No we didn’t just make up that headline.
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It was a comment by Adrian Heath, the manager of Orlando City, who Newcastle will play on their American tour.
Adrian hearth – Orlando City manager
Adrian Heath played for eight different clubs during his career and played mostly for Stoke City, Everton, Manchseter City and Burnley.
Adrian then started his management career back in 1996, and he managed Burnley, Sheffield United and was caretaker manager at Coventry City.
Adrian then moved stateside in 2008 to manage the USL-1 expansion team, Aztex FC, based in Austin, Texas.
Adrian was also a former member of Peter Reidâs Sunderland coaching staff, so has worked in the North East.
Adrian spoke to the Newcastle Journal recently and talked about the upcoming friendly when Newcastle play Orlando City.
Adrian had this to say, and some flattering words for Newcastle:
âFirst and foremost we are looking forward to the game, and playing against one of the biggest clubs in the world in only our second year of existence is a major achievement.”
âWe are going to be three quarters of the way through our season by the time it comes around. In terms of match fitness and sharpness there will be no issues at all, and the lads are all looking forward giving Newcastle a strong test.â
âThere are a lot of considerations when you are planning an overseas tour, but America ticks the boxes in pretty much every one of those,â Â Â “On things like climate, facilities, food and language then it has the advantage over the Far East, and with the travelling time being a bit less as well you can see why more and more teams are coming over here for pre-season now.”
âIt might not be as lucrative as the Far East, but as somebody who has toured Asia as a player myself, the stifling humidity you often get over there at this time of year really doesnât do much for your preparations from either a conditioning or footballing point of view.â
âThere is nothing quite like leaving home and going on the road with your team-mates for a couple of weeks, and it really helps to cement the spirit in the squad,â Â Â âWhen I was a player we always did a bit of touring, but not to the extent that sides seem to be doing nowadays.”
“We went to the Far East, Australia and New Zealand with Everton, but it seemed to die out for a time and has only just came back in the last decade or so.” Â âIt is the first time that you get to know people really well, being on the road, and the manager will maybe allow the boys out together for a few beers when the time is right.”
“That is all good for the camaraderie going into the new season, but they will have three tough games out here as well.â Â âEverybody wants to try and grow their brand in the USA, because it is a really lucrative emerging market for the Premiership.
âIf you take Chelsea as an example, by coming here for the last four years in a row they have developed a stronger American presence and fan base, and I am sure that Newcastle will have half an eye on that. From our own point of view at Orlando City it is a huge coup to get a club of Newcastleâs stature over here, and we are expecting what they are â a top-class outfit.”
“When you look at their squad there is a lot of quality there with the likes of Fabricio Coloccini, Joey Barton and JosĂ© EnrĂque to name three and they have new signings who they will be looking to add into that.â
The American tour should be a good one, and it gives the Newcastle a chance to get some good publicity stateside.
With the Premier League games being shown live over here for the last several years, there will be a growing interest in football (soccer) over here, and we think some excellent youngsters will be coming through in America.
If you think back ten to fifteen years ago, there were very few, if any, Â Americans playing in the English leagues, but there are a lot more now, and that will only increase, and probably quite significantly in the years ahead.
Comments welcome.
124 comments so far
WWJBD
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:19 PM
Comment #81Anyway this argument is stupid really. Just put it like this how many professional teams are there in the world? We are very much one of the biggest clubs in comparison
CynicalasEva
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:19 PM
Comment #82fairpoint, well put Lisburn
Stuart
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:20 PM
Comment #83If you ask anyone with a football at their feet, anywhere in the world, who newcastle united were they would know.
That makes us a big club as far as im concerned like.
LisburnMag
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:22 PM
Comment #84Wat other club has had full length feature films made about them?…..goal, goal2, Purley belter!
Were Massive!
hainesy
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:22 PM
Comment #85It amazes me to think that a team with Lee Bowyer, Titus Bramble, Hugo Viana, Andy O’Brien, Shola, Gary Speed ( aged about 80) could get into Europe.
Spike
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:23 PM
Comment #86I don’t want anyone for free any more. We can’t afford them. It would be cheaper just to pay a bit of cash out.
Has anyone read this from .org? Quite enlightening:
http://www.nufcblog.org/2011/07/do-we-pay-huge-fees-to-agents/
Indian Magpie
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:23 PM
Comment #87Smooth moves Shola
sorry but i agree withWWJBD
ReagansWig
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:25 PM
Comment #88Just seen KALOU in the beehive woohoo bring it on
JackButler
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:29 PM
Comment #89You’d have to say that we are the most unique club in the world as we can make two free transfers cost 35mil, now there’s no other club in the world that can do that lol
Stuart
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:30 PM
Comment #90ah, not you too Jack, don’t say you’ve gone neg haha!
GeordieGerman âallez les gars!â
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:31 PM
Comment #91WWJBD, If you take all the worlds professional clubs. Then we are bloody massive… ! Like WOW man.
WWJBD
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:33 PM
Comment #92GG
Exactly we are a massive club! Haha đ
JackButler
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:33 PM
Comment #93Stuart
ha ha, no mate, but you’ve got to laugh at it though.
But if MA fails us again after this window shuts, I’ll take negativity to a scale not seen before lol
Andy
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:34 PM
Comment #94Real Madrid, Barca, Valencia, Milan, Inter, Roma, Lazio, Napoli (Maradona),Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man U, Celtic, Rangers. I think we’re just behind those lot in europe.
Andy
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:35 PM
Comment #95For got Bayern and Dortmund! Balls
Stuart
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:35 PM
Comment #96Haha thank god for that, thought I had another person I’d have to argue with then.
I’m the same like, when the window shuts hopefully I’ll be happy, if not I’ll be joining the dark side myself lol.
bills-son
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:37 PM
Comment #97I’ll tell you what I say when other fans say we aren’t a big club …
I say this …
There isn’t another club in the world, not yours pal, not Man U, not Liverpool, not Barcelona, not Real Madrid, not Inter Milan, not AC Milan, not PSG, not Bayern Munich … not ANY club …
Who could have won NOTHING domestically for 55 YEARS, NOTHING in Europe for 41 YEARS, got RELEGATED and were STILL THE 4TH TOP SUPPORTED CLUB IN THE COUNTRY WITH AN AVERAGE ATTENDANCE OF 46,000.
Thats why we are a BIG club.
Its as simple as that.
The fourth best supported club in the country
JackButler
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:38 PM
Comment #98Haha, hope it works out the last thing i want is to have to agree with angryman, i couldn’t live with myself if i had to do that lol
Indian Magpie
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:38 PM
Comment #99Celtic & Rangers,
That s a joke or an insult
hainesy
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:39 PM
Comment #100Andy – We would trash Celtic and Rangers!
Did you not see that Celtic got beat by a team in the A-league and Rangers were beaten by a 4th Division german team? I know that is pre season but in reality they are at best a team that would fight against relegation from the PL.
Smooth moves Shola
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:39 PM
Comment #101No probs. As people say, how long is a piece of string? It’s really subjective and depends on the criteria used.
One thing I will say is, ours is a special club. It must leave a really hollow feeling supporting Man City or Chelski, I never want to become someones pawn for pleasure. The pleasure should be ours. I’d undoubtedly brag if we were to get a sugar daddy, but inside I wouldn’t feel the same, would be token victories, not earnt.
Can’t wait ’til we’re back challenging with the lard arses, on merit….
HTL! đ
JackButler
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:39 PM
Comment #102bills-son
@97 Spot on mate
Stuart
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:40 PM
Comment #103Even if I shared his views I think I’d have to disagree with angryman on principle haha!
Stuart
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:40 PM
Comment #104http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20110712/first-class-fergie_2281670_2391274?ref=nf
Andy
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:41 PM
Comment #105But they are big clubs. Think people are missing the point of this. Big club – fan base, tradition, history. Both have it. Also the team that gets relegated from the pl gets ÂŁ35m in tv. Celtic and rangers get ÂŁ1m i think they’re doing pretty well considering the financial difference
WWJBD
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:41 PM
Comment #106Like it or not lads Celtic and Rangers are big clubs. Always in Europe and known around the world
Indian Magpie
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:42 PM
Comment #107Big Clubs may be, but not bigger than NUFC
Andy
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:44 PM
Comment #108Also forgot ajax. Newcastle are a big club as the crowd shows but don’t get the world wide support like these guys. Even though our support is pretty wide spread
Burni
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:46 PM
Comment #109Cynical we ARE a big club now but could be much better if more money was invested i agree, what if ash does? Dont get me wrong im not sure but what if?
Bills son an lisburn, two belter posts!
Stuart
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:48 PM
Comment #110Even if he pumped 100m in people like cynical would still hate the man.
GeordieGerman âallez les gars!â
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:49 PM
Comment #111I’ve never understood Celtic and Rangers wanting to be in the PL. One season and they’d be in the Championship,
LisburnMag
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:50 PM
Comment #112Rangers and Celtic are known the world over more for there attachment to Religion and politics than for football!
SwedishMagpie
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:50 PM
Comment #113this Karim Ziani is just made up rumours because he is free agent I think (hope). we should spend our money on a fast striker like
Daniel Sturridge 12m
Seydou Doumbia15m
MevlĂŒt Erdinç 8m
Nathan Delfouneso 7m
Shane Long 7m
Gabriel Agbonlahor 10m
Obafemi Martins 6m
and a right winger like
Jérémy Menez 8m
Charles N’Zogbia 9m
Tranquillo Barnetta 7m
Marc Albrighton 8m
Andy
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:53 PM
Comment #114But they’re still known đ Also think the PL are scared of Celtic and Rangers as if they had the money the lower epl clubs had they’d be challenging the top half within a few seasons i reckon. It would be a good move for football. Would rather see us play them than wolves or Swansea or Wigan. I welcome the move (Celtic are my second team if you can’t tell)
Stuart
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:53 PM
Comment #115I’d be more than happy with any of those players like Swedish, except Martins, and all of them are at least feasible.
Burni
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:54 PM
Comment #116On a REALLY positive note stoke have agreed a fee with west ham for carlton cole! At least hell not be signing last day as ome had presumed!
Whew!
hainesy
Jul 12, 2011 at 5:56 PM
Comment #117Anyone that watches u-21 football from time to time may know a couple of these players but if not you should go and check them out.
First one is a player that has just been promoted from the B team to the Villarreal first team. As I said before they are my favourite club outside of the UK. They have an unbelievable finisher at the club named Nicki Bille Nielsen and he is one of my favourite strikers at the minute, he is one of those players that you like to watch when he isn’t even on the ball because his vision and space-making ability is second to none.
I also like Benjamin Stambouli of Montpellier, he has good ball control and despite being below Six foot he is surprisingly strong and has a good aerial presence.
I recommend you check them both out. There a couple of good videos of both players but here is a rather old one of Nicki
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSH_xwcqU20&feature=related
GeordieToon89
Jul 12, 2011 at 6:04 PM
Comment #118if celtic and rangers wer in our league they would be no way they’d go down… they give the european sides a good game all time and they have basically nothing to spend in scotland so imagine what they’d be like with some actual decent income from sky like all us prem clubs get.. a bet after a couple of mid table seasons they’d be challenging for champ league every season.. they both massive clubs and i hate to say it but well im talkin sense.. ther both bigger than us
wynsleap
Jul 12, 2011 at 6:27 PM
Comment #119“One of the biggest clubs in the world” wouldn’t buy Shefki Kuqi.
Sad thing is we COULD be, if the Controller showed some vision and ambition and realised the real potential of this club with the best supporters in the business.
JP...from The Rock
Jul 12, 2011 at 6:39 PM
Comment #120@WWJBD comment #1 – I think that’s a great idea lol Sending the players in an off day of their tour to Disney World will surely rapidly improve team bonding as everyone will have a laugh and be in high spirits when they come back. I personally loved my time there and have many fond memories, it really doesn’t matter how old you are you still have fun there.