Liverpool Banter Archive September 08 2010
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08 Sep 2010 23:12:30
Like that smart, intelligent, sensible, all knowing Blair Mayne said yesterday about no player/ Takeover rumours being on the site in the last 3 days.
"And don't forget about the International break but the Rumours/ Banter will start again tomorrow"
Spot on Blair Mayne once again you are a Top bloke!
Blair Mayne YNWA
08 Sep 2010 23:11:38
What's wrong with someone who has dealt in arms (he has other businesses as a main going concern) buying Liverpool? Hes not been convicted of illegal arms trade or even accused / trialed / suspected or wanted for question in relation to such a sort. BAe Systems deal in arms, so do Boeing, Lockhead Martin etc many of these companies have also been found guilty of fraud and illegal trade (including bribes) (but he hasn't) but still get awarded multiple billion £'s contracts by western governments and haven't had and trade embargo on them etc. Having said that I don't think he is trying to buy the club - it's too late for a last minute attempt (or is this why it's been going on so long?) lol I don't think so. But I do hope that whoever does come in next month starts work on the new ground because I'm fed up of being on the waiting list and paying ticket tout prices :0(
ynwa
08 Sep 2010 22:17:42
Didnt realise suso was only 16, wat a little gem he cud b.sayin that weve gotta lot of really gud prospects in the reserves, lets just hope they can forfill there potential.who does the lad who plays 4 the swiss who scored last nite play 4?looks a quality player only 18, reminds me of a young wazza.
08 Sep 2010 22:08:05
08 Sep 2010 17:52:07
According to the Czech news agency - Spenzta 234 - the arms dealer Markus von Hohenzollern-Viett IS interested in Liverpool and apparently is in discussion with two major American investors.
They suggest it is a last-minute deal and was wondering if this is the person we have been reading about 'under the radar' recently.
The news agency also reports that Viett has expressed an interest in 'twinning' (?) Liverpool FC with a major Bundesliga club and forming an alliance that will develop youth players between the clubs.
Interesting.
If you honestly think the premier league would allow a club to be owned by an 'INTERNATIONAL' arms dealer ur either very naive or just completely stupid would never happen in our lifetime. .!
It's the Premier League! Of course he would pass the Fit and Proper Owners test as it is a sham.
Just ask Portsmouth!
Blair Mayne YNWA
08 Sep 2010 22:00:05
Is david degan phillip degan in disguise?
08 Sep 2010 21:52:29
I have it on very good authority that the formal announcement of the sale of Liverpool Football Club will be announced on the 1st October 2010.
I cannot claim to know who the buyer is - All I know is that he / they are non-UK residents who have entered the race recently with an offer which will see the Yanks walking away with only a £10m 'profit' each but a lot of promises have been made in relation to rebuilding the club (not on the scale of Man City (thank god) but significant funds will be made availalbe).
However, it will see the departure of dear old Roy in January, as the new owners do not feel he has the 'appeal' of higher profile managers to attract players - No idea who will replace him.
My source - My father who works fairly high up in Barclays (and he does know the buyers name, but will not tell me !)
I hope your Dad is Martin Broughton!
When i think of Tommo i don't think of Tommo the Coach/ Manager but Tommo the Player/ Fan.
He reminds me of Carra the way he played and his passion for the club that's just my opinion.
And like someone said yesterday he sits every saturday in a studio full of LFC haters and takes what they throw at him about are beloved Club.
Blair Mayne YNWA
08 Sep 2010 21:41:57
Good Luck Monsieur Houllier!
08 Sep 2010 21:07:46
Ed is there anything fans could or should be doing to aid this takeover? Or should we sit tight and hope for the right outcome? People on this are saying we could demo but I'm not sure that works what with the Spirit Of Shankly trying it already.
Is there a probable chance that they could somehow stay in charge of the club past October?
Are there any changes to backroom/ youth setup staff we may not know about or structures to bring talent to the club or develop it?
As far as the first team goes I'm happy to see how we get on an get well behind them now but I'm hoping we could change a few things with regards the setup at LFC to help us in the event of no financial clout. Arsenal always seem to pick up class young players that fit.
Spriggo {ed's note - in my opinion the only thing that demonstrating has done is put off potential buyers. Who wants to buy a club that is in turmoil?}
08 Sep 2010 21:01:23
Thankyou Kopite70.
08 Sep 2010 20:10:09
08 Sep 2010 16:55:22
Mal mate I wrote it. Left me name so people could take me up on it. I said the man lives and breathes the club. But he does do my head in on Sky an I don't think he's a boss coach. What's wrong with that? Yer he lifted the European Cup. . .with an immense side! Not exactly Stevie G was it mate! Like I said I've met the bloke so I'm not sayin anythin here that I wouldn't say to him! Just sayin he's not the bee all and end all!
Spriggo
I agree with you Spriggo!
Thommo is a plank! he is passionate about our club YES! he is funny sometimes with his comments! but a coach. . not on my sweet nelly! The guy played in a brilliant team and any brill team can afford to have a couple of average players. .look at UTd's team in the 90's are we saying Butt was a brilliant player. . . so Spriggo 5* mate for actually saying it as it is!
Kopite70. . . .oh and by the way this isn't having a go at the club or a player it is stating the obvious!
08 Sep 2010 19:45:08
A Leverage Buy Out, How Liverpool FC has fallen victim to a cruel financial instrument
The term Leverage Buy Out was not really synonymous with a football fans dictionary until 2005 when two American businessmen strode into Manchester United amid fractious opposition from the club's supporters. They disagreed wholeheartedly about The Glazer families plan to leverage the club up to its eyeballs in debt, so that their purchase was bought and paid for by the club. It was a similar story down the road at Liverpool, when Tom Hicks and George Gillett swept into Liverpool amid a slick trail blaze of slick PR. "This will not be a takeover like Manchester United", Hicks procured nonchalantly, meanwhile his business partner, George Gillett, proclaimed that "there would be a spade in the ground within 60 days" for the new stadium. Shortly after their arrival things began to take a turn for the worse, when suddenly their slick spiel suddenly seemed more hollow than an Easter egg, after it was announced that their takeover had, in fact, incorporated large amounts of debt onto the club. To date there is still no sign of the new stadium that was promised by them, and which the club so desperately needs in order to compete with its rivals.
In typical terms, LBO's usually operate in the following ways. A buyer purchases an organisation with money that is borrowed from the banks. These borrowings are then loaded onto the holding company, which usually have only one asset, the business itself. The organisation then becomes responsible for the servicing and liability of the debt, with the buyer usually throwing down some of their own personal guarantees just in case things go wrong. The period after the purchase usually coincides with a period of intense structural change within the organisation, as operating expenses within the company are drastically reduced, usually in the form of job losses and various other cutbacks. On the whole scale of things it is useful to think of this as an illusion, as the reduction in operating expenses transpires into higher profitability. This achieves two purposes. Firstly, it allows the organisation to meet its obligations more easily, and secondly, it allows the business to showcase its apparent exceptional performance to the market place, making it ripe for any takeover.
However, behind the illusion lies a different story, not one of exceptional performance, but one of severe structural difficulties. Any organisation needs to be aware of its competitors and therefore manage the company accordingly. By reducing operating expenses investment for the future is limited, as anything other than the necessary operating procedures are shelved, which often results in a firm being unable to maintain its competitiveness in the marketplace. For example, it maybe that the advertising department is downsized, investment in new technology and research and development curbed, resulting in an out of date product base, and an uncompetitive pricing model compared to other competitors. The company then begins to lose its market share as the illusion of profitability, and meeting its financial liabilities take precedent over the long term viability of the company. This means that when that when an organisation is sold, it is often left with problems, flooded with debt and facing severe structural and cultural difficulties. Should the debt be paid off in any future sale, the intangible damage to the brand may already have been done, due to a lack of investment, which decreases its competitiveness within an ever changing market place.
How does all this add up in the case of Liverpool FC then? In football, LBO's are difficult pull off because of the competitive forces that operate within the football industry. It is quite difficult to rationalise a football club due to the tight relationship between revenue and success. What, it seems, Tom Hicks and George Gillette wanted to do was create the illusion that the LFC had a bright and prosperous future by setting the wheels in motion for a new 65,000 seater stadium on nearby Stanley Park, that would have allowed them to move the club on to the next bidder sometime during the construction process for treble what they had paid for it, while at the same time allowing the money loaned for the purchase to be paid back to the bank. The short term nature of the loans that they secured seems to add credence to this theory. While all of this was going on, some investment was made in the squad to keep things ticking over as during the summer of 2007 Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun were all purchased, albeit with the help of a working capital facility of 105m that was provided alongside the 245m purchase facility provided by RBS to the club. However, the plan went to the wall when funding could not be secured for the new stadium due to the global financial crisis, and later LFC's exposure to debt. The bank began to worry that this was more junk debt, and began to become increasingly concerned about the ability of the club to meet its obligations, given the amount of money that Hicks and Gillette have had to plough in via off shore companies in the Cayman Islands just to keep the club solvent. This money has been used to absorb the losses of 42m and 54m that the club has posted in both sets of accounts released since the arrival of the Americans in 2007, as well as some equity that they have put in themselves to pay for the 45m repayment that RBS demanded last summer, as a stipulation of the refinancing package that was secured from the bank last summer.
Last summer RBS wanted 45m paid back, this summer it was 100m, and now the deadline appears to be March 2011 with the full amount having to be paid back by then. Hicks and Gillette are now haemorrhaging money into the club, with the last account showing a total of 144m ploughed into the club by the owners, and the holding company posting losses of 54m. With no more money to call on from the working capital facility, and the owners unwilling to put any more money in themselves, there is no new money to buy players, and subsequently competitiveness has been lost causing the club to miss out the lucrative revenue from Champions League place. The club is now stuck in a negative cycle of growth, with doubts surrounding whether any sale price will allow the club to meet its liabilities to the banks and to Cayman. Even then there are fears that the Cayman money will be an outstanding liability on the books of the club. This is a real possibility given that the loans have not been converted to a share issue, which would suggest that they will not be taken care of in any subsequent sale, and that any new owner will be left to service the debt with crippling interest rates, unless any new owner pays it off in full. This remains hard to envisage given that any buyer would then have to stump up somewhere in the region of 400m+ to buy the club, plus the money required to take the club out its negative cycle of growth by purchasing players. However, even this is complicated due UEFA's new financial fair play initiative which limits benefactor investment in players to 38m over a three year period from season 2012-13. Given the competitive advantage that Manchester City and Tottenham currently have over the club, together with the absence from the lucrative Champions League, plus the superfluous amount of money needed to propel the club back into a competitive, not to mention stadium funding, it is hard to envisage any bids of 400m for the club forthcoming. Given the situation, if the club cannot raise the money to pay its crippling gross debt back which stands at 395m, then there are genuine fears that officials will seek to raise money by cashing in on the club's saleable assets. It is horrible writing this, and it's horrible for any you reading it, because this isn't what football should be about. Involvement in a football club should be a leisure pursuit, not an academic activity where the fans study financial scenarios of the club. Football has lost its soul, and clubs with decades of rich history and age-old tradition are being destroyed by the money men. In an era of aloofness, fans are treated with utter contempt by the officials that run these institutions, of which carry such an intense emotional attachment for the supporters who pay money each week to support their team. Everything in modern football is buttressed from the fans, with directors concealing from information that they wish to know regarding the club, and they are often kept in the dark over any changes that impact upon them, despite the rhetoric "We'll never take our fans for granted" that is usually wheeled out during times of difficulty. Supporters are just expected to keep on oiling the club's coffers, while officials remain distant, with fans considered a nuisance and a hindrance when they have the audacity to ask for an honest and open appraisal of the club's health.
This week Spirit of Shankly released a set of questions that they want answers to regarding the financial health at the club and the role of the newly appointed managing director, Christian Purslow. There is currently a theory circulating that Mr Purslow's appointment last year has more to it than meets the eye. He was appointed to the board in order to source investment for the 100m that the banks wanted paying back this summer. That deadline has now passed and has been extended until March 2011, with the full loan facility now due for repayment on this date. However, Purslow's arrival on the scene is more than a little bit bewildering given that he has no previous experience in football, and suddenly he is running football affairs, sacking managers and buying and selling players, despite his previous professional background being based around finance and in particular the management of hedge funds. However, his arrival on the scene might have something to do with a company called Mid Ocean Partners, a private equity firm, of which Christian Purslow was a founding partner. The firm has recently expanded its investment platforms to include an offshoot firm that invests in bank loans and bonds called MidOcean credit partners, and a company called KSA MidOcean which is a hedge fund. It is feasible that Mr Purslows arrival at the club is connected to MidOcean, and the possibility that the firm played a key role in the refinancing that took place last summer and March this year, by investing in the bank loan that RBS lent to the club. This would certainly explain his arrival to the board. What happens next is anyone's guess, and there are a number of potential scenarios. One of these include refinancing the RBS loan with hedge funds with high interest rates should no suitable buyer be found, and another being selling off some players in order to pay down some of the debt, so that the club can be acquired for cheaper price. This could act as back way in for Purslow's company Mid Ocean to invest officially in the club, maybe through a hedge fund via one of their offshoot investment platforms. According to the MidOcean website they are a company that "identifies opportunities in sectors chosen based upon macro and micro trends". In order to recoup the debts by selling the club's key assets they could potentially acquire the club for a much lower price through, firstly, a reduction in overall level of debt, and secondly, through the declining market value of the club due to its poor competitiveness as a consequence of selling key assets. This would also fit nicely into MidOcean's investment strategy of acquiring businesses based upon their macro and micro trends, with competitiveness being a micro trend.
Liverpool FC does not exist as a football club anymore; it's a financial minefield which is being negotiated by city institutions and ruthless businessmen, with the supporters being kept in the dark over the precarious situation. It is about time that the fans are informed with regard the health of the club. This should be done face to face with whole hearted honesty, rather under the auspices of the club in a controlled environment, which attempts to put more spin on things than David Cameron at one of his political rallies. Supporters shouldn't just be tasked with ploughing money into the club, they deserve more than this, transparency being the very least. However, to conclude, we must ask a more pertinent question regarding leverage buy outs, why are they openly accepted despite the fact that they completely contradict the business model of the Premier League. The league claims "At the heart of the Premier League's sporting and business model is an investment virtuous circle-the quality of matches leading to popularity, leading to high income, leading to further investment and thus further improvement in the quality of football, of the stadia, and of talent development". It's galling that given the principles of the league that LBO's are allowed as a consequence of its ownership neutral model. It's a paradox of the Premier League that its success has attracted LBO artists, yet the presence of the LBO model may ultimately be the death of two of the teams, Liverpool and Manchester United, of whom bring the league so much commercial success in the first place.
08 Sep 2010 19:36:43
Riena johnson chilleni agger a.cole mirelimiles gerrard jovanovic j.cole kuyt torres or anelka
08 Sep 2010 19:10:47
08 Sep 2010 18:13:32
I have it on very good authority that the formal announcement of the sale of Liverpool Football Club will be announced on the 1st October 2010.
I cannot claim to know who the buyer is - All I know is that he / they are non-UK residents who have entered the race recently with an offer which will see the Yanks walking away with only a £10m 'profit' each but a lot of promises have been made in relation to rebuilding the club (not on the scale of Man City (thank god) but significant funds will be made availalbe).
However, it will see the departure of dear old Roy in January, as the new owners do not feel he has the 'appeal' of higher profile managers to attract players - No idea who will replace him.
My source - My father who works fairly high up in Barclays (and he does know the buyers name, but will not tell me !)
reply - who? Bob Diamond.
08 Sep 2010 19:08:58
08 Sep 2010 18:12:28
I want new owners, but I don't want us to be the new City, or old Chelsea, I want us to build squad effectively, such as Tottenham (even though they have spent a lot), we need to buy players we need and not buy players for the fun of it, so if owners come I would like us to buy a LW, and a ST:
Ruiz/ Elia/ Doyle
HOPEFULLY WHEN THE CLUB IS ON A BETTER FINANCIAL FOOTING I WANT THE CLUB TO AMKE SOME GOOD BUYS TO STRENGTHEN THE SQUAD BUT ALSO TO USE THE YOUTH SYSTEM WHICH LOOKS TO QUITE PROMISING. WHEN THE TAKEOVER HAPPENS I ALSO WANT OUR FANS TO BE HUMBLE, SHOW HUMILITY AND NONE OF THE ARROGANCE THAT CHELSEA AND MANCITY FANS HAVE IN BUCKET LOADS SINCE THEIR TAKEOVERS BY MEGA BILLIONAIRES.
08 Sep 2010 18:42:35
08 Sep 2010 13:48:23
07 Sep 2010 18:52:54
No disrespect to Thompson but for me he wasn't a man motuvator in the dug out he just shouted at players for 90 mins. If he was a good coach why didn't he go into Management? He did my head in on Sky Sports News as well. I swam with his sona Danny an Phil an have met him a few times. I have no doubt the man lives and breathes LFC but that doesn't mean he's magic. Liverpool have also had better players. Let's not forget this is the man who helped to force Robbie Fowler out of the door.
Spriggo
YES I AGREE, THOMPSON DID FORCE ROBBIE FOWLER OUT. BUT HE IS STILL A LEGENDARY FIGURE IN LIVERPOOL HISTORY.
Note Spriggo that my post earlier this afternoon partly agreed with you. I did not call you a muppet it was a later post from MAL. Don't really think there is much difference between us really as we all support the greatest club and want what's best for the club. Tommo does get a hard time on Soccer Saturday though!
08 Sep 2010 18:20:48
La Nina - - why blame Roy for not bringing in the players you would like?? If the owners backed him with a little more cash and the mighty Rafa did his job last year, we may be able to attract said players.
The guy is doing a great job in very tough circumstances and a top 5 finish this year should be applauded and recognised as an amazing achievement - - So get out your little dream world, stop moaning and support the club
08 Sep 2010 18:13:32
I have it on very good authority that the formal announcement of the sale of Liverpool Football Club will be announced on the 1st October 2010.
I cannot claim to know who the buyer is - All I know is that he / they are non-UK residents who have entered the race recently with an offer which will see the Yanks walking away with only a £10m 'profit' each but a lot of promises have been made in relation to rebuilding the club (not on the scale of Man City (thank god) but significant funds will be made availalbe).
However, it will see the departure of dear old Roy in January, as the new owners do not feel he has the 'appeal' of higher profile managers to attract players - No idea who will replace him.
My source - My father who works fairly high up in Barclays (and he does know the buyers name, but will not tell me !)
08 Sep 2010 18:12:28
I want new owners, but I don't want us to be the new City, or old Chelsea, I want us to build squad effectively, such as Tottenham (even though they have spent a lot), we need to buy players we need and not buy players for the fun of it, so if owners come I would like us to buy a LW, and a ST:
Ruiz/ Elia/ Doyle
08 Sep 2010 17:25:20
Yer mate their first line was 'to the muppet that wrote this' an then I got ripped like. Then I got ripped again. I don't mind discussion but don't give it out if you don't want it back. Fair play or what?
Spriggo
08 Sep 2010 17:23:40
Mate I've just been slated to f*ck on ere! I taken quite a bit like!
Spriggo
08 Sep 2010 17:17:16
08 Sep 2010 17:05:24
Did I say Thommo wasn't a legend?! But did you like our play under Houillier and him? My point was I wouldn't want him back as a coach. Pair of rems.
A bit safe and a bit long ball wasn't it.
To call people rems is bit offensive though.
08 Sep 2010 17:13:02
08 Sep 2010 17:00:05
08 Sep 2010 16:24:51
07 Sep 2010 18:52:54
the muppet who wrote this:
No disrespect to Thompson but for me he wasn't a man motuvator in the dug out he just shouted at players for 90 mins. If he was a good coach why didn't he go into Management? He did my head in on Sky Sports News as well. I swam with his sona Danny an Phil an have met him a few times. I have no doubt the man lives and breathes LFC but that doesn't mean he's magic. Liverpool have also had better players. Let's not forget this is the man who helped to force Robbie Fowler out of the door.
What a total muppet, theres enough negativity towards the club in the press without this bull s* t being written. I loved Fowler too but to disrespect thommo is well out of order, do you you what he actually helped us to win? Fowler never won a fraction of the medals so think about what your saying pal.
More positive, it looks like the yanks will soon be out, the clowns are just desperately hanging on so lets just leave Broughton and co to get on with sorting the deal and keep the faith
Mal
EXACTLY MAL, THAT IS WHAT I SAID IN MY EARLIER REPLY. HE WON LOADS FOR THE CLUB FROM THE SHANKLY AS A PLAYER, THROUGH TO THE DALGLISH MANAGEMENT ERA AND THEN WITH HOULLIER. HE ALSO REPRESENTED THE FANS BECAUSE HE IS ONE. BECAUSE OF THIS YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER PHIL THOMPSON A LIVERPOOL LEGEND.
yes but would he be in the Liverpool greatest 11. In cetral defence you would probably have to have a mix of Hansen, Lawrenson and Emylyn Hughes. Thompson, Hypia, Gillespie, Nicol, Carragher and Tommy Smith on the bench?
08 Sep 2010 17:08:11
08 Sep 2010 14:10:11
When talking about football in general and this website at a recent corporate event just outside London with some well connected colleagues, I mentioned the rumours of the day before the end of transfer deadline day and that Liverpool would 'shock the football world' with an announcement the following day. I said to them nothing obviously happend and I blamed issues surrounding the ownership of the club. But my colleagues (who are not Liverpool supporters but have no axe to grind with the club and also have a positive feeling for the club) said that the management team for David Beckham were in talks with Liverpool about a short term loan until January with a view to something more permanent. They said that apparently new owners wanted Beckham at the club and also Beckham was tempted to return the Prem. League in order to get back in the England team. Wages and fee to release him from LA Galaxy was agreed, but his injury was the reason the deal fell through at the last minute. They suggest though that the deal may happen in January 2011 when Beckham has proved his fitness in LA and Liverpool are under new ownership.
I have to say I was not sure about this rumour especially as Beckham is such a big ManUtd supporter and as his house in Hertfordshire has now been put up for sale (he apparently still has propperty in Cheshire though) but he does seem desperate to play for England again. So you never know especially if new owners want him as their first 'big' name purchase. Whether he could still cut it at Prem. League level is another matter.
Believable or unbelievable?
I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THIS. WOULD THIS HELP OUR SQUAD? OR WOULD IT BE ABOUT MAKING MONEY FROM THE BECKHAM BRAND? BUT MAYBE THIS IS WHY THE NUMBER 7 SHIRT WAS AND IS STILL VACANT. BELIEVABLE OR UNBELIEVABLE?
08 Sep 2010 17:05:24
Did I say Thommo wasn't a legend?! But did you like our play under Houillier and him? My point was I wouldn't want him back as a coach. Pair of rems.
08 Sep 2010 17:00:05
08 Sep 2010 16:24:51
07 Sep 2010 18:52:54
the muppet who wrote this:
No disrespect to Thompson but for me he wasn't a man motuvator in the dug out he just shouted at players for 90 mins. If he was a good coach why didn't he go into Management? He did my head in on Sky Sports News as well. I swam with his sona Danny an Phil an have met him a few times. I have no doubt the man lives and breathes LFC but that doesn't mean he's magic. Liverpool have also had better players. Let's not forget this is the man who helped to force Robbie Fowler out of the door.
What a total muppet, theres enough negativity towards the club in the press without this bull s* t being written. I loved Fowler too but to disrespect thommo is well out of order, do you you what he actually helped us to win? Fowler never won a fraction of the medals so think about what your saying pal.
More positive, it looks like the yanks will soon be out, the clowns are just desperately hanging on so lets just leave Broughton and co to get on with sorting the deal and keep the faith
Mal
EXACTLY MAL, THAT IS WHAT I SAID IN MY EARLIER REPLY. HE WON LOADS FOR THE CLUB FROM THE SHANKLY AS A PLAYER, THROUGH TO THE DALGLISH MANAGEMENT ERA AND THEN WITH HOULLIER. HE ALSO REPRESENTED THE FANS BECAUSE HE IS ONE. BECAUSE OF THIS YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER PHIL THOMPSON A LIVERPOOL LEGEND.
08 Sep 2010 16:55:22
Mal mate I wrote it. Left me name so people could take me up on it. I said the man lives and breathes the club. But he does do my head in on Sky an I don't think he's a boss coach. What's wrong with that? Yer he lifted the European Cup. . .with an immense side! Not exactly Stevie G was it mate! Like I said I've met the bloke so I'm not sayin anythin here that I wouldn't say to him! Just sayin he's not the bee all and end all!
Spriggo
08 Sep 2010 16:26:06
08 Sep 2010 14:36:17
08 Sep 2010 14:00:43
I can assure all Liverpool fans the club is very very close to being sold. 100% fact from a very genuine source. I do not know who or how much the deal is worth just that it is very close. Macca
With all due respect Macca you told us on Monday that "A sale is very very close" then you told us yesterday "We are sold the deal is done" now today it's "Very very close" again.
You've bounced from here to there more times than a tennis ball at the US Open mate!
Blair Mayne YNWA
08 Sep 2010 16:24:51
07 Sep 2010 18:52:54
the muppet who wrote this:
No disrespect to Thompson but for me he wasn't a man motuvator in the dug out he just shouted at players for 90 mins. If he was a good coach why didn't he go into Management? He did my head in on Sky Sports News as well. I swam with his sona Danny an Phil an have met him a few times. I have no doubt the man lives and breathes LFC but that doesn't mean he's magic. Liverpool have also had better players. Let's not forget this is the man who helped to force Robbie Fowler out of the door.
What a total muppet, theres enough negativity towards the club in the press without this bull s* t being written. I loved Fowler too but to disrespect thommo is well out of order, do you you what he actually helped us to win? Fowler never won a fraction of the medals so think about what your saying pal.
More positive, it looks like the yanks will soon be out, the clowns are just desperately hanging on so lets just leave Broughton and co to get on with sorting the deal and keep the faith
Mal
08 Sep 2010 15:51:15
Number 22 for FC Kaiserslauten scored a boss goal an took a long ball down an slotted their striker for a 2-0 lead v Bayern Munich. Boss goals! Could do with that type of play down our left although this lad may not be good enough.
Spriggo
08 Sep 2010 15:38:03
This is from Matt Scott (Digger at the Guardian today)
Christian Purslow, the Liverpool chief executive, has withdrawn from an
appearance at the Leaders in Football conference after Digger informed
him of a rather important diary clash. Purslow was at the top of the list of
delegates due to attend the conference in a recent marketing circular by
the conference organisers. But the conference is taking place on 6 and
7 October, meaning it opens on the date Liverpool's refinancing with
Royal Bank of Scotland is due.
The likeliest outcome in that process is that the club will be taken over by RBS's corporate-restructuring team, or that it will receive a fresh approach from one of the bidders. Either way, Purslow is likely to be required: his vote in board meetings at that time would be crucial to dictating terms to the current owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
When Digger informed Purslow that the conference, to which his secretary had informally committed him without running it past him, clashed with the refinancing, he immediately pulled out.
08 Sep 2010 15:04:54
Ed, i forgot to sign my post about the last minute signings that didn't happen. i don't know personally but a few of my mates have said that VDV definitely came out and said he chose Spurs over LFC. I did start my post with 'it is with some conjecture' as i wasn't at all sure cause i hadn't heard it first hand. Never trust Everton fans is all i can say even if you buy them a pint, they still lie to you.
Bob the Red {ed's note - I watched the interview that Sky twisted to say that, believe me VDV did not say he chose Spurs over anyone. Though, like I said the other day, I think there is a good chance he would have chosen Spurs anyway, there is a strange misconception floating around that London is a good place to live!}
08 Sep 2010 14:57:18
I'm wondering who's a more solid left back than Konchesky who's English an relatively cheap?! The lad is a good solid player, he can't be s* t having beaten teams like Man Utd, Juventus etc. As we all saw, Insua was had off at left back and teams targeted us in that area. That position now seemingly improved we should be better off. Get your head on mate!
Spriggo
08 Sep 2010 14:46:02
It is still a matter of conjecture but there has been very little talk about the last minute deals that LFC tried but failed to pull off and of the status of some of these players.
Some posters have complained about getting in mediocre standard players like Konchesky and said Roy should be aiming higher.
Some posters complained about the fact we got absolutely nobody and we should have just anyone for the sake of it.
However with the news that we tried for and ultimately failed to get Van Der Vaart and Gomez in particular are we not even slightly content at the standard of players we are looking at?
I imagine that if Van Der Vaart had not come out and said i chose spurs over LFC, we'd be having a pop at Roy for failing to sign the player.
I also believe that Roy after failing to get his first few choices went down the list systematically in an attempt to get cover which is why there was this rush to get Carlton Cole at 4 in the afternoon.
We have to remember, we have one big sticking point. We are not in the Champions League and that has perhaps more kudos attached to it than we gave credit for. {ed's note - where did you get this VDV stuff from? He never said he chose Spurs over Liverpool or anyone else, he said he thought there was some interest. He had said he was going to stay at Real Madrid, only to find out, late on, that he was not going to get a chance under Jose. He chose Spurs over being named in Madrid's reserve side, only Spurs came in with an offer that could be completed in time and well done to them for doing so. They saw an opportunity when no one else did. We did try for Gomez though, that I agree on.}
08 Sep 2010 14:32:12
{Editor's Note: We are now done on the religous posts.}
08 Sep 2010 14:01:26
08 Sep 2010 13:47:34
You know Blair, i think we should more concerned with the state of the players minds rather than what they do to show their religion.
I mean anyone who thinks there is a man living in the clouds is surely away with the fairies? Every time they look up at the clouds i find myself wondering what the hell are they looking at?
Bob the Red
I agree Bob and as you can see from my last post i'm a Charles Darwin fan.
Blair Mayne YNWA
08 Sep 2010 14:00:43
I can assure all Liverpool fans the club is very very close to being sold. 100% fact from a very genuine source. I do not know who or how much the deal is worth just that it is very close. Macca
08 Sep 2010 13:53:03
You say we shouldn't bring religion onto the site becuase this is about football.
Then why the hell are these people bringing religion onto the pitch when it's about sport!?
because to some people religion is a big part of their life's and who they are as individuals, they should be able to thank their lord (whoever it may be) for blessing them, this has to be probably the most pointless debate on this site, what is wrong with someone showing there religion? If they feel they want to give thanks for everything they got there is nothing wrong with that! I am not a religious person at all and just because i don't believe in a god doesn't mean that other people should stop giving thanks to their gods jsut because it gets under my skin (your a joke mate)
LFC420
08 Sep 2010 13:51:56
Hey guys
Im a muslim, from South Africa. .
And I for one, while hurt and disgusted at what is being done, don't really want to kick up a fuss for those people in Florida burning Quraans. .
I mean the only reason this has come so much into the public eye is because my very own muslim people have drawn attention to it.
I prefer to just think to myself that these hill billy's are crazy, burning quraan's. What do they imagine they are accomplishing?
I'd rather think of these kind of people as dumb red necks with not much intellect, and not start petitions and rallies and draw attention to them which is exactly what they want.
Dumb Americans - not dissimilar to those cowboys we got for owners.
Thanks guys.
YNWA
Faizal from South Africa.
08 Sep 2010 13:49:37
08 Sep 2010 13:31:37
To Blair Mayne YNWA:
You say we shouldn't bring religion onto the site becuase this is about football.
Then why the hell are these people bringing religion onto the pitch when it's about sport!?
That's completely different for me anyway as when a player scores and does a religious celebration it looks like they are thanking their respective Gods for giving them their Life which entails being fortunate enough to be playing football in the 1st place.
Do you thank your respective God everytime you come on here and post somthing?
Blair (Charles Darwin) Mayne YNWA
08 Sep 2010 13:48:23
07 Sep 2010 18:52:54
No disrespect to Thompson but for me he wasn't a man motuvator in the dug out he just shouted at players for 90 mins. If he was a good coach why didn't he go into Management? He did my head in on Sky Sports News as well. I swam with his sona Danny an Phil an have met him a few times. I have no doubt the man lives and breathes LFC but that doesn't mean he's magic. Liverpool have also had better players. Let's not forget this is the man who helped to force Robbie Fowler out of the door.
Spriggo
YES I AGREE, THOMPSON DID FORCE ROBBIE FOWLER OUT. BUT HE IS STILL A LEGENDARY FIGURE IN LIVERPOOL HISTORY.
08 Sep 2010 13:47:34
You know Blair, i think we should more concerned with the state of the players minds rather than what they do to show their religion.
I mean anyone who thinks there is a man living in the clouds is surely away with the fairies? Every time they look up at the clouds i find myself wondering what the hell are they looking at?
Bob the Red
08 Sep 2010 13:46:14
08 Sep 2010 13:44:12
Joke:
Q:Whats Red and s* t
A:Liverpool
H*CK! !
08 Sep 2010 13:44:12
Joke:
Q:Whats Red and s* t
A:Liverpool
08 Sep 2010 13:31:37
To Blair Mayne YNWA:
You say we shouldn't bring religion onto the site becuase this is about football.
Then why the hell are these people bringing religion onto the pitch when it's about sport!?
08 Sep 2010 12:45:38
Is'nt it about time that all ridiculous so-called celebrations (e.g. Tim Cahill punching the corner-posts) were treated to a yellow card. There is no pure delight (á la Emlyn Hughes) any more. All the celebrations are carefully choreographed. There is no player anywhere who scores enough goals to pose (Eric Cantona, 1st goal in eight months) when the ball hits the net.
08 Sep 2010 12:25:12
08 Sep 2010 08:49:34
A very interesting topic was posted on the main rumours page yesterday, but there didn't seem much in the way of comment from other posters.
I was intrigued by the suggestion that overt shows of religious fervour should be banned from the pitch.
I find myself agreeing with this.
They cited Hernandez of Man Uinted as a prime example - kneeling in the centre of the field with outstretched arms wide praying to his God.
I do find that unacceptable.
That sort of thing is private and not for public consumption.
I don't want to know about my footballer's religious beliefs and why should they feel the need to display it to the rest of us?
Is it a case of "my God only believes I worship him if I do it in front of thousands of people?" or is it a case of showing off?
I don't think there are any Liverpool players that go to this proposterous and embarrassing display before a game?
I know Lucas and I think Reina cross themselves (like many do before they stride onto the pitch) but someone needs to get hold of Hernandez on this one.
Before anyone says they can do what they like - then I think it's fair to say from what I've read that FIFA have banned overt religious celebrations and displays. If a Muslim was to prostrate himself on the pitch and bow and scrape to his prophet, wouldn't he have the mickey taken out of him? I think so and therefore it should be the same with all the other weird and wonderful beliefs many people fill their lives with.
I'm not anti-religion.
I don't believe in a god or any of the associated stuff, but apart from mentioning it here to make a point, I never discuss or ram my ideologies down anyone's throat.
Religion tends to be in your face when people want to convert you.
Why can't players like Hernandez and Kaka - who was also mentioned in the posting - just keep their faith antics to themselves and feel happy with that?
I never try to convert anyone to supporting Liverpool or eating a curry on Friday night at the Golden Eagle in Clapham Common. So why should footballers be allowed to put on their little religious displays in the hope that we either think they are pious and a bit special, or subconsciously try to convert us to their faith?
It maybe that they see it simply as a part of their religion. If so, then why can't they talk and prostrate themselves before their particular god of the week in the privacy of the changing rooms like many other players do.
Relgion is too emotive a subject for footballers to be using as a prop for their own lives and enticements for those of others.
To be fair the post yesterday probably didn't get much response because we shouldn't bring religion on to a football site unless you support Rangers and Celtic.
IF we had New Owners who brought a bit of stability to our club and invested well in the Stadium and players.
Who cares what religion they are!
Blair Mayne YNWA
PS. Have we been took over yet ED?
{Editor's Note: You will be the first to find out when we are.}
08 Sep 2010 12:09:10
"I'm not anti-religion."
I'm sorry Comrade, but from that statement alone you very obviously are. They are showing thanks publicly to a Creator they believe granted them gifts to use publicly. In other words showing humility and humbleness.
I don't believe, but I have no problems with people who do aand wish to show that publicly.
RED LENIN
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
08 Sep 2010 12:05:09
Come on guys none of know what's gonna happen to our club in the next 24hrs let alone who we will get in January all the ITK were wrong 8 days ago so why would they be right as to what's going to happen in 4months time. I'm all for dreaming but let's keep real not to look stupid to all others
08 Sep 2010 12:04:05
"How is this really afecting you mate?"
"Ban it? Give us a break!"
I understand what you're saying - in fact, I'm not the one allegedly banning it. It's supposed to be a new FIFA rule.
And as if to make a linked point, Muslims are up in arms over the plans to burn the Koran in Florida this week.
"How is this really affecting you?" we should ask Muslims!
By the way - many of the copies of that book are printed and handled by non-Muslims!
08 Sep 2010 11:56:22
Listen people. . . . .
i read this site's rumours for months right upto the close of the transfer window and do you know what. .we were linked with every player going and do you know what else. . .we did'nt buy one single player that was mentioned. .
so please don't start with aguero, messi, benzema, elia ruiz all comoing in january you heard it here first bolox . .
until we get sold(god knows) then and only then will we have funds to try and tempt players to our squad. .come january if we are not sold, would you as a highly paid player possibly still playing in the champs league and within title contention give that up for a wet tuesday night in the carling cup and no title to aim for. . . .sorry to be a black cloud but until some arab with a wealth the size of the national debt we aint gonna tempt nobody not even with paul mckenna doing the negotiations. . .
rents07 YNWA
08 Sep 2010 11:52:11
"I'm not anti-religion.
I don't believe in a god or any of the associated stuff, but apart from mentioning it here to make a point, I never discuss or ram my ideologies down anyone's throat.
Religion tends to be in your face when people want to convert you.
Why can't players like Hernandez and Kaka - who was also mentioned in the posting - just keep their faith antics to themselves and feel happy with that?
I never try to convert anyone to supporting Liverpool or eating a curry on Friday night at the Golden Eagle in Clapham Common. So why should footballers be allowed to put on their little religious displays in the hope that we either think they are pious and a bit special, or subconsciously try to convert us to their faith?"
how is this really affecting you mate?
i'm pretty certain none of these players are thinking 'if i show my faith, i'll be able to convert people out there.' - more that they just want to show their appreciation to who they believe gave them their talents.
don't agree with it? fine.
ban it? give me a break.
08 Sep 2010 11:01:41
08 Sep 2010 08:54:10
Would love to see Stevie and Carra as scouts to begin with (after they retire) then move to youth coaching, and after 10 years, who knows, maybe one of them a manager and the other as an assistant.
Red Herr Ing
I would love to see that mate
08 Sep 2010 10:22:37
Prague: 1998 - 2005 (March)
Hamburg: 2005 (Aug) - 2009 (December)
The two places I have lived and worked in for the past 12 years.
Watched lots of football in both cities (and countries).
Watched promising 16 year olds at Sigma Olomuc and Zizkov in Prague.
Seen a bagful of great 17 and 18 year old boys in St.Pauli, Wedel and Rot-Weiss Oberhausen.
BUT I can't get my head around the fact that we (the Premier League clubs that include my own Liverpool) plunder these clubs for these boys and they are hardly more inspiring to watch than British players!
I've seen gangly 17 year olds in Germany's 'reserve' for want of a better word, teams and they end up across Europe for big fees. Not one of the players I saw in Prague at 16-18 had me jumping for joy like I did when I saw Connor Coady and Nathan Eccleston, but we still grab them for our acadmies and pay ridiculous figures for them.
There will always be good or bad players; but when will statrt to give our homegrown players a chance?
There are players like Eccleston, Ince and so on that will come through, but even at The Academy we are seemingly flooded with foreign players aged 16-18.
The full Arsenal side is mostly French and we have a strong base of Spanish speaking players. In Arsenal's case, apart from Walcott and Wilshire, are there no other decent UK players?
I like wokring in mainland Europe, love the culture and the chances it has given me. But why do our clubs not have a majority of UK players in their academies? Is it £?
08 Sep 2010 08:54:10
Would love to see Stevie and Carra as scouts to begin with (after they retire) then move to youth coaching, and after 10 years, who knows, maybe one of them a manager and the other as an assistant.
Red Herr Ing
08 Sep 2010 08:49:34
A very interesting topic was posted on the main rumours page yesterday, but there didn't seem much in the way of comment from other posters.
I was intrigued by the suggestion that overt shows of religious fervour should be banned from the pitch.
I find myself agreeing with this.
They cited Hernandez of Man Uinted as a prime example - kneeling in the centre of the field with outstretched arms wide praying to his God.
I do find that unacceptable.
That sort of thing is private and not for public consumption.
I don't want to know about my footballer's religious beliefs and why should they feel the need to display it to the rest of us?
Is it a case of "my God only believes I worship him if I do it in front of thousands of people?" or is it a case of showing off?
I don't think there are any Liverpool players that go to this proposterous and embarrassing display before a game?
I know Lucas and I think Reina cross themselves (like many do before they stride onto the pitch) but someone needs to get hold of Hernandez on this one.
Before anyone says they can do what they like - then I think it's fair to say from what I've read that FIFA have banned overt religious celebrations and displays. If a Muslim was to prostrate himself on the pitch and bow and scrape to his prophet, wouldn't he have the mickey taken out of him? I think so and therefore it should be the same with all the other weird and wonderful beliefs many people fill their lives with.
I'm not anti-religion.
I don't believe in a god or any of the associated stuff, but apart from mentioning it here to make a point, I never discuss or ram my ideologies down anyone's throat.
Religion tends to be in your face when people want to convert you.
Why can't players like Hernandez and Kaka - who was also mentioned in the posting - just keep their faith antics to themselves and feel happy with that?
I never try to convert anyone to supporting Liverpool or eating a curry on Friday night at the Golden Eagle in Clapham Common. So why should footballers be allowed to put on their little religious displays in the hope that we either think they are pious and a bit special, or subconsciously try to convert us to their faith?
It maybe that they see it simply as a part of their religion. If so, then why can't they talk and prostrate themselves before their particular god of the week in the privacy of the changing rooms like many other players do.
Relgion is too emotive a subject for footballers to be using as a prop for their own lives and enticements for those of others.
08 Sep 2010 08:38:01
If you think them 2 t* ts h&g are going to give up easy your very wrong.they will stop at nothing to keep hold of the club. where as all the tv money gone made money in transfer window again everybody saying we have £15m same as last year and jan transfer window.but team still not much stronger that's why we got roy and not kenny because if kenny was bos there would be even more support than raffer had.
08 Sep 2010 02:00:22
RBS could join venture with Bank Rakyat Malaysia to takeover LFC. BRM is stringest bank in malaysia where bank CEO is Liverpool fan. Trust me on this
08 Sep 2010 01:30:40
Did anyone see suso's goal this evening for the reserves. . some goal on a debut!
db9