Just read this article about Alan Shearer - What are your thoughts ? Do you agree or disagree ? Here's the original link: http://stateofthegame.co.uk/2012/03/10/studio-saints-sinners-alan-shearer/ Studio Saints & Sinners: Alan Shearer Posted on: Mar 10, 2012 in Football on TV, Studio Saints & Sinners please log in to view this image There are many, many reasons for me to love Alan Shearer the football player. His early association with my beloved Southampton started it, and then his unstoppable power taking Blackburn to the title made me like him more – stopping United’s domination (albeit briefly) with a ridiculous goalscoring record and a glorious partnership with Chris Sutton. A true classic centre forward, he then went on to enjoy a patch of form where he was arguably the best striker in the world; perfectly this coincided with Euro 96 and all the Baddiel and Skinner soundtracked glory that brought. (reminisces) He went on to become the world’s most expensive player at the then eye-watering sum of 15 million GDP, snubbing United once again to become seemingly the final of the puzzle to take the Toon Army over the line. The fact that he never won a trophy with Newcastle does not taint his career for me, the sheer force of his goalscoring might went on and on for years, such that his all time Premier League goals record looks almost untouchable. His highlight reel stands up to the best: the debut goal for Blackburn, the early hat-trick for Saints against Arsenal, the outside of the boot fourth against Holland, THAT volley at St James against Everton…what a player. Why then, given my 15 or so years of bromance for Super Al, am I finding him increasingly impossible to tolerate? His post-playing role finds him (having given management an ill-fated go) as a regular fixture on the pundit’s sofa on BBC’s Match of the Day. With the years of experience Shearer has of playing at the top level, and the unparalleled insight he can give to the striker’s art, he is the perfect foil to the defensive guru Alan Hansen. Able to provide analysis drawn on his vast depth of knowledge, Shearer can point out the things that us watching laymen would never realise, having never played professional football. Show us what the striker should have done, tell us what he will be thinking, explain to us what options he has and how best to burst that net. Truly, Shearer’s word on goal scoring is one that I would hang off. And, friends, here’s the problem. Super Al brings precisely none of that knowledge whatsoever to the role. He apparently thinks his brief is to describe in the most basic of terms the pictures that anyone watching can see with their own eyes. Not to paint a vivid picture for the benefit of the eye-less, no, just to give a very vague commentary of what the screen has already shown. ”He’s brought it down, a lovely finish and he’ll be delighted with that”. Thanks. For. That. Shearer seems to comprehend two emotions; that’s it, that’s all there is in the full spectrum of human feeling: “Delighted”, or it’s polar opposite: “Disappointed”. To be honest it drives me mad. I struggle to think of another walk of life in which you’d bring in a subject matter expert with vast experience and tolerate conclusions and analysis that any idiot can see. His job, nay, his duty (lest we forget, his wages are paid by the very viewing public he is there to serve) is to actually add something to the show. Instead, he seems to drag the life out of every exchange with his dull, banal stating of the obvious. The one time that I have seen pundit Shearer in an animated fashion was after England’s dismal World Cup exit at the hands of a vastly superior Germany, in Bloemfontein back in June 2010. That is precisely what we want to see – tell us what you really think, don’t hide behind platitudes or play it safe: be honest, be engaging and be worth the watch. I despair mainly due to the potential that is there. Over here in Australia where I am currently exiled, football is very much on the periphery. The weekly highlights show The World Game is firmly of the knowledge that they are not chasing huge ratings, and anyone watching will already be a football fan. With that in mind, they deliver a show geared up to football fans, and their chief pundit Craig Foster does an excellent job. In my opinion he puts so many of the Boys Club BBC cartel to shame; with his insightful tactical analysis, forthright opinion and well-researched, knowledgeable approach. Match of the Day seems content with the drivel spouted in between the action, gearing it all up to the casual viewer and leaving the real football fan short-changed and, in my case at least, frustrated. Is it not reasonable to expect a level of research from Shearer? Is it not also reasonable to expect a level of basic insight about what the pressure on the pitch or in the dressing room can feel like, or what any aspiring striker should be looking to do in their game or to avoid? Maybe I’m being harsh or unfair, after all why should we expect former footballers to be erudite, articulate pundits capable of providing insight? Well, harsh or not, if they can’t do it – get them off the bloody screen!!! The insight provided by the likes of Guillem Balague, Gabriel Marcotti and the peerless maestro, AC Jimbo, James Richardson himself; that is the standard of punditry that I feel football fans deserve. Like I say, since the age of about 4 or 5 I have loved Alan Shearer the football player, and I always will. Shearer the Pundit? Not good enough.
Agree with every word, although he does occasionally give us the benefit of his experience, such as explaining exactly what Guly did wrong to allow Pompey to equalise. Generally, though, he adds no value whatsoever to the pictures, as the article says. But why should we be surprised? After all, Matt Le Tissier devoted a whole chapter of his autobiography giving examples of how Shearer isn't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer!
I agree entirely apart from the England 2010 part. I think people got carried away there about the final score when in reality we were robbed of a an equaliser moments before half time that would have changed the game entirely. Shearer was one of those that seemed to forget this and went on a rant about it based on the end result. I myself would suggest in that game the England players were well up for it. After all to us that is the biggie, its Germany and after such an obvious goal being ruled not a goal then those players just a few minutes later at half time would have been on a real downer. Good job we had a man motivator.....oooops forgot we had a chap who can't speak English to try and lift them from that downer. Other than that I agree entirely with the article. I'm gonna repeat what I keep repeating now on the 'not the sharpest knife' bit. My mate's boss sponsored the Lincoln City v Newcastle game where Shearer made his debut (sponsorship paid for when the friendly was announced months before Shearer signed luckily otherwise it may well have been much more expensive.) We were all Lincoln season ticket holders anyway however as match sponsor you get 20 seats in the exec section and access to the exec bar with all the complimentary min scotch eggs, pineapple and cheese on cocktail sticks and all the other similarly glamourous gourmet posh nosh. After the game I was just turning away from the bar with 3 pints braced in my hands and Shearer laughing and joking with David Batty was gesticulating a bit enthusiastically an almost knocked the beers out of my hands. I am however a master of protecting my beer. The almost 'god like figure' I had always looked up to (second only to MLT) blurted out 'Oi watch it'. Open mouthed and shocked with respect lost for one of my heroes I walked away. Truly a man who thought he was above people and couldn't see it was he who had been at fault for the near fatal moment of 3 pint glasses and their precious content. Ginola was a laugh though. He ignored the rest of the squad while he chain smoked in the corner of the bar. Batty was also quite a laugh and got leathered with Warren Barton. lol. Some footballers are like the rest of us, however some think they are Gods. I had already got the match program signed by all the Newcastle squad. May well have been worth something however I was so dismayed that it felt worthless to me after this little event and upon arriving at my local social club I gave it to a 15 year old girl who could not believe her luck. No idea if she sold it on. lol.
A poor pundit, but like many other perhaps he will improve over time; he does have more humility than Savage, however he doesn't add much personality.
Shearer and Personality don't mix. He's so boring I tend to switch off when he talks. Thank **** for sky plus
He cannot be as bad as Michael Owens dulcet monotone or Ryan Giggs the wettest man to ever play football.
And we have to hope that neither will become a pundit. I totally agree with the OP. Shearer stands as one of the greatest strikers in the game, and as one of the most boring human beings on earth! The contrast between Shearer and the excellent Steve Claridge (ooh controversial) was at its most marked in the derby game. Claridge knew more about Saints than the so-called "saints expert". Shearer was clearly surprised by the quality of Rickie Lambert, unlike the "Pompey man". It was sloppy at best.
Oh, I don't think that's true. He did love his time at Saints, and has said in the past that he really appreciated the way that he was looked after and brought on as a footballer. In latter years however, he has made precious little mention of his old team, and never takes the opportunity to promote them. Even Blackburn Rovers are very much second in his mind. For him, it's Newcastle, Newcastle and Newcastle, every time.
I love the fact we started his career. I love the fact it started with a hat-trick for saints! He is ****e on the telly, but I love telling Geordies that he was "made" in Southampton!!
Sadly, you're right. The same could be said about the likes of Bridge, Bale and Walcott in recent years. None of them seem to say much about Saints at all. Oxlade-Chamberlain on the other hand, well he's praised the club more times in a year than the former three put together have in their careers.
