Newcastle United then and now

Kevin Keegan and Sir John Hall pulled out all the stops to bring home the local hero, and Shearer repaid them in kind. By the time he retired from football in 2006, he was the Premier League and Newcastle's record goalscorer, and they are both marks that look set to stand for a while.

Wayne Rooney was tipped to beat him early in his career and Harry Kane might one day have something to say about the Premier League record, but as far as Newcastle fans are concerned there will never be anyone greater. 260 goals in the Premier League, 206 for Newcastle in all competitions.

One look at Newcastle today and the club are in a much sorrier state. Mike Ashley took over the club from Hall and Freddie Shepherd ten years ago, and he has ruled with an iron fist since. 

Not once has he shown the ambition that led Keegan to brand the club as "the biggest thinking club in Europe" in 1996, and two relegations in Ashley's time have hardly endeared him to the fans. Shearer and Keegan both attempted to save their beloved club from Ashley and worked under him, but the icons were were mistreated and eventually left.

Rafa Benitez is feeling the brunt of it now. The world-renowned Spaniard is being forced to work on a shoestring budget - an insult to a manager of his calibre. It is a far cry from 1997 when Shearer was viewed as the final piece in the puzzle as Newcastle went in search of silverware. They were beaten to most trophies by Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United, but you couldn't fault them for trying. 

This was a team, led by the local boy, who left everything on the pitch and played with passion and committment that was everything the fans wanted to see. Benitez's version have come close to replicating that, but they are undermind every step of the way. In more ways than one, it will be a long time before another Alan Shearer comes to Newcastle United. 

 

30 July 2018