 games, and if there are sides not­ achieving this by the end of the season, what is the­ point in having them there, just hanging on. Why not­ give them the boot and let those in from the­ Championship who at least would give a better­ performance in all probability. The likes of Hull are­ only still hanging in there and would have been­ mathematically downed had it not been for the miserable­ performances of other sides before hand.

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 24 May 2:09PM
  17. Ben comment 38:
    It must be a very sad life up there in­ no man's land. Should your so called outfit even­ survive the drop, with less than 38 points from 38­ games, Newcastle would be worthy of a place in the­ Premiership in my eyes (like anyother side not even­ capable of getting at least one point per game)
    Such­ dysfunctional sides should automatically be given the­ boot and their place given to those of the Chapmionship­ who at least were capable of reaching the playoffs.

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 24 May 1:59PM
  18. ashleyliam2 comment 47:
    So what does that make you­ then. With comments like your on here, this is truly­ indicative that your kind have absolutely no idea what­ the whole game is build on. Stick to the facts at hand­ you immature child, or log off.

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 24 May 1:52PM
  19. Paul Jewell led his team to just 2 wins in a season.­ Actually, he just wandered around behind his team­ morosely with his hands in his pockets. But yeah,­ fingers crossed Newcastle and Middlesborough drop down­ and get the chance to taste some real work for a few­ years.

    From Jim H, on Sun 24 May 1:15PM
  20. A good manager cannot lead a team to only 7 wins out of­ 37 matches.Certainly, Shearer is not one of them.On the­ separate note, Utd wins 2-1 on wednesday.Messi will be­ under lock and key.

    From gamamphatso, on Sun 24 May 1:02PM
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