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Opinion

Alan Shearer provokes Steve McClaren into measured reaction

9 years ago
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Alan Shearer stated this week that Steve McClaren was very luck to get the job at St James Park.

The Newcastle legend saying that there aren’t very many clubs who would give a prize Premier League club job, to somebody who had been sacked for failing in the Championship.

Though it is a step up from Mike Ashley giving the job to a manager recently sacked by a League One club, as was the case with Alan Pardew.

Writing in The Sun, Alan Shearer said:

“He (Steve McClaren) messed up with Derby at the end of last season.

“It is a great chance for him (at NUFC) because not many managers would get the opportunity to come to a club like Newcastle, after losing their job at a Championship club.”

Predictably, Steve McClaren has been asked for his reaction to the number nine turned pundit’s comments and had this to say:

“I can understand people saying that but we had a bad two months at Derby, explainable with injuries, but the previous 22 months were very good.

“We were near the top of the league all the time, and our style of football was recognised but I can understand that point of view, it’s no problem.”

Opportunity:

“I have got the opportunity and it’s something that I have wanted since I have lived in this area. I am grateful to the people who have given me this opportunity.”

“Pressure (whether with England or Newcastle) is a privilege, when you are going through it you don’t think of it as a privilege, but when you sit back and reflect you see that it is a privilege to be in that position. Opportunity is what we have been given here (at Newcastle).”

Good to see the Newcastle Head Coach giving a measured response, I can’t imagine in the same circumstances somebody like Alan Pardew doing the same.

Alan Shearer is quite right of course, with Steve McClaren’s profile of recent years no suggesting he was the best person for the job.

However, he now has that opportunity as he says, with all Newcastle fans hoping he can bring success to the club and alongside that, convince Mike Ashley to show the right level of ambition.

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