Newcastle United have always had decent players and a good squad over at least the last 15 years.
Joe Kinnear - starting to get the best out of Newcastle players
But the squad has under-performed probably more than any other club in the Premier League, given the resources the club has, not to mention the best supporters in the land.
But for some reason, apart from when the great Sir Bobby Robson and Kevin Keegan were managers, we’ve underperformed very badly.
Indeed when Sam Allardyce became manager a short 18 months ago, we thought that Sam would get the very best out of what we had, which was a good squad, but for whatever reason, even Sam failed at Newcastle.
Glenn Roeder, Graeme Souness, Ruud Gullit and Kenny Dalglish all were given good money to spend and had good players, but couldn’t make Newcastle United successful again.
Now over the last 3 months, since the second resignation of Kevin Keegan, the club has probably been in its worst state for decades, and yet there are some small emerging signs over the last several weeks that the team is actually starting to get a lot better.
Joe Kinnear, an unlikely manager to say the least, has come in and the positives are there for all to see.
Overall he has put the pride back into the players at Newcastle United, and has not been shy in telling anybody who would listen, just how great a club Newcastle United really are, and how proud he is to manage such a big club.
He has also praised the fans no end, and in general the Newcastle fans have taken to the feisty Irishman quite well, even though most fans are still very annoyed at owner Mike Ashley and the Newcastle Board.
The performance of the lads over the last few games has shown determination, commitment and not a little bit of spirit, and it could well be that Joe may even become more successful than we ever imagined.
The signs are there, and we hope we’ll start to win a few games soon. 11 points from 9 games isn’t great, but we had 5 defeats on the trot immediately after Kevin left, and before Joe arrived to manage his first game at Everton.
But we should probably give Joe Kinnear the benefit of any doubt, because if nothing else Joe has worked night and day to turn Newcastle into a successful fighting outfit.
Although there is still a long way to go, there are definite signs he is righting the big ship, which is Newcastle United.
While we’re not getting too carried away, what a story that would be.
107 responses so far ↓
1 kid in toronto // Dec 2, 2008 at 2:46 PM
it will be interesting to see the players he brings in; usually an indication of the style of football he wants to play. he’s inherited a very good squad up front, but the problems areas have been beaten to death and i hope he gets them fixed. he’s caught the blk/wht bug, and i’m glad he’s here til the end of this season…
2 cicero // Dec 2, 2008 at 2:56 PM
JFK has done a good job in the short term, but I’m still not sure if he’s the man to take us back to Europe. If he is going to be with us next season I think he needs a very good No.2, someone like Steve Clarke (West Ham) or bring back John Carver.
I’m really pleased Bassong has grabbed his chance maybe we should give Ben Tozzer a chance at leftback.
3 Howay50 // Dec 2, 2008 at 2:58 PM
Let’s not kid ourselves Joe is a good interim manager and a good guy who has given the players some self belief but he is hardly what you would call top draw choice for a club of Newcastle’s size. If we manage to avoid relegation, and that is a big if, then Joe has fulfilled his role and the club will need to thank him and move on. NUFC needs a new owner and more capital invested into the squad, without this happening we are likely to continue being a club that only attracts interim managers and skirts around the bottom of the league.
4 steve // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:06 PM
we def owe JK a big thanks but am not sure we should be looking at him for long term just yet, his current record of 2 losses, 2 wins and 5 draws hardly smacks of tactical genius.
Who’ll be in the bottom four come the end of the season?
Wigan (drew)
West Brom (won)
Sunderland (lost)
Fulham (lost)
Blackburn (lost)
4 points out of 15 against fellow relegation strugglers
5 UTD111 // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:06 PM
10 points from 27 Ed. 2 wins out of 9 games. Not exactly pulling up any trees…….
6 workyticket // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Ed, the site is redirecting again. Please get rid of the awful ‘Yield Manager’ ads, and stop blaming the users of this site for things which are your fault. You may fool some people but you can’t fool a hacker!
7 BT9MAG // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:11 PM
He’ll only been seen as successful if we start winning…
I think it’s always unfair to lump Roeder with an ‘unsuccessful’ tag – he didn’t spend a huge amount of money (bringing in bargain players like Sibierski etc.) and only splashing cash on Martins – who all will agree was worth every penny and Duff, who for 5m seemed, at the time, a real bargain!
He also suffered one of the worst injury crisis’ the club has seen in modern years and yet managed to lead us to the semi’s of the Uefa cup, only going out on away goals!
Great man, possibly not ruthless enough to be a total success, but I was happy with him as our manager and I hate it when people forget what good he did at the club!
8 Mac // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:11 PM
We have tried the big name managers and look where that got us.
Lets just give Joe a chance and see how it plays out. If he can get us in the top 10 with the start we have then in my opinion he has earned the job but i agree he needs a top number 2
9 BT9MAG // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:13 PM
He also has the 3rd highest win ratio of our modern post-premiership era…behind KK in his first reign and Sir Bobby!
10 canada willie // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:15 PM
You would think Joe Kinnear is the new Messiah the way he is given credit for everything .
The man has been here just over a month and has obviously had nothing to do with the juniors and their development over the last few years
This is just another PR exercise to show Kinnear in a positive light and save Ashley’s interest in the club. You could see this PR strategy right from the start and it has worked really well judging by the comments of your readers.
Dont’ forget Ashley screwed up this club by sacking Keegan because Keegan, understandably, wanted some control over the signings. Now Ashley has given this to Kinnear when he wasn’t prepared to do it with Keegan.
He gets rid of Keegan and substitutes a manager who hasn’t worked for 10 years. Kinnear has 11 points out of a possible 27 and is on a fast track to relegation and yet everyone thinks he is great. I don’t get it.
11 Kash // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:15 PM
We can only judge “Joking in me ear” when he has had time to assemble his own players with some cash to spend. But he won’t get that, as Ashley will give him pennies and prospective owners will only back their own managers!!!
His tactics are proper shit though!!!
12 Bill F (Original) // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Whenever I have finished on the bog, I run Crap Cleaner, (free version) this seems to keep me relatively free of excess adage. It’s possibly the News now site as much to blame as some blogs often have to take a lot of baggage like it or not.
13 Bill F (Original) // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:19 PM
Obviously I meant blog and not bog in the previous comment, talk about a freudian slip.
14 workyticket // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:27 PM
Bill F, It’s Ed’s ‘Yield Manager’ ads which are the problem, and he’s trying to make out that it is the fault of the users. That’s not right.
15 james L // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:36 PM
massive rumour ganin arooned work the day saying that we have swaped geremi and give blackburn 2 million for morten gamst pederson and we have got stephen appiah for free but the deals will only go through in Jan mind u the guy who telt me was a spacka (not really just thick)
16 workyticket // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Canada willie, you need to get your facts straight. Ashley didn’t sack Keegan, he walked out. Kinnear wasn’t out work for ten years, he was working in football. Keegan did have some control over the signings but he’d never heard of any young players because he hadn’t watched a game in three years. Stop deluding yourself.
17 Micky Toon // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:38 PM
JFK seems to have steadied the ship. To a point where we aren’t going backwards or forwards. We are going to draw more games than we win. We are playing horrible football, worse than under Fat Sam, but we have to be grateful because JFK is as good as we could get, and now we have to put up with him until the end of the season.
JFK seems to be getting credit for something he hasn’t really done. I’m convinced that someone like Terry Mac would have been in exactly the same position. It’s just been down to luck and the players sorting themselves out and not down to any tactical genius or man motivation techniques on JFK’s part. All just my opinion mid you, I have no proof.
18 Micky Toon // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:41 PM
I know I talk some crap on here, but please believe me when I say install firefox with no script and ad blocker pro and you won’t have any more bother with redirects or adverts.
Before you do that run spybot search and destroy to get rid of any crap on your system. Hijack this is all well and good if you have the ability to read and understand it’s output. Spybot just does it for you.
19 bowburnmag // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:51 PM
Micky Toon – sometimes I wonder if you’re me posting under a different name.
20 Whumpie // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:55 PM
I wouldn’t have thought JFK can take us right up there, but then I wouldn’t have thought he’d have got us stable either – so who knows?
He’s not setting the world alight, but he’s not supposed to – he’s going for draws in difficult games and wins in easy ones, to achieve his target: staying up.
HOWEVER, if he doesn’t show some nouse for all-out attack football against Stoke on Saturday, then I’ll have to conclude that he’s another Sam Allerdyce – a rescue specialist but not a winner of trophies.
Let’s be honest: two losses in nine games is a lot better than we thought we’d have under him, but you’d also have hoped for more than two wins!
So much hangs on Saturday…
21 Knownowt // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Workyticket, there was nothing wrong with canada willie’s reading of the situation. Only someone with a bias against KK could fail to acknowledge that he was placed in a situation where he had no choice but to leave as he wasn’t allowed to do the job in the way he had, very publicly, been promised. A facility now apparently given to Joe Kinnear.
22 workyticket // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:59 PM
Micky Toon, I’m familiar with Firefox, ad blocker and spybot. I have to use all common browsers in my web design work. I’m just a little disappointed that Ed is trying to blame site users for his own stuff. Personally, I would recommend AVG anti virus + the other AVG stuff as a good general purpose application for viruses, spyware etc. ‘Hijack this’ is an invaluable tool for detecting browser hijackers and other stuff that apps like Spybot and other anti spyware apps can’t deal with. It’s a tool of last resort.
23 benn.. // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:02 PM
bt9mag.. agree completely. i was devastated when roeder went. he had an average 1st complete season and if he was given the money to build in the following summer.. surely would have improved and then god knows what would have happened that season!
24 bowburnmag // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:04 PM
workyticket – I agree Knownowt. You seem like a bright bloke but let’s be honest, you can understand why some folk are still standing in KK’s corner? We have no facts, just opinions? I’m getting de ja vu again though talking about Ashley vs KK……
25 MDS // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:04 PM
I go warm/cool on Kinnear. I like that he’s brought stability to the club and I like the way he communicates with the fans. I also think its good that the players like him.
I do have issues with him tactically, however.
I need to see what he does in the transfer window (with the understanding that he will have limited funds) before I will really have a strong opinion either way.
We are playing well because the defense has been shored up. Add a LB for Enrique compeition and a DM cover/competition for Butt and we are set there- perhaps for years to come.
But the reason we aren’t getting wins is that we have no creativity in the final third at all. We either need a world class winger to replace duff or a AM. We will not get to Eurpoe until we get those things.
For me Europe could happen with the right 4 players in at a price of $25million.
26 workyticket // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:05 PM
Micky Toon ps. I don’t think that Joe Kinnear would have lost to Derby County
27 tdt // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:09 PM
what KK will argue against Ashley will be constructive unfair dismissal. this is because Ashley breached he contract by changing fundamental terms, ie control over certain areas etc. KK will win in court, if what we’ve been told about wise etc are correct.
28 Bill F (Original) // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:13 PM
We were saying similar stuff about Big Sam as Joe before MA decided he wasn’t up to the job. We were also pointing out that Fergy also very nearly got the boot from ManU after his first season. No matter who is in charge they need time to get it right (or wrong) before we start sacking him.
29 bowburnmag // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:13 PM
workyticket – while noting that you’re a bright bloke, clearly I’m not. That should have read I agree ‘with’ Knownowt. Regardless of KK’s behaviour (we can judge if it ever comes out in the wash) why have the rules changed for JK? Does his opinion regarding total control etc mean more than KK? Either, Ashley is stringing JK along or he’s moved the goalposts. Is it just because he has to, as a last resort, rather than through choice? I’m not sure that makes it endearing exactly. Either way, smacks of disrespect to both Mr Ks.
30 workyticket // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:15 PM
Kinnear to his credit has worked miracles with our defence in the last few games, but the forward line has been a little unbalanced with Owen and Martins, hence the lack of goals. We need a classic centre forward to work with these two great strikers and bring the best out of them. Hopefully Viduka will come good but only time will tell.
31 bowburnmag // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:17 PM
Incidentally, more to the point of the thread, kudos to JK for steadying a floundering ship but he desperately needs to get some flair back. I’m not talking about ‘The Entertainers’ era but injecting a bit of pace into the play. We have some of the players but we don’t play that way. Get some more in and play with a bit of oomph. I couldn’t give a fig about results if we compete and play with oomph for the majority of the time, provided we don’t go down in the process obviously….
32 hisnameisjonas // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:19 PM
11 point from 27, how many games did keegan manage to get a win when he came in after allardyce?? some people forget that it takes time to change a falling team and kinnear have certanly got it back on track faster than keegane did. May I remind people the 9 games i tok keegan to get a win in the league…….
33 beyethegreat // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:22 PM
hisname
the situation is completely different
keegan played some realy hard games with not much of a squad due to injuries suspensions and the african cup of nations
34 workyticket // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Bowburnmag, I thought that you were quite a bright bloke actually. Whether I agree with you or not, your posts are sensible and well put.
I don’t think we know what the rules were with Keegan exactly, some users have built a mountain of piffle on pure hearsay and tabloid junk, so I’ll reserve my judgement until Keegans case against the club comes up. One thing though, I think this notion that we should somehow destroy the club on Keegan’s behalf is absolutely insane! Especially so as we know so little about what happened exactly. Time will tell hopefully.
35 Big Si // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Just out of interest how many of you on here actually go to the games, home or away ?
I get the impression that most of you support the team from the armchair, am I wrong ?
36 hisnameisjonas // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:40 PM
how is it different? there are players out injured and there have been players out injured, owen, barton, butt, taylor, duff, viduka, ameobi, carroll, lualua, gonzales……. and there will always bee. chelsea everton aston villa man city are easy games in your oppinion?? think not. kinnear didnt know how long he would be here, the players didnt know what was going on.. and noboy was running the club, i would say that this is even a harder task than keegan had.
37 bowburnmag // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:42 PM
workyticket – totally agree with the notion of finding a ‘happy place’ for everyone. I think the idea of backing KK comes from the fact that so many of us trust that he cares enough about the well-being of it (and us), that he was doing it for the good of us all. But you’re right, time will tell if that trust is well-founded or just makes us trusting fools. By the way, did I read that you work in web design? – can I rudely ask, gor-any-jobs for testers at your place? Shameless I know….
38 Turkish Magpie // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:42 PM
Big Si-
that is irrelivant if fans dont have the sufficient funds to do so!
39 bowburnmag // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Big Si – Armchair, carchair or pub at the minute.
40 hisnameisjonas // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:45 PM
big si, that is a bit of a problem for me as I live Norway, but if I could I would always be at the games home and away to support the team even if ashley would be owner of the club for decades
41 Big Si // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:46 PM
Turkish you misunderstand me, I’m not having a pop, it’s just very interesting how fans who go to the match home and away like me often have a different perception than those who don’t, not having a go like.
I will be an armchair fan after this season is over as MA will not get one more penney off me. Maybe that will give a different perception also ….
42 bowburnmag // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Big Si – are you talking about what you see at the games or opinions on the farce that is NUFC at the minute?
43 Karltoon // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:50 PM
Si – Unless you’re allowed to take your laptop to the game, i’d assume most of us are in armchairs, or at least some form of seat. It’s easy to try and play the ‘im a real fan’ card.
I’ve been to every home match (only league + cup count, missed a few friendlies).. And i’ve missed 3 away matches this year. Having a job and all that.
44 beyethegreat // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:54 PM
his name
yeah but keegan had it worse in terms of injuries and players being away
with tougher fixtures
45 Big Si // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Well Bowburn there seems to be a quite a few on various sites on the net who think MA would be welcome back if he did certain things like spend some money in Jan. That’s not the perception that I’ve had or the feeling I’ve picked up myself. In fact I’ve never known anyone so hated as MA. But from a distance things can look different. As I say I’m not trying to have a go just an observation.
46 Big Si // Dec 2, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Karltoon, I’m not having a go mate, really I’m not no need to get all defensive I’m not knocking anyone. As I say I’m packing going to games myself after this season so I can hardly have a go can I ?
47 Turkish Magpie // Dec 2, 2008 at 5:01 PM
Big Si –
apologies but i live in Turkey and would love to go to evry game but i cant
48 chuck // Dec 2, 2008 at 5:04 PM
Have to say JFK has got this team playing harder
than any manager in the last ten years.
What one has to remember is, this is not the greatest team in the world, in fact far from it but he has them playing to their utmost.
In which case those who question him should take that into consideration, when second guessing him.
Lets see who he brings in and we can then judge him at the end of the season.
49 Big Si // Dec 2, 2008 at 5:05 PM
No worries kidda, you can have my ticket, I don’t want it anylonger, can’t stand these horrible lot who are ruining our club. I’ve got three tickets me and the kids in the gallowgate and all of them will be given up this year. I know of many who are saying the same thing, crowds will be down again next year for sure if these lot are still here.
50 bowburnmag // Dec 2, 2008 at 5:05 PM
Big Si – I don’t go to the games regularly because I’m still desperately hanging on to my youth and playing. Plus, with costs and family commitments and moving down the road to Bowburn I’ve found it difficult to get to games. Anyway, enough excuses. Despite not being as close to the action, I still find it hard to accept the way MA treated the fans with what I and others saw as complete disdain. I agree with Micky Toon that a clean slate is probably the best bet for the masses, no matter what your viewpoint. However, if there’s no alternative, there’s no alternative and surely we should try to be the better man for the good of the club? MA might even have learned some valuable lessons from all this, which would help take us forward and keep us happy. I plan to start watching again soon, once I hang up my boots so I hope it’s all sorted in the next couple of years! One of the lads mentioned it before but has anyone replaced Kenny Everett in the East Stand yet? And do we still sing ‘Slap your lass with a Xmas Tree’ at this time of year?
51 cordone10 // Dec 2, 2008 at 5:15 PM
Centre mid is the obvious problem area.no playmaker,holding midfielder or ball winner(apart from inconsistant barton).butt guthrie, not a creative bone in their bodies.
52 Desmond - DesmondBlog.com // Dec 2, 2008 at 5:21 PM
I don’t think anyone should criticize Roeder. I like the way he manages things and he didn’t waste much of our money.
He brought in Martins (Awesome) and Duff (Awesome before he got injured) and the team is doing pretty well in UEFA until we got knocked out by AZ Alkmaar because of injuries!
53 old leazer // Dec 2, 2008 at 5:35 PM
2 nil nil draws…defensive football…no daring or insights, and it’ll only get worse
54 hisnameisjonas // Dec 2, 2008 at 5:35 PM
beye the great. birmingham a, bolton h, blackburn h, brough h.. are some of the game that keegan lost or drawd. those are games that all should have been a win, and for the blackburn game he had viduka and given missing:
Steve Harper
Habib Beye
Steven Taylor
Abdoulaye Faye
Sanchez Jose Enrique
James Milner
Joey Barton
Nicky Butt 67
Damien Duff 78
Michael Owen
Alan Smith
Substitutes :
Fraser Forster
Claudio Cacapa
Obafemi Martins 67
Charles N’Zogbia 78
Andrew Carroll
of coure kinnear should have done better agaisnt fulham, wigan and sunderland. But he did win against villa who at the time had the best league form alongside liverpool and chelsea. and infact that all the problems togheter around the club was still going on that is a better acheivment than keegan ever did in his first 9 games.
55 ben-toon // Dec 2, 2008 at 5:46 PM
Big Si
I am a season ticket holder and cannot afford to go to away matches as i have a young family but the feeling I am getting from fellow season ticket holders/fans are that they would give Ashley a second chance if he would come out and tell the fans exactlty what went on and if he messed up then hold his hands up and appoligize than back the team/manger financially and get back to his original plan.
The ball is in his court and come Jan will tell us alot but he really needs to communicate on a regular basis.
Dont give up your season tickets tho mate even if its just for your kids. the time with them on match days are golden regarding what your watching
56 beyethegreat // Dec 2, 2008 at 5:47 PM
hisname
but when we played those teams they were coming after we had played a tough fixture so the players confidence was low and we would have beaten borough had it not been for the ref
57 Ryan Peacock // Dec 2, 2008 at 5:50 PM
time for a song!
what do you think sunderland?
58 Santi // Dec 2, 2008 at 6:45 PM
Let’s show Ed Harrison how we feel about his great blog by voting it “Best Football Blog Community of 2008? on Soccerlens.
http://soccerlens.com/awards/best-football-blog-community-of-2008/
Sorry for those who’ve experienced problems (viruses) or the like with the website as of recent. I’m sure the problem is being worked on. I’ve never experienced any of it so I plan on showing my support for Ed. Hope others do too.
59 Bosamuelson // Dec 2, 2008 at 6:54 PM
the fans made most of the managers shit, fact.
Until we support a manager come what may we will be the worst fans, any manager needs support, it is probably only Newcastles fans that can influence a chairman so much.
I hope MA stays. He is good for the club. The likes of Keegan and Shearer are only derogatory, how many other clubs have these massia type people. It is rediculous. Yes they done well but get over it and move on or the club never will.
60 beyethegreat // Dec 2, 2008 at 7:05 PM
bosamuelson
i agree about your first point we need to support any 1 who is our manager
though even if having messiah type people is bad for the club i would not change it
why do you think people come here because they know that if they get it right here it will be like no where in the history of football or sport has ever seen
also having messiah type people
is an important part of our club it is our culture
and the fact that other clubs dont have messiah type people doesnt matter coz we are nufc and we are different and proud to be it
i also have to ask are you a newcastle fan i am not accusing you of any thing just interested?
61 beyethegreat // Dec 2, 2008 at 7:07 PM
also every one should vote for ed it would be great if he could win an award for all the hard work he does
62 It Could Be Worse, We Could Be Spurs! (DC) // Dec 2, 2008 at 7:11 PM
can’t let the two gunner blogs win out!
63 Stuart // Dec 2, 2008 at 7:12 PM
He’s not done great results wise.
However for the last 10 yrs all i’ve heard is that good teams are built from the back. Well if that’s the case Joe’s defo building from the back. We just need to start scoring goals and we will be ok.
64 boater // Dec 2, 2008 at 7:14 PM
Canada Willie … Ashley didn’t sack Keegan. What on earth are you on about? To the contrary, Keegan walked and he begged KK to come back under renewed terms.
65 beyethegreat // Dec 2, 2008 at 7:17 PM
it could be worse
have you voted
66 Turkish Magpie // Dec 2, 2008 at 7:46 PM
how has NUFC blog only got 1% ?
67 TOONBOY // Dec 2, 2008 at 7:52 PM
Has any1 got a stream to the stoke derby game???
68 beyethegreat // Dec 2, 2008 at 7:58 PM
turk mag
i know
how has the 2 gunnersblogs got 52 and 10 something isnt right
69 It Could Be Worse, We Could Be Spurs! (DC) // Dec 2, 2008 at 8:04 PM
i have lemme investigate
70 It Could Be Worse, We Could Be Spurs! (DC) // Dec 2, 2008 at 8:06 PM
up to 2% but something def seems wrong, oh well it’s only a cockney site’s poll nothing substantial
71 beyethegreat // Dec 2, 2008 at 8:26 PM
ill post the link on a thread 2 moz when theres more people on
72 beyethegreat // Dec 2, 2008 at 8:26 PM
polls usually tell you how many people vote aswell
73 MDS // Dec 2, 2008 at 8:27 PM
@It CouldBeWorse:
I bet they posted the link right on the main page of their blog…
74 beyethegreat // Dec 2, 2008 at 8:32 PM
http://www.oleole.com/blogs/arseblog
75 reillers // Dec 2, 2008 at 8:59 PM
Joe’s done very well since he came in, couldn’t have asked for any more in the sense of he came in in terrible circumstances where the fans were up in arms and the board was up it’s wee hole. He came in after several people turned it down, the job came with a board he knew you couldn’t trust, fans who weren’t turning up to games, an unbelievable amount of uncertainty and the players stuck in the middle of this, and playing like we were stuck in the middle of this.
The only players that preformed were Given.
He’s come threw all that and our team has as well and were on the up. He’s done very well and I’m very grateful of that, ya he’s going to make mistakes and he has but we’re in a better position that we thought we be in. We’re not in the relegation zone, ya by goal difference, but still it’s enough for now.
76 It Could Be Worse, We Could Be Spurs! (DC) // Dec 2, 2008 at 9:08 PM
aye it is…they’re using game-time twitter swell…those clever arses
77 Waddle's mullet // Dec 2, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Huntelar going to real madrid in Jan confimed!
78 It Could Be Worse, We Could Be Spurs! (DC) // Dec 2, 2008 at 9:14 PM
aye it is…they’re using game-time twitter swell…those clever arses ed?
79 It Could Be Worse, We Could Be Spurs! (DC) // Dec 2, 2008 at 9:16 PM
with one speedy young winger
80 wigaz // Dec 2, 2008 at 9:22 PM
I’m not commenting on Rumours this window when it opens like. But i will say if we shipped out geremi & got in Appiaph & Gamst Pedersen i’d be happy with that. He is very like Robert amazing when you get him playin and I think he would love playin for the mags. He’s just been at blackburn for so long he’s grown tired of it i think.
81 Slam Dunc // Dec 2, 2008 at 9:22 PM
Kinnear has done a good job organising and motivating the players.
However here is an analysis of his inflight match substitutions
http://www.trophy4toon.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=707.0
His substitutions are generally puzzling, very negative and have cost us points against the likes of Sunderland, Wigan, Fulham and Middlesbrough
82 Ally // Dec 2, 2008 at 9:39 PM
i have heard rumours lately of us going back in for Per Ciljan Skjelbred
what u guys reckon, i think it would be a great signing.
83 beyethegreat // Dec 2, 2008 at 9:42 PM
http://www.skysports.com/football/transfers/scout/0,24035,15198_4012422,00.html
84 KK FOREVER (Ross) // Dec 2, 2008 at 9:46 PM
beye-thats an impressive review of forster!
85 beyethegreat // Dec 2, 2008 at 9:50 PM
kk forever
i hope den wise is looking at some of the other players on thier
86 It Could Be Worse, We Could Be Spurs! (DC) // Dec 2, 2008 at 10:34 PM
glowing review…wonder how they’d rank Krul next to him?
very interesting summary of JK’s substitutions.
well no one called him a master technician, unless you count the odd jokes-in-here
87 It Could Be Worse, We Could Be Spurs! (DC) // Dec 2, 2008 at 10:38 PM
apas we bid a derisory 1M for Delph…been bangin on about Sekou Cisse for awhile now.
i guess when it’s all said and done everyone with half a brain and an interest in football will have heard of these players (yes, i’m including Wise) so the real skill is in being able to persuade the club to sell and the player to join.
Keep em coming Wisey
88 Evan // Dec 2, 2008 at 11:36 PM
forster’s better than krul. no doubt. forster will be england keeper in the future.
89 Tom Mo. // Dec 2, 2008 at 11:48 PM
I hear we are in for lukas podolski from a good source
ha! not
90 Evan // Dec 2, 2008 at 11:56 PM
http://www.trophy4toon.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=707.0
this site hits it right on the money. we could be in the top half if JK knew what he was doing. my jaw fell to the floor when he took martins off on saturday. that was probably the worse decision of the year. why on earth you would take off our biggest goal threat in a scoreless derby match is beyond me.
i think the best thing MA could have done was appoint a knowledgable manager after he sacked KK. we would be in a completely different situation, and MA could very well have been applauded over the last few months had he picked someone else.
i do believe JK has positively influenced the squad in terms of mentality and such, but that means squat when he takes off those that seem to be the most POSITIVE. if these ridiculous results (which we should have gotten 3 points from – middlesbrough, wigan, fulham, etc.) continue, then i see no reason why kinnear should be uprooted. i prefer to have had a long term manager installed this fall so he can wheel and deal in the window to prepare for next season. but, we’re just going to enter another vicious cycle of adding players that will otherwise not fit the style of our new manager next year. but maybe MA has the intentions of installing JK permanently (which would put the last few months into perspective) but i don’t think JK is the answer to our absurd history.
this leads me to another point. i am not sure it has been the players’ faults over the years. we’ve appointed joke managers since robson – souness, roeder, allardyce, kinnear – you’ll notice KK isn’t included, but with all the hoopla surrounding his return, i think the players we’re a bit too focused on that.
get someone in that will unite the squad (as JK has), but also shows at least some inkling of tactical knowledge/coherency.
91 Toon_Ksk // Dec 3, 2008 at 1:23 AM
We can loan youngsters from Arsenal since they are out of the league cup
92 MDS // Dec 3, 2008 at 2:24 AM
@Evan: Great commentary on there. I forgot how little sense some of those moves made.
Those type of tactics simply aren’t going to get the job done
93 dan // Dec 3, 2008 at 4:33 AM
I think we should support Kinnear as much as possible.
Give the guy some credit. No we aren’t shooting up the table, but we lost 5 game on the spin I think before he came in. He has lost 2, drawn 5 and won 2. Which is exactly average. thats 50% better than what we were, shit. And to be honest he has only had an average squad in terms of the premier league.
The way we go through managers is silly. The last three or four have hardly been judged on their own players have they.
Give him to the end of the season, see what signings he makes. Then take it from there.
94 canada willie // Dec 3, 2008 at 6:00 AM
Dan,
If you look at Evans link you will see why many of us are amazed at Kinnears choice of subs, its as if he cannot make spontaneous off the cuff decisions. I have no faith in anyone who drops as many clangers as he does.
95 mikeygd // Dec 3, 2008 at 6:23 AM
Dont like JK’s substitutions but i do like him.
VOTE FOR ED, i just did 3% wooop
96 The Entertainers // Dec 3, 2008 at 7:51 AM
Kinnear has one big difference and advantage over all other managers:
The expectation levels are lower than ever!
Keegan 1st time:
New era, happy to be in PL
Dagliesh:
Expected to win league
Gullit:
Expected to win cup / do well in league
Robson:
Took us from bottom of league! When he got us into the top 5 we wanted him out !! Crazy!
Souness:
Expected to win cup / qualify for Europe
Reoder:
After great start, expected to qualify for Europe
Big Sam:
Europe, possible cup
Keegan:
Just glad to have him back
Kinnear:
SURVIVAL!!!
97 ronaldeano // Dec 3, 2008 at 9:31 AM
AO,
if you are finished pulling your little pecker down in the scrubs of North London,
read this!
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1997393.ece
Shay would NEVER sign for your pathetic little outfit!
98 Micky Toon // Dec 3, 2008 at 10:10 AM
One of the main problems we have has been said time and time again in these comments and probably without the person who has posted them realising.
What am I talking about? The comments along the lines of “lets just wait and see what he does in the transfer window and see how good he is with is own players”
I feel like this has been said for the last ten transfer windows and we are still no further forward. In my opinion a good manager will be able to do something with a team he has inherited and any manager using it as an excuse isn’t worth his salt.
I do not want to see another manager squandering millions of NUFC’s money on players that are just not good enough.
99 Ssav // Dec 3, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Evan (90) – we have JFK because there was no-one else. As it is, he has done a damn good job. I’m sure you wouldn’t have to look hard at NUFC to find something more constructive for your criticisms than ‘change the manager’. Frankly, whether Joe Kinnear is a tactical genius or not, That is the last thing the club wants right now.
100 Shearbliss // Dec 3, 2008 at 10:48 AM
I dont know why so many people think we should be beating all these teams. I don’t know what they are watching but this id the hardest season I have seen so far. Cheasea SHOULD have beat us, but they didn’t. Those who say this and that about tactics do not have a clue. You can not wave a majic wand and turn a team into winners!
IF we go down as people are sudgesting I think alot of us have to look at the way we have been over the last few seasons. As other teams have put faith in there appointments and built teams, we keep starting all over.
i could not belive my ears when I heard Liverpool fans booing there team for a draw against WH. They are on TOP! If this is the way the prem is going I soon do not want to be part of it. I miss the fight and not the expectation. I do not start a season expecting to win this and win that. I just want to compete in this tough leauge, and if we are succesful in the end so be it.
MO is our captian who else do you take off. Common sense people. I think if people want martins to play regularly MO has to GO. Get a youngster willing to wait his turn and move the club forward!
101 AO // Dec 3, 2008 at 11:17 AM
I do laugh at all this best supporters in the land rubbish. Unfounded and untrue. 20 thousand average when they were in the 1st division and a history of getting on the players and managers back.
102 Stardust // Dec 3, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Those who criticise JK’s substitutions are nothing but hindsight heroes.
While I may not totally understand certain subs, (a) it isnt my head the result falls on or (b) what the impact of leaving a player on the pitch may be long term (eg Jonas off (not long back from injury) – Charlie on when Duff was having an ordinary game.
103 Stardust // Dec 3, 2008 at 11:24 AM
AO – I know your just a trouble maker – but I believe we gave up our right as a collective to call ourselves the best fans in the country in the summer when we turned on ourselves.
As for the real best fans in the country there are many clubs with a claim, but at a time when immediate success is demanded from all fans in the PL – your Spurs included. I think I would look outside of the PL to someone maybe like Leeds who despite their troubles, still get great crowds in the first div – and their troubles over recent years got all of the glory hunters (supporters and players) away from their club.
I hope through this process of change we are going through that we come out a more stable fan base at the other side.
104 AO // Dec 3, 2008 at 11:42 AM
stardust- leeds fans maybe very supportive but as a group they are the biggest troublemakers in the league. They are pure scum.
105 AO // Dec 3, 2008 at 11:43 AM
ronaldeano- you tool. did you expect him to come out saying he couldnt wait to leave, bearing in mind the transfer window doesnt open for a few weeks. he may well see it out at newcastle but i wouldnt bank on it.
106 Stardust // Dec 3, 2008 at 11:58 AM
AO – who do you view as the best supporters?
107 Micky Toon // Dec 3, 2008 at 12:54 PM
AO – You’re a nobber and you know you are. You talk about getting gates of 20,000 in the 2nd Div, 1st Div, Fizzy pop championship whatever it’s called these days, as thought it’s something to be ashamed of. Please point me to a team that has currently or has had in the past a bigger average gate than we did when we were in our promotion season?
Even Wolves and Birmingham don’t get that and they have much better stadia than we did when we were in their position.
You must log in to post a comment.