No 9 Shirt Hasn't Always Been Iconic

Who will be wearing the iconic Toon No 9 shirt next season? In our NU-Mad poll the vast majority of fans said no-one at the club deserved it. Alan Pardew is currently checking out targets on the Continent as he looks to spend the £35m picked up following January’s sale of Andy Carroll . IF HE GETS IT! Who will follow in the footsteps of Supermac, Len White, Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand, Andy Cole and Wor Jackie? Alan Pardew: “I think the No 9 is a very special shirt here and I’m not going to give it to just anybody. “I really hope that somebody emerges – or we bring somebody in who can carry that shirt. “It is an important figurehead for this football club. “It brings with it a pressure that the player who wears it needs to be able to deal with. “I will have to think long and hard about that. “The No 9 shirt here is iconic in the game and whoever wears it needs to be able to carry the responsibility that goes with it.” Mind you - it hasn't ALWAYS been "iconic" . look at the under-achievers who have worn it . Wayne Fereday, Archie Gourlay, Andy Hunt, Rob McDonald, Tony Cunningham, 'Mavis' Reilly, Bobby Shinton and Ray Clarke (just to name eight).

Source: FOOTYMAD