I'm bewlidered by Ashley. He is manipultive and does not appear to give a shit about us. A club is not like any other business, it just isn't and, unless you bring success, you must maintain some kind of relationship with the supporters or you are a dead man walking.
The only thing he did which appeared to be for the fans was bring back Keegan. With hindsight this appears to have been a marketing ploy and when it came to actually working together Ashley et al weren't prepared to budge. Off you go then Kev, I have all these northern monkeys signed up for 3 years already thanks to your face in toon.
Mort aside, he's brought in a some questionable staff to run us. Dennis Wise, basically hated by everyone outside the clubs he played for, and probably several within. A nasty little shit that we never liked scouting for kids? It's like getting Hitler to be a Mohel ffs. And Llambias, Kashley's drinking buddy. Whoop! Williamson on paper looks like a decent operational manager (recruited by Mort), but that has little influence on the football dealings. There's still no-one speaking to us from the top level, they won't even talk to our supporters club, hastily assembled to deal with this lot after years of quietly tolerating various other sharks.
Having said that, they appear to be thinking long term with the youth squad and the youth programme they are rolling out in the North East. Are they hoping the kids in 5 years will get us back to the top flight on the cheap? Or are they just trying to generate cash by getting them in young to flog on once developed? Time will tell, but this youth focus appears to be the main thrust of their plans. This could be good but you have to support the senior team to bring these kids through into, protect your investment, outlay now so there is something significant to bleed them into. Front load your investment for long term savings.
He could still win me over, but it would require a fairly huge change in direction. The senior recruitment policy is looking a disgrace, did we not have a list to work through? Who's in then on 22nd January? Who wants away? I'll reserve judgement for another 10 days, but it's looking pretty grim. Disarray.
Kinnear, I just don't think he's very good and feel a little sorry for him to be in that compromised position at his age. I look at him and think of Arthur Fowler, rocking in the corner of the room. I think he'll walk eventually, probably blaming us.
Being Newcastle manager should be one of the best jobs in football, and while it's always been hugely challenging I think now it's a total nightmare, only tenable to someone who thought they had already been barred from the last chance saloon.
Who would we get in if Kinnear left, seriously, who?
