Paul Gascoigne: 'You know, we should be up there, playing in the big matches, against the top players. It's unimaginable that Newcastle might drop out of the top league. 'Look at the squad: Joey Barton, Kevin Nolan, Alan Smith, Damien Duff in midfield. Then the forwards: Obafemi Martins, Mark Viduka, young Andy Carroll. And Michael Owen can make himself a little hero here — he just needs to find his touch, get into the box, find his confidence.
'In a perfect world, the gaffer would pull on a pair of boots himself and keep us up. He could do it, you know. I was watching him in the gym the other day, he's still a fit, strong boy.
'He impresses me, he always did as a player. Now he's the gaffer and is working every hour, staying late, desperate to find a solution. I think he will stay beyond this season, because it will grip hold of him. It might have happened already. I hope he stays. This club, this city, it needs Alan Shearer.
'I don't know why Newcastle isn't right. It has to be. Maybe Freddy Shepherd might come back in, that would be good. I do know that it's right to have a Geordie manager of a Geordie club. We should promote young English managers more in our country.
'You have to spend time here to understand the mentality of the place. When I go to the ground, before a match, I become anxious, excited. When I'm at home. I can hear the roar from miles away. Alan will give people more to cheer about here. He has to stay on.'