PREMIERSHIP/NEWCASTLE - 3 SOUTHAMPTON - 1: Bobby Robson has a lot to answer for. On one front, by his unquenchable enthusiasm at 69 a week today, he is clogging the upper rungs of the managerial ladder by making men 10 years younger stay on for fear of looking wimpish. On the other, he is guarding the best classic old-fashioned centre-forward against temptation to return for England.
Newcastle's manager was not surprised at the decisions of Alex Ferguson and Graham Taylor. They had spoken often.
"It's your life, your excitement, your pleasure, your hobby," he said. "It's the drug, the bug." And he went on about "desire" and "challenge", chuckling at "these youngsters, you know, they take you on; you have to be alert".
And he mentioned "cherishing the game", a word seldom heard in football. No one cherishes it like Robson.
He talked also about "grooming someone to take over". He tried in vain to persuade England to do it, which is how Taylor came to the post in 1990. At Old Trafford, perhaps intentionally, they failed. At Villa, appointments come out of the blue like the sack. Only Leicester have a clear line of succession, and look where they are.
Newcastle may have one, if it is Shearer, and the way the 31-year-old is playing and the manager is managing, it will not have to be enacted until Robson is 75. And that will no doubt suit them both fine.
Shearer made it clear when he retired from England duty after Euro 2000 that he wanted to give the rest of his career to his club. As players go hither and thither for internationals this week, Robson anticipates the benefit of that decision.
"He's done his stint. I don't think he'll change his mind. He's a strong personality." The wish was father of the thought.
It would not be an issue except for his form and fatuous speculation arising; there is no hint that Sven-Goran Eriksson has sounded him out. Shearer belongs to another era, another system. Robson said, "He's got his legs back."
In fact, he has everything back apart from sheer speed. And his foil, Craig Bellamy, provides that.
They were thrilling on Saturday, Shearer adding touch and vision to regular virtues, Bellamy like an electric hare in co-respondent boots suddenly charged with current. Robson said, "I could play in this side." Understanding makes it easy.
He could certainly have slid in the chance that Shearer missed at the far post before the game's four goals tumbled out in the second quarter - Laurent Robert's free-kick, then Shearer's header and penalty (his 10th goal in 10 league games) sandwiched Marian Pahars usual goal against them. He has never failed.
NEWCASTLE: Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Dabizas, Distin (Elliott 82), Solano, McClen (Jenas 76), Speed, Robert, Bellamy, Shearer. Subs Not Used: Acuna, Harper, Ameobi. Goals: Robert 24, Shearer 29, 45 pen.
SOUTHAMPTON: Jones, Dodd, Lundekvam, Williams, Bridge, Svensson, Oakley (Tessem 74), Telfer (Delap 48), Marsden, Davies, Pahars. Subs Not Used: Moss, Monk, Fernandes. Booked: Davies. Goals: Pahars 39.
Referee: B Knight (Orpington).
