Newcastle United

[Cormack74]

Every paper I've seen has been negative about Joe Kinnear.

He seems to be universally disliked and ridiculed so I'm wondering how someone like that gets work?

[Muddled]

Coz Mike Ashley is his bezzie.

But to be fair to English football, you could look at a host of ex-players who somehow manage to find work despite their shoddy managerial performances. It's incredible.

[baitman]

Coz Mike Ashley is his bezzie.

But to be fair to English football, you could look at a host of ex-players who somehow manage to find work despite their shoddy managerial performances. It's incredible.

ashley and joke in here were probably getting pissed one night and thought this would be a great idea.

[RedReet]

Joe Kinnear's radio interview about Newcastle was more awkward and uncomfortable than funny

The Toon's new director of football is a 66-year-old man who wants so badly to roll back the years it hurts to listen to him, writes Oliver Holt

It is easy to laugh at Joe Kinnear, the king of the malapropism, the master of mispronunciation.

It was hard not to smile when he talked about “Yohan Kebab” and “Hatem Ben Afri” in his talkSPORT interview on Monday evening.

Then there was the way he turned the surname of Newcastle’s managing director, Derek Llambias, into something that sounded like a tributary of the River Nile.

But the interview was always more awkward than funny.

Most of all, Kinnear’s radio performance made me feel profoundly uneasy.




A couple of weeks ago, I went to the Oxford Union to watch a debate about the media.

It featured particularly good speeches from the BBC’s home editor Mark Easton and the Sunday Times’ political editor Isabel Oakeshott.

One of those ranged against them was the comedian and game show host Michael Barrymore.

Barrymore’s behaviour was faintly erratic.

He mumbled and murmured while others were speaking. Now and then, he gurned theatrically. He seemed unwell.

And that is not meant as a euphemism.

It felt *uncomfortable watching him.

It felt voyeuristic.

I thought of that night when I listened to Kinnear’s tour de force of confused, aggressive, resentful braggadocio.

It made me feel uneasy, not just because of what his appointment as director of football means for Newcastle United and their supporters.

Uneasy because the laughter carried echoes of the way some used to make fun of the great Sir Bobby Robson’s difficulty with names.

Uneasy because Kinnear is not a cardboard cut-out. He is a 66-year-old man whose only son died of cancer two years ago.

Uneasy because it has seemed for a while now that, as he heads towards old age, he is *desperately trying to recapture a respect he once had.

In the process, sadly, he has merely succeeded in making himself a figure of fun.

And uneasy, finally, because beneath all the bluster – actually, because of all the bluster – Kinnear is a transparently vulnerable man.

Why else would he need to boast about phoning Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger?

Why else would he reopen old wounds with reporters who cover Newcastle fairly and honestly and who he roundly abused the last time he held a position of *influence at St James’ Park?

Why else would he trample over the sensibilities of Newcastle manager Alan Pardew by revealing he was now the man who called the shots?

But the thing that is hardest of all to fathom about his appointment is how it can be reconciled with his health.

There is already an overwhelming sense that he should not be being subjected to these kinds of pressures.

This is a man who had a heart attack before a match against *Sheffield Wednesday at *Hillsborough 14 years ago when he was Wimbledon manager.

He was effectively forced to step down as Newcastle manager in February 2009 because of fresh heart issues.

Now Kinnear says he is fighting fit, but it was perfectly clear even in the 15 minutes he was on air that he still seethes with stress and anger.


.

He sounded as if he was only ever a beat away from losing his temper, as he has famously done before.

His words hummed and twanged with the quiver of barely suppressed rage.

So the real question here is why put Kinnear back in a situation where he is going to be exposed to the spotlight?

Newcastle’s owner Mike Ashley is not a stupid man. Far from it.

He has made some mistakes but he has also done much to improve things at the club.

He is clearly deeply unhappy with the way Pardew managed the club last season when Newcastle flirted with relegation.

And the appointment of Kinnear, coupled with Tuesday’s unambiguous statement that Pardew now reports to him, is a humiliating blow to the manager’s status.

But why use Kinnear to fulfil that purpose? Because Ashley trusts him, perhaps. Because he likes him. Because he rates him and admires him.

And maybe because he wants to give a friend an even break.


Mike Ashley: Not a stupid man
Maybe because he wants to give a guy who is down on his luck a last shot at the big time.

If that is the case, good luck to him.

But it’s a hell of a risk.

A risk for the club, the owner, the manager and for a man who wants to roll back the years so much that it hurts just watching him.

[ChesterDave]

Kinnear aint a patch on DJ for malpropism!

[Joey Jones]

Kinnear still keeps on giving, he now claims that he called Cabaye Keba and that talkSport added the 'b' to it to make Kebab

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Kinnear still keeps on giving, he now claims that he called Cabaye Keba and that talkSport added the 'b' to it to make Kebab

Something is seriously up with that man, mentally ****ed.

[McDermotX]

Giving it loads about Shearer as well -

"What Shearer says is diabolical," said Kinnear.

"This is a guy who hasn't got a clue about coaching."

He added: "The last game of the (2008-09) season he came up with the master idea of playing Damien Duff at left-back. Damien is one of the best left-wingers in the business, but can't tackle. And we went down with an own goal from Damien.

"Shearer keeps slagging me off. He is being disrespectful to me. I am entitled to fight back."

Newcastle Utd. The club that keeps on giving.

[Fivex]

Imagine if this was our club? We'd be going mental. Anyone had a peek at their forums?

[Fernandinho]

Someone who knows their forums has GOT to have a look

[Vermilion]

Something is seriously up with that manb, mentally ****ed.

[Lee]

Imagine if this was our club? We'd be going mental. Anyone had a peek at their forums?

Someone who knows their forums has GOT to have a look

TalkSport is still in Geordie meltdown right now.

This appointment could rival Shebby Singh's at Blackburn.

Worth a read if anyone's bored. http://www.nufc-forum.com/nufcforum/...?topic=50156.0

[Cormack74]

Ashley considering selling according to the Indy:

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/f...m-8673777.html.

[Chris]

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/exclusive-kinnear-i-m-head-and-shoulders-above-the-rest-1-5814868

The latest set of blatant lies from Kinnear.

[Shaggy]

He is absolutely bat**** mental