News today that Newcastle are looking at the possibility of spending pre-season in Brazil next summer, which will be the site of the FIFA World Cup in 2014.
Brazil is also one of the emerging economies of the world, and has done very well over the last few years.
We’ve heard a lot from Derek Llambias since the news broke on the Wonga deal on Tuesday, and as far as we are concerned the more we hear about the club the better it is.
This is what Managing Director Derek LLambias said about the potential tour in South America:
“Yes, we’re talking about pre-season in Brazil. The World Cup’s coming up so it’s a good opportunity.” “We’re also working on different products. It’s a game plan we’ve been working on for a while. It’s a slow process – you can’t do it overnight.”
“Liverpool didn’t do it overnight, Manchester United didn’t. It’s a slow process.” “Newcastle is a big brand. We just need to get it out there with more backing from different communities.”
“I’m not sure that’s what it’s about for Mike and I. It’s all about the management of the team.”
Last summer big clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool all went on overseas tours to build their names around the world, and get some good money coming in too, and there’s no reason why Newcastle cannot embark on the same kinds of tour.
And Newcastle can certainly create controversy, and the club have done it again with the Wonga announcement, and of course that was happening at Newcastle long before Mike Ashley bought the club – Mike just seems to have carried on the tradition. 😀
The great part of the Wonga deal is that we get the St. James’ Park name back on the stadium, but Wonga is not an admired company at all, and to have their names on the Newcastle United shirts is not particularly good.
In our poll 60% approve of the deal with 26% disapproving, and the rest (about one in seven) undecided.
Still time to vote if you haven’t already done so.
Comments welcome.
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20 comments so far
Dannyo
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:19 AM
Comment #1Brazil eh.
Building the brand there is great, we could pick up the next Neymar 🙂
martoon
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Comment #2I’m realy struggling to understand this Muslim thing about wearing the shirt of a company who charges interest. The previous two sponsors Virgin Money & Northern Rock charge interest on their loans so what is the difference – can any of our Muslim posters explain?
jesperfuglsang
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:26 AM
Comment #3Tanks Ed 🙂
Tequila…Feel free to add something non Wonga related mate 😉
Maybe we should buy a Brazilian then… ;D
Blaydon-Toon
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:28 AM
Comment #4Anyone remember Mirrindia first Brazilian to play in England ? ?
wynsleap
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:29 AM
Comment #5While they’re out there they should get out and about on the beaches. They reckon there is some unbelievable young talent kicking the ball around in bare feet.
It’s about time we had the second coming of another Mirandhina. There’s got to be other places than France to find the next heroes.
tequilamag
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:30 AM
Comment #6REPOST Sorry you find the subject boring Jesper, you have pointed out companies like Wonga do not exist in Denmark, perhaps if they did you would understand why this issue is so divisive especially in an area like the NE. I suggest you reread my first post on this thread, I was trying to leave out the morality of the argument and expand the subject to the financial merits of the deal.
tequilamag
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Comment #7Jesper I will post on any subject I see fit.
Widowmaker
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Comment #8Why Brazil? Is it for Sport Direct, Wonga or NUFC?
Don’t think the football we play will win their heart nor did I believe the long trip would be good for our preparation to the new season.
Those teams have the presence, at least in Asia, because they are always on telly for being top four.
jesperfuglsang
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:33 AM
Comment #9Wasn’t DL in south america this summer looking at development players?
…Would be cool to fnd the next Oscar without having to pay £35M for him 😀
geordiesteve520
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:38 AM
Comment #10Iirc there was talk after the U16 Milk Cup of us building relations with the team that won this (Deportiva Brasillia, I think); this is a great move in terms of both finding youth prospects and financially, as Ed mentioned Brazil is one of the fastest growing markets in the worls – even if Ashley is looking to improve the world brand of Sport’s Direct it will still in someway be linked to the club. I will remain stoic until something more concrete arises but potentially this is excellent.
baty1963
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:40 AM
Comment #11Aye we’ve got Mirandhina he’s not from Argentina he’s from Brazil he’s F**king brill we don’t make songs like that anymore:-(
jesperfuglsang
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Comment #12Tequila…I asked for a non Wonga related topic…and I got it!
…you only talk about Wonga you say because Ed’s topic is Wonga related (fair play), but can we now please move on (Ed has).
I am not doubting it is of importance to you, but we are on the third day of discussing Wonga and quite frankly it is getting boring (and the tone in here have send me in a leave of absence for two days).
jesperfuglsang
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Comment #13Mirandinha, was he a big player on the Tyne? Can see he was before my time as a fan 🙂
tequilamag
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:47 AM
Comment #14Jesper, I suggest you reread Eds article he mentions Wonga again.
Wandering Geordie
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Comment #15I remember Miradinha. Signing for the Toon in his white suit.He also bought a house behind the Fawdon pub and keeping pigs.
stk85
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Comment #16that whole muslim article is a non starter. yes, in practice sharia law disagrees with charging huge interest, but muslim banks have a practice where u have to pay a fee, so they make their money under a different name.
its like in the christian law, adultery is a crime, but it’s not punishable in public law.
all it is is a code of conduct for religious believers to follow
stk85
Oct 11, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Comment #17this is great about touring brasil, a fantastic country, i lived there for 6 months, really great people.
i’d love to see a partnership with Atletico Mineiro, they also play in black and white and it was the entire reason I started following them.
Wandering Geordie
Oct 11, 2012 at 11:07 AM
Comment #18http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi7UlFSaqqg
Mirandinha’s 1st game for the toon
NUFC-BRAZILFAN
Oct 11, 2012 at 12:36 PM
Comment #19I’m brazilian and I think this would be an amazing marketing project by toon. No european teams come to Brazil to have their pre-seasons, so Newcastle would enter in a market where teams are only watched on television and are watched a lot. The only problem would be finding big teams that would be avaible to play during Newcastle’s pre-season, because we will be in the middle of our season. I would love it, thought.
geordiesteve520
Oct 11, 2012 at 12:57 PM
Comment #20I remember Mira against Liverpool, where he rattled the old fashioned stantion when it was 2-2. That day had oneof the worst Newcastle players of all time the team and I am pretty sure he scored with an Uwe Seeler-like back header…Frank Pingel!
On another note, my favourite story about Mirandinha comes from Gazza’s autobiography. Apparently Gazza took him under his wing to teach him English and taught him another way of saying Wednesday so on his first Wednesday at the club, he bounds into Benwell wishing everyone who would listen a Happy Wankday! Classic.