Have Wonga wandered into a storm?

What does this have to do with Newcastle?
With the ink still drying on the four year sponsorship deal between Newcastle United and “digital finance company” (PR spin) Wonga, the reaction has been varied to say the least.

However most of the ire has not been directed at the club, at least not in terms of football anyway, and instead we have a lot of people jumping on some form of moral bandwagon regarding what a business should and shouldn’t do.

They see Wonga, and presumably other such companies, as nothing more than parasitic loan sharks intent on causing misery and preying on the financially weak. Not too dissimilar to what banks do really, and they’ve not exactly been the choirboys of the financial world have they? Perhaps the values are different, but the principle is the same.

I’m no great fan of companies such as Wonga so I don’t use them. I’m lucky enough that I’ve never had to consider using them and I hope things stay like that. However not everyone uses them because they have to as a means of last resort which seems to be glossed over in all of this. There are after all some people who just can’t wait to have that TV, or those that use it responsibly.

Anyway, I’m not here to preach. People will use then when they need/have to and that is why they are still here. I’m just wondering whether Wonga bitten off more than they can chew when it comes to this particular deal?

The decision to change the name back to St James’ Park was a wise one that has softened some of the blow although I remain sceptical as to why they’ve done that. Perhaps it was thrown in to the deal? Who really knows other those involved?

What I have been shocked at though, more than anything, is the reaction from the press. I knew some people wouldn’t like dealing with Wonga, but why have the press got such a bee in their bonnet about it all of a sudden? I don’t remember so much coverage when they agreed a deal with Hearts or Blackpool?

No we have reporters speaking to financial wizards and religious clerics and asserting the fact that a company such as Wonga, that charges interest, is against Sharia Law and that somehow out Muslim stars such as Cheik Tiote, Hatem Ben Arfa, Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba may well refuse to wear the shirt. Incidentally I assume Virgin Money, which also charges interest by the way, is above Sharia Law?

It’s even been mentioned that former West Ham and Tottenham striker Frederic Kanoute refused to wear a shirt at his club at the time, Sevilla, because the sponsor was gambling firm “888” which goes against his beliefs. Incidentally his protest didn’t last long as you can see by the picture although he was excused from their publicity campaigns.

It doesn’t end there though. We have MP’s commenting on it and even suggestions that the league may step in to stop it, which would be interesting to say the least and would open up a whole new can of worms. If they ban one, then how about the rest, like the gambling companies for example? How about alcohol companies whilst we’re at it?

Those shouting loudest about this are the ones that haven’t exactly covered themselves in glory previously and I find it quite ironic that some have chosen to get the soapbox out for this one. It’s a name on a shirt at the end of the day, not a reason to get all moral. It’s business, and business is a cut throat world.

But if getting moral is your bag then just remember we haven’t had much luck with sponsors and you may well get some joy when you read through the list of companies we’ve been associated with over the years that no longer exist. Greenalls was bought out by Scottish & Newcastle and took over the sponsorship. Neither exist anymore. NTL, Northern Rock etc etc…

Have Wonga miscalculated their maths with this one?

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

214 thoughts on “Have Wonga wandered into a storm?

  1. Internet been down most the day for urgent upgrading by Virgin apparently, 😕 .

    CONGRATULATIONS Granddaddy Dave ,all the best to your daughter and grandson. 😀

    What’s with all this purple player **** too ,why can’t they just say we’ll only pay the first choice 11 top whack and have done with it. When xisco buggers off that should free up a high wage for someone. Also if this is the case what was the bid for Carroll all about as he’d defo be a “purple” player I’d of thought. 😉 . Now we know for sure that one of the big guns has to go in Jan if we are to get our “purple” defender in. 😉

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  2. Away out for the afternoon – easy to get carried away with Toon stuff. All these comments including mine about purples – see my first line @ 134!

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  3. Congratulations on your new grandson Big Dave! Get him kicking a ball as soon as possible! 😉 As for this purple business, of course it makes some financial sense but as for competing for a place in the top 4 and Europe it seems unlikely to work. It means very modest football ambition indeed. Stay near the middle of the pack and collect all that nice TV revenue sounds like the idea to me. Very like Ashley and his pet Llambias. To get a true worldwide following and much bigger revenues will take a lot more ambition than that I’m afraid.

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  4. I don’t believe we have 11 players we are paying purple wages to. Our purples are: Colo, Cabaye, Tiote, Krul, Ba, Cisse, Ben Arfa, and possibly Jonas. We then have several players 1 notch (and perhaps 15 to 20K per week) down from that. These would include: Santon, Anita, Marveaux, Shola, Obertan and Harper. Xisco I place in the special idiot category with less than a year left. Then we have some younger players and journeymen 2 notches down including Gosling, Vuckic, Fergie, Bigi, the other idiot Ranger, Raylor, Willo, Sammy, Perch, and Amalfitano. The total wage cost for these 25 might be 750K to 800K per week which is 39M to 40M pounds per year. Then we have all other salaries including management, staff and trainees. The total should be under 50M pounds with income above 84M pounds this season (probably at least 90M) and much higher next season. It seems to me the basic idea we have 11 purples (with no wage amounts actually mentioned) is too vague to be useful (purposely no doubt). How can you compare players like Simpson to Collo and say they are both purple? Just another bit of nonsense from Llambias.

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  5. Re the purples-basically saying we’ll only buy when we sell (and maybe we can buy 2/3 for one i.e Carroll money)

    Few problems with that. 1-We don’t have a young Englishman so we’ll never get that kind of money for a talented but average player really.
    2-Some of our purples are integral, other ones are good, but won’t move anywhere for big money and imo could have their places challenged, Jonas, Staylor (I’m not really sure why we gave Jonas that 5 year deal, I like him, but surely sign up Benny to 5 years? He’s worth so much more, to the team and actual value…)
    3-The player most likely to leave-Ba-for a pitiful 3.5mil return means we’re up **** creek when attempting to replace his quality with that money. Because we can’t.
    4-If Anita is on such high wages, why did we get him 😕 esp when we’re not attempting to move on any purples in the same area. Or are we/were we expecting them to go?

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  6. If we have to sell purple to get purple we are in big trouble because several of our purples won’t bring in purple money. That would include Ba with his clause, Jonas (just not good enough), and probably Steve Taylor (injury prone already). This scheme will not work if the aim is to compete for honours at the highest level as Llambias has claimed.

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  7. Sorry Newkie I see you have already brought up the fly in this ointment! Great minds think alike 😆

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  8. Essentially Llambias is telling us what we already know, that we don’t have and will not have in the future a squad with depth. Yet he claims to want to compete for honours at the highest level. Does he mean compete for but never win? That would be my guess.

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  9. Agree icedog. He is full of himself but knows very little about football. The club will continue to perform slightly above the middle of the pack because we have Carr and some decent management. But this owner/managing director have no ambition other than to make a lot of money.

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  10. To compete at the top will always require some buying of purples as well as trying to develop some. What Llambias is saying is that we will actually try to compete somewhere above tenth but definitely not top 4 ambition as far as I can see.

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  11. G2 i just wish the ****-head would keep his gob shut and say nowt if hes only got negative garbage 👿

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  12. There is so much rubbish going around about “great young managers playing the game the right way”… like Laudrup, and Brendan Rodgers, and Owen Coyle…and whoever. However, they cannot seem to hack it, no matter how many books they read, and strategies they plan. Man management is the clue, coupled with a team filled with discipline, skill, athleticism and effort. Time will show if Pardew comes through at the other end, or falls by the wayside. He can talk the talk, we’ll see if he can walk the walk. All with his hands tied behind his back by our tight arsed owner. He has a real tough job, but good luck to him.

    We should enjoy our flirtation with europe, because if Pardew cannot make it happen the bubble will burst and we’ll be back where we habitually belong in mid table mediocracy.

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  13. Spot on icedog and Big Dave. Whenever he opens his mouth I cringe. Always the same drivel showing the owner’s lack of amibition. If we sit 10th at Christmas how popular will the purple plan be?

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  14. GRANDAD DAVE congrats mate,batty has a good line in pushchairs you know how to push them about you pushed me in one long enough 😀 😀

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  15. We are aspiring to be Arsenal. Purples will be sold to fund third squad signings that have potential to oust the first team, and new first teamers will only be bought if it represents value.
    We have the scouting in place already, now we just need to ensure our coaches develop the young talent we have, and we buy.
    Which of our saleable purples would people shift to fund new signings ❓
    Either Tiote or Cisse for me.
    Tiote because he’s made of glass. Missed a third of last season. He’s awesome, but whats the point if he’s always missing.
    Cisse because we can only play 1 striker to get the best out of HBA and Ba is only worth peanuts. I’d use Cisse money for an up and coming striker and a decent wing forward.
    Who would you all sell?
    I know it’s not a comfortable question, but at the end of the day Arsenal, Everton, and often Tottenham do it to varying extents, and it’s clearly the path we are on. Justified as well.

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  16. I can’t help but think has Lambastad ever watched Perch as CB never mind Willo and did we not have them 2 last season when Jabba was asking Pards to get a CB 😈 what a fuking ****** that guy is

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  17. I definitely don’t think we’ll be getting anywhere near as many bargains now as other teams are on to us. We saw it in the summer. As soon as we showed interest the price went up. You can’t expect to make a silk purse with a sow’s ear and usually that is all Llambias is offering for top players. We should be able to develop a couple of decent players but that last step to the Prem is where most usually fail. Again top 4 will always require more spending than mid-table mediocrity. We want top 4 for no real investment. Not going to happen. I hope we’re happy with finishing around 8th because that’s what we’re going to see for as long as this owner is around (he’ll fill that purse of his at the same time though).

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  18. ST I wouldn’t be that bothered about Tiote as you say he missed a third of last season has allready missed the start of the season, he is a red card on legs and to be honest I can’t stand his style of play I know people say he’s not dirty, but to me he is no different to DeJong, Cattermole or Henry and IMO it’s only a matter of time before he puts someone outta the game for good simply because he is too hot headed and out of control even when he get’s an early yellow card he still can’t wise up.
    As for Cisse I think we’d be mad to get shot of him I would sooner see Ba go because i’m sick to death with this clause carry on and his agent mouthing off and the fact that he seems to be holding Pards and us to ransom over starting in the middle.
    But I really don’t think we should have to shift someone just to strengthen the team, remember Lambastad was talking about needing a sponsor so as to buy a player every season so we have a sponsor now so why should we have to sell to strengthen ?? or should we just forget about him saying that the sponsor would buy for the player ❓

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  19. Yeah but we know the sponsor is only £6-8M a year, so could get a decent youngster, but will be hard to find proven quality.
    Arsenal is the only way I think. Sell, buy young talent, and hopefully within a few years we will have a strong enough team with good youthful depth that we can resist bids.
    I think we need about 7 second stringers, and about 4 first teamers to really have a quality squad.
    So if we’d say, sold Tiote, we’d have had enough for Rhodes, Douglas, Debuchy.
    Reckon it’s the way to go. So long as it’s reinvested.
    Even “without all the Carroll money spent directly on transfers” it still meant losing 1 first team player and being able to afford Ba/Cisse/Elliot/Obertan (going on Nolan for Cabaye, Barton for Marveaux, Santon for Enrique)

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  20. ST-Can’t see us selling Cisse, considering it seems Ba is the one who wants/will be most likely to go to go/more money/knee condition. I guess it would be Tiote for me as well as you can generally get dms cheaper than most positions but someone might pay silly money for him…Unless of course city came in for Colo for 30 mil in two or so years 😆

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  21. @Newkie, I know, unfortunately Ba is just a problem now, could leave at any time, but will bring in no money to replace him.

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  22. G2@170 ,If we sit 10th at christmas you can bet your life Dekka and Jabba won’t take any blame ,it will be either Pards or the players fault ,forget the fact we been limping along with square pegs in round holes through injury and lack of investment in vital areas.

    Dave@176 I would second all of that mate.

    Solano@179 ,The buy young and develope is a sound idea if you keep the talent and have a formidible team but we seem destined to sell on any prized players if you believe what Dekka & co are saying. Also that doesn’t help us in the here and now when we should be consolidating last seasons 5th placing imo.

    I do wish lamarse would shut up he’s a bloody ignoramus on all things footie. 👿

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  23. ST I thought **** normally got shot of players when they wanted to go or were causing problems in the squad, not just to buy new players in would you not agree ❓

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  24. Dave, but isn’t that what we’d do? We can only get rid of players if they want to leave. Most Arsenal players Fab/RVP/Song etc never caused problems as Wenger always accepted that there were clubs out there that could offer more.
    That’s how they fund players anyway. They usually make a profit. Even with their huge gates revenues.

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  25. ICE@192 very true ,nicer bloke in all. 😉

    Solano @190 ,Up to a point yes but they have recently signed a whole bunch of ready made talent ,such is the lack of recent success. 😉

    Dave , I thought you was away wetting the babies head for a while there.

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  26. Kim, still funded by sales though! They’re a team that spent less last transfer window then us!
    You can tell it’s the model we’re attempting to follow, we are even copying their buying of anything French.

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  27. I take everything that comes out of Llamsarse’s gob with a pinch of salt, he likes to tell the odd lie or 2 😉 …..although didn’t Tiote and Cabaye say they’d turned down moves in the summer? if so maybe that’s why we ended up chasing players we never signed, maybe they relied on either or both of those 2 going…maybe not but owts possible at NUFC 😯

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  28. Kim I am wetting the babies head i’ve had about 4 cups of coffee from tea time 😉 I just keep disappearing cause i’ve been up to my neck in drawings over the last couple of weeks and it’s starting to really get to me 👿

    ST what were talking about is getting shot of players to fund rebuilding IMO **** only get shot of players when they get too big and want to move, or are causing probs ie Henry, and yeah they do use the money to rebuild, but there is a difference between the 2

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  29. Looking at what Lambias has actually said makes me more certain than ever that we won’t strengthen our defence in January.It’s quite clear he thinks Willo and Perch are the answer to our defensive crisis.

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  30. …might as well swear while I’m here.

    FUCKING ****!!!!!!

    HAHAHAHAHAHA

    ****

    (hahaha)

    PISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

    (short turd)

    .

    what a bunch of cunts 🙄

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