Alan Shearer – CaughtOffside

Alan Shearer predicts Everton relegation outcome after ‘incredibly harsh’ points deduction

Sean Walker — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 19:29:31 +0000

Alan Shearer has backed Everton to remain in the Premier League after they were hit with a points deduction last week.

The Toffees were found guilty of breaching financial fair play rules on Friday with the Premier League docking 10 points as punishment.

As a result, Sean Dyche’s side now sit deep in the relegation zone in 19th place, tied with Burnley on just two points.

Everton have narrowly avoided the drop in each of the past two seasons but many believe that they will stay up this year, despite the penalty.

Everton players celebrate a 3-2 win against Crystal Palace

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer claimed that Dyche’s men have a ‘realistic chance’ of staying up.

“Because the standard at the bottom half this season is as bad as it has been for a long time. I think they can recover, I think they will get out of it.” he said.

“Even with this 10-point deficit, I think they will stay up, I think they will have enough, yeah.”

However, the Merseyside club could find themselves in even more difficulty as Burnley, Leeds and Leicester City are reportedly seeking to sue the club for £300 million.

The three clubs feel rightfully aggrieved as they were relegated and Everton were not.

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Video: Palace chairman offers update on potential Man United pursuit of Dougie Freedman

Jason Pettigrove — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 10:27:36 +0000

Manchester United’s need for a sporting director is acute, with Crystal Palace’s Dougie Freedman one of a few names being thrown into the hat for the job.

The Telegraph (subscription required) linked Freedman amongst a handful of candidates that also included legendary player, Paolo Maldini.

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Fabrizio Romano, speaking to CaughtOffside for his Daily Briefing column, suggested that Paul Mitchell was actually the favourite, and Palace chairman, Steve Parish, speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, appeared to rule Freedman out of the running.

‘”You would have to get into the minds of those people (Manchester United decision makers) wouldn’t you,” he said.

“I certainly don’t think there’s been any conversations. It’s flattering for the club.”

Pictures from Rest is Football

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Alan Shearer claims West Ham player “is the best around”

Jake Staniland — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 08:47:54 +0000

Alan Shearer has praised the significant impact of James Ward-Prowse since joining West Ham United.

Shearer, speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day 2, hailed Ward-Prowse as one of the best set-piece takers in the world. Ward-Prowse provided two assists for the Hammers against Nottingham Forest, playing a key role in a late comeback for West Ham on Sunday.

Shearer described Ward-Prowse’s deliveries as a nightmare for defenders and suggested he’s been the best in the business for a considerable time.

He said: “James Ward-Prowse is world class. He is the best around and has been for a long time. Two assists today, he’s got nine all season in all comps, more than any other Premier League player, it’s a nightmare for defenders.”[BBC]

The Englishman is averaging 2.5 key passes per game, per FBref, which currently ranks him in the top five in the Premier League, alongside Bukayo Saka and even outperforming Mohamed Salah.

Comparisons to David Beckham are often made when discussing the £30 million midfielder, and there’s an ongoing debate about whether Gareth Southgate’s England team is missing out on a valuable asset.

West Ham is performing well in Europe and currently sits 9th in the Premier League. Despite this, there’s a sense that the team is just a couple of defeats away from a minor crisis. However, with James Ward-Prowse in the squad, David Moyes can have confidence that West Ham has the potential to achieve significant success this season. Ward-Prowse’s impact on set pieces and overall play has provided a valuable boost to the team.

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“Read the room” – Alan Shearer slams “daft” Manchester United player

Jake Staniland — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 12:46:04 +0000

Alan Shearer has criticised Marcus Rashford’s decision to go out partying after Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat by Manchester City, describing it as “daft.” Shearer believes Rashford should have cancelled his pre-arranged birthday plans.

Erik ten Hag, Manchester United’s manager, labelled the manner of the birthday celebrations as “unacceptable” but did not disclose whether Rashford had been fined. Ten Hag mentioned that the striker had apologised to the rest of the squad. It’s been reported that Tyrell Malacia, who is currently out injured and hasn’t played since last season, also attended the party, per MEN.

Rashford was absent from the 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday after failing a late fitness test due to a training injury the day before. The England star, who turned 26 on Tuesday, has scored only one club goal this season.

Speaking on the Rest is Football Podcast, Alan Shearer expressed his disapproval of the situation, contrasting with Gary Lineker, who had taken a more lenient stance on the matter.

“I don’t care if it’s your birthday on a Saturday night. If you have been dumped 3-0 and it’s a terrible performance, you have got to read the room. The number of times that happened to me and to say we had a dinner planned or this planned.

“We’ve been beaten on a Saturday night and I said, I can’t go out. You can’t go into a town, into a nightclub on the night you have just been beaten 3-0 off your neighbours – you can’t do it. It was daft and it was stupid for Marcus to do that whether it is your birthday or not.”

Manchester United are six points behind Arsenal who currently occupy the final Champions League qualification spot in the Premier League.

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Video: England striker claims he wishes Newcastle had signed him

Jason Pettigrove — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 14:16:48 +0000

The way Newcastle are playing at the moment, any footballer would enjoy lining up as part of Eddie Howe’s starting XI.

Playing at home in front of the St. James’ Park faithful is extra special, particularly on nights such as when the Magpies demolished Paris Saint-Germain.

Former England striker, Peter Crouch, speaking on his That Peter Crouch Podcast, noted how much he would’ve loved to have played in the north east during his career.

“It’s one of those clubs where I wanted to play there,” he said.

“Imagine being the number nine at Newcastle. If you’d have done well and scored there, they would just love you.

“When you speak to Jermaine Jenas and Titus Bramble, players who I know well, and players who have been up there. They just love playing there. Even then it was probably a difficult time.

“Imagine being up there now with the Champions League.”

Pictures from The Peter Crouch Podcast

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Shearer in awe of 6ft 4in midfielder Newcastle want to sign

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 12:06:41 +0000

With Sandro Tonali’s 10-month ban for illegal betting recently confirmed, Newcastle United’s priority is to get cover in midfield during the January transfer window.

Any move is going to have to be considered carefully given that the club have to keep within the bounds of Financial Fair Play, and it isn’t clear how much wiggle room the Magpies have in that regard.

Thus far, Eddie Howe and his backroom team have worked incredibly well alongside the Saudi Public Investment Fund and sporting director, Dan Ashworth, and there’s nothing to suggest that whomever replaces Tonali won’t again be a joint effort between the various areas of the business.

According to inews (subscription required), one of the players that is potentially under consideration is Everton’s dynamic 22-year-old Amadou Onana.

Though he may not be the favourite at this point in time, and there’s no indication that Everton would welcome an approach in any event, it does seem as though he is on the list.

He’s a player that would clearly get the thumbs up from former legend and arguably Newcastle’s greatest ever striker, Alan Shearer.

‘A real powerhouse performance. He led by example at the heart of Everton’s midfield,’ he wrote on the official Premier League website for his Team of the Week.

With two months still to go before the transfer window opens in any event, there’s plenty that can happen in the meantime, and Onana may move up or slip down the list dependant on a number of factors including injury and form.

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Video: Shearer would take £65m-rated Arsenal hit-man at Newcastle

Jason Pettigrove — Sat, 28 Oct 2023 11:33:51 +0000

Former Newcastle and England captain, Alan Shearer, knows a thing or two about what it takes to be a success as a striker at St. James’ Park.

Though Alexander Isak has hit the ground running since his signing and Callum Wilson still knows where the goal is, Shearer is looking to Arsenal’s £65m-rated (transfermarkt) Gabriel Jesus as a player he would apparently bring to the north east.

“You’d have him at Newcastle wouldn’t you, Al?” Gary Lineker asked Shearer on the The Rest Is Football podcast.

“I don’t think he’s elite, he’s not elite, but he’ll always get you goals when he’s fit and injuries have been a problem. But, yeah, I wouldn’t take anything back that you two guys have said,” Shearer added.

It’s clearly just a personal opinion as it’s highly unlikely Mikel Arteta and the Gunners board would entertain a transfer for the Brazilian despite his recent injury record.

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“We shook hands” – Newcastle legend admits he thought he was going to get the manager’s job

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 08:40:34 +0000

Newcastle United are a team and a club that are clearly going places under Eddie Howe and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Notwithstanding they’re still a way from being the finished article, there can’t be too much doubt that, in time, the Magpies will finally be celebrating the major silverware that they’ve been craving since the 1950s.

It was a different story back in 2009 when Newcastle legend, Alan Shearer, was parachuted into the club to try and save them from relegation.

Ultimately, he wasn’t able to stop the team from plummeting into the Championship, and now it appears he’d wanted the chance to bring them straight back up again.

Moreover, he believed he was going to be given the opportunity to do just that.

“Yeah, absolutely, we shook hands on a deal (to become permanent Newcastle manager),” he said on the The Rest is Football podcast.

“I was told I was going to be the manager. We agreed everything, and they said they’d be in touch, but I’m still waiting for the call!

“I got a call later saying there was an issue with the bank. That was in 2009 and I’m still waiting for the call, the answer to that is yes I did.”

Given that Shearer hasn’t had any other jobs in management, it does beg the question as to whether Mike Ashley did actually do some good during his time at the club.

Shearer certainly talks a good game and played one too, but as everyone knows, great players don’t always make the best managers.

A legend in Newcastle, his status with the Toon Army might well have been tarnished had he not been able to get a tune out of the players he had under his tutelage and the time.

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Arsenal star singled out as someone consistently under-performing in key area

Mark Brus — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 13:19:54 +0000

Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has been singled out for criticism in an intriguing piece by Premier League legend Alan Shearer.

Writing in The Athletic, Shearer analysed a number of big chances missed by players, and one of those was the recent mis-hit effort by Arsenal front-man Jesus in the 2-2 draw at home to Tottenham.

The Brazil international is undoubtedly a fine player, with his technique, skill, work rate and intelligence making him a superb all-rounder in attack, but it’s fair to say he’s not the most clinical finisher.

Some Arsenal fans would surely love to see a real 25-plus-goal-a-season striker in their ranks, but Jesus doesn’t look like he’s ever likely to be that kind of player, and Shearer certainly feels some poor xG stats would back that up.

Alan Shearer hits out at Virgil van Dijk after ‘nonsense’ claim

Sean Walker — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 17:57:10 +0000

Alan Shearer has disregarded Virgil van Dijk’s claims that the modern football schedule is too demanding of players.

With the footballing schedule becoming more congested, pleas from managers and players to reduce the number of games have grown.

Jurgen Klopp has consistently echoed this stance with Erik ten Hag claiming that ‘players can’t deal any more with this overload’ last month.

Liverpool captain, Van Dijk spoke out on the topic while on international duty, stating that the ‘calendars are too demanding’.

“In England, we believe that the calendars are too demanding. The players are paid well, but this should never be to the detriment of our health,” he said via Footbal365.

“We keep having to play more and more games. We players should start saying something, contribute to a solution.”

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer labelled these comments as ‘nonsense’.

“Nonsense. Players are playing too much football? What? I mean come on,” he said.

“I know you shouldn’t mention the money but they have bigger squads than ever, more substitutes than ever and they are getting paid more money than ever.

“You have the best physios, the best technology, the best of everything. Do me a favour!”