Liverpool F.c.

[Penkoprod]

the americans haven't put any of their own money into liverpool fc. so your statement 'These Americans backed Rafa as much as possible, but it was never going to be enough to satisfy him. And now the time has come to say "no more"' is a nonsense.

But they own the club. They can do what they like with it.

Whether thats to borrow against it, or to lock the place up, and sell the land to a housing development company.

THEIR club = THEIR money.....right? If you dont like it, then tuff titty, thats the way it is. I notice there isnt a big queue of prospective buyers on the horizon. I wonder why?

All the bleating and whining about broken promises wont alter that.

We are skint, Man Utd are skint, Arsenal are skint, etc, etc.

The domino effect is that feeder clubs, the likes of Portsmouth, Notts County etc are not getting the revenue from the sale of players, and therefore are staring at going bust, big time.

Like i said...what do some people want? A rich sugar daddy that will buy the sucess. Seems you do !

As far as i know the Americans told Rafa what he had to spend to "strengthen the squad" and he DID do.

By giving most of the budget to the "badge kissing players" to extend their (too?) lucrative contracts, for fear of them leaving for a club that would pay them more.

THERE'S the problem, right there !!!!! Greedy f*ckwits milking the game, and especially the clubs they say they worship.

And, if you think i am singling out any one club/team in all this, then look at at all the candidates...every team has them

Penkoprod

Edited January 12, 2010 by Penkoprod

[longstebe]

Little bit gutted we didn't get to play on Sunday. I thought the quicker the games come the better.

There is a little sniff that things are getting slightly better on the pitch.

Reading tomorrow, thought they played well against us at there ground but tomorrow will be a different

story.

Feels like we've not played for ages.

[Jimjim]

The domino effect is that feeder clubs, the likes of Portsmouth, Notts County etc are not getting the revenue from the sale of players, and therefore are staring at going bust, big time.

Pretty poor examples to back up your statement. Pure <deleted>, really.

Portsmouth did sell a lot of players in the summer, remember Glen Johnson for 18 million to Liverpool? How about Peter Crouch and Defoe before him? Bought by Redknapp who loves to spend, spend, spend. Portsmouth are in trouble through previous years of buying more than they could afford, not because this last summer they couldn't sell enough players for big money. In fact, they did sell, and for big money! And Notts County, a few leagues below, hardly relevant to whats going on in the Premier League, and if you read even one article about whats gone on there since the summer you'd realize they're not having troubles because they couldn't sell some of their players to the Premier League or anyone else. Pure nonsense again...

Anyway, this thread has gone way off the rails, hasn't it? That's why it's not as fun to come back here anymore, can hardly find a Liverpool fan to chat with in here amid all the other argument baiting, etc.

That said, I've been on some other Liverpool fan only forums, and there's a lot of nonsense arguing in them as well with posters really having a go at one another, so it happens even when everyone's a fan of the same team, really. Nevermind...

So, to sum it up, I agree Lucas is <deleted>, Kuyt's <deleted>, Gerrard is now an average player, Carra's "past it," we should have kept Bellamy and Keane, ex-players who have never managed obviously would be far better managers than Rafa, oh and Rafa's <deleted> and an idiot and arrogant and should have been gone a year ago (oh, when we were top of the league?), has spent 50000 billion more than any other manager the last 5 years, it's Rafa's fault we lost Alonso (ok, if recent Alonso statements are to be believed, that one might actually be true), and Masch would rather be in Spain, Ngog's <deleted>, etc. etc. etc. did I get it all covered yet? :D

Edited January 12, 2010 by Jimjim

[RockyBalb0a]

Like i said...what do some people want? A rich sugar daddy that will buy the sucess. Seems you do !

Actually, i believe we want a club that isn't seriously in debt, with interest repayments on the Americans loans swallowing all the money the club generates. If the club was owned by someone who could afford it and was prepared to sink their own money into buying it, then the money generated by the club would be available to the manager to work in the transfer market.

[RockyBalb0a]

On the topic of transfer fees wouldn't it be nice if a team was given a yearly limit (whatever that =) and that's it.

This plus salary caps would be a godsend for football, and could turn it back into being a genuinely competitive and interesting sport again, rather than the current age of the richest clubs consistently buying up all the trophies. It would need to be standardised across Europe at a level that would at least see a high proportion of clubs in the top division of English, Italian, and Spanish leagues able to compete on an equal footing.

It will never happen though, because there would be too much opposition from the likes of Man Utd, Real Madrid, Chelsea etc who want to ensure that they can continue to have as big an advantage over the field as they can, so they can have as easy a route as possible to winning trophies, thus maintaining their status and the money they generate because of it.

It would be great for the sport though, as apart from the occasional exception, it's become all a bit too predictable. I can't ever see a club like Forest climbing out of the championship and winning the Premier League and going on to win the Champions League, ever again without a billionaire heavily backing them, it's more or less impossible which is a shame for football.

[Penkoprod]

Like i said...what do some people want? A rich sugar daddy that will buy the sucess. Seems you do !

Actually, i believe we want a club that isn't seriously in debt, with interest repayments on the Americans loans swallowing all the money the club generates. If the club was owned by someone who could afford it and was prepared to sink their own money into buying it, then the money generated by the club would be available to the manager to work in the transfer market.

I hear what you are saying, but wasnt some of the debt we now have, the same debt that we "kind of" had under Moores?

I'm not defending these pair of Americans, btw, but i see they are moving mountains to keep at least some control in the club, and could be here a lot longer than most of us want. They run things the same way over there.......all bought on credit, and, if anything it should have been Moores doing "due diligence" on THEM, as well as vice versa. Again, i'm not saying they are innocent, but they are going to be here for "the long term" i should think...we have to get used to that. That, or someone else to buy the club and run it under the same tight fiscal policy...OR WORSE !!!! The days of rich locals feeding their egos has LONG gone, like it or not.

In fact, those that look at the situation with their eyes, as well as their hearts can see the storm clouds gathering above, not just Anfield, but all the way down the ladder to the likes of Grimsby, Darlington etc, at the very bottom of the food chain. Some of whom are relient on the top clubs to finance them via transfer fees for players.

Spot on about the salary cap in your other post. In fact i would go further and say that there is now too much player power in the game, and has been for some time. Its just taken this long, and this financial climate to bring it to some peoples attention

I wonder what would happen if the directors, and even the managers & CFOs etc of the club (ANY club. We can all name the overpaid, underworked superstars "kissing the badge" and sucking the tits of the clubs and their fans) said to the top players

"Look fellas, we are in a bit of a dilemma, here, no money for transfers. How about you taking a pay cut to "only" 50 grand a week, and we will then be able to afford the bringing in of some needed new players that will mean the club is capable of, not only competing for, but of actually winning trophies, instead of dreaming about it?"

Probable reply would be along the lines of "how do i say , in Spanish/Italian....Its an honour to play for such an illustrious club, with such a pedigree (€ 200,000 tax free????? That'l do nicely... for everything else there's Mastercard) Now where do you want me to stand so i can kiss the clubs badge on the photo op?"

Penkoprod

Edited January 13, 2010 by Penkoprod

[Devil]

Liverpool FC confirm new investors hopes but deny they would sell stars like Torres and Gerrard

Jan 13 2020 by John Thompson

Liverpool Echo Link

next

Christian Purslow 300

LIVERPOOL Managing Director Christian Purslow today confirmed the club could have new investors within the next few months – as he insisted top stars like Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard would never be sold.

Purslow revealed he is now deep into the process of whittling down potential interested parties – of which there are several.

If successful that could ultimately involve part ownership with current American joint club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett – or even someone completely buying them out.

The Reds supremo who took over from Rick Parry last year, spoke following the resignation on Monday of director Tom Hicks Jnr, son of co-owner Tom Hicks, after an email row with a fan.

He insisted all money recouped in the January transfer window would be available to manager Rafa Benitez to invest in replacements.

Purslow’s firm declaration that players like Torres and Gerrard would be going nowhere followed weekend newspaper headlines which claimed Benitez had acknowledged the duo might one day have to be sold.

Benitez was known to be very angry with the way he was represented over Torres and club captain Steven Gerrard – and Purslow completely dismissed the notion of Liverpool ever being a “selling club”.

The former city banker and lifelong Liverpool fan told the ECHO: “Nothing could be further from the truth than reports which suggested the club would choose to sell its star footballers. Full stop.

“The idea that we would ever wish to sell our top players is completely against the interests of this club.

“In fact our key priority since the summer has been to secure our senior players on long term improved contracts, because we remain of the view that our starting eleven compares with anybody in the Premier League.

“Our plan – and what we are working on – is to try and improve the team; not to be so stupid as to reduce the quality of our squad.

“The suggestion in any way that we would sell players in order to pay down debt or pay money to our owners is preposterous. Neither is true. Neither is possible.

“Any proceeds we generate from the sale of players can only go into our player account for the recruitment of new players.

“It’s in the public domain that the owners have been looking to bring new investors in to the club to pay down the club’s existing debts – which are today about £237m – by way of issuing new shares which would dilute their shareholding in the club. That process is ongoing.

“The debt we have today is obviously serviced by the club in terms of interest and bank fees and if we reduce our debt then clearly those interest charges and bank fees will reduce.”

Liverpool fans, led by supporters group the Spirit of Shankly, have long since campaigned for Hicks and Gillett to leave the club and sell it to new owners.

On the prospect of new investment, Purslow said: “Inevitably when you run an investment process of this kind in the early stages many, many people have a look.

“Much of the challenge in these processes is to sort out the serious and the real interest from people who are unlikely to make an investment.

“I think it’s fair to say as we now move into the New Year that we are whittling down the interest to a smaller number – maybe a handful of serious groups who are interested in investing in Liverpool. And in the coming couple of months our job is to sort those into ultimately an investor that makes sense for everyone concerned.”

He stressed: “Provided all goes well, there is a serious possibility of new fresh investment into Liverpool Football Club within the foreseeable future.

“There are no guarantees – we are operating in an environment where, as everybody knows outside football and in football, it hasn’t been the most active investment market for the last 18 months. But largely because of the quality of Liverpool Football Club, both as a club and as a business, we haven’t had problems in attracting interest.

“However, the devil is always in the detail and in coming months our job is to get somebody over the line that makes sense for all concerned.

“That could be part ownership or it could be complete ownership.”

Purslow is continuing his efforts to get the club’s new stadium dreams back on track – and insists the success of that dream is critical to Liverpool’s continued future as a European giant – one which can finally realise its full potential. He is both confident and determined to make a new stadium a reality.

He said: “The stadium is absolutely central to the club’s strategic development because with a new stadium comes a transformation in the financial resources of Liverpool that can be ploughed back into the core of our activity - which is our playing squad.

“The good news is that all potential investors are attracted to Liverpool by the prospect of building a new stadium and participating in the transformation in the value of the club associated with that project.

“Also positive is the fact that late last year, the bank market was essentially shut. It’s now very much open for business and a number of banks are very interested in financing our new stadium.

“However, a condition of all those banks’ interest is that in the first instance, we have brought new investment into the club.

“So I see it as a two step process – new investment in the next couple of months which reduces our existing debt to a very low level, to enable us then to push on with discussions with banks about financing the stadium.

“It’s that stadium which holds the key to us transforming our fortunes both economically and in football terms.

“It’s too early to name names but rest assured I want the fans to feel fully informed and when we home in on a small number of parties, subject to normal confidentiality provisions, I hope to be able to give people more of an update in the next month or two.”

Asked if he understood the continuing frustrations of the fans and what his message to them was, he said: “Don’t forget, I’m a fan and I desperately want to help the club move to the next level as soon as possible.

“In fact that’s why I’m here – for no other reason.

“While we are looking for new investment, the important thing is that we run the business as well as possible. The football and the business side must work seamlessly together in a co-ordinated way and ensure we are giving the football side of Liverpool everything it needs..

“As a fan I believe we must stay behind the team, keep positive and believe that with all our star players on the pitch in the second half of the campaign we might well be looking back on a very successful end of season from where we sit today. That’s my true hope and belief – we have every opportunity to do that.”

Asked about the January transfer window which has been the subject of much speculation and debate, he said: “The position is that January in general is not a high priority time for Rafa in terms of player acquisitions. That is largely because of the lack of availability of top quality players.

“We have taken the opportunity in the window to move out a couple of players (Dossena and Voronin) who weren’t playing frequently and we are looking at one or two replacement players.

“The key point is we will not sell a footballer if we can’t find a better or equal replacement.

“At the same time we are totally focused on results; wanting to have a successful second half of the season and we would not want to leave our squad short compared to where we are today.

“So I don’t rule out the possibility that we do sell another player – but only if the manger is happy he’s found a comparable player or better. And if not, we wont sell any of our players - because we don’t want to be short.”

He added: “The money brought in from player sales in January and which might yet be brought in will not be going to pay off debt.

“It cannot and it will not.

“Money we generate by selling footballers goes straight into our player account to be used to replace those players in the transfer market.

“The overall message right now as we head into 2010 is that, slowly but surely on the strategic side, we are making progress towards finding new investment which is the key to unlocking a new stadium. And that stadium is the single event that will transform the financial prospects of Liverpool.

“Meantime I hope and believe we are running our club sensibly, with a total focus on the business of Liverpool supporting our manager and the football operations.

“From my perspective if we have opportunities in January to make positive changes then great. If not we will wait until summer when there’s a much more active transfer market.”

Purlsow is now seven months into his role - during which time Anfield’s Kirkdale-born Commercial Director Ian Ayre pulled off the biggest shirt sponsorship deal in British football history – an agreement with Standard Chartered Bank worth £80m.

Purslow reflected: “Obviously the most important aspect of any club is how we are doing on the field and I don’t think any of us had expected the first half of the season that we have had.

“That said, I’m very confident now that the vast majority of our players are fit and well, we’ll see a transformation in our results in the second half of the season.

“But in terms of the business side of Liverpool, day to day things could not have gone better.

“Commercially, I think the business is better than I expected and performing better than I expected.

“And obviously my number one priority remains the strategic issue of bringing in new investment – and that is probably about where I would have expected it to be.

“Going into the New Year I hoped that the initial process would have identified a smaller group of serious people who are interested in investing in Liverpool – and that’s where we are today.

“While there can be no guarantees, I am confident and optimistic that in the next couple of months one of them will be brought to fruition.

“The process of bringing in new investment and reducing our current debt will create a context whereby we can seriously get back on track the stadium project.

“That project remains my key priority, because it is that which holds the key to transforming the club’s financial position."

[rijit]

Got to say imo this is a v good signing by raffa,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/t...ool/8457706.stm

seen him a few times and the boys quality, just hope for footballs sake that raffa gets the best out of him.

[ThaiPauly]

Great game at Anfield right now against The Royals

1-1 as I write, extra time being played.....

What.....2-1 now.....unveleivable

Edited January 13, 2010 by ThaiPauly

[spongeman]

Great game at Anfield right now against The Royals

1-1 as I write, extra time being played.....

What.....2-1 now.....unveleivable

First win for Reading in 6 games.

Yeah we are out but would winning the FA cup mean anything? I think not.

If it pushes the Spanish waiter nearer the trap door then im happy.

This cannot carry on much longer.

[TheAceFace]

Absolute Sh!te, sorry Rafa but you must stand down....far too many terrible performances now and its not on. We should have won tonight with that team however the writings been on the wall a while now. Nearly identical last supper as to the season when Ged was shown the door.

Before anyone suggests its the off field problems affecting the team then Im not biting, as a manager its his job to focus the team away from the boardroom bullshit and do the biz on the pitch.

One p!ssed off red again and again and again.

Edited January 13, 2010 by TheAceFace

[TheAceFace]

Oh I forgot.....fair play to Reading.....well deserved.

[ThaiPauly]

Oh I forgot.....fair play to Reading.....well deserved.

Thanks.....nail biting stuff.....but as you can imagine it's a fantastic high for me considering how much we have had to suffer over the last 12 months

[TheAceFace]

Oh I forgot.....fair play to Reading.....well deserved.

Thanks.....nail biting stuff.....but as you can imagine it's a fantastic high for me considering how much we have had to suffer over the last 12 months

As I said TP, well done, would not take it away from you, in all honesty you could have scored 4. I just can not believe how bad we have gone in the space of 10 months

[spongeman]

We got rid of Keane, Sami, Alonso.

Look at us now.

[longstebe]

Little bit gutted we didn't get to play on Sunday. I thought the quicker the games come the better.

There is a little sniff that things are getting slightly better on the pitch.

Reading tomorrow, thought they played well against us at there ground but tomorrow will be a different

story.

Feels like we've not played for ages.

My apologies lads I'm gonna have to stop the wife from posting stuid comments like this. It's not on

[longstebe]

Totally agree, Reading played better and deserved the win.

One thing I did notice is Aquilani played the full game, he gave a sloppy ball away in 80th min which nearly

led to a goal and he was very careless from then on. What happened to easing the lad in. The first 79 mins

I thought he done well.

Dirk was great again, that lad is playing for the shirt alright.

Now the bad stuff, I'm not to sure about the subs Rafa made, Ok Torres may have took a knock but running

off the pitch was strange. Gerrard off at half time? Did Degen take a knock? I missed that change.

[sharecropper]

Absolute Sh!te, sorry Rafa but you must stand down....far too many terrible performances now and its not on. We should have won tonight with that team however the writings been on the wall a while now. Nearly identical last supper as to the season when Ged was shown the door.

Before anyone suggests its the off field problems affecting the team then Im not biting, as a manager its his job to focus the team away from the boardroom bullshit and do the biz on the pitch.

One p!ssed off red again and again and again.

I agree with all that. An astonishing result really.

If he resigns does he get a negotiated payoff? Or only if he's sacked.

[bkkjames]

Don't feel bad guys, you have good 3rd round exit company.

[longstebe]

Don't feel bad guys, you have good 3rd round exit company.

Yes but 1 point off the top, champions leauge and a semi final makes it ok.

Thanks for the comforting thoughts though.

[bkkjames]

Don't feel bad guys, you have good 3rd round exit company.

Yes but 1 point off the top, champions leauge and a semi final makes it ok.

Thanks for the comforting thoughts though.

I didn't have the heart this morning to rub it in, check back this afternoon when invariably I will be in my usual bitchy mood for another update.

[Sparkles]

Absolute Sh!te, sorry Rafa but you must stand down....far too many terrible performances now and its not on. We should have won tonight with that team however the writings been on the wall a while now. Nearly identical last supper as to the season when Ged was shown the door.

Before anyone suggests its the off field problems affecting the team then Im not biting, as a manager its his job to focus the team away from the boardroom bullshit and do the biz on the pitch.

One p!ssed off red again and again and again.

I agree with all that. An astonishing result really.

If he resigns does he get a negotiated payoff? Or only if he's sacked.

When they know their numbers up most Managers will wait to get sacked and receive a bigger pay out .Sven has made more money from getting sacked than he has had made managing.Every contract has amilion sub clauses but as Rafa has recently signed ,was it a 5 yr deal, he is sitting pretty.There is aso the matter should the sacked manager get another job immediatly that flavours the result. All very messy. I think Rafa will see out the season after all he did promise them a top 4 finish didn't he

[sharecropper]

When they know their numbers up most Managers will wait to get sacked and receive a bigger pay out .Sven has made more money from getting sacked than he has had made managing.Every contract has amilion sub clauses but as Rafa has recently signed ,was it a 5 yr deal, he is sitting pretty.There is aso the matter should the sacked manager get another job immediatly that flavours the result. All very messy. I think Rafa will see out the season after all he did promise them a top 4 finish didn't he

Sparkles, you are right. He DID promise that, but whether under the influence of drink or drugs I don't know.

I find it surprising clubs don't put performance clauses in their management contracts, so managers can be sacked for underperformance, however it is defined. They could put some form of arbitration in there to determing the payoff amount.

[R123]

Rafa must go now and he surely knows it. Probably waiting to be sacked to collect the millions in compensation. Money due to Rafa the only thing that has prevented the owners dismissing him. But now after the Reading result........

Edited January 14, 2010 by R123

[mrbojangles]

On the topic of transfer fees wouldn't it be nice if a team was given a yearly limit (whatever that =) and that's it.

I see. United are skint so you now want to cap transfer fees. Never mind the fact that in the past it's been united who have been the biggest culprits in breaking all the english transfer records.

[bkkjames]

On the topic of transfer fees wouldn't it be nice if a team was given a yearly limit (whatever that =) and that's it.

I see. United are skint so you now want to cap transfer fees. Never mind the fact that in the past it's been united who have been the biggest culprits in breaking all the english transfer records.

I did mention that I think our team / management wouldn't like it and don't disagree that the CR sale set a bad example, but the fact remains while clubs can usually handle today's wages, the transfer fees are silly. Bruce asking 40 million for Jones?

Set it at 100,000 million per year BJ, only a few will be able to afford it anyway. If you want to pay 50 million for David Villa and 50 million for Fabregas so be it, but once you are done you are done.

It's becoming less about football and more about commodity trading.

[SantiSuk]

Had to come here to check final score. True Visions just cut the last 4 minutes from their replay cast! Presumably the TV editor/producer is a reds fan and couldn't stand the pain.

I assume from the above you guys lost. (Ed - pretty stupid comment - have now read the comments further up which clearly say as much). As an Arsenal fan I can honestly say that for the first time I genuinely feel sorry for Gerrard/ Garragher et al plus reds fans. The line between success and disaster is so thin - therefore but the grace of God and all that. Arsenal could equally have such a season. Sssh ... don't tell the lads on the Arsenal thread I said that.

Edited January 14, 2010 by SantiSuk

[mrbojangles]

On the topic of transfer fees wouldn't it be nice if a team was given a yearly limit (whatever that =) and that's it.

I see. United are skint so you now want to cap transfer fees. Never mind the fact that in the past it's been united who have been the biggest culprits in breaking all the english transfer records.

I did mention that I think our team / management wouldn't like it and don't disagree that the CR sale set a bad example, but the fact remains while clubs can usually handle today's wages, the transfer fees are silly. Bruce asking 40 million for Jones?

Set it at 100,000 million per year BJ, only a few will be able to afford it anyway. If you want to pay 50 million for David Villa and 50 million for Fabregas so be it, but once you are done you are done.

It's becoming less about football and more about commodity trading.

I agree with what your'e saying james and I've thought the same for years. I was just trying to stick the knife in

[bkkjames]

On the topic of transfer fees wouldn't it be nice if a team was given a yearly limit (whatever that =) and that's it.

I see. United are skint so you now want to cap transfer fees. Never mind the fact that in the past it's been united who have been the biggest culprits in breaking all the english transfer records.

I did mention that I think our team / management wouldn't like it and don't disagree that the CR sale set a bad example, but the fact remains while clubs can usually handle today's wages, the transfer fees are silly. Bruce asking 40 million for Jones?

Set it at 100,000 million per year BJ, only a few will be able to afford it anyway. If you want to pay 50 million for David Villa and 50 million for Fabregas so be it, but once you are done you are done.

It's becoming less about football and more about commodity trading.

I agree with what your'e saying james and I've thought the same for years. I was just trying to stick the knife in

I was just surprised it took you so long. Perhaps me hiding it in LP page threw you off mate.

[Ossies]

In Rafa we (blindly) trust