'I Can Beat Shearer' Talk Is Music To Geordie Ears!
Last updated : 06 August 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor
You don't need me to tell you the last silverware that was brought to St James' Park.
If we talk about the title we are looking at the days of Stan Seymour and Hughie Gallacher, and there cannot be many alive who can remember it.
As for the FA Cup, just about every Toon fan can recite the team, even though 95% of those fans never saw any of those players actually play.
But 27-year-old Alan Smith sealed a £6 million switch to Tyneside from Man Utd (where he has won medals) and he says he is fully aware of Shearer's achievements for the Magpies, but also noted he won nothing as a Toon player.
Smith: "There have been some great centre- forwards here and Alan Shearer is a legend.
"There is not enough to say about him, how much he achieved here and what he did in terms of his personal goal tally. His persona makes him a Newcastle legend and it is difficult to comprehend how many goals he scored.
"The only thing that was missing was winning something and that is what I want to achieve here. You don't really realise how long it is since Newcastle won anything until you come up here.
"I'm not sure if they have underachieved or not. I want to focus on what we can achieve rather than what has gone on in the past.
"You see how passionate they are here. If it takes off it could be unbelievable. When I spoke to the manager that is what he wants to do here, and it would be nice to have the fans screaming for me rather than against me.
"No one likes coming to St James's and playing against a vocal crowd. I made my decision and now I just want to get it started. I hope he makes me a better player.
"I didn't have any real down moments recovering from my broken leg. When you step back you do miss the preparation and the games. I managed to overcome that by training as hard as possible, doing as much as I possibly could and making sure when I did come back that I cut no corners. I was ready when I came back.
"I think international recognition comes if you are playing well for your club and you are playing regularly.
"That is not at the front of my mind. I wanted to come somewhere I could get a game before this weekend, get a friendly in and a game before the first game of the season at Bolton."
