Newcastle boss Shearer getting tough in training
Apr 11 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
“The last half-hour, the last 20 minutes of a Premier League football match – I’m not saying it’s more important than what went on before, but teams are very, very fit physically and strong and you know you’re going to get tested in those minutes.
“We have to be strong enough and fit enough to last 90 minutes, not 45 or 60.”
Changing the way the players train is not the only change effected by Shearer. He has borrowed Sir Bobby Robson’s approach by making all the players eat together and emphasised the importance of punctuality. Ice baths are now mandatory, while Shearer has also talked about the need for improved discipline. “They’ve reacted well – fine,” he said. “They’ve been great. They’ve taken to the ideas, the little things like that, really well. I think they’ve wanted to do that.
“They’ve wanted to be told where to be, at what time to be there – to be together. They’ve wanted to be pointed in that direction.”
Summing up the new manager’s impact, long-serving goalkeeper Harper said that the little changes he has imposed have “added up”.
“Training is about 15 to 20 minutes longer maybe,” said Harper. “It is not so much longer, but it is noticeable – it’s more thorough and more intense and it has been good. Players respond to that.
“It’s hard to sum up really – it’s about professionalism. Just be professional in all things you do, starting with making good time for training, to be out on the pitch, on time for team meetings, departures.
“I think the little things add up. I don’t know if they were things that necessarily needed addressing but as I said, if you start with the little things, you can work on to the bigger things.”
United visit Stoke City this afternoon for a game which Shearer describes as a ‘must-not-lose’ fixture. A victory, coupled with a defeat for Sunderland at home to Manchester United, could see the Magpies leapfrog their derby rivals and jump out of the bottom three.
Fit-again French defender Sébastien Bassong is expected to return to a United line-up expecting Stoke’s renowned aerial bombardment.
