There is news this morning that the Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear is hoping to return to management as early as the middle of next month, after recovering from open heart surgery.
Joe Kinnear – coming back for Spurs game on 18th April
Knowing Joe Kinnear, this should come as no surprise to Newcastle fans, and as long as it’s OK with the doctors, he’s probably better getting involved than stewing on the couch watching the Newcastle games, which is never easy. However it is still a full 6 weeks before he hopes to return.
Joe Kinnear is committed to keeping Newcastle in the Premier league this season, and there are rumors he will be paid £1M if he can keep Newcastle up this season. Certainly that £1M is worth it to Mike Ashley, because relegation would be the nightmare scenario for the club.
The 62-year-old former Wimbledon manager was taken ill before Newcastle’s Premier League game with West Bromwich Albion last month, and Newcastle went onto win that game 3-2, but haven’t won since, and are currently on a terrible streak of results.
Joe Kinnear of course ended up undergoing a triple heart bypass on Friday, 13th February, which was a routine operation, as bypass surgery seems to be these days.
But Joe himself has now admitted he is hoping to return to his management role in April and hopes the trip to White Hart Lane to play Spurs on April 18th is his comeback game.
Newcastle play Stoke City the week before at Stoke, another relegation 6 pointer, and some had thought Joe would try to make that game. But Joe’s health comes first, and it will be about two months since he had his operation, which is the time-frame his doctors had wanted him to rest up.
Joe said today in the Sunday Mirror:
“I am feeling really good and am desperate to get back. I’m hoping I will return for the Spurs game,”
There will be 6 league games left in the season including the Spurs game, and we face tough games against Hull, Arsenal, Chelsea and Stoke City before then – so let’s hope we can pick up some points before Joe returns.
If we are in the bottom three when Joe returns, that cannot be something the doctors would like to see, after Joe has just had open heart surgery. We hope the Newcastle players realize this.
Assistant manager Chris Hughton has taken responsibility of the team since Joe has been away, but Newcastle are in a terrible run of form and have managed just one win in their last 12 games.
Vast improvement will be needed in that record in the final 10 games of the season if Newcastle are to survive in the Premier League this season.
Comments welcome.
165 comments so far
dougnufc
Mar 8, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Comment #1Good news! Get well soon Kinnear!
batty
Mar 8, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Comment #2noooooooooooooooh
Rodzilla
Mar 8, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Comment #3…it’s not as if we have any better options Batty. It’s him or Hughton/Calderwood. As much as probably 99% of Newcastle fans would have liked – we ain’t getting in a new manager before the end of the season – at least.
Get well soon Joe!
Graeme
Mar 8, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Comment #4Mike Ashley has an aweful lot to answer for if the team are relegated. He’s sold some good players at a profit, brought some good and ssome not so good players in.
He has made a profit in each of the windows ssince he arrived, leaving the squad perilously understaffed and under coached. The replacement manager has himself had to be replaced through ill-health and the men in charge are out of their depth by some margin.
If, through some miracle, the under achieving, uninterested players manage to extricate themselves from the dire position they have got us into, there is a major re-building job to be done over the summer.
Has Ashley got the financial ability to do what needs to be done? More importantly, is he prepared to provide the money the re-build will take????
komfort
Mar 8, 2009 at 12:33 PM
Comment #5sunday lunchtime…….pub….whooosh
Rodzilla
Mar 8, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Comment #6Graeme – hopefully we will stay up mate, and I’m sure there will be a clear-out. I’d reckon we’d probably bring in around 4m from dead wood – and save a packet in wages This plus the money we have left from the Given/Insomnia/Milner sales, plus the 5-10 MA said he would put in would leave me expectant of around 20-25m to spend, with 3 or 4 players off.
If we go down however, things may be COMPLETELY different.
We’ll stay up though. HOWAY THE LADS!!
Dragonera
Mar 8, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Comment #7Probably nonsense, but read this.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/2009/03/08/wenger-plans-to-be-going-for-bassong-115875-21180742/
Dragonera
Mar 8, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Comment #8The Mirror claim Arsenal are going to offer 10million for Bassong in the summer
southerngeordie
Mar 8, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Comment #9Well this has all but confirmed our fate! Agree with your points Rodzilla that no new management would make a difference, however my confidence in the current structure is all but gone.
You look at all the teams around us and they are showing some grit and fight – agreed the ManU performance was a vast improvement, but looking at the current squad we need a leader in there to whip these boys into shape! And within the current set up i just dont see that. Houghton for all is work is nothing more the a defensive coach – his team choices a questionable and his inteviews offer little encouragement.
Calderwood – from what i remember and have seen offers very little to the step and is again nothing more than a defensive coach.
As for the players – who is taking charge of the situation – granted Bossong has been the find of the season, but at this stage of his career he shouldnt be the one driving the team forward. When the donkey souncess went and Roeder took charge, put considered him the saviour and got us to 7th, however people forget that it was Shearer pulling the team on the pitch and once he got injured he pretty much ran the show and drove us on from the sidelines. This is what we have been missing… Players like Owen, Barton, Butt have their say but they are not leaders. Shay was the only one with some drive and ambition and love for the club as well as commanding respect – we dont have that now.
I know this sounds like a rant and i am 100% behind the club – but like everyone else i just get pissed off that our club and its future is in the hands of someone who currently wouldnt look out of place as an extra on Casualty!!
catchy in norway
Mar 8, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Comment #10batty
well said, short and to the point,,
rodzilla,
if we dont go down this season,, he will take us down next,,
just bad our board can not see this,,,
there is no loyalty in football, he is not just old school but his health is not good either, he will not be able to 100% to our club, and if he could i know its not good enough,
GET HIM OUT NOW
catchy in norway
Mar 8, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Comment #11IF HE WAS 100% its still not good enough
Rodzilla
Mar 8, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Comment #12Dragonera // Mar 8, 2009 at 12:48 PM
…I wouldn’t believe the Mirror if they told me water was wet mate, they’ve probably got a picture oy Beye next to their ‘story’. The ‘big clubs’ are always gona be linked with the best players of ‘smaller’ or under-performing teams; and if they’re big, French and of African descent – well, they’re off to Arsenal obviously.
Rodzilla
Mar 8, 2009 at 1:19 PM
Comment #13catchy in norway
…he’ll be gone in the Summer man. Why else would’ve he stalled on his contract? He’ll keep us up, get his ‘bonus’. Then he’ll take retirement, IMO.
Who else are we gona get in anyway? Ferguson? Even he would struggle to keep us up. It’s down to the team on the pitch until May 24th I’m afraid – nowt else.
Dragonera
Mar 8, 2009 at 1:19 PM
Comment #14Anyone watching the Arsenal v Burnley match? I can see Arshavin destroying the Burnley defence. We could of had him just over a year ago, sigh.
Dragonera
Mar 8, 2009 at 1:20 PM
Comment #15Rodzilla
I agree. Nice to see a level head on here once more.
Rodzilla
Mar 8, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Comment #16I doubt Arshavin would’ve ever came to us Dragonera – far too arrogant. He is pretty scary though. I just hope he stays fit – he’s in my fantasy team!
Rodzilla
Mar 8, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Comment #17…cheers Dragonera
Rodzilla
Mar 8, 2009 at 1:31 PM
Comment #18…and I hope Arshavin does run riot – I just put 20 quid on 3 or more goals in the game.
Toon_Factor
Mar 8, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Comment #19Glad to hear Kinnear is getting better, but MA can’t possible put him in charge full time manager, could be coach, director or something like that but not manager!
Dragonera
Mar 8, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Comment #20Arshavin has been by far Arsenals’ best player since joining them…i cant see it stopping now against the likes of Burnley.
He is already pulling the strings in the final third.
Who else is playing today?
batty
Mar 8, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Comment #21catchy in norway why thank you catchy
Alex
Mar 8, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Comment #22southerngeodie
Nolan will be the leader that the side needs , he has already shown he has the ability to lead . Once he is free from suspension and playing together with a fit Joey Barton and Jonas we will have enough fight in the team to avoid the drop
beyethegreat
Mar 8, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Comment #23i know i will get shot down for this but if we stay up i would like to see wise stayhe has made good signings especially with gutierrez and bassong(who i am sure will some day be as good as any 1 past or present) and what he has done for th e academy is amazing and it is still a w.i.p if and when the french academy opens up that will be brilliant for the future of our club i do have some reservations as to whether kinnear is good enough to develop youngsters but so far i think he has done brilliant with enriique who is not just looking to have great potential but also consistent players such as carroll and lualua have looked good though i am not sure how much kinnear had to do with it
simon376
Mar 8, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Comment #24Beye
As confirmed by Bassong yesterday, he was a Keegan signing. Wise may have been involved in the contract. I wonder how many Wise has scouted and signed and how many were by other members such as Verterse (Know I’ve spelt his name wrong) but maybe he has got some good kids for us
beyethegreat
Mar 8, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Comment #25gd point simon
but he still signed
xisco
gutierrez
guthrie
coloccini
ranger
vuckic
adjei
kadar
soderberg
spear
alnwick
baheng
Rodzilla
Mar 8, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Comment #26…good point (tennis) Beye, but in his interview Llambias said Xisco was one of Keegan’s – not sure if that’s good or bad (?)
I think Wise only has as many enemies as he has because of the KK saga. Personally I’ll be very interested to read ‘what really happened’ once their (MA v KK) court shenannigans is over.
scrotty
Mar 8, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Comment #27I thought Guthrie and Bassong were both Keegan buys. Coloccini and Gutieres are both good signings but with the Jonas legal stuff they could end up costing 24 million. Add Xisco to that and it seems Wise is not the man to buy first team players.
Good with the kids though maybe he should stick with that.
beyethegreat
Mar 8, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Comment #28rodz
even if xisco was keegans signing the rest are still impressive i am just hoping that we stay up
Rodzilla
Mar 8, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Comment #29yep, agreed. GO ARN EBOUE!…..sorry, had money on. Yeah, especially that Haris Vuckic kid. Keep em coming……….
beyethegreat
Mar 8, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Comment #30scrotty i would prefer he did stick with that
though i have a question if we stay up does that mean that when we eventually become a club that makes a profit will we start to spend more of the amounts that we used to
simon376
Mar 8, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Comment #31If Wise has made a lot of those signings, thats not bad, but I still wonder how much involvment he’s had.
beyethegreat
Mar 8, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Comment #32simon i dont care how much involvement he has just as long as the manager is aware that wise will have final say
simon376
Mar 8, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Comment #33Thats the point beye, if he is going to be there or anybody else in that postion, whoever the manager is needs to be told from the start.
I’m still against the DoF, not because of it being wise I just think all clubs in England have got on so well without for years. We tried as did Spurs and Westham and is hasn’t worked out for any of us. If it’s not broke, why fix it.
Dragonera
Mar 8, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Comment #34I don’t care who signed who or if they manager knows what. as long as we keep signing quality i will remain content.
beyethegreat
Mar 8, 2009 at 3:40 PM
Comment #35simon
exactly which is why i think keegan was in the right
he was told he would have final say over every decision and it turned out he didnt
which is ok as long as long as the manager is ok with it ifkk had been told about it then i would be on ma’s side but he wasnt so i am not
though i am neither for or against the DOF you pointed out west ham where i think it is working though their DOF isnt english je is italian
though wba and reading(i think also have a DOF) and they arent doing too bad
beyethegreat
Mar 8, 2009 at 3:41 PM
Comment #36dragon
i agree
beyethegreat
Mar 8, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Comment #37http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PS60G5gAGs
boater
Mar 8, 2009 at 3:49 PM
Comment #38I haven’t posted for a while because I’ve been too depressed about the toon frankly.
It would have taken a genius 10 step programme to get us relegated this season and Ashley has nearly pulled it off now… you have to hand it to him.
I don’t blame him for KK’s exit although ever since then he has been an incumbent and pretty much got everything wrong about running the club.
How is Houghton deputizing for the most serious relegation battle we have been in for 17 years? He lost 5 on the run earlier in the season – is Ashley completely out of his mind?
He is keeping the seat warm for a 63 year old who has now had two major heart scares and won us 4 from 19… is this what we have become?
Why on earth is a long-term, experienced manager not appointed now AT ANY COST to galvanise the team into a surviving… worst case – we are relegated we have them to lead the charge for promotion….
who is responsible, who is accountable, who is running this merry-go-round club now???
Jonas is doing my head in – he is running around and getting us nowhere – however Any talk of individual players at the moment is futile – look at houghton’s uncertain, vapid expression to see a club that is going down as it stands.
simon376
Mar 8, 2009 at 3:50 PM
Comment #39If it is working with other clubs like wba and reading, will be good to watch to see how it goes. If we can pull it off, would be good to set the trend. I agree with you about the keegan situation when it comes to this. Lets just hope we can get this right
scrotty
Mar 8, 2009 at 3:57 PM
Comment #40The big problem is no decent manager (sorry Joe) will come to Newcastle knowing Wise is buying the players. For the Dof idea to work you need someone more respected in the position. Imagine if someone respected like Sir Bobby was buying and selling.
Lets face it Wise is a huge thorn in the side of the club. His job puts off managers and his reputation in the north east is likely to put off players.
I can’t imagine any player coming to Newcastle because they want to play for Wise.