Took this from the chronicle website. What does your best ever 11 look like? Newcastle United's record goalscorer, Alan Shearer, has joined thousands of supporters in selecting his greatest ever Magpies team. The Greatest XI campaign in association with ChronicleLive is part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations and the final team, as voted for by fans, will be confirmed on Saturday 9th December before the Magpies host Leicester City. Strikers Speaking to the Chronicle's John Gibson, Shearer unsurprisingly began with his forward line and named Jackie Milburn - the man whose club scoring record he surpassed - as the first player on his teamsheet. "EVERY GEORDIE KNOWS WHAT JACKIE MILBURN MEANS TO THIS CLUB AND THEREFORE THIS IS A SPECIAL TIME TO REMEMBER HIM." ALAN SHEARER, CBE “My dad was a Newcastle fanatic and 'Wor Jackie' was his hero," Shearer said. "So to walk into our house having broken such a great man’s record meant everything to me. I had made my dad proud. “I invited Jackie’s widow Laura to my testimonial match as a tribute to him. He stands out like a beacon in United’s history. “Every Geordie knows what Jackie Milburn means to this club and therefore this is a special time to remember him. “For another Geordie – this one from a council estate in Gosforth – to overtake Wor Jackie’s goalscoring record is unbelievable for me. “It answers anyone who dares to question why I chose Newcastle ahead of Manchester United. I’ve never regretted that decision for a moment.” Alongside himself and Jackie Milburn, Shearer has selected his former manager, Kevin Keegan. Keegan sensationally joined the club in 1982, just a few years after being named European Footballer of the Year. He led United to promotion in 1984 before retiring, later returning as manager in 1992 to orchestrate the Entertainers era. In the middle In a 4-3-3 formation, Shearer opted for a trio of Geordies across the middle of his Greatest XI, with a wealth of talent that any striker would love to play in front of - starting with Paul Gascoigne. “In their pomp, the two Pauls - Gascoigne and Scholes - were the best passers of the ball I ever had with England,” he added. “Gazza was the very best of his generation, a mad lad but with a big heart and an even bigger talent. “I spoke to him recently. He sent me a photo of himself after he had scaled the fence and climbed on top of my statue. “Typical of him, always the laughter maker. “Paul has had tough times since finishing playing of course. I worry about him and wish him well.” In Shearer's magnificent midfield, Gazza is flanked by wing wizard Chris Waddle and former England international Peter Beardsley, who had two hugely successful spells as a player with United. At the back Shearer has selected another former teammate, Shay Given, in goal. Given made 463 appearances for the Magpies between 1997 and 2009 and became the club's most capped player during his time at St. James' Park. In front of the Irishman, Shearer has opted for Fairs Cup-winning captain Bob Moncur, with gifted centre-half Jonathan Woodgate - who left the club for Real Madrid in 2004 - alongside him. Fairs Cup full-backs David Craig and Frank Clark also make the cut. The pair made an astonishing 921 appearances between them in black and white. Reflecting on those he missed out, including close friend Rob Lee, Shearer commented: “It’s tough on Supermac and Rob Lee but I can only pick 11." Here is Alan Shearer's Greatest XI in full (4-3-3): GK: Shay Given RB: David Craig CB: Bob Moncur CB: Jonathan Woodgate LB: Frank Clark MID: Chris Waddle MID: Paul Gascoigne MID: Peter Beardsley STR: Kevin Keegan STR: Alan Shearer STR: Jackie Milburn. To select you Greatest XI, please visit nufc.co.uk/GreatestXI or click here.
As per Shearer's except Nattrass at right back Alan Kennedy at left back Ginola instead of Waddle Also wouldn't have Keegan but would play 4-4 -2 and have Tiote at his best as DM subject to thinking about our past DM's and coming up with a better option. Not Batty for me. Just thought... Robert Lee in place of Keegan.
I'll just do from my lifetime: GK: John Burridge RB: Warren Barton CD: Peter Jackson CD: Phillipe Albert LB: Paul Beresford MID: Rob Lee MID: Gary Speed MID: Paul Gascoigne MID: David Ginola FWD: Les Ferdinand FWD: Andy Cole
Shearer had the longevity, but Cole and Ferdinand were both better strikers than him during their time with us. Shearers best years were with Blackburn, sadly not us. However Ferdinand and Cole both had their best years with us, in particularly Cole, no striker in the last 30 years has come close to what he did for us. Woodgate was ALWAYS injured and only played a handful of games for us, no way is he getting in.
Shearer early days with us before serious injury at Everton friendly (?) was at his best and, for me, best striker with Cole being best goal scorer. Man U ruined Cole as tried to make him a better player/striker, which he was but to the detriment of his being a goal scorer which he was the best at. Not saying Ferdinand wasn’t excellent but it’s all a relative thing.
GK Pavel RB Anderson LB Beresford CB Albert CM Gazza CM Lee LM/W Ginola RM/W Waddle S Shearer S Beardsley S Supermac M Keegan Attack attack attack
Budgie was a great keeper, especially considering we were utter dogshit then and it was often him against the whole of the other team. Ok so omitting Beardsley is a glaring error, I'll drop Speed to put Beardo in. Ginola at his very best vs Waddle, hmmmmm not a lot in it. I've already explained about the absence of Shearer, Cole and Ferdinand were better strikers for us during their time imo, Shearer was never the striker he was for Blackburn when he was with us. Woody no bloody way, injured all the time and could never be relied on.
ok - from my lifetime GK - S Given RB - D Craig LB - F Clark CH - P Albert CH - B Moncur RW - C Waddle CM - G Speed CM - P Beardsley LW - D Ginola CF - A Shearer CF- L Ferdinand
Budgie was crap too but a great character. Personally I would certainly pick Waddle over Ginola but it’s a personal opinion although Robert scored more and assisted more than Ginola. He was entertaining though How about Tony Green?. Fair point on Woody although he was class. The team is supposed to be the best though with no stipulation on number of games played. Think Shearer was top man when he first came but injuries took their toll.
As I said my XI was based on players I've seen playing, and I only started watching us in the mid-lates 80s, hence the absence of Tony Green, Supermac, Milburn, etc. Despite how good Woody was, he was always an injured waiting to happen, that's be like Spurs putting Ledley King or Darren Anderton in their all time XI.
Shay is a Given Barton Albert Going to be controversial and put Lascelles in, I think he is going to be very good. Would have Woodgate but he never played Beresford Ginola Gascoigne Lee Robert Beardsley Shearer It's actually a struggle this as I've had to leave out, just from my lifetime, Ferdinand, Cole, Waddle, Speed and Solano
