h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/4232567.stm

Is Alan Shearer England's best ever striker?

My money's on yes. Not only has he been slotting the goals away for 13 years (which, let's face it, is a striker's job) at an average of more than 1 in 2; he works like a donkey in all matches; he's capable of Tissier-esque moments of match turning brilliance still at the age of 34; rarely booked (I only remember him being sent off once and that was Alan Wiley's fault); the best example of a model professional I can think of (and you need them at a club who consider Lee Bowyer to be a good signing); avoids Man United like the plague. Above link harps on at him for not winning enough silverware, but so what? One half-decent player cannot make a team. In the case of Leeds United, one team cannot make a half-decent player.

B

"the best example of a model professional I can think of"

The same Alan Shearer booked for diving in his last match as England captain?

The same Alan Shearer who (allegedly) threatened to pull out of some international competition or other if he was suspended for stamping on someone's head?

The same Alan Shearer busted for drunken brawling on a Newcastle pre-season trip?

The same Alan Shearer who referee's get more abuse off than any player other than Roy Keane?

He might be a good striker, and a quality footballer in general, but his sportsmanship and professionalism aren't anything to rave about.

(Oh, and as for the Leeds comment B:
Robinson - Leeds Academy -> England's number 1 keeper.
Woodgate - Leeds Academy -> Real Madrid (for what it's worth)
Smith - Leeds Academy -> Handful of England caps, signed for one of the top 3 clubs in the country.
Kewell - Leeds Academy -> Oceania player of the year a few times.
Looks like a team that made a few half-decent players to me.)

Woodgate - Leeds Academy -> Real Madrid (for what it's worth) -> Terminally injured, has fitness level of old lady -> Never plays...
Smith - Leeds Academy -> Handful of England caps, signed for one of the top 3 clubs in the country. -> Not as good as RvN or Rooney -> Never plays...
Kewell - Leeds Academy -> Oceania player of the year a few times -> Disliked intesnely by manager and fans -> Never plays...



B

Meh. You specified HALF-decent. They're half decent players.

> The same Alan Shearer busted for drunken brawling on a Newcastle pre-season trip?

That can't be true... can't be the same person who celebrated Blackburn's Premiership title by going home and creosoting his new garden fence, surely?

Oh, and in answer to the original question... no, I don't think so. Lineker was a better goalscorer, sportsman and also managed a reasonably successful spell in Spain.

Maybe Owen/Rooney will go on to be better than either of them, but I'm not holding my breath at the moment...

No Shearer isn't the best ever English striker.

That honour goes to Jimmy Greaves - scorer of 44 goals in 57 international matches, and way better than a goal every other game for Chelsea and Spurs for twelve years from the late 50s to 1969.

Yeah, I thought about Greavsie just after I'd posted.

B

Depends what he is striking

The golden boy has been allowed to use his elbows in the English game without ever being booked for it. This caused the England team to go out of the World Cup 98 when Sol put the ball in the net past the Argentinians but Mr Shearer's elbows were seen to come down onto the goalkeeper .....

Counterproductive methinks

Yeah - Greavsies put the ball in the net, but for me the best English striker I've ever seen was Alan 'sniffer' Clarke. Looked like a preening nancy boy, was as hard as nails, and scored goal after goal.

God I hated him.

As a striker though, can't fault him.

Robinson - Leeds Academy -> England's number 1 keeper -> makes series of comical errors; lets ball through legs -> dropped by country in favour of David James -> dropped by club in favour of halfwit Pole -> never plays...

I think that's a full set.

B

Robinson > Leeds > Spurs > Won a cup final today.
Lennon > Leeds > Spurs > Won a cup final today.
Woodgate > Leeds > everywhere > Spurs > Won a cup final today.
Add in Keane, Poyet and the fact that they seem to be playing in our kit (where'd the blue shorts go?), I think the Carling Cup should be at Elland Road for at least 4 months now...