Alan Shearer

[Kid Icarus]

As a fanbase we should be only slightly behind Man United's in understanding how disgustingly influential he was. No Cantona or Schmeichel in 95/96 and we win the league at a canter.

 

 

Edited December 18, 2024 by Kid Icarus

[Superior Acuña]

On 10/12/2024 at 10:57, Kid Icarus said:

 

It's the gossy accent. My lass has it. It's mental.

 

Lowdsa cowts for loads of coats. Stowk for Stoke etc.

Never knew that,  feel like I’ve only ever heard it from Geordies doing TV work, always thought it was an adaptation. Grates on my ear cos sounds so out of place. 

[Groundhog63]

Is it true he doesn't like to breath out as it's giving his air away for nothing? 

[Decky]

14 hours ago, Hughesy said:

I'll never understand how highly rated Cantona is in these lists.

 

Same. Does anyone who isn't a Man Utd fan ever do it though? Ex Man Utd players having a big influence in the football media and punditry in the UK probably helps it too. He was a good player in a very good team but there are so many other forwards who hit much bigger goal numbers over a lot more years. A lot of bang-average PL forwards have hit bigger numbers than him although I know its not always about just that. 

[Froggy]

10 minutes ago, Decky said:

Same. Does anyone who isn't a Man Utd fan ever do it though?

 

The discussion is about a list from Jamie Carragher tbf.   Cantona's impact was monumental. KI's post sums it up quite well.

 

He's behind Rooney though, absolutely no question. As is Ronaldo.

[NEEJ]

8 hours ago, Superior Acuña said:

Never knew that,  feel like I’ve only ever heard it from Geordies doing TV work, always thought it was an adaptation. Grates on my ear cos sounds so out of place. 

If you watch old interviews Shearer doesn't do it, so I'm firmly of the opinion it's some weird, misguided adjustment they're doing to be understood better. 

[Rod]

17 minutes ago, NEEJ said:

If you watch old interviews Shearer doesn't do it, so I'm firmly of the opinion it's some weird, misguided adjustment they're doing to be understood better. 

I agree.  It's purely for TV reasons. I mean, if they spoke pure Geordie then no one would understand them (apart from Geordies). Just a quick story ........Back in 1996 I was in The Railway Tavern just up from White Hart Lane.  I was there with my wife and about six Spurs friends just before the game.  We were all sat at a table talking for about an hour when I said "it's my turn for the beers".  My Spurs pal Dave Walford says "I will give you a hand".  At the bar there were four Toon fans discussing the game so I joined in the discussion whilst waiting for my drinks.

Back at our table Dave looked at me incredulously and said "what fucking language were you talking back there at the bar"?  He never understood a word that I said to the Newcastle lads.  So I obviously tone down my "Geordie" when I'm in cockney company.  End of story.

[Lush Vlad]

43 minutes ago, NEEJ said:

If you watch old interviews Shearer doesn't do it, so I'm firmly of the opinion it's some weird, misguided adjustment they're doing to be understood better. 

I can understand this. Used to be a running joke that I was translator when we were up for a game. I’m not from the NE. But had family that were and also spent a lot of time up there. 
 

Happens with loads of accents when people move away, too. Then they go back to a stronger, thicker accent when they’re back home. 

[Kid Icarus]

47 minutes ago, NEEJ said:

If you watch old interviews Shearer doesn't do it, so I'm firmly of the opinion it's some weird, misguided adjustment they're doing to be understood better. 

Example?

[jack j]

 

 

Doesnt sound as posh there like

Hes defo more robson green/jimmy nail thesedays

[M4]

11 hours ago, Decky said:

 

Same. Does anyone who isn't a Man Utd fan ever do it though? Ex Man Utd players having a big influence in the football media and punditry in the UK probably helps it too. He was a good player in a very good team but there are so many other forwards who hit much bigger goal numbers over a lot more years. A lot of bang-average PL forwards have hit bigger numbers than him although I know its not always about just that. 

 

He was the symbol and driver of a transformative era for Man Utd and the start of the Premier League era. Many Man Utd forwards, as early as the likes of Van Nistelrooy I'd say, obviously surpassed him in terms of production and quality, but you could argue they all stood on his shoulders. Add to that folklore and personality... 

[Decky]

3 hours ago, M4 said:

 

He was the symbol and driver of a transformative era for Man Utd and the start of the Premier League era. Many Man Utd forwards, as early as the likes of Van Nistelrooy I'd say, obviously surpassed him in terms of production and quality, but you could argue they all stood on his shoulders. Add to that folklore and personality... 

 

The points system they used was daft too though. 2 points for over 200 PL goals is crazy given how few have done it, but you get the same for winning a Champions League which is a different competition and you don't even need to have played well to win it in a good squad. 

[Heron]

9 hours ago, jack j said:

 

 

Doesnt sound as posh there like

Hes defo more robson green/jimmy nail thesedays

What a bloke.

[Jamesmcc222]

Shearer was the absolute best at what he did. So was Henry. So was Cantona. Just so happens they were all very different forwards. Game is too complex to put them together.

 

Not really mentioned because he is what he is but Luis Suarez is probably the most underrated of the above. The Jaques Kallis of the football world. Had it all (including biting unfortunately)

[Rod]

1 minute ago, Jamesmcc222 said:

Shearer was the absolute best at what he did. So was Henry. So was Cantona. Just so happens they were all very different forwards. Game is too complex to put them together.

 

Not really mentioned because he is what he is but Luis Suarez is probably the most underrated of the above. The Jaques Kallis of the football world. Had it all (including biting unfortunately)

I honestly thought this thread was about his "Geordie" accent.  However, aye he was a canny footballer like.

[Heron]

Meh. He was number 9 out of 11.

[Paully]

 Good recovery by Big Al!
 

https://x.com/restisfootball/status/1880285040355029026?s=46

 

 

Edited January 17 by Paully

[Big Geordie]

Re Shearer's accent - I'd imagine he'll have received media training and part of that will have been to tone it down. My accent changes automatically when I talk to my dad  - becomes rougher SE Northumbrian, mixed with some pitmatic which he is still fluent in  - as is the father in law.

[Ghandis Flip-Flop]

12 minutes ago, Big Geordie said:

Re Shearer's accent - I'd imagine he'll have received media training and part of that will have been to tone it down. My accent changes automatically when I talk to my dad  - becomes rougher SE Northumbrian, mixed with some pitmatic which he is still fluent in  - as is the father in law.

I mean I’d imagine he slots back into a Gosforth accent when on the lash with his mates, but tones it down when on National Media. I am pretty sure my accent has softened slightly after being in the RAF for 23 years, despite it remaining obvious which part of the country from which I originate. But not being funny if I hadn’t altered the way I spoke from leaving Bedlington Station, I’d not have been understood for most of my previous career.

 

i imagine some would describe me as scenty bottle now, but I reckon throwing the odd bit of Doric that I’ve had to adopt in the new job would make me less intelligible than a pissed, toothless owld gadgie from Ershinton like hoo 

[jack j]

Is the podcast with Lineker not meant to be mates or is it a bbc thing?

Hes still got the posh shit going on that

[Ghandis Flip-Flop]

Just now, jack j said:

Is the podcast with Lineker not meant to be mates or is it a bbc thing?

Hes still got the posh shit going on that

They might be mates, but they’re not fellow Geordies are they? I find the idea that people aren’t aware that they alter their use of dialect and soften or harden their accent, depending on their audience are either thick, or disingenuous.

[jack j]

Ant and dec manage it

Anyway it's mainly because I think Shearer is a prick anyway

[NUFCDoog]

It's not a BBC thing but obviously it's intended for a wider audience so he's not going to revert to a thick Gosforth accent and no fucker can understand him.

[Lush Vlad]

14 minutes ago, jack j said:

Ant and dec manage it

Anyway it's mainly because I think Shearer is a prick anyway

Everyone is different. 
 

My wife’s Dad kept a really strong NE accent after moving down here. Mackem sadly. Harsh as fuck to listen to. My Grandma, Great Aunties, Uncles were all similar. Moved down from Durham. 

My mate’s Dad moved down late teens I think. His accent is basically gone altogether. Then gets thicker when we go to games and are back in Newcastle. 
 

Isn’t there some thing about this where certain people actually change their accent slightly without realising depending where they are and who they converse with? Sometimes even putting a foreign accent on. 
 

I’m not saying I go full Joey Barton French or Schteve McLaren Dutch. But I catch myself doing it over here. So I can easily understand how someone who does so much media work would change/tone it down over time. Whether consciously or subconsciously. 
 

As a kid. I spent all summer with some Aussie friends and found certain words or the end sentences going all Australian. I did similar after 3-4 days with my Auntie and Uncle and cousins in Birmingham. Got asked why I sounded like a Brummie when I came back  

 

 

[Ghandis Flip-Flop]

3 minutes ago, Lush Vlad said:

Everyone is different. 
 

My wife’s Dad kept a really strong NE accent after moving down here. Mackem sadly. Harsh as fuck to listen to. My Grandma, Great Aunties, Uncles were all similar. Moved down from Durham. 

My mate’s Dad moved down late teens I think. His accent is basically gone altogether. Then gets thicker when we go to games and are back in Newcastle. 
 

Isn’t there some thing about this where certain people actually change their accent slightly without realising depending where they are and who they converse with? Sometimes even putting a foreign accent on. 
 

I’m not saying I go full Joey Barton French or Schteve McLaren Dutch. But I catch myself doing it over here. So I can easily understand how someone who does so much media work would change/tone it down over time. Whether consciously or subconsciously. 
 

As a kid. I spent all summer with some Aussie friends and found certain words or the end sentences going all Australian. I did similar after 3-4 days with my Auntie and Uncle and cousins in Birmingham. Got asked why I sounded like a Brummie when I came back  

 

 

Yup it’s well studied in sociolinguistics, called convergence/divergence which is part of accommodation theory 

 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781118540190.wbeic082