‘I Made a Big Mistake Joining Newcastle – I Wasn’t a Success Because of Alan Shearer’
Newcastle United
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By
Christy Malyan
18 hours ago
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Alan Shearer with a Silhouette of Patrick Kluivert
When Newcastle United signed Patrick Kluivert on a free transfer in 2004, they appeared to have added a world-class forward to a strike-force that already included Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy. Having finished just four points off Champions League qualification during the previous campaign, Toon fans would’ve been forgiven for thinking the club had just maneuvered their way back into the Premier League’s top four with the shrewdest deal of the summer.
But the 2004/05 campaign was a disaster for the Magpies. They finished a lowly 14th in the top flight and rather than celebrations of a return to Europe, the season is mostly remembered for team-mates Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer erupting into an on-pitch fight in a 3-0 home defeat to Aston Villa.
As for Kluivert, his move from Barcelona proved to be a major disappointment. Although a return of 13 goals in 37 appearances across all competitions wasn’t to be sniffed at, the Dutchman’s Premier League return was just six goals in 25 games. It was a far cry from his 122 goals in 257 appearances for Barcelona, and Kluivert was ultimately released from his contract at the end of his first and only season on Tyneside.
So, why didn’t it work out at St. James’ Park for one of the most potent goalscorers in Europe? Kluivert himself has a theory, and believes he should’ve been been given more of a chance to dislodge club legend Shearer – widely considered to be Newcastle’s greatest player of all time.
‘Shearer’s Responsible for My Struggles at Newcastle’
Kluivert believes he should’ve partnered Bellamy instead
Alan Shearer | Newcastle United
Speaking to Voetball International back in November 2005, Kluivert placed plenty of blame of Shearer’s door for his time in Newcastle not being a success. The former Ajax and AC Milan striker questioned Shearer’s god-like status on Tyneside and Graeme Souness’ decision to prioritise the Magpies legend up front instead of himself.
“There is only one man responsible for the fact that I did not become a big hit in Newcastle, his name is Alan Shearer. The man is God in the North. I think Shearer is a fantastic footballer, but Souness should have played Bellamy and me together all the time.
“We formed the ideal partnership, Souness should have preferred both of us above Shearer. I know Bellamy felt the same but that did not make a difference. Every week it was Shearer and Kluivert or Shearer and Bellamy.
“Newcastle United Football Club is all about Alan Shearer, it is as simple as that. Nobody can beat him, nobody can touch him and nobody can do anything about it.”
Kluivert’s Scoring Record in Detail
Statistics behind his partnerships with Shearer and Bellamy
Patrick Kluivert is subbed on for Alan Shearer
Kluivert’s frustrations are understandable. Although he’s considered to be one of the greatest strikers of all time, Shearer was 34 by the time the Dutchman moved to Newcastle and although he’d found the net 22 times in the previous campaign, during the 2004/05 season he only actually scored seven league goals. With both strikers measuring at above 6 foot and favouring aerial presence, their styles of play didn’t necessarily compliment each other.
In 25 appearances together, Kluivert and Shearer only directly linked up for two goals – one against Dinamo Tbilisi when Kluivert assisted Shearer, and one against Spurs in the FA Cup when Shearer assisted Kluivert. From the 612 minutes they were both on the pitch together in the Premier League, they collectively scored only five goals – giving them a combined strike rate of one goal every 122 minutes.
Kluivert’s record with Bellamy was a little better, although not by much. The pair directly linked up for two goals as well, but both of those came in the Premier League, and they both scored seven goals from 809 minutes on the pitch together. That’s one goal every 115 minutes in the top flight.
Of course, the fact Kluivert actually spent more time on the pitch with Bellamy than Shearer in the Premier League (although he got almost 300 more minutes with Shearer in all competitions) does somewhat undermine his recollection of events.
Patrick Kluivert’s Strike Partnerships at Newcastle United
With Shearer
With Bellamy
All Comps
Premier League
All Comps
Premier League
Minutes
1310
612
1087
809
Joint Goal Participations
2
0
2
2
Combined Goals
17
5
10
7
Minutes Per Combined Goal
77
122
109
115
Kluivert Believes he Made a Mistake Signing for Newcastle
Too much ‘chaos’ and issues over style of play
Patrick Kluivert with Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson
Kluivert expressed further regret over making his ill-fated move to St. James’ Park, at a time when he likely had interest and offers from clubs across the world. The Netherlands striker, who scored 40 goals in 79 appearances for his country, cited the ‘chaos’ at the club at the time, highlighting the infamous fight between Dyer and Bowyer as a prime example of what life was like at Newcastle. Kluivert was an eye witness, having been on the substitutes bench that day.
But he also questioned the Magpies’ style of play under Souness, and whether that suited his own game, describing it as ‘belting the ball up front’.
“Newcastle United was not the right choice, there is always chaos at that club. Where in the world do you see two players from the same club fighting with each other in the middle of a match? I can remember sitting on the bench and it just happened in front of me, Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer having a right brawl.
“It was always my dream to play in England. When I look back I think it was one of the biggest mistakes in my career. Not because of England, but because of Newcastle. What turned me off as well was the kind of football Newcastle play. In England only Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool play good football. With all the rest it is nothing more than running around and belting the ball up front.”
History has Proved it Wasn’t All Down to Newcastle
Kluivert was on the Decline
Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer at a press conference after fighting on the pitch
The move to Tyneside did have a significant negative effect on Kluivert’s career. He lost his place in the national team and began to suffer serious injuries that made subsequent moves to Valencia, PSV and Lille all short-lived and unsuccessful. He was never quite the same player again.
But how much of that was Newcastle’s – or particularly, Shearer’s – fault, remains a highly subjective matter. Kluivert’s goalscoring form had already diminished during his final two seasons at Barcelona and having first broken through at Ajax as an 18-year-old, he’d been playing at the top level for a decade when he moved to the Premier League, by far the most physically demanding top flight in the world.
Kluivert’s statistics at the time and his issues with staying fit later in his career suggest he was already on the decline when he signed for Newcastle.
