Had that cunt Owen and Martins put their chances away, had Viduka's goal that was wrongly disallowed stood, things right now might be a bit different.
FWIW, I don't think Shearer wants to be manager; I think he only wants to be the Newcastle manager. (During his press conference he was asked if he would have done this for anyone else (take a managerial job), he said no.)
Shearer was also popular with the players, hardly something Sounessesque. (Did he fall out with Martins when he chickened out against Stoke?) If Shearer was really into "scapegoating", was he trying to do the same with his then mate Owen? Or did he drop him because he was shit?
I think his tactical awareness wasn't too bad, at least he had the "brains" to try and come-up with a formula.