Hoof the ball as high and as often as possible into the opposing goalmouth and chase it like marauding Vikings!

I doubt that’s one of the ideas from the FA coaching mannual but it was a principle that seemed to work pretty well for Joe Kinnear in his infamous Crazy Gang days at Wimbledon. In fact, it was so successful and productive that it became known, in a more refined sense, as the “long-ball game” which has been used successfully, but only occasionally, by many other clubs.

And I still don’t know whether it was the only coaching skill in Kinnear’s locker because I don’t ever recall seeing a constructive and informative interview in which he has discussed the finer points of the game. I’m not saying that he hasn’t done so at some time – it’s just that if he has, then I’ve missed it.

He always seemed to get on with the press gang fairly amicably, ready to exchange banter and, more often than not, truthful, friendly and straight-forward in his responses to questions. He was the journalist’s friend, ready with the odd exclusive for particular individuals.

That is, until he decided to take temporary charge of Newcastle United after four years out of the game, and he came up against it at St James’ Park.

The full text of his latest foul-mouthed rant (52 obscenities in 36 minutes) has been well documented in the national press over the past few days and I don’t intend to go into it. Except to point out that it is the job of a sports journalist to root out what it going at various clubs and pass on that information to the general public, and fans in particular, who support that club throughout the year at great personal expense.

And it is usually the job of the manager (very often grudgingly) to provide sensible answers and keep the public informed of what is going on. Many of them seem to forget that without the fans, they would probably be out of a job.

Kinnear did neither himself nor Newcastle any favours with his latest outrageous so-called press conference. But then again, Newcastle fans are getting used to being kicked in the teeth.

His short engagement on Tyneside might be good for his full-time job prospects back in the game. Whether Kinnear will be good for Newcastle in his allotted spell is an entirely different matter.

Geordie fans seem to be split in their opinion as to whether Joey Barton should still be at St James’ Park after his somewhat unsavoury behaviour, and they were quick to vent their anger when the Magpies’ most recent manager, Kevin Keegan, welcomed Barton back into the Newcastle squad after the Liverpudlian had spent a short spell behind bars.

Yet it’s easy to see why Kinnear has also given Barton a vote of confidence. The Irishman and the Scouser are two of a kind – abrasive, aggressive, short-tempered, unthinking and impetuous by nature. It remains to be seen whether the Toon Army are as forgiving.

Kinnear has only a handful of tough games to prove that he can turn around Newcastle’s fortunes. We can only hope that Mike Ashley finds a buyer for his crumbling club in the meantime.