Joe Kinnear has moved quickly to quell mischievous rumors there is a rift between himself and Michael Owen.
Joe Kinnear – happy with Newcastle fans
Joe talked to the Evening Chronicle today:
“That’s the sharpest I’ve seen Michael since I’ve been here. He’s getting better and better.” “I could have taken the easy option of playing him earlier when he was struggling for fitness, but had he broken down, what position would I have been in then?”
“I could have taken the cheating option, if you like, given I’m only here for eight games, and put him in on my very first game, even though he hadn’t trained for a week. What would everyone have said if he’d broken down?”
“People are trying to put a wedge between us for whatever reason.” “Obviously, the fact is that Michael’s concerned about his future and his contract. If I’m appointed, I’ll do something about it.”
“And, for what it’s worth I have said from day one that in my opinion he should be in the England squad. That’s my honest opinion.” “I feel for him because of the situation he finds himself in both for club and country, but he answered all this in the best possible way by coming off the bench and scoring for us on Saturday.”
Joe should get used to the fact that when you are Newcastle manager, you may never be right in the eyes of the press, and you will always be second guessed – that’s not just Joe – it’s part of the job unfortunately.
But Joe Kinnear has certainly said time and again he admires Michael, both as a player and a person. But the situation both find themselves in couldn’t be much worse, and could only happen at Newcastle.
Our last two games have been poor results and disappointing, but we think the players have let Joe and the fans down a little. We could so easily have got more points out of the two games. Maybe if Steven Taylor hadn’t been injured we would would have had 4 wins on the trot, and we’d be flying high by now.
We need something to happen quickly at the club, one way or the other.
Either appoint Joe until the end of the season, and let him sort out all the contracts, and get new players in during the January transfer window, working with Dennis Wise and Jeff Vetere.
The other alternative is to bring in a new owner, who can appoint their own manager, whoever that might be, and we’ll take it from there.
If Joe does go, then the Newcastle fans should be given the opportunity to hail the job he has done for the club these last several weeks. Maybe Joe can walk out onto the field before his last game in charge and take the applause of the Newcastle faithful – that will send a chill down his spine.
We really hope to know something on the future of our club by the end of the day this coming Saturday.
Comments welcome.
46 comments so far
bri
Nov 17, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Comment #1JK should be proud of the job he is doing,lets not forget when he came in we were at rock bottom in confidence and in the league and in my opinion he has turned it round faily quickly.
GOERDIE IN NORWAY
Nov 17, 2008 at 3:59 PM
Comment #2owen and zog should be playing from the start.
i think he is trying to prove a point in trying to get the best out of some of medeoce players(jose & bambi)
i know zog is not a defender but in my opinion he is a better defender than jose and a better left winger than duff….
duff should be taking off before jonas,,,,,
i think jk had done an ok job up till about 2 weeks ago and now is just starting to prove thats all he is an ok manager.
look at HR at spurs. now thats what i call a good manager..
David_Barber
Nov 17, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Comment #3Joe should keep out of politics-and stick with the job in hand! Grateful to have him on board-just goes to show the mess Ashley has put us in!!!
listie
Nov 17, 2008 at 4:08 PM
Comment #4You can’t say look at HR at Spurs and compare it to us, the size of squad and the amount of quality he has, it was a matter of time before Spurs started performing as they should.
His management record isn’t as good as people think
UTD111
Nov 17, 2008 at 4:11 PM
Comment #5If Owen says he’s fit, he should be in the team – he’s our skipper and best player.
Kinnear is always talking about himself, when he should be oncentrating on the team. He should stop fannying around and put Mikey back in the team. At Chelski this probably needs to be up front on his own, supported by a 5 man midfield to combat Chelski’s strength in that area.
If he wants to go 2 up front – it has to be Martins and Owen. Ameobi is a passenger for too long during games.
Ryan Peacock
Nov 17, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Comment #6my team for chelsea:
given
beye taylor coloccini bassong
jonas guthrie nzogbia duff
owen martins
but i think it will be
given
beye taylor coloccini enrique?
jonas guthrie butt? duff
martins ameobi?
Spyro
Nov 17, 2008 at 4:15 PM
Comment #7Exactly Listie
rooks
Nov 17, 2008 at 4:17 PM
Comment #8were screwed – given the the limbo situation were in (up for sale, unsettled manager, contracts up for grabs, players needed) were gonna be the subject of massive press speculation, lies & rumours over the next few weeks which is gonna put even more pressure on JK, the players and the fans.
And since Joe is effcetively out of contract in the next week or so has anyone considered the possibility that he might walk now that he’s put himself in the shop window. and who could blame him
Punk Skunk
Nov 17, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Comment #9The chavs will play their usual 433, so i don’t see the point in a 5 man mid…They’ll kill us!..
…Attack is the best form of defense v better teams, at least make them work for what they get!..Re: manure away!..
CHUCK
Nov 17, 2008 at 4:36 PM
Comment #10Why do I get the feeling the guys priority is more concerned with a start for England than
Newcastle.
Martins is faster more athletic and not just a poacher (once known as goal moochers) also Bent and Agbonlahor are better strikers.
How many games have we seen MO just dissapear for long streches.
Aint worth the money.
CHUCK
Nov 17, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Comment #11Ryan Peacock
I agree.
Punk Skunk
Nov 17, 2008 at 4:43 PM
Comment #12Owen’s goals to games ratio doesn’t lie!..
…He scores every other game, bent & agbonthehoare don’t!..
…Rather have Owen!..
Tom_Toon
Nov 17, 2008 at 4:43 PM
Comment #13..
Punk Skunk
Nov 17, 2008 at 4:46 PM
Comment #14That’s why playin’ Martins & Viduka(Or Ameobi, in viduka’s absence) with him works…At least 4 defenders to cover those 3!..
…Scarey, unpredictable quick one, big, skillful one & a goal-poacher!..
Born Again Geordie
Nov 17, 2008 at 5:01 PM
Comment #15Thought we looked better on Saturday when Jonas went off – Duff over to right and Zog and Oba down the left – we ripped their defence apart was really good to watch !
We need more of that in my opinion !
Born Again Geordie
Nov 17, 2008 at 5:06 PM
Comment #16With regard to Shola I can see what JK is trying to do but Shola and Martins need to develop a better understanding, if they did given the amount of balls Shola wins in the air then the goals would start raining in !!!
Imagine both Owen and Martins feed off ameobi’s knock downs !!
Isaac Hunt
Nov 17, 2008 at 6:29 PM
Comment #17Let MO go. I can’t stand him. Self first, self last and if there’s owt left, self in the effin’ middle.
toonoot
Nov 17, 2008 at 6:32 PM
Comment #18Snap! He’s a little waster.
JJ
Nov 17, 2008 at 6:39 PM
Comment #19What Ameobi knock downs are you on about???? He wins about one in a game????
Ameobi is very average with his head. Cant wait for Viduka to be fit again. Then Id play Zog and Jonas as wingbacks with three at the back…
—————————Given————————–
—————Beye—–Colocini—–Bassong———
—Jonas—————–Butt——————Nzogbia
————————Barton/(Guthrie)—————
—————-Owen————-Martins—————
————————Viduka—————————
Thats our best team when fit without a doubt!!!!
nick c0tt0n
Nov 17, 2008 at 6:46 PM
Comment #20maaaaagh! I’m gay
ed speed
Nov 17, 2008 at 6:47 PM
Comment #21So am I.
ps
‘mon the wooftas
craig chisholm
Nov 17, 2008 at 6:51 PM
Comment #22owen is miles better than oba and that is a fact. oba is good, dont get me wrong, the basic thing is though, these guys are paid to score goals owen’s ratio does not lie. he is our best player by a country mile. its morethan that though, when he is playing we are a different team altogether, we raise the bar and we have bite to us. all you have to do is look at the wigan game, i was there and we were like a headless chicken until owen came on and thats a fact. we were played off the park and were chasding shadows for all the first half. thats cos jk gave wigan too much respect and set out a negative stall. we should have been going for their throats from the off, chrsit, a worn out wigan at our place ffs. when he brought on owen and zogs and pushed up with just three at the back and three up front (listening chuck??) we dictated the game. Owen makes the difference. Again i would say that jk even made a mess after that point, when we went up 2-1 he should have subbed ameobi in the 85th minute and switched to defending our lead, bringing on a fresh pair of defensive legs. jk defo cost us three points. itssimple, you play to your strengths and your top players play. you dont leave the two biggest match winners on the bloody bench until you are deep in the mire and then put them on as a last resort. owen has said himself in his own words, he has been match fit for weeks and weeks. go figure joe – what are you up to i wonder, my guess is that it is politics deictated by ashley and nothing to do with owen’s fitness.
i notice today that jk says we are nearly sold and it should be done within 2 weeks…….lets wait and see on that one too. if that dont come off, we need to seriously think twice about joes motives and loyalties.
AndrewNUFC
Nov 17, 2008 at 6:51 PM
Comment #23Kinnear can suck up to Owen all he likes, he aint gunna be here long.
simon376
Nov 17, 2008 at 6:53 PM
Comment #24What do people have against Owen? Yes he’s been injured a fair bit, but when he’s played he’s gone out and done it for us. If he goes, the ones who coplained will be complaining again as who will we get who can put the ball away as much aas him and how much would he cost?
Jew Dillegence
Nov 17, 2008 at 7:49 PM
Comment #25Buy Newcastle? You must be JoeKin!
Lasse
Nov 17, 2008 at 7:49 PM
Comment #26No way will Kinnear dare to bench Owen for the Chelsea match. It WILL be Owen and Martins up front. I want this team:
Given
Beye Coloccini Taylor Bassong
Guthrie Butt
Jonas N`Zogbia
Owen
Martins
If Taylor is still out- Bassong in and Jose at lb
Lasse
Nov 17, 2008 at 7:53 PM
Comment #27Well that came out wrong. 4-5-1 formation
and GOERDIE IN NORWAY:
its GEORDIE. Du holder iallefall med rett lag 🙂
Danish_Magpie
Nov 17, 2008 at 8:26 PM
Comment #28I am with Lasse’s formation. For Chelski (given Taylor is fit):
……………………..Given…………………….
Beye………..Taylor….Colo…….Bassong
……………Guthrie……..Butt……………….
Jonas…………………………………N’Zogbia
…………………..Owen………………………..
………………….Martins……………………..
Bring on Ameobi for Owen if he can’t last 90 mins.
Punk Skunk
Nov 17, 2008 at 8:27 PM
Comment #29‘Du holder iallefall med rett lag’…What’s that in english lasse?..
Danish_Magpie
Nov 17, 2008 at 8:29 PM
Comment #30It means “You at least are supporting the right team”
Punk Skunk
Nov 17, 2008 at 8:30 PM
Comment #31Harper
Beye-Colo-Bassong-Enrique
Jonas-Guthrie or Butt-Zog
Ameobi-Owen-Martins
Danish_Magpie
Nov 17, 2008 at 8:33 PM
Comment #32Btw an alternative to #28, in case Taylor is not fit:
……………………Given……………………
Beye……..Colo…….Bassong…..Zoggy
……………………..Butt…………………..
……..Guthrie……………….Jonas……..
…………………….Owen………………….
……………Oba……….Ameobi…………
I like this one too…
Punk Skunk
Nov 17, 2008 at 8:46 PM
Comment #33Cheers Danish!.. 😀
…I’m guessin’ danish & norwegian are similar then?..
nacho man!!
Nov 17, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Comment #34come on lads, be honest, kinnear will not drop Duff. he loves him. since he has been here, neither duff or given have been dropped
Danish_Magpie
Nov 17, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Comment #35Indeed indeed 🙂 Pronounciations can be a bit different but we understand eachother well enough. Same goes for Swedish.
Witters
Nov 17, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Comment #36Danish Magpie…I like the symmetry in Number 32 more than Number 28 but there needs to be a few more full stops to the left of Given, get him more central and lines 3, 5 & 6 (possibly 4) are definitely missing several full stops….you seem to have an issue with your full stops!
Danish_Magpie
Nov 17, 2008 at 9:18 PM
Comment #37#36. Cheers, mate. I knew something was off with those formations… Thank God Joe Kinnear was not watching, or we would’ve just been hammered. He forgot several full-stops this weekend and it cost us dearly.
I will return to the drawing board and come back when my tactics are more aesthetically pleasing, yes?
Witters
Nov 17, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Comment #38If ya could….
Punk Skunk
Nov 17, 2008 at 9:32 PM
Comment #39Danish, that would explain it!..
Witters… 😀
milkatoon
Nov 17, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Comment #40i might put a 10er on a draw with chelsea because i think they will be more focused on the champions league game with bordeaux and they will not give us any respect.. then again maybe they dont need too, i hope michael owen can give us that extra spark we need!