No. 9 Shirt

Shearer didnt "earn the shirt", he had the balls to ask (even demand) for it, and it payed off. We gave it to him upon signing because we had confidence in him and he had it in himself. Carroll on the other hand, "earned it" after a year of goalscoring, and what did he do to it? Dragged it's great history through the dirt because he wanted more money. We have scouted Cisse extensively and he obviously asked for the shirt. If the player, manager and scouts think he can fill it then why demoralise him by saying he doesnt deserve it? His performances in Germany more than merit it.

 

Credit to carr for this signing and hopefully he will do the famous number 9 shirt and the toon army proud

 

I'm sure he will

 

Its just a bloody number on a shirt for a game where people kick around a ball.

Don't take life so seriously jesus

 

It's not just a number on a shirt...

It's a Marks and Spencer's number on a shirt

 

Frankly numbers mean so little to me when it comes to football, since most are so directly linked to a position anyway! It's pretty hard to say 'no' to him based on emotional significance when CFs wear 9 almost everywhere.

And if he weren't given the 9, what would the media and fans think then? Is he not good enough? Are they expecting to flog him soon? etc. etc. Let the guy have the number he'd wear anywhere else, and hope he becomes another legendary 9. And if he doesn't, so it goes, there's still a long history of fantastic players to remember.

 

Proir to squad numbers coming in when the Premiership started in 1992, we would have handed the No9 shirt to any player that was available in the starting 11.

To this end wasn't Andy Cole our first No9? To much significance has been put on the number in recent years, it is at the end of the day a number!!

 

If they hadn't given him the number i can guarentee people on here would still be 'they've not replaced Andy Carroll with a number 9 yet, we still need another striker etc etc'. At least this way it's obvious to everyone he is Carrolls replacement.

 

Strange debate, unless I'm mistaken Shearer, Ferdinand & Cole were given the number 9 as soon as they signed so didn't "actually" earn it either. Yes it's an iconic but does it have to be earned? Let's not forget others wearers of the shirt include Femi Martins & Mark Viduka.