Sticking up for Joe Kinnear….

After reading and listening to Joe Kinnear’s extraordinary rant at the media, I had a couple of thoughts running through my fragile mind.

Firstly, what would his mother think if she heard him cursing like that? And secondly, is he right?

Since JK arrived at Newcastle a short time ago, he has been vilified from all corners of the press. Even Shay Given, an exceptional player and well-respected senior member of the Newcastle squad declared himself ‘underwhelmed’ with the appointment. That’s hardly the right attitude to have when a manager comes in, interim or not.

Before he’d even set foot in his temporary office he was being slagged off by the papers, but for what reason? Sure, he hasn’t managed in roughly 4 years and it’s been a long time since he’s managed in the top flight. But he did an very good job at Wimbledon, bringing them close to European qualification and to two domestic cup semi-finals in 1997. He also got Luton promoted at the first time of asking in the 2001/2002 season.

Now don’t get me wrong, he didn’t do himself any favours by slating almost everyone at the press-conference on Thursday. Savvy managers use the media to their advantage and slating them in such a manner will only bring more grief upon Kinnear. But I have to sympathise with him. Regardless of his position in the managerial wilderness, he was the only man brave enough to take on a role so unattractive that it makes cleaning toilets look like a dream job.

He was never first choice for the job, and for all I know he could do an awful job at Newcastle. But maybe we should reserve our judgement until he’s actually resided over a match or two.

For all you folks living under rocks on the moon with your ears plugged and your eyes blindfolded, here’s a chance to read Joe Kinnear’s beautifully articulate disagreement with the media.

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Category: Premier League