A mini crisis has evolved at Newcastle with Joe Kinnear pleading with owner Mike Ashley for some transfer funds in January so he can ensure Newcastle stay in the Premiership this season, and Joe is not kidding – not kidding at all.
Joe Kinnear – Mike – this is how many players I need in January!
Kinnear pleaded his case yesterday at a hastily arranged meeting with managing director Derek Llambias, forced by Joe to actually travel to Newcastle for the meeting, football secretary Lee Charnley and assistant manager Chris Hughton, according to the local Newcastle Journal today, which has done a good job of getting a lot of information out of manager Kinnear about the current situation.
Owner Mike Ashley was in contact by telephone and the message from the manager was that he needs fresh funds to bring in some new players, as he is concerned, apparently very concerned, there is a real danger of the club being relegated in May, if the squad is not vastly improved in both quality and numbers.
The injury mess we are in right now is not helping things either and Joe said:
“We will go through all the ideas we have for players and put the ball in Mike’s court.”
Kinnear has claimed Newcastle have agreed a fee for the sale of one of his players, and that could well be Besiktas target Geremi.
The transfer fee and saved wages through the end of the season amount to £4.5M, but that would mean a fee of around £3M for Geremi which seems a little high, so maybe the player could be Xisco.
Joe continued:
“That will go into the pot to get someone else,” “Talks are ongoing and he has to decide with his wife if he wants to go.”“That will suck up one player but we need two or three. If we get the loans and get Peter on Friday that will be three new faces.”
“I will then have to bite the bullet until the rest are fit.”
“I am aware of the situation. We are just three points ahead of Spurs.”
Of the prospective loan signings, Kinnear said:
“They’re central midfielders. One Argentine, one Italian. They’re both internationals but not playing in the Premier League. They are fringe players but have experience, which we need.”“They’re on the bench for their current clubs and I will know about those in 48 hours. If they are okay we should be in better shape for Blackburn.”
“But the club may have offered the same deals elsewhere and others may be prepared to pay more.”
Out-of-contract former Rangers winger Lovenkrands is on a week-long trial and Joe said:.
“It looks okay,” “He has accepted an offer until the end of the season.”
“Hopefully we can make something permanent at the end of the week.”
So Joe has nicely laid out the situation and we just hope the two central midfielders, who we need badly, will come to Newcastle, along with Lovenkrands, and then we’ll be in much better shape by the end of the week.
But Joe seemingly wants to press in for maybe another two or three players to get the team over our injury crisis, and up the league, and he also knows if he can do that his chances to continue as manager will be high, and it’s an opportunity he seems absolutely committed to make the very most of – a dream job for him which came completely out of the blue.
Joe will know the Newcastle fans, as well as the players are right behind him, and he’s done absolutely the right and responsible actions in letting Mike Ashley and the Board know what he thinks, and if they don’t improve the squad in January the onus will be on completely on the shoulders of Mike Ashley and the Board.
It will also show players like Given and Owen, that Joe is committed to building a strong side at Newcastle, maybe in spite of owner Ashley, because he still wants both players at the club come next September.
If Mike Ashley doesn’t end up come early February with a vastly improved squad for Kinnear there will no doubt be more calls for him to sell the club in the summer, to someone who has the ambition for Newcastle United that matches that of the fans.
But this also a great opportunity for Mike to show he is indeed committed to making Newcastle United great again, and it’s a chance he seemingly must take.
We need a club as good as the fans , and then we’d really be on our way.
Comments welcome.
55 comments so far
toonoholic
Jan 14, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Comment #41is xisco married ED ? looks like its alan smith or geremi to be honest
Fostino
Jan 14, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Comment #42i dont know what to make of this loan talk by kinnear, one statement he say’s ‘fee’s have been agreed’, then he says ‘other clubs might bid more’, then he say’s ‘he’s hoping for the AOK for loan fee’s off the owners’………give it to us straight man!! we’ll prob only end up with one loan signing before sat at most!! i hope im wrong!!
lesh
Jan 14, 2009 at 1:08 PM
Comment #43re SpartanChris @ 20……..Why does Derek Llambias not reside in Newcastle….. Coz he, like Unwise is just not interested in anything about the place or he club, that’s why!
Correction… they probably do have an interest in the club it being the source of their over-fat pay cheque and judging by their input so far, that’s about all they appear to be intersted in.
It’s a pretty pass if Joe’s got to plead with Llambias to get off his idle, arrogant backside and come up to meet Joe face-to-face!
lesh
Jan 14, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Comment #44Micky Toon @ 32 …….. you overlooked this one when looking at Companies House!
04892815 SHAMBLES LIMITED!
Dan_Scott157
Jan 14, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Comment #45Alberto Aquilani has been in recent Italy international squads and even went to the Euros in the summer but has only made 6 starts for Roma this season. I reckon it could be him.
Dan_Scott157
Jan 14, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Comment #46Does anyone here think that all those players who are out are actually injured. I get suspicious when i see N’Zogbia has a little niggle and may miss out tonight.
Dan_Scott157
Jan 14, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Comment #47I see Norwich have sacked Glenn Roeder as well or Glen Rodent as their fans have been calling him. He really is a poor manager.
Dan_Scott157
Jan 14, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Comment #48I have a feeling that the Argentine midfielder is Jose Ernesto Sosa. Has played 5 times for Argentina and was in their most recent squad however he is only a squad player at Bayern Munich, only started 1 game according to Sky Sports and made 6 sub appearances.
punk skunk...
Jan 14, 2009 at 1:54 PM
Comment #49‘coarse they’re not injured!..
…But hopefully they are GONE!..
sweendog
Jan 14, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Comment #50from the bbc site .. I hope its true as M’Bia is immense
Newcastle are interested in taking Rennes’ Cameroon international midfielder Stephane Mbia and Toulouse full-back Albin Ebondo on loan with an eye on permanent moves in the summer. (Press Association, 1305 GMT)
sweendog
Jan 14, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Comment #51d’oh.. didn’t know you already posted that ed .. 🙂
Toon_Ksk is back!
Jan 14, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Comment #52We need to quickly ship off N’Zogbia, he can’t shut his mouth so selling him will be the best solution. I accept that this fella has lots of talent and is often the most dangerous player when attacking, but ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Doocey
Jan 14, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Comment #53Hope that Ashley can give Kinnear some cash to spend.
If he’s anyways decent he has to, otherwise this situation is unbelieable!
It Could Be Worse...We Could Be Spurs -DC-
Jan 14, 2009 at 4:43 PM
Comment #54Was up late last night picking off “N’Zogbia” from the back of my home jersey. Sorry son but we’re over you. Hope you rot in Ligue 1 you ungrateful little swine.
Good pick-up Holic, I don’t believe he is married, Smith is injured so I reckon it’s def Geremi.
I’m with Worky @ 37, open your eyes people. Maybe google stoicism? Wouldn’t hurt.
RememberShearer
Jan 15, 2009 at 9:53 AM
Comment #55NOTHING WILL HAPPEN, NO REALLY DECENT PLAYERS WILL COME!! NONE!!!
THEN WE WILL BE RELEGATED IN MAY!!
CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL NEXT SEASON, AND WE’LL BE LUCKY TO AVOID RELEGATED TO LEAGUE ONE THE NEXT SEASON!!!!
ASHLEY, WISE AND CO CAN GO TO HELL!!!!!!!!!! GET OUT SCUM!!!!!!