Shaping Up

Its now looking that Shearer will be appointed manager next week on a four year contract. With a contract worth up to £3m a year its a huge investment for a Championship club and totally reliant on us getting straight back up. Again far from the safest route, but it seems like its going to happen, so we have to have faith that it will be money well spent, both from a management point of view, and a new buyers view.
As soon as Shearer allows the ink to dry you would expect the signings to come in. It certainly seems that he has his eye on some early signing.

Chris Gunter - The 19 year old Welsh international is short of first team chances at Spurs and with Harry willing to let him come out on load for a season would offer support in the full back positions. The expectation would be for him to come in and hold down a left back position.

Danny Fox - Originally the most likely to come in, but with Gunter looking a cert then it is suggesting that Shearer either isn't keen on the young Coventry full back, or that he's unsure about securing his signing ahead or Premier interest.

Bradley Orr - The ex-reserves captain (when Shearer led the first team) could be on for a return and his first experience of the big time. Solid at Bristol for recent seasons and with great experience in the division, the rigth full back would be a sensible signing.

Its pretty clear that as with Keegan last season Shearer feels full back is where we lack depth, and with Enrique off, its looking that the idea is to bring in 2/3 full backs and potentially allow Habib Beye to move to the centre of defence to support Steven Taylor.

Jermaine Beckford - The talented Leeds strikerr has proved himself at the lower levels and for around £3m would be a good investment to support Carroll, Ameobi and Ranger next season. Much depends on whether the likes of Burnley are willing to take a punt on him in the top flight.

Beyond that you would expect that Shearer would be looking for some creative presence in midfield. Ideally Nolan, Smith, Duff and Barton will leave, alongside Jonas, which would leave Guthrie, Butt and Taylor in the midfield, so we would certainly expect some strengthening to follow and potentially a season for Lee Bowyer to come back in on a free to add some craft and bite into the team.

Lets just see where we go!