For someone who vowed never to speak to the mainstream media, Joe Kinnear has done an awful lot of talking to the mainstream media. The rotund Newcastle boss has told us which Disney character he feels most closely represent a certain referee, he has belittled relegation rivals Tottenham and has a strong propensity to let us know he has no idea what is going on at any given point:
“I said [my contract renegotiation] would be after the Chelsea game,” said Kinnear, “but the goalposts have moved since then. Every time it gets nearer to being sold a problem pops up, the credit crunch and whatever else.
“They keep saying we are that much away,” he added, gesturing a tiny gap between fingers, “but we have not seen any finances coming up. That is all they tell me. Until something concrete comes up it is not sold and I will keep going on a month-by-month basis.”
At a time when Mike Ashley is watching shares in Sports Direct fall off the face of the earth and
Former Spurs player belittles Redknapp’s attempts to snare Given
Joe Kinnear today laughed off suggestions that Shay Given would leave Newcastle for Tottenham in January by saying:Â ”Why would he want to go to Spurs? This is a bigger club than Spurs.”
It’s normally supporters who attempt to elevate their own club and it was because of Tottenham and Newcastle fans’ inflated sense of their own importance that neutrals took so much pleasure from seeing the two clubs suffer earlier this season. However, that hasn’t stopped Kinnear jockeying for position with the team he spent most of his playing career at in the big club stakes.
Newcastle’s claim to being a big club is that they came second twice over a decade ago and that they have lots of fans, some who are so passionate that they take their shoes off to support their team. Tottenham of course won the Carling Cup, the same highly-regarded trophy that launched juggernauts such as Leicester, Blackburn and Middlesbrough on the path to greater glories earlier this decade, and nearly finished ahead of Arsenal two years ago.
The league table, which surely fans should consider the most important measure of a club’s prominence, shows Tottenham are the sixteenth biggest in the Premier League right now, while Newcastle are eighteenth. But which club do you consider the biggest? Let us know with a vote and comment below:
Three ways to make Kinnear less grumpy after a game
According to a poll held on The Spoiler yesterday, the overwhelming majority of football fans believe there is a problem with the standard of Premier League refereeing that must be addressed post haste. The likes of Joe Kinnear, Mark Hughes, and David Moyes are all outspoken on the subject, but none are keen to offer or endorse a positive, practical solution to the issue. With this in mind, The Spoiler has compiled a three point plan to improve the state of officiating in the top flight…
1. Introduce a video referee
It’s a sad fact that the game moves far too fast for an infallible human to keep up with - a referee can’t be everywhere at once, and a linesman cannot expected to be perfectly accurate when he must be looking at two places at once (technically a physical impossibility). The video ref system has been touted for years, and as Spoiler reader Sack the Juggler eloquently says, it has been successfully implemented in rugby, so why not in the beautiful game? It’s time to embrace technology and make proper use of the cameras that cover every angle of every stadium anyway.
2. Pay the referees more money
At present, Premier League referees receive a retainer of £33,000 and a further £1,000 for each match they officiate. This usually equates to about £60,000 per year. While this seems an ample amount for 90 minutes of work on a weekend, surely there is enough money in the game to pay them £100,000, or even £200,000 per year? Some clubs will pay that for one week of services from a player! There is a general
MOTD’s worst pundit highly tipped for Kinnear’s job
According to our friends at the newly-designed chickendinner, Alan Shearer has dived past Joe Kinnear and Kevin Keegan to emerge as the new 11/8 favourite to become Newcastle’s next permanent manager.
A spokesman for SkyBet revealed that there have been a flurry of bets on the former Newcastle striker placed in the North East after reports that billionaire Philip Anschutz, who owns a stake in LA Galaxy, was keen on taking over at St James’ Park and had somehow come to the conclusion that Shearer is the ideal man to take the club forward.
This doesn’t seem like great news for the Magpies - just as they are beginning to gain some stability under their interim gaffer, a man with no experience and a thin grasp of the tactical nuances of the game (see any edition of MOTD for evidence).
Do you think he would be good for the job? Let us know with a comment below…
Abilities of top flight officials called into question once again
Over the weekend, there were no less than three controversial performances from Premier League referees: firstly, Mark Hughes lambasted Mike Dean for dismissing three players at Eastlands and for “failing to show common sense”. Howard Webb had a disappointing game at the Emirates, dishing out completely unnecessary cards and failing to pick up on incidents that should have ended up in the book. And finally, Joe Kinnear took the subtle route of calling Martin Atkinson “Mickey Mouse” for failing to spot an Andy Johnson foul in the build up to Fulham’s match-winning penalty.
Of course, Kinnear and his ilk are happy to point out the professional mistakes of officials, but fail to offer any solutions to the problems (ie should we introduce video replays, better training, more pay etc).
So, is there a problem that needs to be addressed with the standard of refereeing in the top flight? Or are these contestable decisions an acceptable part of the game (and possibly even one that makes it more exciting)? Let us know with a vote and comment below…
Modern coaching techniques proving less popular than ever
Following Arsenal’s sorry performance at the Britannia Stadium, Arsene Wenger has sounded like a man who is full of excuses but lacking in solutions. For the first time, Wenger’s status in north London is being seriously questioned, and this may have more to do with the current managerial climate of the Premiership than his shortcomings.
With his strict diets, motivational handouts and precisely designed training ground routine, the French Professor is the poster child for modern coaching techniques. Over the past few months, however, the new school of coaching appears to have become very old fashioned, while the traditional managers are enjoying a renaissance.
Think about it: Luis Aragones won the European Championships, Sir Alex picked up silverware here and in Moscow, Harry “just fucking run around” Redknapp and Joe Kinnear are
Newcastle/ Aston Villa, 8pm, Setanta Sports 1, Free £10 bet
The progress Newcastle have made under Joe Kinnear hasn’t been quite as spectacular as Harry Redknapp’s start at Tottenham, but the sweary Irishman’s impact might be more noticeable if they claim a point tonight, putting the north Londoners back on the bottom of the table. Here’s why chickendinner believe they should get some points tonight:
1. Aston Villa have taken three points on just two of their last fifteen Premier League visits to St James’ Park.
2. From 1990 onwards, Aston Villa have only won consecutive games against the Magpies on one occasion - in 2004-05. Martin O’Neill’s side won the last encounter in February.
3. Under Kinnear, Newcastle have turned full circle from a run of three consecutive
Former Dons boss keen to take control at SJP full time
We hope you were wearing your betting shoes yesterday, as we gave you five compelling reasons for Joe Kinnear’s first victory in black and white stripes. Yet despite getting five points from four games and expressing a keen desire to remain at the club full time, Big Joe’s future in the North East is no clearer than that of Mike Ashley:
“I have got no idea who is going to buy the place, but I can throw my hat in the ring whoever buys it. I am not going to get another chance like this.”
“But I really don’t know, to be honest. I know it is obviously for sale, but who is going to buy it, I have got no idea.”
Newcastle fans have never been entirely keen on those of southern persuasion, but Joe seems to have brought a ‘no nonsense’ attitude which has given the club some much-needed stability. But has he already earned the right to take the job permanently? Let us know with a vote and comment below…
Spoiler video bonus: Check out extended highlights of last night’s victory over West Brom after the jump…
Newcastle/ West Brom, Sat, 7.45, Sky Sports 2, Free £10 bet
West Brom picked up their only away win of the season in the North East last month against boss Tony Mowbray’s old club Middlesbrough, but it’s unlikely they’ll make it a double tonight. Here are five reasons why chickendinner believe Wimbletoon will finally bag three points:
1. Newcastle have comfortably beaten West Brom in their three previous Premier League meetings at St James’ Park.
2. The Magpies haven’t lost a home league game to a Midlands outfit in three-and-a-half years.
3. West Brom have conceded seven goals without reply
