Is the no.9 shirt still important to you?

Considering that lack of loyalty in football and the reality that we'll never have another Alan Shearer, do you still feel that a player has to be 'worthy' of playing in the #9 shirt, or is it now just simply another number that we should give to the current best centre forward at the club?

 

It's important but I don't consider it to be as untouchable and sacred as some people do. For example, I'd be happy to give it to Leon Best if he bagged about 13-15 goals this season, but I wouldn't give him it now and I wouldn't give any new signing it in January either because I think the player should earn it.

 

Yes and yes, I do think the player needs to be worthy of the shirt. Its been a tradition that we've had for any number of years, though I do think it has been blown into something different since Shearer. Its like every striker has to match up to his standards which is impossible for most ability wise. Previously it was more about the character and work rate of the player, certainly when I was younger.

 

^^This ..nothing more to add to that

 

That's a fair point, although I can understand why people do expect another Shearer. He was prolific, local and loyal - the combination that makes the ultimate number nine. Andy Carroll could have been the same

 

This. It has to be earned, but it doesnt need to be another Shearer wearing it.

 

It's like Warm Pouch say's, it's a traditional thing that's been handed down for generations.

Every generation of supporters has been used to the #9 shirt being a bit special.

 

Leon will have earnt it if he gets us double figures this year. Combine that with how he filled the void when Carroll left at the end of last season and he deserves it. Fair play to the lad. Who would have thought he'd do so well when we signed him? That's the sort of story I like. We signed a bit of a journeyman who many thought could never cut it at the top but he keeps his head down, works hard, appreciates where he is and gives his best. He'll have known that many fans and people in the media thought he'd be a reserve team player or benchwarmer but he's proving us all wrong. Long may it continue.

 

The #9 is an iconic shirt for us as it's been worn by numerous club legends.

The last person who truly earned the right to wear it was Shearer and as he's still prominent in most of our memories; perhaps we still look to his standard as the the quality of player we want to wear it.

Carroll shouldn't have been given the shirt in my opinion. He'd played a season in the CCC and scored goals but the shirt should have been withheld until he'd proven that he had the consistent ability to score at the highest level and also could curtail his off field antics.

The shirt has to be earned as it represents a very important part of the clubs history and folklore.

I'd like to see it 'retired' until a player of requisite quality is in place who also understands that his actions off the field can tarnish the shirts reputation.

I have no idea who that could be.

 

I see your point because if we get one good enough to wear it we would sell them.

 

I think the shirt is and should be special, but I would use slightly different criteria for awarding it. The player doesn't need to be one of the best strikers in the prem - - we may never have another one of those. He needs to have shown commitment to the toon, a willingness to put his head amongst the boots and elbows when the chips are down, and a handy ability to come up with goals.

Carroll deserved it, then squandered that entitlement. Best is one good season from deserving it

 

I love the sentiment OT but this is part of the problem with it. We have to look to the standard of Alan Shearer, our leading goalscorer and arguably Englands best ever centre forward to be our number 9? Its not going to happen, or at least not for a long time. We can't give it to no one for years until another McDonald comes along, its the player who makes the number 9 not the number 9 who makes the player, and if no ones had it for 20 years the expectation on the next one will be ridiculous. I'm not that old, so I do remember Cole, Ferdinand, Shearer, but I am just old enough to remember Mickey Quinn, who while a decent player doesn't quite fit your criteria but was an able number 9. Its a big number, but it can't be allowed to become bigger than the club, and if Besty has a good season I'd give him it without question.

 

Every centre forward should get it.........but it comes with heritage.

 

My ideal number 9 would have the goal scoring prowess of Shearer, the barrel chested body and sideburns of Supermac, be as mad as Tino, with a bit of Cantona's visible arrogance thrown in.

 

It does matter to me, but it doesn't mean a fraction of the amount of the whole team together.

 

Its a strange one really because of course yes it is important but you can almost guarentee that if anyone is good enough and worthy enough to take on the shirt that they will be sold on.

As long as we only pay sensible wages loyalty will be worthless.