Appointed as Director of Football, it was the task of Joe to look after the football side of things and, in particular, to assist in transfers into the club.
The anger to his appointment was met with some bullish claims by the former Wimbledon man who even claimed that he could call up any manager he liked and they’d all answer the phone to him. He also asked to be judged on his signings so, after adding no new permanent faces over the summer, is the time for judging now? Or would we, as Joe says, just be looking for something negative to chew on like we always do according to the man himself?
In terms of signing players he has failed at his job miserably. That is in the terms that I, and probably most of us, thought that he would be utilised by the club. However having pondered things these past few days and digested what has come out of the club prior to the window closing, I’m now wondering if Joe has failed at his job at all?
Take Alan Pardew’s statement for example, released the day after the transfer window closed. Read it below and see what you think:
“We are delighted to have brought Loic Remy to the club in this window and we believe he will form an exciting and effective partnership with Papiss Cisse.
“Joe has worked hard on numerous targets, particularly an additional offensive player. However some of the options that were available within our financial means were not as good as the players we already had and there is no point bringing in new players unless they can improve us and take us forward.
“We did the majority of our business in the January window, signing five excellent first team players.
“With the strong squad we have we should all approach the season in a positive, optimistic frame of mind.”
Now from that it looks as though we were never really interested in anyone over the summer so was Joe’s job to deflect some of the attention from a lack of activity? Is he being used as the fall guy?
Like I said in the last article, I’m angry we’ve not signed anyone but I’m not disappointed. It’s hard to be disappointed abut something you’ve half expected all along. I don’t like the waffle that comes out of the club, I don’t like who they have waffling at us so as a result I don’t believe anything until it happens any more.
It’s just a shambles that is in danger of turning toxic just like what happened in the relegation season. Fan unrest is at a high level and whilst I agree that a stand should be made I’m also mindful that the backing for players during matches still needs to be there. After all, they’ve not been helped out either.
So among all of these claims that Kinnear is just a Director of F**kall, just spare a moment to think of the possibility that perhaps he’s not the inept halfwait he makes out to be and has instead done what he was hired to do in the first place.
Just a few thoughts…
Cheers Toonsy… Have to agree with most of what you have written but I don’t think Joe is a fall guy to cover anything up.. I think the club has a strict policy on transfers and if we cant get the deal for what we want to pay, we will walk away. I think that the regime doesn’t give a **** about the fans reaction to our transfer business, so to say they are trying to cover something or to use Joe as a smokescreen doesn’t ring true to me.
I am also disappointed with the lack of signings but not that surprised. 😕
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
I said the same thing with your previous blog. I agree with the above Toonsy.
This suits Pardew – he has a ready made excuse for failure.
We cant drive MA out, he wants out anyway but torn between immediately leaving or holding out for a bigger cheque which means hanging around. OK the fans hate him but he can live with that while he milks us dry.
All this JFK/Non transfer bullshit has deflected attention from the fact AP is not a fantastic manager. MA out is our desire because it would mean the end of JFK and AP. Just image a new owner, and a new manager like Hiddink or Benitez, with a cheque book!
MIKE SEVERS(Quote)
he keeps going on about how much he is going to make a good partnership with cisse!!!! that may well be but at the end of the season when qpr have got promoted
because of our director of footballs ineptness we haven’t got a buy option therefore old harry will take him back to play for them in the premiership next season!!!!!!
swamprocker(Quote)
@Toonsy
I’ve been suggesting this for a while. It was Jokey who said Pards wanted a football man as a buffer between Pards and Ashley.
I’m sure he wasn’t expecting Jokey to be brought in.
However, I’m sure Ashley has brought him in and briefed him that the squad is strong enough for a top ten finish.
So going from Pards advising Ashley that he needs more players and Ashley not being a football man who can use knowledge disagree. Ashley is now using Jokey to tell Pards he doesn’t need more players.
All too predictable.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
The most negative thing I’ve found about all of this situation is the fact that we still think that by talking,blogging etc etc, is going to change things….it’s not!! as long as we have an owner who doesn’t give a **** as long as he’s making money,and the sticking point with Ashley is the fact that in his business he can sack any disgruntled employee,however he can’t sack the supporters!! He’s not used to such voricerous voices being aimed directly at him!! and that is the rub! living in the rarified air of the super rich he thinks no one or thing can change his nice little life,well he’s received a wake up call and he doesn’t like it! Talk is cheap,we need to stop buying his products and put pressure on where it gits him…in the pocket!!! SUPPORT THE TEAM NOT THE REGIME.
Sidecutter(Quote)
Interesting conspiracy theory. .. But I don’t see how it makes any sense. We know the owner does what he does to make money either directly or by boosting his other businesses.
so how does hiring the clown do that? Why not just stand Llamearse up at the beginning of the window to easy we’ve spent our dosh in January and unless we get really good value weer only aim to get a striker.
if the situation we have now was always the plan why go through all this,
whumpie(Quote)
wow. autocorrect on Android… 😯
I think it’s much more straight forward.
Mike cocked up and hired his mate based on all his bluster. football people know it us bullshit but mike doesn’t know football.
Then you get a mental window where agents and clubs take the ****.
JFK totally lacks the skills to do anything about it and fails.
End of.
JFK
whumpie(Quote)
What is his job? Who knows. What’s the motive? Again, who knows.
It was always likely that the January signings would be used as an excuse for not outlaying too much, but you’d think there’d be a few alarm bells ringing when we didn’t pull away from the relegation zone the way I’m sure the club expected.
I don’t subscribe to the theory that originally Kinnear’s job was to get nobody in. The PEA bid and the Gomis affair appear to have been genuine, and it seems that the final decisions that scuppered a transfer were not necessarily down to us. But, yet again, who knows.
I’m willing to consider that somewhere along the line, for whatever reason, his job description changed to include getting nobody in, though.
But who knows. We naa nowt! And that’s one of the things I hate about Ashley’s term here – no freakin communication!
brisvegas(Quote)
@Whumpie
Because the financial figures will show that money is there to spend.
Jokey has allegedly tried to get players but at the same time put the message out that the squad is strong enough for a top 10 finish. How can Lamearse stand up and tell the fans we’ve spent all the money when revenue figures show otherwise. How can Lamearse tell Pards and the fans the squad is strong enough. ? He has no experience.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Like most toon fans I was seriously miffed off when this clown was brought in. Yes I thought DL needed replacing with a football man but I thought it might have been someone with more experience at the role.
However once the red mist cleared a bit and I started looking for any possible positives out of the appointment, I found one.
JFK is a loose cannon in interviews. What starts off as a tight lipped affair can quickly turn into a raging rant when the little fat man is questioned or pushed by the journos.
With that in mind I thought, if he fails in the transfer market (as he has) and the journos question him on it, then maybe he’ll loose his blob and rant – revealing the true extent of the restrictions and what MAs plans really are.
It may be unlikely, but certainly wouldn’t be out of character.
Unfortunately MA probably also knows that and will have taken precautions to avoid such scenerio – like 2 or 3 hefty sized security fellas to jump on the fat little **** at the first sign of such a rant 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
I love it how some fans with absolutely zero knowledge of what goes on behind the closed doors at the head quarters of the regime seem to know exactly what their evil plans are. 😆 😆
James Bond has nothing on some of the folk on here 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
@Aussie
The name is Troy. 😎 Troy Bond 😎
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I dont think hes a fall-guy.
I reckon Pards and Kinnear know there isnt a bean to spend thats why Pards was openly inviting bids for Cabaye (even tho he said he wasnt).
If Cabaye was sold a player or two would of been signed.
Kinnear doesnt have much to do if players arent sold apart from negotiating players leaving like Perch etc..
mark(Quote)
Troy Bond’s MI6 head quarters are in his bedroom closet 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
there is obviously money to be spent if MA had ambition for the club.
We had the promise of 20mil per season out of MA’s own pocket
The wonga money that would get us another player
60 mil TV revenue
50k fans each home game
the question should be why isnt it being spent?
I reckon hes gathering the proceeds so he can make us look viable for a buyout..
mark(Quote)
@Aussie
Why are you so jealous of those who have inside knowledge?
I have contacts all over the football world. I’m on the phone to Sir Alex everyday. I can speak to anyone. I can pick the phone up and speak to Wenger at the drop of a hat. Any manager in any division in any league in the world.
Anyone who says different are idiots.
Aussie you idiot! 😯 Troy Kinnear. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Not Jealous TK… just dubious 😉
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
His job is to **** Mike off as and when he demands.
Stuart79(Quote)
<<<<<<, thinks his job was to come in and scupper any deals we had in place ,so fatboy did not have to pay out any more wages
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Toonsy ,His job description is simple to understand. Jabba to Joe -**** off Toon fans ,make club a laughing stock ,sell or loan out as many players as possible ,kibosh as many deals we have set up as possible and finally do not under any circumstances spend any of my money 👿
KIMTOON(Quote)
@ KIMTOON 20
spot on i think 😐
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Toonsy good read and I agree with you.
I think it was a waste of wages bringing JFK in as I dont really think they planned to bring anyone in.
Newkie maybe Pards didnt say the exact word happy but for me approaching the season in a positive and optimistic manner sounds to me that he is saying he is happy enough.
Big Dave(Quote)
@ BIG DAVE
what else could pards really say without geting sacked
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Dave it was a statement I could of wrote for him weeks ago and I’m no clairvoyant .
KIMTOON(Quote)
TAE I know 🙄
Big Dave(Quote)
TAE@23 ,He could of said I’m bitterly disappointed that we haven’t secured the players we need to ensure we have depth of cover especially in the event of injuries but I’m assured all efforts were made to that end we go forward with what we have which is a good squad . That way the players are recognised the owner and JFK efforts acknowledged but it makes clear his disappointment at the lack of cover. What he’s actually done is big up JFK efforts which have been pathetic the owners commitment of which there is none ,failed to acknowledge the impact of injuries to key personal and insulted every fans intelligence by saying there are no players anywhere good and cheap enough to fulfil our remit which as we all know is total bollocks.
KIMTOON(Quote)
TAE ,They couldn’t sack him if he said it in those terms @26 ,if they did it’s gonna be his day in an employment tribunal imo.
KIMTOON(Quote)
@ KIMTOON
may be pards should hire you to do his press releases for him 😀 but i think if he said anything different from what was in ashleys memo his p 45 would be hotfooting its way to pards as we speak lol
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Kim yeah he could have said that but I think there is two reasons why he didn’t
1 I dont think he wanted to feel the wrath of Jabba as he knows he just has to.go along with what Jabba says
2 he thinks it will give his players a boost to know he has faith in them, but then he showed his players the same faith last summer and we know how that went
Big Dave(Quote)
@ BIG DAVE 29
spot on with point 2 😉
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Dave ,he can still acknowledge his squad is good as I said @26 ,the only negative is he would be letting it known there is not enough depth in respect of injury . If he lives in fear of the wrath of Jabba then he needs to seriously look for other employment imo ,as it’s no way to live. He isn’t in a low paid job he could afford to walk away more than the guy in the street can.
KIMTOON(Quote)
http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20130905/united-name-premier-league-squad_2281670_3448747?
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
I think that Mark at 13 is the closest to the truth.. i find it laughable that people think that Jabba hired Joe to **** us fans off.. come on, do really think that Jabba sets out to **** us off… i really don’t think he cares that much about what we think at all… let alone set out to make us mad..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
@ AUSSIE MAGPIE FAN
<<<<<<<,, thinks 1 of the toon army used to tax his dinner money off him 😯 and thats why he hates us 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Maybe so TAE 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
There is no way Jabba would of been bullied or had his dinner money taxed ,he would of been the school bully for sure , I can picture it now.
KIMTOON(Quote)
@KIMTOON
nar kim the fatboys were allways prim targets they cant run to far 😯 and a swift boot to the undercarriage used to do the trick 😈
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Aussie I dont think he intends to **** us off, he just doesnt give a fuk as he knows that he’ll still get the fans turning up and paying him.
Kim yeah as I said yesterday he could be the type that wont cover for Jabba by spinning **** to the fans etc because he has his principles and would rather do without than roll over and take the ****.
Or he could be the type to just go along with whatever Jabba wants and do what he needs to do to keep his boss happy.
I am pretty sure I know what type of man he is
Big Dave(Quote)
Joe Kinnaer is not part of some great plan to bring down NUFC, and any such theory is just crazy talk.
Derek Llambias told Ashley that he was moving on. He was there it put in place a financial framework for the club to work towards to make it self suficent – and whilst doing that he oversaw the transfer windows. DL had this plan in place and told MA he wanted to move on to something new. It had nowt to do with his under performing in the transfer window, it was simply that his main role was complete.
The appointment of JFK came about (IMO) because Ashley saw his mate going through a bad time after the death of his son and needed something to keep him busy.
The problem is that JFK is an old school manager, not a director of football. He has a few months experience at Luton but that’s it. Yes he may be more of a football man than DL, but he has very little experience dealing with modern day agents.
It’s my opinion that JFK is incompetent. That can be argued, but what can’t be argued is that JFK is inexperienced and therefore was the wrong appointment for what we need.
With the restrictions we have at the club – transfer budget, wage bill, right player, right price, age of player and all of those things – what we needed was someone with a wealth of experience buying and selling players, and some who knows the market inside out.
Ashley isn’t a demon sent to destroy us, he’s just a bloke who makes **** poor decision, like employing his mates (Pardew & Kinnaer) rather than paying the wage to employ the best possible person for the job.
I get that he is trying to balance the books and get us in a better financial place. But there’s a balance, there is more could be done to make us better as a FOOTBALL club, rather than a business. Ashley seems happy to settle with 2nd best or worse for us and its for that reason that I hate the bloke.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Dave@38 ,Yeah it’s pretty apparent which type I agree.
TAE@37 😯 ouch ,would very much like to inflict a bit of that now mate 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
@ KIMTOON
will hold him for ya if ya like 😆 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Sharpy I would agree with pretty much all of that
Big Dave(Quote)
TAE ,Your on mate 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
Right catch you’s later
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave – then you are a very smart fellow 😉 😆
I also think that we should sign Carlton Cole and Mohammad Sissoko on short term deals. I know neither are world beaters and would never be first choice, but the position we find ourselves in right now – I think both would be worth getting on a one year contract.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Added Yossi Benayoun to that list on a one year deal. I know he’s 33 so we won’t, but he’d be better back up for Benny than the options we have now in Gosling and Obertan IMO
Sharpy17(Quote)
@Dave
The players aren’t daft tho. They will know better than anyone that the squad is too weak and know Pards will think the same.
Just ask Cabaye. 🙂
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@Sharpy
Well that’s cleared that up. Next article Toonsy. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy – that’s my believe mate, I’m not looking to force to upon anyone just putting it out there.
But out of interest, how does it sit with you?
Sharpy17(Quote)
@Sharpy
I’ve told you what the craic is above. I’m right and you are wrong. Day follows night. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy – your comments are as predictable as Pards mate 😉 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
**** knows
CC(Quote)
Sharpy if you were right just this one time, it would be twice as much as what Troy has ever been.. 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Troy – the issue I have with your theory is that I simply don’t believe that Ashley cares whether Pardew accepts what he said regardless of his football knowledge.
I can’t see Ashley sitting down and thinking “we’ll I think this squad is good for a top 10 position, but how do I convince Alan ….. I know, I’ll employ Joe!”.
The man is a billionaire businessman and will have made thousands of uneducated decisions in the past, and I’m sure hasn’t given much of a **** what people thought.
I also don’t believe JFK would accept the job based on that either TBH. That aside, JFK had bids for players accepted so they clearly didn’t believe that the squad was strong enough and needed some strengthening.
I also think that Pardew is more than happy working under the transfer policy. If it were KK who would want to spend £20-30m each window then they may need that buffer. But had we got even Darren Bent for £5-6m I think Pardew would have been happy with that.
Sharpy17(Quote)
the Chron
“Newcastle United FC manager Alan Pardew will seek assurance from Yohan Cabaye that he remains committed to the club”
maybe Pards should book himself in for a backbone transplant and ask his gaffer the same question.. 🙄
mark(Quote)
Aussie – neither I nor anyone else has full facts about what has went on or what the plan is. So I would never claim to be right without having the full facts 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy17
yeah, I agree with your last post. its very child-like to think Ashley would hire JFK just to annoy us 🙄
This is why I dont eagerly hop onto the reality train, its full of doofy’s 😆
mark(Quote)
Sharpy, why not? It has never stopped Troy from doing it 😛
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Mark – if he has any doubts then he simply doesn’t play him for me mate. After that the question is irrelevant, because if a club bids £20m for him in Jan then he’ll be sold regardless of how committed to NUFC he is or not.
In fact in an ironic way, the more Cabs is committed to us, the more likely he is to leave 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
we’ve got no money! its that simple or should I say MA doesnt give a **** and wont spend anymore money on us. he hates our guts 😆
mark(Quote)
Don’t know if anyone has read the true faith article but it is worth a read and they list questions they would ask Ashley, which are good. I have pasted the questions below.
http://www.true-faith.co.uk/questions-answers/
The Newcastle United company accounts state £11m was taken off the debt up to June 12 with an £18m forecast to be taken up until June 13. A spokesperson for Newcastle United has stated that the money has not been taken from the club and made payable to you. What is the plan for this money?
The next Newcastle United accounts should be published in January 14. How much will they calculate you will be taking out of Newcastle United up to June 14?
Thereafter can you calculate at what rate you will take money from the club to repay your loan?
Do you accept that Newcastle United can operate to its full potential whilst you are taking such large sums out of the club to meet repayments of a loan you made to the club following your disastrous mismanagement and the financial costs they incurred?
Given the astonishing success of your other businesses, why are you taking such large amounts of money out of Newcastle United now when you cannot NEED this money right now?
Sports Direct have widespread advertising across St James’ Park, Darsley Park and on club merchandise. Rather than Newcastle United being paid for this advertising, it has been reported that the Sports Direct PLC board will pay you directly in recognition for the coverage obtained across a global audience.
Would you care to explain why Newcastle United’s commercial revenue has reduced each year of your ownership of the club, when it has grown at many other clubs?
How does the staffing, experience and strategy for Newcastle United’s commercial team compare with other similarly sized clubs?
What strategy is there to grow the Newcastle United commercial income at home and abroad in the next 24 months?
Can you explain where cash spent in Newcastle United club shops ends up as all tills and receipts appear to be wired up to Sports Direct? Is money spent by Newcastle United supporters in Newcastle United club shops syphoned off to Sports Direct and this represent money lost to the club.
Other than provide the most basic of support to the Newcastle United Foundation in the form of premises and payroll what financial support does the club provide to the Foundation as say, compared to Sunderland AFC?
What were the causes and consequences of the Newcastle United Academy failing to achieve Cat A status following the first round of independent inspections in 2012?
What was the selection process for the appointment of a Director of Football at Newcastle United?
Why did you decide to give Joe Kinnear a 3-year contract?
What plans are there to reconfigure the executive team at Newcastle United following Derek Llambias’ resignation?
Why did you decide to give Alan Pardew an eight-year contract?
What are your intentions regards your share-holding in Glasgow Rangers Football Club?
Given the global nature of the Premier League, why did you reduce the budget of the Newcastle United media team in the summer of 2013 and continue to make long-serving club employees redundant given the relatively small numbers involved?
Earlier in your ownership of Newcastle United your senior executive employees made statements claiming there were 5-year plans in place to take the club forward. Where is our position and place within any earlier plans and corporate objectives?
Why is Newcastle United selling match-day tickets at a lower unit price for games than the average cost of season tickets, this reducing the financial attractiveness of a season ticket for supporters and for the club in having its cash up front from its most loyal “customers” (sic)?
Albert’sTash(Quote)
Aussie – everyone is entitled to their opinion mate 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
@Sharpy. its ironic that if Cabaye has no love for us, Pards has to play him anyway just in-case his valuation drops. Pardew will never drop him.
So yeah, its a irrelevant question. Pards should just accept loads of players are questioning their ambition for Newcastle and just get on with it.
I wish Pards could be banned from speaking 😆
mark(Quote)
Mark – yeah I agree. The fact is that Cabs had his head turned by Arsenal, they are a bigger team who have qualified for the CL something like 16 seasons in a row. I’d be more annoyed with him if he wanted to leave for a WH or QPR or Sunderland :shock:.
He looked committed enough when he came on against Fulham despite the boos. But he got forward and worked for the team.
I’m sure if Mr Pardew plays the right way then Mr Cabaye will be happy.
Sharpy17(Quote)
but we just cant compete with the likes of WH or QPR, Sunderland..
Pardew should just be honest and say we cant compete with the likes of Leeds, Coventry or Rangers 😆
mark(Quote)
some great questions there Albert’sTash
unfortunately mike will never read them..
mark(Quote)
Mark I know that’s the sad thing he just doesn’t care and has skin as thick as a rhino. That is why we will probably here nothing from the Chronicle regarding their questions put to him.
The question regarding the club shop is a good one as I wasn’t aware that the tills are linked to sports direct. I was in the club shop in the metro centre last week buying the old Greenalls football shirt for my dads 60th and noticed they have all those 30% off sports direct tags on everything and that got my blood boiling.
Albert’sTash(Quote)
aye Albert. was just going to say I thought the club shop was sports direct..
its pretty disgusting how he holds us with such contempt. I dont think any other club has such poor communication with their supporters.
mark(Quote)
back to kinnears job. Everton were in a similar position to us.
They wouldnt have bought Barry, Mcarthy and loaned Lukaku if they hadnt of sold Fellaini and Anichebe.
I would assume we make more money then Everton tho?
mark(Quote)
Alberts Tash – Ashley might not answer all of those questions but **** JFK off enough in an interview and he may give a couple of answers in one of his blind rage rants mate 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Mark: pardew does not no what the word honest means
spider(Quote)
Bloody hell Toonsy you are turning a bit emo like can you not put out something a little positive or even something that will generate any other kind of discussion other than the guff that is so prevalent at the minute.
This place has become so tiresome and to think it used to have plenty of different opinions and generally good craic. Now it seems to be who can put out the most posts out about how they hate the “regime” before the article ends……
Santii(Quote)
Anyone actually know if JFK does have a job with NUFC (any more)? He’s hardly been up here, done about 3 interviews, none locally and has now disappeared. He did no transfer business and admits he doesn’t do anything else. If it wasn’t for Talksport we wouldn’t even know he was alive.
georgio(Quote)
Georgio @73 , He has done transfer work though ,he’s offloaded Perch ,Simmo ,Harps and loaned out a couple of others,Oh and arranged the Remy Loan ,cause we didn’t know he existed until Joe arrived 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Santi ,Through a couple of positives in the ring for someone to write an article about.
KIMTOON(Quote)