David Hopkinson's interview on TalkSport as NUFC host the National Radio show

[Ragatino]

A very interesting PR event, very US, media friendly.

With TalkSh!te adding a TS Newcastle United channel and starting a regular podcast with Pro-NUFC journalists, actual fans talking in positive terms on a weekly basis.

Whether it's a club driven effort with a financial or a sign of the time from the TS senior management keen to cash in on the growing interest in NUFC with regard to advertising revenue around their content remains to be seen.

What is important is the raising of profile of NUFC. This is something that David touches on when speaking about closing the gap to the likes of the red filth, the bin dippers and Arze.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tnAg56r8P8

[Jammy89]

I thought it was a good interview.

His enthusasim may not be completely realistic but you know what - I'd rather have that, than not at hte minute.

Needs someone at the top who pushes forward with enthuasism.

[toonviking]

Bla bla bla, just talk so far.

[Jammy89]

Bla bla bla, just talk so far.

Better than no talk.

We all complained when it was complete silence.

[Ragatino]

Better than no talk.

We all complained when it was complete silence.

Just can't win.

All the socials have been whining 'why isn't the club communicating with the fans?' 'When Amanda was here she was great, always communicating' 'The owners have lost interest, they've told the Execs to ignore the fans'

CEO hosts Talk Sport for live Press Events at the club.

'Talk is cheap, yak yak yak'.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

I've understood how some people fixate on the negative in every situation. I'm not blind. Reality is clear to see. I just prefer to live in a world of optimism, in the knowledge that there are serious professionals in place at the club now all working together to take the next step.

The end of the beginning. The next phase of progress is starting, development into a consistent top 4/5 UCL club is where we are.

Is it easy? No, of course not.

However, if it were easy, everyone could do it & it wouldn't be worth doing

[toptoon]

I thought it was a good interview.

His enthusasim may not be completely realistic but you know what - I'd rather have that, than not at hte minute.

Needs someone at the top who pushes forward with enthuasism.

I like that. Enthusiasm and positivity are contagious (so is negativity). If his enthusiasm rubs off on others and permeates through the club, it can only be a good thing.

[Ragatino]

I like that. Enthusiasm and positivity are contagious (so is negativity). If his enthusiasm rubs off on others and permeates through the club, it can only be a good thing.

Precisely.

David comes across as a very slick communicator yes, however, more to his words is his body language, terminology and facial expression.

It's clear the man thought careful about his responses. His body language and facial expressions exhibit a signs of a very serious, focused and determined man.

From Maddison Square Garden to Tyneside. A step back in to the global game from the provincial sports realm of US sports.

At Real Madrid his sole focus was international sponsorships and partnerships. With that background, he's ideally placed to drive the commercial expansion of the club.

He said 5 yrs. That's 10 transfer windows.

I'm sure he's clearly confident in his ability to attracting serious levels of new investment.

Proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Over to you Mr Hopkinson.

[OwdBillCook]

I totally like the guy's enthusiasm. I think he believes what he's saying.
I'm still not sure he's wise to be saying it. Be good enough to win the PL and/or CL in 5 years time?
Can we really build revenue, then buy the necessary squad, then come together as a pretty much totally new group of players within 5 years?
How can that work?? I just don't see it.

I love enthusiasm and ambition. I'm wary of this. Seems to me like setting yourself up for a fall.

Inviting - unnecessarily in my view - a huge amount of flak if we are not near the top of European clubs in 5 years.
Inviting flak if we don't make for CL next year. That then puts a huge amount of pressure on to catch up.
If I was Eddie, I would want a little more realism.

[Ragatino]

I totally like the guy's enthusiasm. I think he believes what he's saying.
I'm still not sure he's wise to be saying it. Be good enough to win the PL and/or CL in 5 years time?
Can we really build revenue, then buy the necessary squad, then come together as a pretty much totally new group of players within 5 years?
How can that work?? I just don't see it.

I love enthusiasm and ambition. I'm wary of this. Seems to me like setting yourself up for a fall.

Inviting - unnecessarily in my view - a huge amount of flak if we are not near the top of European clubs in 5 years.
Inviting flak if we don't make for CL next year. That then puts a huge amount of pressure on to catch up.
If I was Eddie, I would want a little more realism.

Yes Bill, it is pressure. However, this is the elite level of football. There is always pressure.

The one line I appreciated from Hopkinson was, I'm paraphrasing, 'A plan without a deadline is just a dream, fantasy.'

There has to be a timeline on the project. 5 yrs is a long time in football.

The club have a vast array of sponsorship and partnership opportunities not yet realised the cartel have been milking for years. Over the next few revenues from these opportunities needs to be maximised with a view to adding 150-200m quid to the income.

During the same time, the challenge during the same period will be that the cartel's revenue won't stand still but will also be increasing with new contracts etc.

Closing the gap or enabling the club to offer the bigger salaries and sustain a competitive wage structure is key.

All the non-football related issues, Training ground, Stadium etc will help but certainly there must be progress on these matters in parallel.

[OwdBillCook]

Yep, at the elite level of football there is always going to be pressure. No need for argument there - just look at Guardiola.

5 years might be a long time in football. But if we don't make CL next year, then that's pretty much a year gone - really hope I'm wrong, but I wouldn't bet much on us getting CL at the moment. As I see it, without CL we are going to struggle badly to build the squad we want. Maybe not even keep some of our present players.

Also huge for me is that, if a big-talking guy comes out with these pie-in-the-sky statements, then the "bed wetters" as you call them are going to have a field day when it takes longer. Which I think it will. No need to put loads of pressure on Eddie and the squad.

Why say it? What does it achieve? What possible benefit? I don't see one.

[Guybrush]

Missing out on the champs league would be disappointing, but as long as we have Europe next season, it?s not a catastrophe - if we end up in the Europa league I will not shed a tear - it?s a competition we could prioritise and have a very very good chance of winning a still major European Trophy - and of course the Champions league qualification it brings th following season

[toptoon]

Missing out on the champs league would be disappointing, but as long as we have Europe next season, it?s not a catastrophe - if we end up in the Europa league I will not shed a tear - it?s a competition we could prioritise and have a very very good chance of winning a still major European Trophy - and of course the Champions league qualification it brings th following season

Yes but to get europa we really need to find some form - today is an important game.

[Jammy89]

Yes but to get europa we really need to find some form - today is an important game.

And we ****ed it up.

Our players think they are champions league, yet don't seem to put hte performance in to get us there.

[Ragatino]

And we ****ed it up.

Our players think they are champions league, yet don't seem to put hte performance in to get us there.

There is a delusion from the likes of Gordon & Tonali.

The greats, I dislike CR7, however that man turned up against the bottom of the table teams. All the greats to. The addiction, desire, determination to win. The arrogance not to get beaten.

The no d**khead policy is great but that vicious, nasty, selfish arrogance is required to be a truly brilliant team.

[Marat18]

The no d**khead policy is great but that vicious, nasty, selfish arrogance is required to be a truly brilliant team.

“We don't want our players to be monks. We want them to be better football players because a monk doesn't play football at this level”