Joe Kinnear - Our fans do not understand my problems

Jan 19 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

JOE Kinnear told Newcastle United’s supporters they do not understand the problems he is up against after they turned on him for the first time, writes.

The 62-year-old was barracked by travelling fans during Saturday’s 3-0 surrender at Blackburn Rovers. They also demanded the introduction of substitute Jonás Gutiérrez. The Argentinian did not come on until the 79th minute because of an injured hamstring. Afterwards Kinnear was anxious to explain the defeat, his failure to land any transfer targets in the first 17 days of the window, the make-up of his squad and his team selection.

“I understand how the fans feel, they’ve been phenomenal since I came,” he said. “The fans are crying out for success, and I’m not trying to hide from that. They want to see Newcastle do well and, in the second half, we disappointed them.

“They’re going to vent their anger and, nine times out of 10, it’s the manager that gets it. I suppose previous managers have had the same treatment, but I feel for them and understand where it comes from.

“They don’t know the ins and outs of what’s happening at the club, and they don’t know just how tough it is. They might be chanting for their favourite player (Gutiérrez) but they have to understand he hasn’t trained this week.

“The sad thing – and I’m going to hate saying it – is that being out of the (FA) Cup might be a blessing in disguise. I know we should have annihilated Hull (in last week’s third-round replay, which they lost 1-0), but it’ll give us two or three weeks to get players back.” Newcastle do not play again until January 28 at Manchester City. Nicky Butt will be suspended after being sent off on Saturday. United must hope the Football Association do not examine his reaction – abusing referee Rob Styles, then petulantly hoofing the ball into the stands – or the ban could be extended.

Kinnear – who was in France yesterday scouting his top targets, Rennes midfielder Stéphane Mbia, and Lille centre-back Adil Rami – also revealed his transfer budget will not stretch as far as he hoped. The Magpies bid £5m for Mbia but Rennes want nearer double that.

Kinnear faces a choice between quantity and quality between now and 5pm on February 2.

“I’m certainly going to spend the £10m I’ve got,” he said. “I was trying to spread the money wisely and buy two £5m players. On each occasion, the (selling) club has said they want £10m. Whether I get that kind of money is debatable. The club’s haemorrhaging money and you know what’s happening in the economic climate.

“The question now is do I go for one £10m player, or do I keep searching for two £5m signings?

“I’m not going to take free transfers and I’m not going to take some of the players who have been offered to me this week. We’ve got to be in there getting top-class players because this is a top-class club.” The United boss may be able to supplement his budget by reluctantly selling back-up goalkeeper Steve Harper to Tottenham Hotspur.

The London side have turned their attention to Harper, having originally targeted Newcastle’s first choice shot-stopper Shay Given.

If United can retain the disillusioned Given, selling Harper now could be an attractive option because he can leave for free at the end of his contract in June and highly-rated Dutch youngster Tim Krul is due to return from loan at Carlisle United this week.

Kinnear, meanwhile, has blamed the lack of balance in the squad on his predecessors and put much of the onus for Saturday’s defeat on referee Rob Styles.

The Waterlooville official awarded a penalty against Newcastle for the third time this season – wrongly in Kinnear’s view – and sent off a United player for the second time.

Despite his gripes, Kinnear has no intention of walking away from the job.

“I love the game, so I’m going to fight my corner,” he said.

“It’s a massive job and I like the people up here.

“I love the club and being back in the Premier League. I said I’d keep Newcastle up and I intend to do that.

“Once we get two or three players back fully fit – and I mean fully fit – I think we’ll be all right. Only time will tell, but I’m very confident we will stay up.”

Meanwhile, Slovenian First Division side NK Domzale have confirmed that their 16-year-old midfielder Haris Vuckic has signed for Newcastle. The deal is initially for six months, with the option of a further three years.