When Mike Ashley bought Newcastle United in the summer of 2007, he said he wanted to build the Newcastle United brand on a global basis, but in a short two years we were relegated – and it’s hard to build a global brand if you are in England’s second division.
Derek LLambias – Newcastle’s Managing Director
But to be fair, Newcastle have done extremely well since the summer of 2009, and we were immediately promoted from the Championship, and in our second season back we finished in 5th place – which is where Bobby Robson had the club back in 2004, before being sacked by Freddy Shepherd.
Newcastle will try to build their brand on a global basis, as then Chairman Chris Mort had promised when Ashley bought the club, and one way of doing that is via our summer tours.
It was unfortunate last summer that the tournament in South Africa was canceled at the last moment, and we know a lot of the South African fans were very disappointed with that news.
And it seems that Derek LLambias would like to return to the US this summer, and although football (soccer) is still not a popular sport over here, it’s popularity has been increasing, but it will never challenge their own home made sports of American football, baseball and basketball, and other sports too.
In the populat USA Today newspaper, the sports page has nine sports listed along the top – and you have to look in “other” for what they call soccer – to differentiate it from the hugely popular American football – take a look
It seems Derek LLambias wants to return to the US in the summer:
“In pre-season we would like to go the States again. We’re working on that.” “Perhaps Brazil or the States or somewhere around that way. We were let down last year in South Africa by broadcasters.”
And while things are really looking up for Newcastle these days, we still cannot ignore the fact that we are not safe in the Premier League yet, although Sunderland have become in a lot more danger of relegation, with both top scorer Steven Fletcher and Lee Cattermole out for the season with injuries.
As far as staying in the Premier League this is what Llambias had to say:
“We are in a much healthier position to deal with it.” “But I don’t think we are going to be relegated.”
I’ll be much happier about our league position if we can beat both Fulham and Sunderland at home in the next two games at St. James’ Park, because if we can do that we should be be safe on 39 points.
The way Newcastle will build their global brand is by finishing in the top six every season and competing in Europe each and every season – and if we can do that we’ll get massive TV coverage around the world – just like we did last season.
That’s what Mike Ashley has already said he wants – to be in Europe every season – but it’s easier said than done, and we’ll not be in Europe next season, unless we can win the Europa League – which would bring us massive worldwide coverage.
And then Derek would need to increase the fees we get from our summer tour – wonder if that clause will be in the contract. 😀
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16 comments so far
Carryingcoals
Mar 28, 2013 at 9:50 AM
Comment #1repost:
sage
my sentiments exactly. Social movements can begin in the grassroots.
But yes back to football. Can we pick up points at Man City? It’ll be difficult, but they’re far from unbeatable.
Sunderland however have it tough. Next 4 games are Man U Chelsea us and Everton. Fletcher out for the season. They really could go down. Just got a ticket for the derby yesterday so I’m happy with that.
Transfer Sage
Mar 28, 2013 at 9:52 AM
Comment #2Pre season tours now are all about promoting the club from a financial side and used to increase fan base. We would be foolish not to get involved and we should look to kick on in brazil, india and the states…as well as the traditional places like the far east to get more fans.
Carryingcoals
Mar 28, 2013 at 9:55 AM
Comment #3Fulham will be tricky. It’s at home and we expect to win of course, but they will come and sit behind the ball looking not to lose rather than looking to win. It’ll be difficult. However I suppose you could say all our remaining games are.
Transfer Sage
Mar 28, 2013 at 9:55 AM
Comment #4carrying
I think man city is a weird game. Their season is over now, no chance of winning the title, man utd won’t lose 5 with city winning all 8.
They will play with freedom I think, not having anything to play for but that can be dangerous. I think if we play at a high intensity they might just not be up for it. If we play slow and let them play they could just enjoy the game and go to town on us.
It’s a bonus game though, expect nothing so any points are good.
Transfer Sage
Mar 28, 2013 at 9:57 AM
Comment #5I think all of our home games are winnable, after city I think we have a chance to win the rest, I know we wont, but I won’t go into any of those thinking we will do well to get a point.
Carryingcoals
Mar 28, 2013 at 9:58 AM
Comment #6sage
Yeah true. Absolutely. It’ll be interesting to see how the likes of Sissoko cope with City’s midfield.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 28, 2013 at 10:01 AM
Comment #7Right Direction
Global Brand
In Good shape Financially
Looking for players all over Europe
and all the rest of the crap
We have got to stay up first!!!!!!
Transfer Sage
Mar 28, 2013 at 10:04 AM
Comment #8charlie
I wouldn’t worry about relegation.
Even if we mess up can you see 4 of sunderland, reading, villa, wigan, QPR and southampton picking up more points than us to send us down?
I really can’t so my fears have eased, but we can’t ease off, got to keep fighting.
Far East Magpie
Mar 28, 2013 at 10:07 AM
Comment #9talking about qualifying for europe every season, we know that europa league winners will qualify for the next season’s edition. but what if the winners have qualified for champions league?
does it mean that the losing finalist would take the place of the winners for the following season’s europa league?
if that’s the case, us going into the europa league final with a team which has qualified for champions league would guarantee us european football for next season whether or not we win.
Transfer Sage
Mar 28, 2013 at 10:09 AM
Comment #10far east
Not 100% sure but from what I have seen only the winner gets the place regardless of anything else. So even if we are runners up to a team like spurs or chelsea we won’t get it.
ToonDownSouth
Mar 28, 2013 at 10:13 AM
Comment #11Sky –
“However, owner Mike Ashley sanctioned a £31million January spending spree to address the issue, and that has paid dividends since.”
31 million? Am I missing something??
Far East Magpie
Mar 28, 2013 at 10:14 AM
Comment #12transfer sage
if that’s the case, if a team who has qualified for champions league wins the europa league, then the following season’s europa league will have 1 team less.
would uefa allow that and if they don’t, where are they going to get the replacement team?
south coast toon
Mar 28, 2013 at 10:21 AM
Comment #13ere fan base is on the rise all over in dorset you now see loads of poeple wearing the toon shirt and when you go abroad, alough they dont seem to clued up on newcastle in eygpt. i think having more internalional players helps ,argentina would be good for us, having all those french players has chucked us right up in france and a few more dutch internalionals would help. so dont worry about anything else than getting top level internalionals in, an english one would be nice but r they good enough lol
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Mar 28, 2013 at 10:24 AM
Comment #14Transfer Sage
When it comes to following the TOON I’ve became pessimistic with so many false dawns over the past 50 years
Black and White Blood
Mar 28, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Comment #15TDS – Re: 31 million
I reckon that was the extra ten/eleven/twelve mil allocated for Rémy, which in the end we didn’t spend.
ASTORIA
Mar 28, 2013 at 10:27 PM
Comment #16Llambias is a cretin, wish he would keep his vile mouth shut…the man has no class or intelligence.