Newcastle legend, Alan Shearer, has admitted that he would rather see his beloved Toon win the Carabao Cup than finish in the top four this season. It may come as a surprise to some Magpies fans that their hero wouldn’t prefer to see the club mixing it with the best in Europe again, but it is definitely understandable given that the time since the last trophy made its way to Tyneside has now hit 54 years.
Shearer was involved in the last Newcastle team that went close to capturing silverware, twice being denied an FA Cup final win in 1998 and 1999. Of course, he did experience the winning feeling with Blackburn’s Premier League win in 1994/95, but he has been waiting all of his life to see his hometown club win a trophy – something he hopes will end this year.
Speaking in his BBC Sports column, Shearer said: “Finishing in the Champions League places would be absolutely fantastic but it is the chance of silverware that means the most to me. My dream for this season would be a trophy – I’d much prefer the Carabao Cup to the top four.
“I’d love to see both happen, obviously, but give me a choice and I’d go for silverware all day long. It’s far more important to me. The last trophy Newcastle won was the Fairs Cup – the tournament that eventually turned into the Europa League – in 1969.
“That was before I was born, so it has been a very long wait to see us win something. I hope it is over, soon.”
With Newcastle sitting 3rd in the table and with a Carabao Cup Semi-Final against Southampton coming up, fans are in dreamland with thoughts of a Wembley celebration and trips around Europe next season, but Shearer thinks the Toon Army should keep their feet on the ground.
“I would not count Newcastle as title contenders, though,” he continued. “In fact, I still think it would be a miracle if they finish in the top four, despite the problems faced by some of the teams just below them.”
I think most fans would have a similar outlook to their one-time number 9, but with the team continuing to defy the odds and surprise, who knows what could happen. I think Mr. Shearer is probably going to be proven right, but aren’t we overdue for a miracle at this stage?