Following his ‘severe criticism’ of Irish full-back Cyrus Christie, Martin O’Neill has questioned Alan Shearer’s stint as a manager – suggesting this is why he only managed eight games in charge of Newcastle United.
This comes following Shearer’s criticism of Christie after his display in Fulham’s 5-1 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday – saying he was “not worried about defending” despite playing at full-back.
As we know, Shearer managed Newcastle United for eight games during the final few few weeks of the Premier League season, being unable to save a sinking ship and winning just once as we slipped to relegation at Villa Park back in May 2009 (a game where O’Neill was manager in the opposite dugout).
In hindsight, he tried his luck in management too early – however O’Neill’s comments in response to Shearer’s critique of Christie are petty to say the least.
Here’s what he said:
“He [Shearer] should have prefaced things by saying ‘I don’t know what the manager has said’ because, at the end of the day, the manager has asked him to stay up the pitch and not worry about getting back.
“I don’t think the severe criticism was as warranted. I don’t think everything was down to him and the first thing I thought about when Shearer was saying those things is ‘you should be asking the question’.
“Maybe that’s why he only managed eight games, that might be something to do with it.”
Petty stuff from O’Neill, who seems a little too sensitive and defensive given Shearer was only commenting on what he saw as pundit.
I watched Arsenal’s mauling of Fulham and Christie was nowhere to be seen defensively – although it may have been a tad harsh to single him out as no one was tracking back.
Do you think Shearer has what it takes to become a good manager?
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I doubt Shearer is losing sleep over what a failed Mr Magoo has to say.
Shearer only had eight games with a team already doomed, Mr Magoo has hardly set the world alight since leaving Villa, has he?
Not sure why he even commented. Shearer is only doing his job as a pundit – should he not make such remarks? Should he just sit there?
He’s a better pundit than O’Neil is a manager right now. O’Neill isn’t even a good pundit. Sounds like he’s been in the company of that other idiot Keane too long. Both should just shut up and concentrate on their own jobs – taking a proud nation into obscurity. At least they’re doing OK at that.
Bobbybee(Quote)