Newcastle Needed A Shakeup ... But Not Kinnear

Mention the name Joe Kinnear around a Newcastle United fan, and you're bound to see a look that's equal parts bemusement and terror.

So the reaction to Sunday's bombshell announcement — by Kinnear himself, no less — that the 66-year-old was returning to Newcastle as the club's new director of football was predictably a mixture of mass confusion and outrage. It was basically akin to finding out your eccentric — and possibly drunk — uncle, who used to be a mildly successful entrepreneur, was taking over the family business.

To be fair to Kinnear, his stint as manager at Newcastle wasn't the outright disaster that some have portrayed it as, considering the bizarre circumstances under which he took over. His record wasn't good by any means and his public relations performance was alarming, but the team at least showed some spark compared to the lifeless corpse it had resembled in the wake of Kevin Keegan's acrimonious departure. Kinnear's claim that Newcastle would have avoided relegation in 2008-09 had he not suffered a heart attack three months before the end of the season is probably credible.

Still, there is very little evidence to suggest Kinnear is a good fit for his new role. He's twice been in similar positions — at Oxford United and Luton Town in the early 2000s — without much success, and apart from his 4½ months at Newcastle in 2008-09, he hasn't worked in the game since 2004.

That owner Mike Ashley decided Newcastle needed a shakeup isn't ridiculous. Adding a fresh set of eyes to the upper management structure — and ones that will bring an on-field mindset to the negotiating table, as opposed to strictly a business mentality — could be hugely beneficial for the club. Too often Newcastle has appeared indecisive in the transfer market under Ashley's regime, with strict player valuations stopping the club from filling holes. Surely a seasoned executive could bolster Newcastle's transfer performance.

Instead, Ashley opted for Kinnear. And now all we can do is laugh, grit our teeth, swear and possibly cry as the black-and-white roller coaster whips us around another bend.

Comments

[Ls]

It's kinda fun this ride isn't it!

[Dave from Newcastle]

I for one will take my Yohan Kebab in lamb with extra yogurt sauce. And please pass me some of that spicy red sauce as well.

Oh and a bottle of vodka to help me forget the past 48 hours.

[Jamie]

I think the idea is a good one and having someone with actual footballing knowledge having the final say on transfers rather than Ashley's feudal clique is no bad thing. Whether Kinnear's the right man for that job is a totally different matter. Although perhaps clinically insane, he is credited with a good knowledge about the game. Let's for a moment assume that's true. If we can keep him away from the media, maybe this can actually work. He seems to have genuine ambition for the club and I welcome that. He's certainly making the right noises about keeping Kebabs and the rest of the purple players. The main problem people have with him is his handling of media affairs. Keep him away from that and maybe, just maybe, we can make it to the next footballing director without catastrophe.