We pride ourselves here on the blog for shying from speculation. But there's a difference between guessing about something without a factual basis and examining the known facts to fill a logical hole. I can piece together only one plausible conclusion about Joe Kinnear's head-scratching hire today as Newcastle United's Director of Football.
Kinnear, according to his quotes in the press, is being brought in to target new players. Talent identification is not the reason Newcastle United flirted with relegation last season. Graham Carr wasn't the one called in by his superiors for an accounting afterward. And while I'm not a football executive, I'm thinking someone who can't remember his own players' names would not be the best person to put in charge of transfer lists.
It's logical to assume Kinnear's responsibilities will be either broader or different than what he's saying (or being told to say). That's also the conclusion one can logically draw from Kinnear's new and unmistakable job title, which implies both Carr and the man who was called to account for last season - manager Alan Pardew - will be reporting to Kinnear on everything football.
But if the club were dissatisfied with Pardew, why wasn't he fired? One potential answer doesn't require Holmes-like powers of deduction. Even if Pardew's eight-year contract contains softeners for early termination, it could well be cheaper to scare him away, in favor of Kinnear or someone new under him.
No one outside a club can know exactly what's going on inside it. And logic itself can be a illogical assumption with this club. But given what we know, the above theory is the best I can come up with. Fasten your seat belts for another breathtaking spin on the NUFC rollercoaster, Yohan Goodbye and Andrew Debuchy and whoever the rest of you are.
Joe fucking kinnear
Posted by: Dave | 06/16/2013 at 04:09 PM
If we are successful next season, Joe Kinnear will be doing the victory lap telling people he told them so. Pardew be damned. If we fail to succeed next season, it'll be Pardew's fault, the players, fault, the media's fault, that c*nt from the Guardian's fault etc, anyone but Jokin Here' s fault.
The only conceivably rational explanation for it is that He's been sent in to make Pardew do one, then step in and manage until they can secure a better manager all without making Dekka and Ashely look like absolute muppets who were fleece last season by Mr. Incompetent Alan Pardew and a bunch of foreign mercenaries who didn't do what they told.
we should be very afraid....
Posted by: Beardsley's Love Child | 06/17/2013 at 07:12 AM
but who on earth would come in to replace Pards with the prospect of JFK as a DoF. Certainly no one with any pedigree.
Posted by: andy mac | 06/17/2013 at 07:38 AM
Give Mike Ashley credit, anytime you can hire someone who was a critical part of the team's darkest hour whose appointment will piss off 99.9% of the fanbase, the manager, the head scout, and a handful of players while increasing the instability at a club that is nothing but unstable on a regular June afternoon then you absolutely have to make that hire.
Way to go Mike, keeping the team in the news and freaking supporters out on June 16th. HT to you!
Posted by: Dave from Newcastle | 06/17/2013 at 08:30 AM
Let me play devils advocate, or maybe God's advocate depending on your position: JK didn't do that bad when he was manager considering the circumstances (injuries, uncertainty of ownership, not having time to buy & build in the summer). He was immediately a part of the cockney mafia, and labled since day 1, without just cause. It could be said that if he didn't have a heart attack, we may not have seen the drop, but again, thats something nobody will ever know. With the struggles and travails of last season, one could understand that AP would have, and needs alot more time to focus if all he has to worry about is telling JK who he wants, and then focus on the team, tactics etc... DoF's work across football, and if the three can work together, then there's no reason it can't work here. But still, I have to say I'm baffled by the choice
Posted by: VA TOON | 06/17/2013 at 12:54 PM
my gut tells me this is a step backwards, to old school managing/ decision making. That's not what we need right now - so curious to how he will help the team and not be a distraction to AP.
Posted by: Mathew | 06/17/2013 at 01:21 PM
I don't think that Kinnear is the answer to any question. With that being said, I don't see this move as adding any instability. From what it looks like, Kinnear will not be taking any power from Pardew but will actually be taking responsibilities for football matters away from Llambias while Llambias will only be responsible for the business side of the club. I think taking Llambias out of the decision making process from a footballing standpoint is a good thing, if only someone with more sense would have been given the role we would be in good shape.
Posted by: Paul H | 06/17/2013 at 03:08 PM
^^^ Last person to hold this role was Dennis Wise, look how well that worked out. I think putting a high profile ex player/ manager as Dir Football does nothing but distract the manager.
Posted by: Mathew | 06/17/2013 at 05:17 PM