Premier League - Managers: Shearer points to players

Eurosport - Mon, 25 May 07:59:00 2009

Newcastle United manager Alan Shearer said his players were "not good enough" after they were relegated from the Premier League.

FOOTBALL Newcastle boss Alan Shearer looks on as his side are relegated from the Premier League following a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa - 0

Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle

Alan Shearer: "It's not Mike Ashley, or me, it's what's in the dressing room that hasn't been good enough. Big changes are needed to be made, from top to bottom. Big mistakes have been made.

"Ask me (about staying on as manager) in a few days. I haven't even thought about it. First and foremost I haven't been offered it and I haven't thought about it.

"It's a magnificent football club - you've seen our following today. They deserve better than we've given them all season."

Martin O'Neill: "I am sorry and have sympathy for Alan Shearer and Newcastle. The Premier League will be poorer without Newcastle in it. It is disappointing that they have been relegated.

"I think there will be general disappointment that Newcastle have gone down. I know Alan came in at a very difficult time. I think it was the right thing for them to do, whether he had the experience or not.

"I think it will be great if he stays as manager. It will be good for Newcastle and for the game. I am sure Alan will reflect on things but I think he can be anything he wants to be. In time he can be a really class manager."

Hull City 0-1 Manchester United

Phil Brown: "This is the biggest thing I've ever done in my footballing career. Getting promoted was fantastic last year but staying in the Premier League, with the support the chairman (Paul Duffen) has given me is fantastic.

"(Injured players Jimmy Bullard and Ian Ashbee) were both on telephones behind the dugout (with news from the other games). It was nerve-wracking towards the end but it fully deserved."

Sunderland 2-3 Chelsea

Ricky Sbragia (who resigned after the match): "I would like to have finished it today with a win but I'm pleased for the players and my staff. We've got a foundation and I'll be thoroughly enjoying seeing Sunderland move up that table.

"I'll come back in the next couple of days and tidy things up but I'll enjoy tonight and I'll look forward to some time on my own reflecting on what's happened in the last five months."

Guus Hiddink: "We finished off with a good win and especially with a world-class goal from Nicolas Anelka. My time here has been amazing. Every minute there was good work. The boys responded to what we wanted.

"I challenged them and they responded very well. They are big names and were very good in their attitude."

West Ham 2-1 Middlesbrough

Gianfranco Zola: "Carlton Cole has made a difference for us at certain moments of the season and it is just a pity that we couldn't have him in the crucial moments.

"I'm sure Gareth Southgate will bounce back straight away, he is a very good manager and a very positive person."

Gareth Southgate: "I would like to stay, I think I've proven (myself) for the first two-and-a-half years. Nothing has been discussed with the chairman, we have to sit down this week and plan more definitely what is going to happen. It will be a tough challenge and we'll have to improve.

"We're ready to make those changes because it clearly hasn't worked this year."

Fulham 0-2 Everton

Roy Hodgson: "I said to the players after the game that I've had a long career and I've been very lucky. Quite a few honours have come my way but as far as I'm concerned, the work these guys have done for me this year, not just the players, but all the staff around me, makes me really proud of it. I will remember it as one of my very best years.

"I don't like ranking achievement but this one will always be one of the finest moments. When I came to Fulham we looked doomed and a year-and-a-half later we are in seventh place and in Europe - and I do think that is an achievement.

"I don't want to take credit for that. I am a cog in the wheel. I am a person who prepares the players but they deserve the credit. The fans pay to see the players not me."

David Moyes: "Phil Neville has got a problem with his hamstring, as has Steven Pienaar, so we need to see how they are. I don't think they are struggling.

"Phil's was a little bit worse than Steven's injury so I'm just going to have to see how he is as the week progresses."

Liverpool 3-1 Tottenham

Rafael Benitez: "Xabi Alonso has three years left on his contract and we are really pleased with him, so we do not want to sell. But I have had a private conversation with his agent, and it was interesting to see who had that information.

"For me it was a private conversation, and it will stay that way, but it is clear he has three more years of his contract and we do not want to sell him. I repeat, we do not want to sell, he is not for sale. He has said he is happy here in Liverpool, in every single press conference, in every single interview."

Harry Redknapp: "We were short of several players, and lost Jonathan Woodgate the day before the match. We tried our hardest, European football would have been a real achievement considering the position Spurs were in when I arrived at the club.

"We almost did it in the end. But to have climbed from bottom to eighth is something to be proud of."

Arsenal 4-1 Stoke

Arsene Wenger: "After a dodgy start, in the last 23 games we lost just once, so the team is moving forwards. The question we have to analyse now is are we strong enough like that to win the championship next year? If not, what do we need to add to the squad? That is the basic question we need to answer.

"There is some great quality here, that is for sure, the squad is very young, so it is about what is needed to be added next year to challenge for the championship."

Tony Pulis: "Some of the goals we conceded were laughable. But the lesson from it is that, if we are not 110 per cent at it, focused and with our mind on the job, then we are not good enough to get results.

"In the second half, we were much better."

Manchester City 1-0 Bolton

Mark Hughes: "There is no reason why we should not hot the ground running next season. I would be disappointed if that was not the case because everyone knows what I am about now.

"The whole process of change has taken longer than I anticipated but I believe challenging for a top-six place is a realistic target."

Gary Megson: "With the three loan players we are letting go, we are left with a squad that would get relegated. We have to improve it. We have no choice. The hatchet job has been done. I was asked to get the expenses right down and keep the club in the Premier League.

"This season I have used 18 players, including Chris Basham, who went on loan to Rochdale and wasn't deemed to be good enough there. Now we have to look at a slightly more expensive way forward. It has to be done."

Blackburn 0-0 West Brom

Sam Allardyce: "The referee said Jason Roberts had been sent off for punching Jonas Olsson. It is not a punch. It is not even an elbow in the face. He has swung around to get his arm away from Olsson, who is having a tug at him.

"I have had a look at it on the laptop and I cannot see how it is a straight red card. Jason is looking at missing three games unless common sense prevails and the appeals committee agree with my view on it."

Tony Mowbray: "We probably deserved to win the game, given the chances we created. They hit the post but generally we defended well. Once again we have shown we can dominate games but we need to be more clinical. It is important we add that to our game.

"We had a lot of the ball and showed some good movement. Also we kept a clean sheet, which I hope is a good omen for next season."

Wigan 1-0 Portsmouth

Steve Bruce: "Antonio Valencia showed why we will struggle to hold on to him, he was absolutely magnificent. I'll be devastated to lose him because how the hell do we replace him - but he deserves it.

"He is a great kid to work with; he's humble, a great athlete and he deserves to play at the highest level - which he will do. The size of clubs who want to try to take him is growing by the day and unfortunately for him he will go.

"It is out of my hands now. It is up to the powers that be to get the best deal."

Paul Hart: "We have been concentrating on getting these games out of the way. Fortunately we became safe last week, which was important for us.

"I've not craved anything for a long time (when asked if he craved the Pompey job). When you have been a manager do you really crave? I'm not sure you do."

Eurosport

Comment 1 - 13 of 13

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  1. THE BIGGEST FOOTBALL DISASTER AT NUFC IN THE LAST 12­ YEARS. FROM A TOP 4 TO A RELEGATION BATTLE. HOW CAN A­ CLUBS FORTUNES CHANGE SO DRASTICALLY. ITS SIMPLE REALLY­ - STARTS AT THE TOP - MR CHAIRMAN - THE ONE THAT LEFT­ NUFC - LEFT A SINKING SHIP AND THE ONE THAT TOOK OVER­ MADE IT SINK FASTER INSTEAD OF RESCUING THE CLUB FROM­ ITS DISASTER.
    YESS THE PLAYERS WERE POOR, NO ONE CAN­ DENY THAT - HOWEVER WEVE DONE BETTER WITH WORSE­ PLAYERS. LET THIS BE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT BAD CHAIRMANS­ CAN DO TO A CLUB AS BIG AS NEWCASTLE. BAD DECISIONS­ HAVE LED TO INSTABILITY LOOSING GREAT MANAGERS SUCH AS­ BOBBY, KEVIN AND EVEN A HALF DECENT SAM ALLARDYCE WHO­ WOULD HAVE NEVER LET THIS HAPPEN. CANT EXPECT SHEARER­ TO WAVE A MAGIC WAND AND FIX UP THE MESS. ITS BEEN­ COMMING FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS....... GET THE CHAIRMAN­ OUT.... I BET HE DOESNT INVEST IN BRINGING ANY TALENT­ TO TAKE THEM BACK UP. IM HAPPY I DIDNT WATCH ANY GAMES­ THE WHOLE SEASON AFTER KEEGAN DEPARTED....... THEY JUST­ NOT WORTH WATCHING ANYMORE... ITS DEMORALISING WATCHING­ THEM PLAY... WITH NO HEART! DISGUSTING!

    From faraazmia, on Tue 26 May 12:13PM
  2. nothing to worry about,we,ll have the same support next­ season,asset strip the players,get some cheaper­ ones,how much is that a ticket now Erm! £10.00 a go­ 60,000 fans thats erm!£600k at once a week,2.4m per­ month erm!about 30m£ season plus sponsorship plus­ adverts plus shirts plus filthy hotdogs ect plus­ plus,cut costs,well!!!not that bad is it.cheer up­ everyone your making a mountain out of a molehill.­ .........luv ash.

    From farsical, on Tue 26 May 11:47AM
  3. 8 games 8 loses 1 goal, shearer the big manager,didnt­ have a clue.

    From farsical, on Tue 26 May 11:32AM
  4. PEOPLE ARE TALKING UP FREDDY SHEPHERD COMING BACK TO­ THE CLUB. THIS WOULD BE A CATASTROPHIC MOVE IF IT­ HAPPENED. SHEPHERD WAS THE MAN WHO STARTED THE ROT. HE­ SACKED SIR BOBBY. HE BROUGHT IN SOUNESS, THE MAN WHO­ ALMOST KILLED OFF LIVERPOOL, AND UNBELIEVABLY GAVE HIM­ A THREE YEAR CONTRACT. HE SANCTIONED THE BOUMSONG DEAL.­ HE THEN HAD TO SACK SOUNESS AND PAY THE MAN MILLIONS IN­ COMPENSATION. THEN THERE' THE ALLARDICE SAGA. HE­ SANCTIONED THE JOEY BARTON DEAL. HE LEFT THE CLUB IN­ SUCH A VULNERABLE STATE THAT WE WERE LEFT OPEN TO­ ASHLEY TO MOVE IN. NOW LOOK WHERE WE ARE.

    SHEPHERD IS­ NOT THE ANSWER. NUFC IS OUT OF SHEPHERD'S LEAGUE.­ HE IS A SCRAP MAN FOR CHRIST SAKE. SHEPHERD BETRAYED­ EVERYBODY CONNECTED WITH NUFC AND NEVER FORGET IT!

    From SHAUN, on Mon 25 May 12:23PM
  5. What, no Hull players, Guy?

    From Jamie, on Mon 25 May 10:09AM
  6. The season is over. Forget PFA awards. This is my­ choice as the worst eleven players in the Premiership­ this season. Now this team would definitely go down and­ Paul Hart would be the manager. Goalkeeper Turnbull­ (Middlesborough, Defence Neville (Man United)Bramble­ (Wigan)Kiznashvilli (Blackburn)Garido (Man City),­ Midfield Geremi (Newcastle)McCann (Bolton) Cattermole­ (Wigan) Kalou (Chelsea)Strikers Kitson (Stoke) Bedner­ (WBA)

    From guy.bispham, on Mon 25 May 8:28AM
  7. dejavu remember leeds utd

    From steven g, on Mon 25 May 8:06AM
  8. wenger, don't even ask. the team is not strong­ enough to challenge for titles next season. just go out­ and buy. you will need it.

    From Sylvester, on Mon 25 May 7:58AM
  9. rizwan mirza says

    evertbody is sad players managers­ trainers staff owner and we all the great fans
    we are­ disappointed we are hurt we are shattered
    but
    failure­ is not when you fell down ir is when you dont get up­ again

    we well be back we will be back and play the­ champions league in 2012

    From rizwan, on Mon 25 May 5:02AM
  10. Will Be back strong!

    From brightcalvin, on Mon 25 May 4:12AM
  11. I agree totally with alan,d lads didnot show enof­ desire all they needed was just one goal.d midfield­ broke my heart ther passn was awful.is alan suposed­ 2mak acurate passes?martin and viduka kept chasing­ wayward passes. my heart bleeds 4 their fans

    From chidi2822, on Mon 25 May 3:57AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    How the hell can Shearer blame the players.

    He has­ none Players went out of existance years ago at­ Newcastle.

    Unless he is blaming Players cigarettes­ just like Newcastle they make you run out of­ Puff.

    Congratulations on being relegated.

    From reddevil155, on Mon 25 May 1:48AM
  13. ITS TIME TO STAND UP DUST DOWN AND MOVE ON SO WHAT WE­ HAVE BEEN RELEGATED IT HAPPENED TO SUNDERLAND THEY HAVE­ BEEN RELEGATED **TWICE ** IN THE LAST 4 YEARS THIS IS­ OUR FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS... THE PLAYERS NEED TO­ DECIDE IF THEY ARE GOING TO STAY LOYAL TO US OR DESERT­ US.....
    WELL ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT WE NEED TO COME UP­ AS CHAMPIONS AND STAY UP IN THE PREMIERSHIP WERE WE­ BELONG.....
    SO CAIO FOR NOW AND SEE YOU ALL NEXT SEASON­ CHAMPIONSHIP OR NOT

    From DEREK JAMES, on Sun 24 May 10:33PM
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