Karting is key to Newcastle's survival plan as Kinnear arranges team bonding session

20 January 2009 00:33
Road to ruin: Joe Kinnear is desperate to repair wounded relationships among his players as in-fighting, as seen between Joey Barton and Jose Enrique last weekend at Blackburn, threatens to derail the club's survival hopes Although Kinnear initially steered Newcastle in the right direction and suffered just two defeats in his first 10 games, they won only twice. But they have never recovered from the Boxing Day defeat at Wigan, they are riddled with injuries and Kinnear is blaming everyone but himself. Having exhausted the excuse that every referee at a Newcastle game is incompetent, Kinnear attacked his predecessors at the weekend, without realising he was actually criticising Ashley.   More... Newcastle abandon their bid to sign former Liverpool defender Finnan Shearer fears for Newcastle as misery continues at St James' Park Kinnear fears Newcastle's lack of mental strength could lead to relegation NEWCASTLE UNITED FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB MIDDLESBROUGH FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB SUNDERLAND FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB 'Our biggest problem is a lack of strength in depth,' he said. 'Why wasn't it addressed by the last manager or the manager before him? I've inherited this and I'm carrying the can.' Does he seriously believe Kevin Keegan and Sam Allardyce did not try to address this issue? Kinnear's criticism of others raised eyebrows at Allardyce's new club, Blackburn. New deal: Kinnear is set to offered an extended stay Neil McDonald, a former Newcastle player and now assistant at Ewood Park, said: 'Managers don't do themselves any favours when they blame their predecessors. 'Yes, Joe Kinnear has inherited (this situation) but he has to get on with it.' Although Allardyce did sign the dreadful Enrique for£6million, the Newcastle board were working to take transfer control away from him before he was sacked a year ago. By the time Keegan was appointed, Dennis Wise was on his way and with him some more very average Spaniards. Newcastle are paying for that folly now. Meanwhile, Ashley is on the verge of offering Kinnear a two-year contract. Perhaps it is reward for accepting his working conditions, rather than any achievements. Four wins in 18 games is the sort of form which got previous Newcastle managers the sack. His Premier League neighbours - Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate and Roy Keane's replacement, Ricky Sbragia at Sunderland - also have employment issues. Lost in translation: Boro boss Gareth Southgate is struggling to overturn his side's perilous form During Soccer AM's Crossbar Challenge at the weekend, Southgate introduced himself to the cameras. 'Gareth Southgate, manager,' he confirmed. 'For the next two weeks anyway, unless this lot get their fingers out.' Five hours later they lost 3-0 at bottom club West Bromwich Albion and his smile had gone. Southgate is now the bookies' favourite for the axe, even though he has the backing of a chairman who refused to sack Bryan Robson when Boro were last relegated. But Southgate has been acknowledging for weeks that Steve Gibson will not be afraid to fire him. Gibson is a ruthless businessman who is concerned about his side's run of nine games without a win which has seen them fall from possible European qualifiers to relegation fodder. He has also had to deal with the uncertainty of Stewart Downing and Gary O'Neil's commitment to the cause and insisted they remain at the club. Gibson's argument is that Middlesbrough can only survive with unity in the dressing room and from the boardroom. He will hope and believe this high-risk strategy pays off.  Ricky Sbragia is aware that his Sunderland side are struggling for consistency Sbragia, meanwhile, was the surprise choice for Niall Quinn, although not in the Sunderland dressing room where he still has universal support. The Scot still needs to turn that into positive results and performances as he struggles to find any consistency. Sunderland's next away trip, on February 1, is the small matter of the Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park, which is fast becoming one of the most significant in history.   More... Newcastle abandon their bid to sign former Liverpool defender Finnan Shearer fears for Newcastle as misery continues at St James' Park Kinnear fears Newcastle's lack of mental strength could lead to relegation NEWCASTLE UNITED FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB MIDDLESBROUGH FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB SUNDERLAND FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB  

Source: Daily_Mail