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July 99
New Contract:
Before the season started, Alan signed a new 5 year contract with Newcastle United,
committing his long term future to the club ensuring he would end his
career
there. |
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July 99
Kieron Dyer:
Newcastle sign young England under 21 international Kieron Dyer from Ipswich Town for £6million. The Toon got the signature of the young midfielder who would become crucial to Newcastle's future success. |
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7th August 99
what a start: Newcastle United 0-1 Aston Villa
The Magpies had had a tricky preseason, but things were looking bright with new signings such as Kieron Dyer. But the season opener was to be a nightmare. Not only did Newcastle lose
at home but Alan got sent off for the first time in his career. Referee
Uriah Renee dismissing him for elbowing a Villa defender to the disbelief of every player on the pitch including
nearby Aston Villa ones. |
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25th August 99
on the bench: Newcastle United 1-2 Sunderland
Things seemed to be going from bad to worse for the Newcastle and England captain. Ruud Gullit left him on the bench for the derby against Sunderland. Now famous for the pouring weather, it was however a night to forget. Newcastle lost 2-1, and that was the end of manager Gullit who later left by mutual
consent.
With this move, Gullit had jeopardised Shearer's career... and the media were talking of a possible end.
He had left the club in deep turmoil and at the bottom of the table. |
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31st August 99
out of the way: Manchester United 5-1 Newcastle United
A trip to Old Trafford came at the worst possible moment for the Magpies. It was just a matter of getting it out of the way. The Toon crashed to a 5-1 defeat with Andy Cole scoring
4. |
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10th September 99
Sir Bobby:
There had been rumours in the papers concerning Gullit's successor. And they turned out to be true (for once). Local hero
Bobby Robson, who had already been successful all over Europe and guided England to the semis in 1990, was named as the
new United manager! It could only have been him.
Immediately popular with the fans being a local lad, Robson's impact on the club was to be immediate
as well. |
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4th September 99
England glory: England 6-0 Luxemburg
Following all the speculations, came a crucial England game. The captain led the line by example and when England a penalty early on in the game thanks to Dyer (who was making his debut), the whole nation was watching to see if the man was still himself. He dispatched the spot kick with ease, and went on to score his very first England hat trick in the first half of the game. Once again he had answered his critics in the best possible way. |
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19th September 99
Bobby the Messiah: Newcastle United 8-0 Sheffield Wednesday
It just had to be. In his very first home game, Bobby's men produced a game that will go down in NUFC history. They beat Wednesday 8-0. Alan Shearer scored 5 goals, including a first half hat trick. Kieron was also instrumental in that game, with numerous assists and a goal to go with it.
In a matter of days Robson had turned the club around and had maybe saved Shearer's career. |
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September October 99
Scoring for fun :
As always, once one goes in they all start flying in. After that 8-0 win Shearer then scored another 2 away at Leeds then 2 more home to Middlesbrough with also goals in Europe and for England, it brought his total up to 15 goals in only a month, his richest vein of form ever. |
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10th October 99
Sunderland: England 1-1 Belgium
Newcastle's number 9 and Sunderland's number 10. That was England
line-up up front for the friendly against Belgium. The game was played at the Stadium of Light home of Sunderland. And of course Alan Shearer scored after only 4 minutes with a great overhead kick ! The Sunderland fans (who I'm sure really dislike Shearer) had a great reaction and it was a universal acclaim for the England skipper. |
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22nd December 99
3rd round replay: Newcastle United 6-1 Tottenham Hotspur
After two great years in the Cup, Newcastle were almost knocked out in the 3rd round this year by Spurs. Gary Speed's goal at White Hart Lane had secured a replay. And only a few days before Christmas, the Toon gave their fans the best present possible thrashing Tottenham 6-1 !!! Ferguson and Speed got one each minutes after the kick-off. And Alan scored 2 of his own late on in the game to wrap off a great performance. |
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12th February 2000
Sweet revenge : Newcastle United 3-0 Manchester United
This time Newcastle were ready for the champions. It would be the perfect test to see how far Bobby Robson's side had change since that dreadful start to the season. Duncan Ferguson scored the first a great volley from Alan's flick on. Then after the break Shearer scored the other two to the delight of the home crowd. A great result. |
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26th February 2000
International retirement :
After a game against Sheffield Wednesday, that Newcastle won 2-0, in which Alan scored one, he announced that he would quite the international scene after Euro 2000. The England captain stunned the nation with this decision. The reasons were that he wanted to have more time for his family, and more time during the summer, because the injuries he had had, forced him to play less. He though that both Newcastle and England would benefit from that decision. |
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March 2000
PFA Awards:
Alan was one of the nominees for PFA Player's player of the year award. Who would have thought this after the first months of the campaign. In the end Roy Keane was the winner but Alan was back to his best. |
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9th April 2000
Wembley hoodoo: Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle United
This year the semi final of the cup was played at Wembley, and not Old Trafford where Newcastle had had such great moments the two previous years. Everyone felt this could be their year, with Robson's side totally revived, the Cup would have been a proof of the relative success. Poyet put Chelsea early on, and in the second half Newcastle dominated, and equalised when Shearer's cross met Lee's head who put the teams level. Newcastle had little time to push even more that they were behind again, Poyet with a header this time past Given. Hopes and dreams were shattered at the end of a promising day and a feeling of disbelief, and "what have we done wrong" hung in the air. |
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14th May 2000
Final day flourish: Newcastle United 4-2 Arsenal
A season that looked destined for tragedy ended on a high, with Alan's 300th career goal. It was a great 30 yard free kick into the top corner past Manninger. Alan was hoping he could get it before heading of for Euro 2000, and he did it in some style. |
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31st May 2000
Last Wembley: England 2-0 Ukraine
Euro 2000 only weeks away, England played their last friendly at Wembley against the Ukraine.
Having announced his international retirement, it was to be Alan's last game at Wembley for his country, quite an emotional night. England won 2-0. Shearer didn't score but played a very important part in both goals. |
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12th June 2000
Euro 2000: England 2-3 Portugal
2-0 after 15 minutes ! England were in heaven ... but it all went terribly wrong and it was 2-2 at half time. Nuno Gomes scored the winner for Portugal minutes after the break, and Alan's dream of ending his England career on a major high was taking a major blow. |
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17th June 2000
Euro 2000: Germany 0-1 England
Now England were up against Germany... 3 points were vital ! Alan scored the only goal of the game after 63 minutes: it was a great header past Oliver Kahn, giving England a much needed win, being against the Gers made it even more special. |
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20th June 2000
Euro 2000: England 2-3 Romania
England were playing Romania 2 years after losing to them in the World Cup group stage. This was to be the same. But when Shearer equalised from the penalty spot, things seemed to finally go right
for England. Owen even put the Lions in front before the break. But the Euro 2000 malediction came back and so did Romania scoring their own equaliser, and then from the penalty spot in the dying seconds after Phil Neville had brought down one of their players in the box. |
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Alan's England days were over. |
