Given what the product is supposed to give you, it was appropriate that last weekend’s ‘Red Bull to take over Everton/Liverpool/Leeds/Crystal Palace or maybe even West Ham’ story, has been treated as a bit of a ‘flier.’
The energy drink manufacturers were reported to be interested in buying an English club to bankroll all the way into the Champions League.
London was said to be Red Bull’s preferred destination, but they wouldn’t turn their noses up at either of our big two.
Except Liverpool’s American owners have no interest in selling, while Everton have had no contact from the company.
But if Red Bull did decide to give Everton wings, it would be interesting to see how their fans reacted to what appears to be a staple of the company’s sports sponsorship.
See if you can spot the recurring theme.
Following a successful takeover by the drinks manufacturer, Jaguar Racing became Red Bull Racing. SV Austria Salzburg became Red Bull Salzburg, New York Metro Stars were renamed New York Red Bulls, football clubs in Brazil and Ghana were founded from scratch in 2007 and 2008 and called . . . . . you guessed it, Red Bull Brasil and Red Bull Ghana.
But it’s more than just a name change.
German ice hockey stalwarts EHC Munchen weren’t too distressed to be rebranded Red Bull Munchen.
But the relegation of their historic and much loved blue and white logo with the golden ‘M’ to a shoulder patch, to be replaced by a generic Red Bull logo, was more distressing.
Just as distressing was the treatment of Austria Salzburg’s traditional violet and white colours.
Red Bull Salzburg now play in the Red Bull Arena in tacky red and white strips adorned by two giant bulls, while the club’s traditional badge was replaced by one sporting a pair of duelling bulls.
Supporters angrily demanded the return of the club’s soul and were reportedly offered a compromise.
“If colours are so important to the supporters, the goalkeeper can wear violet socks,” they were told.
Given the recent supporter reaction to a club crest denuded of a Latin inscription and laurel wreaths – any Red Bull interest in Everton is likely to meet with one response.
Hardly a Jack of all games...
I’m all for the ‘all for one, one for all’ squad togetherness mentality, but can’t help thinking Jack Wilshere was taking it a little too far on Tuesday night.
“It’s amazing. I would probably say it’s the biggest achievement in my career to date,” he enthused after the 2-0 defeat of Poland clinched England’s flight to Brazil.
Wilshere may well be a pivotal figure in South America, but was it really such a big ‘achievement’ in getting England there?
Over England’s 10 qualification games, Wilshere made just two starts, playing a grand total of 146 minutes.
He scored no goals in those minutes.
But, hey, it’s a squad game.
Ross Barkley ‘achieved’ just as much with his marvellous cameo against Moldova.
Source: David Prentice / Echo