Wenger hails Newcastle as 'the city that breathes football'

[Happy Face 29]

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes that a visit to Newcastle United’s St James Park stadium by FIFA delegates could prove to be the defining factor in awarding the 2018 World Cup to England.

 

Speaking to the Daily Mail in his role as an ambassador for the FA’s bid to host the showpiece tournament, the Frenchman made clear that the passion and love for football demonstrated in the North East was enough to take the breath away and likely to impress outsiders from across the world.

 

“When the FIFA delegation arrive in Newcastle this week, I hope they are stunned by the sight of St James' Park. By the way it dominates the skyline, a sporting citadel and the heartbeat of the city. In a city that breathes football,” gushed the esteemed Gallic tactician.

 

“There, they have a love of the game that is remarkable and this is true in many other regions across the country, such as Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London.

 

“If you have the infrastructure, the stadiums, the passion and the power to organise, then these are the attributes for a successful World Cup. England can deliver all of these things.”

 

FIFA’s six man delegation is currently on a four day tour of England where they will examine the existing sporting facilities and infrastructure, as well as analysing plans for future stadia. The FA will discover whether their extensive bid operation has been successful in 99 days time when FIFA president Sepp Blatter will announce the host for the 2018 World Cup.

 

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/42655...s_football.aspx

 

Good lad.

 

Clearly never came to any of the Euro 96 games at a half empty stadium though.

[Guest alex]

Apart from the ticket prices I think the domestic season had took the edge off our love affair with the beautiful game.

[Renton 22109]

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes that a visit to Newcastle United’s St James Park stadium by FIFA delegates could prove to be the defining factor in awarding the 2018 World Cup to England.

 

Speaking to the Daily Mail in his role as an ambassador for the FA’s bid to host the showpiece tournament, the Frenchman made clear that the passion and love for football demonstrated in the North East was enough to take the breath away and likely to impress outsiders from across the world.

 

“When the FIFA delegation arrive in Newcastle this week, I hope they are stunned by the sight of St James' Park. By the way it dominates the skyline, a sporting citadel and the heartbeat of the city. In a city that breathes football,” gushed the esteemed Gallic tactician.

 

“There, they have a love of the game that is remarkable and this is true in many other regions across the country, such as Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London.

 

“If you have the infrastructure, the stadiums, the passion and the power to organise, then these are the attributes for a successful World Cup. England can deliver all of these things.”

 

FIFA’s six man delegation is currently on a four day tour of England where they will examine the existing sporting facilities and infrastructure, as well as analysing plans for future stadia. The FA will discover whether their extensive bid operation has been successful in 99 days time when FIFA president Sepp Blatter will announce the host for the 2018 World Cup.

 

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/42655...s_football.aspx

 

Good lad.

 

Clearly never came to any of the Euro 96 games at a half empty stadium though.

 

Aye, SJP was half empty even though the capacity was 36,000 then. I went to both the games here, remember Zidane was emerging as a great talent fro France. Would like to say the WC back here, hopefully we'd get a decent side or two to watch.

[ChezGiven 0]

I know he is just doing his job as part of the bid but very nice of him to say so.

[Guest Tuco Ramirez]

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes that a visit to Newcastle United’s St James Park stadium by FIFA delegates could prove to be the defining factor in awarding the 2018 World Cup to England.

 

Speaking to the Daily Mail in his role as an ambassador for the FA’s bid to host the showpiece tournament, the Frenchman made clear that the passion and love for football demonstrated in the North East was enough to take the breath away and likely to impress outsiders from across the world.

 

“When the FIFA delegation arrive in Newcastle this week, I hope they are stunned by the sight of St James' Park. By the way it dominates the skyline, a sporting citadel and the heartbeat of the city. In a city that breathes football,” gushed the esteemed Gallic tactician.

 

“There, they have a love of the game that is remarkable and this is true in many other regions across the country, such as Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London.

 

“If you have the infrastructure, the stadiums, the passion and the power to organise, then these are the attributes for a successful World Cup. England can deliver all of these things.”

 

FIFA’s six man delegation is currently on a four day tour of England where they will examine the existing sporting facilities and infrastructure, as well as analysing plans for future stadia. The FA will discover whether their extensive bid operation has been successful in 99 days time when FIFA president Sepp Blatter will announce the host for the 2018 World Cup.

 

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/42655...s_football.aspx

 

Good lad.

 

Clearly never came to any of the Euro 96 games at a half empty stadium though.

Neither did I at £35 and £60 a ticket. At the time me season ticket was only about £200.

 

Good lad Wenger, I've always liked him, he always has nice things to say about us. He's a decent honourable bloke.

[manc-mag 1]

I'd feel weird if it was in England tbh. Plus the weather will be shit.

 

Thanks anyway though Arsene.

[Asprilla 96]

Tbf, it's up to the country's fans who are playing to fill the stadia surely.

[Park Life 71]

Quite simply the clearest mind in the game.

[Tooj 17]

Quite simply the clearest mind in the game.

I love him - mainly due to his philosophies on how the game should be played. He needs to win something soon though.

[Holden McGroin 6815]

Quite simply the clearest mind in the game.

I love him - mainly due to his philosophies on how the game should be played. He needs to win something soon though.

 

I'd rather enjoy going to a game every week playing some lovely football and getting quite far in all competitions rather than watching a Big Sam team scrape a Carling Cup win.

[Nobby 0]

That Sport.co.uk article misses a paragraph out;

 

"When the FIFA delegation arrive in Newcastle this week, I hope they are stunned by the sight of St. James' Park and by the way it dominates the skyline - a sporting citadel, and the heartbeat of the city, in a city that breathes football."

"There, they have a love of the game that is remarkable. Nowhere else in the world can you travel into the centre of a town or city and find the football stadium squeezed between the streets where people live their lives, only to then put them on hold on a Saturday to watch their team play."

http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20100824/we...2240137_2133167

Edited August 25, 2010 by Nobby

[TicTacWoe 0]

Quite simply the clearest mind in the game.

I love him - mainly due to his philosophies on how the game should be played. He needs to win something soon though.

 

I'd rather enjoy going to a game every week playing some lovely football and getting quite far in all competitions rather than watching a Big Sam team scrape a Carling Cup win.

 

absolutely, the fact that they challenge for the league/champions league/cups etc playing the sort of football they do with virtually an even net spend is a superb achievement and the Arsenal fans should never forget it. Wenger is a stubborn git at times but those who want him out should be careful what they wish for.

[wykikitoon 21029]

Always admired Wenger. LEGEND.

[Tom 14021]

"There, they have a love of the game that is remarkable. Nowhere else in the world can you travel into the centre of a town or city and find the football stadium squeezed between the streets where people live their lives, only to then put them on hold on a Saturday to watch their team play."

 

This is one of the things that makes it special for me. This and when I come in on the train I see the bridges over the Tyne and can sometimes get a glimpse of the ground, you can see it from places all over the city.

[Tom 14021]

Don't get me wrong like I would easy trade it all in for a few derelict council buildings and a Chick-Inn.