Sir Alex slams Shearer in defence of Sunderland boss Martin OâNeill SHEARER BLAST ... Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. By GRAEME ANDERSON Published on Monday 17 December 2012 09:00 SIR Alex Ferguson waded into the spat between Martin OâNeill and Alan Shearer at the weekend and came down firmly on the side of the Black Cats boss. Former Newcastle striker turned pundit Shearer suggested in a newspaper column a week ago that Martin OâNeill might be sacked if he didnât win the forthcoming game against Reading. Shearer also returned to the tired claim that previous manager Steve Bruceâs Geordie background cost him his job, saying that OâNeill would have been sacked by now had he been a Tynesider. Those comments irritated OâNeill, who called into question Shearerâs own management credentials, and Ferguson, pictured, was even more scathing of the Match of the Day expertâs opinion. That was perhaps all the more surprising, given there was no love lost between Ferguson and Sunderland at the end of last season when the Man United manager felt home fans at the Stadium of Light were disrespectful to the Red Devils on the day they failed to win the title. But in his programme notes, Ferguson reflected: âOur visitors got a midweek 3-0 win over Reading to improve on a dismal run. âIt was a spell that had Martin OâNeill under pressure, with even Alan Shearer suggesting before the Reading match that defeat would bring the sack. âPerhaps there was a touch of the old Newcastle-Sunderland rivalry behind such a bitter remark.â Ferguson then went on to have a pop at Match of the Day generally and a post-match interview with OâNeill. He said: âI was appalled when I heard an interview with the questioner asking if Martin OâNeill still had belief in himself. âWhat a question to put to a man who took Celtic to a UEFA Cup final and won three titles with the Scottish club, and thatâs apart from his wide experience in English football. âIt was insulting to him and I felt for him. âYou have to recognise that Sunderland have had to sell a few players and have had injuries to make what is always a difficult job even more testing. âI am sure the majority of Sunderland fans know they have an excellent manager quite capable of guiding their club through troubled waters.â GOOD ON YOU ALEX YOU KNOW A **** WHEN YOU HEAR ONE
Ironic that he should be calling Shearer bitter. More than a touch of bitterness in his own comments. Its alright red nose, you've had some decent strikers and a few titles since he knocked you back
What's he won at all apart from one medal with Blackburn? Oh aye, that's right, three losers one's with the Mags.
thinking about what Man Utd have won over the years without Mary Poppins...I doubt SAF hasn't given him a moments thought. I think Shearer chose the Mags simply because he would be a big fish in a small pond. At Man Utd he would be just another player.
The thing is, would MON be here now if we lost last Tuesday ?, i see his point but a 10 year old kid can see where we are going wrong, giving the ball away, not moving forward fast enough, players not in the penalty area when the crosses go in, very poor defending at times i dread to think the Man city score will be as they get sideways crosses regually into the box.
Then more the fool him? How is that a sign of a good decision? He could have been a rich man with a **** load of medals instead of a rich man with **** all to show for his career. Maybe he knew that he couldn't hack being the small fish in a massive pond, where his game would be under much more scrutiny and with absolutely no player power and much preferred being the biggest fish ever in a much smaller pond up at NE1 where he effectively called all the shots about managers and players and all his off the field money making endeavours he knew the toon drones would happily invest in? Just saying like?
The very strong rumour coming out of Blackburn at the time was that Jack Walker (the owner) refused Man U's offers because he saw Blackburn losing fans to them if Shearer went there. Work out the timing of the Andy Cole sale to Man U and the wage subsidy by the brewery for Shearer's first deal. That was the only NUFC could afford to pay him more than Blackburn were.
The affection of his hometown clubs supporters maybe? He has no regrets and made the right call. Did him no harm as still went to be Englands greatest striker in the last goodness know how many years.
Was undoubtedly a thoroughly decent striker and a top international but then again he had very little competition and when one came along - like SKP - he saw to it that he simply didn't get a look in, despite him being the only ever English European Golden Boot winner. That's why we all think he is a complete and utter twat as well.
Storm in a teacup. Saying that the comment was 'bitter' is fair enough (I don't think it was bitter, I just think it was wrong) but i don't see how this is a 'blast' really. Fergie has a reputation for using a heavy temper when needed but I think this is very small beans. As a player Shearer was probably the best striker I've seen in the Premiership (not player, just guy for putting the ball in the net) but as a manager and pundit he's unconvincing at best.
I'm sorry but I thought he did a fantastic job as a manager personally and I am supported by literally 1000's and 1000's of people from around the Wearside region.
