SUPERMAC
06
SAYS
“Joe’s crafty, every season he
splashes the cash on one big
signing and that keeps every one
happy for a few months!”.
Somebody once said this to me,
back in the early 1970s’ a year or so
after I made the move to Tyneside,
referring of course to then manager,
Joe Harvey. It was a rather cynical
view and didn’t do credit to the
manner that Joe would utilize the
transfer market for the betterment
of his team.
In the summer of 1971 Joe Harvey
moved as soon as the season ended
to bring me to St. James’ Park. The
time to do the best deals I believe.
Strike whilst others are still thinking
about it.
Then in the following July he
entered the dressing room where his
team was after a morning’s training
and stood in front of me. In a stage
whisper he announced, “I have
just signed the man who is going
to make the bullets for you to fire”.
Wow! Who was the new signing, Joe,
c’mon, tell us. He dramatically took
his time before announcing, “I have
just signed Terry Hibbitt from Leeds
United for £30,000”.
WOW! We really were impressed at
this, great passer, wonderful left peg.
As Joe started to exit the dressing
room door he slowed and turned and
said, “Mind, he can cause trouble in
an empty house!”. And do you know,
he was right, on every count. But Joe
had made two close-season signings
bringing in the highest goalscorer
outside Division One and hugely
experienced midfielder, and also,
to boot, two left feet into a totally
right footed team. Balance was
created. And so Joe would manoevre
on a yearly basis, always looking
to strengthen the weak spots and
balance the team.
The Newcastle United I witnessed
last season had little balance and was
riddled with weaknesses that spread
like an unwanted cancer that nobody
seemed brave enough to tackle and
do something about. Not helped by
a negatively defensive formation
of 4-2-3-1 that is as depressing to
play in as it is to watch. Ah, but
wait a minute folks, we now have a
Director of Football whose remit, it
would seem, is firstly to search for
an assistant and secondly to go on
holiday during the relatively limited
transfer window.
Well, I suppose a fifty per cent
success rate isn’t bad going for
starters. Although, I do feel I should
mention that I haven’t come across
a Director of Football requiring an
assistant before.
So what is Joe Kinne \