Wil

Surprisingly encouraged by the interview, at least he sounded like he was on the case. He must know he needs results for any kind of credibility.

The knowing one way or the other on mon/tues thing does seem to fit with the Journal story on Saturday saying we were going to press him and his agent to commit over the weekend.

With Bent obviously wanted keenly by Pardew, it turns out to be a deal easy for JFK to sabotage and almost humiliatingly so. Still nothing yet worthy of any trust in Kinnear and Ashley whatsoever so far in this window .

Got to be good news. Someone to play alongside him and things might even be looking up a little.

Ha! some friendly this.

You can bet that Kinnear's idea of his DOF role is very different from Pardew's. This smacks of some kind of statement about where he sees his influence on the football side at some level behind the scenes. I mean why else does he need his best football ally in there anyway. The whole thing stinks of some kind of power struggle.

Seems to have worked with plenty of top athletes and players, can only be a good thing. Surprisingly positive news!

Its another example of how unhealthy the club is at the moment behind the scenes.

Here we go.... Newcastle set to buy Jeroen Zoet from PSV Eindhoven to be keeper Krul's understudy 9 Jul 2013 22:30 Holland U21 international will presented to manager Alan Pardew as a done deal by Joe Kinnear and Mike Ashley Newcastle are swooping for PSV Eindhoven keeper Jeroen Zoet in a deal set up by new supremo Joe Kinnear. Holland Under-21 international Zoet, who has spent the last two seasons out on loan at PSV's Dutch rivals RKC Waalwijk, is heading for Tyneside after the clubs thrashed out a £2.5 million fee. The 22-year-old will be understudy for fellow Dutchman Tim Krul, but his arrival may increase the chances of the Geordies' highly-rated number one being sold. The transfer is the idea of Kinnear and owner Mike Ashley - manager Alan Pardew is being handed the shot-stopper as a done deal. Zoet’s imminent capture will raise doubts about the future of Rob Eliot, who stood in for the injured Krul over the final weeks of last season. Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-transfers-jeroen-zoet-psv-2041364#ixzz2YaSLTArO Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook

Yep. Guess we'll see just how provoked JFK is by Pardew's early manoeuvring when he gets back. If he feels only slightly shafted, or that Pardew has downplayed his new DOF role too much, he's unlikely to be able to contain himself.

Yeah he definitely said he was happy with the defence and that Mapou could cover both full back positions. Just can't see him wanting to offload Taylor. Unfortunately that might not rule out Redknapp and Kinnear blagging some kind of swap deal of their own behind the scenes. Hoping that's not the case though.

Certainly no evidence as yet that there's any recognisable strategy emanating from that new office down at the training ground. Am finding it best not to dwell on what might be going on in there. Can't remember having quite such a lack of confidence in anyone at the club, really, except Graham Carr I guess. Just hope his word can prevail behind the scenes.

Today's little episode unfortunately only seems to confirm the impression of chaos emanating from behind the scenes. Might be a long summer!

What to make of this? Sports Direct News! Sorry if already posted.. ........Newcastle United have made a dramatic late entrance into the race for Wigan Athletic striker Arouna Kone - in a bid to hijack his move to Everton. Toon boss Mike Ashley has told Latics he will pay £5 million for the Ivory Coast hit man and has been given permission to talk to him. Kone was due to close a move to Goodison and team up with former Wigan chief Roberto Martinez, but now he has two choices. Newcastle will pay the £5m up front that Latics owner Dave Whelan is demanding and are happy to compete at the death and try to talk Kone round. Kone was a big success in his debut season in the Premier League and was chased by Norwich and Swansea City before Everton showed their hand. Despite Kone saying that he prefers Everton the door is just slightly open for Newcastle who badly want the powerful and skillful African. Kone will not be at Wigan for pre-season training today as he sorts out his future, with an unexpected alternative on his mind.

Would like to see a 4312 with Hatem at the front of a diamond slipping through-balls to Cisse and Bent. Could be tasty. We have enough hardworking players for the midfield three. Only problem is don't think Pardew would ever consider it.

Mmm... an old fashioned poacher, the type of player a couple of old lags like Kinnear and Pardew would have fond memories of.

Couldn't be more of a contrast that he'd have a manager now who believes in him, so if the move goes through his confidence should certainly be flying. What formation he'll be played in though, is another matter....

Darren Bent's past record as a goal scorer will be known factor for Kinnear, and he couldn't be more "available". Pardew appears to be pushing for him, with Kinnear reportedly sympathetic to his pleas for more experience etc. There's no time before the season begins for Kinnear to run the rule over any of Carr's recommendations. As for Bent himself there wouldn't be a bigger move so he'd be prepared to wait while we try to negotiate the fee down to an acceptable figure for Ashley. Can see Pardew and Kinnear now, singing Bent's praises. All adds up to me.

Did a solid job, always gave his best. Wish him well.

Cant see Ashley coughing up the compensation just yet, though Pardew will remain a millstone until he does. Would we be prepared to sacrifice most of the transfer budget for a clean start? All things considered, think I would. Not that I reckon Poyet is a huge, proven improvement, but I would reckon there is more potential for a successful season, at least something to look forward to, which I'm struggling for at the moment.

Amongst all the shit that's been written, that's an astute piece.

Seems pretty emphatic about the lack of break clauses there.

Absolutely no substance to that article at all.

Though sensationalist the Mirror story definitely has a ring of truth, in fact it could confirm a lot. Carr brings in technical players, Pardew is not the right coach to use them, which has been more than evident this season. Ashley doesn't know what's going on because he knows fuck all about football. So brings in trouble shooter JFK. No joined up thinking, no teamwork, from the beginning - and all because Ashley didn't employ a proper professional football executive to run the club in the first place but entrusted his then mate to do it. Chickens coming home to roost big time.

He may have been accepting of the DOF role in principle, but I would think Pardew must be contemplating tonight the reality of a season of total chaos ahead, which he won't want on his cv while the memory of his 2011/12 success is still recent enough to sell himself to a future employer. Also he's pretty modern media savvy, and the thought of dealing with constant JFK fallout would be enough to send any sane man running for the hills! It'll be a bitter pill to swallow because this is the biggest job he'll ever have, but I expect him to walk.