Sport Liverpool Football Club

[rjpageuk]

Why are commentators suddenly going on about how much Liverpool rely on Torres and Gerrard? According to the commentator tonight we would be 10th in the league with just their goals or something.

Well Man U would be third with just Ronaldo and Tevez's goals (and in fact 10th with just Ronaldo's goals!), and I dont see anyone complaining about that. Good teams have good players who score a lot of goals.

[dogsout]

In fact I'm wrongzor...it was the early 90's team wasnt it? 15-20 years ago almost.

Things are very much different now, and he had SUCH resources at his disposal...one of the best sides ever surely?

I think you're missing my point. They are seen as one of the best sides ever based on their success in Europe; they only won one league title. The CL is as prestigious and sought after as domestic league titles, if not more so.

I'm not saying it should be more of a priority target than the league. Far from it. Just that its importance as a competition is downplayed far too much.

[Takizawa]

Why are commentators suddenly going on about how much Liverpool rely on Torres and Gerrard? According to the commentator tonight we would be 10th in the league with just their goals or something.

Well Man U would be third with just Ronaldo and Tevez's goals (and in fact 10th with just Ronaldo's goals!), and I dont see anyone complaining about that. Good teams have good players who score a lot of goals.

I've been making that point for ages, and posted some similar stats a while back. Getting used to hearing such blind comments from 'pundits' now though.

[Guest]

Hang on. Wasn't it Capello's Milan Team that was REALLY good?

[dogsout]

As I said: Sacchi's Milan are regarded by many (myself included) to be one of, if not the, single best club teams ever. Benitez said that is the side he was most influenced by and his work over the years has shown that to be true.

As you say: The game has changed drastically since then, for many reasons. The competition itself has changed drastically, but still, my point stands. It is a prestigious competition and its importance is played down by far too many fans in my opinion.

That went a little off topic but I won't apologise as it provided me with a distraction from my work and the fact that this season, and perhaps the club's future with it, is going to shit.

[Guest]

Well surely my point backs up yours somewhat? (unintentional though it was). Isn't it harder to win it now, actually? With the amount and quality of the teams in it?

My real point was - a lot of teams are much better. The top teams could possibly play each other 4 times over (neutral venue) and you wouldn't see one side win 4 times.

[dogsout]

Well surely my point backs up yours somewhat? (unintentional though it was). Isn't it harder to win it now, actually? With the amount and quality of the teams in it?

There's certainly a strong case for that stance, although there are obvious reasons as to why the European Cup was 'purer' before it changed to the CL.

My real point was - a lot of teams are much better. The top teams could possibly play each other 4 times over (neutral venue) and you wouldn't see one side win 4 times.

As far as finals go, I'd agree with that. Over the last three seasons, ourselves, Chelsea, and Milan have got to the Semis twice, three times in Milan's case if I recall correctly, and three in the last four for Chelsea. I don't think that can be attributed to coincidence.

[Guest]

As far as finals go, I'd agree with that. Over the last three seasons, ourselves, Chelsea, and Milan have got to the Semis twice, three times in Milan's case if I recall correctly, and three in the last four for Chelsea. I don't think that can be attributed to coincidence.

Ah yes. I suppose if Liverpool play Chelsea though, Chelsea can't win. So my theory goes out the window there

[DeNeo]

CONTROVERSIAL plans by the owners of Liverpool FC to restructure their debt have hit a problem.

City sources said today that the proposed £350m deal with the Royal Bank of Scotland could collapse, and DIC is waiting in the wings to make a move for the club should that happen.

Tom Hicks says the deal is on course, but speculation is growing about George Gillett's ability to secure the loan.

The source said: "There is no doubt that Hicks is ready to put up the money that the RBS has asked for. But the situation may not be the same with Gillett."

The situation is also clouded by the ongoing crisis in the US and Canadian stock markets.

Financial experts now believe a recession is almost inevitable.

With Hicks and Gillett having secured the initial loan to buy Liverpool against assets in American and Canada, their financial position is not as strong today as it was just 24 hours ago.

The source added: "This crash could not have come at a worse time for Hicks and Gillett, there is no question about that.

"Every bank and lending agency will be tightening its belt and RBS maybe more than most because they suffered big losses in yesterday's downturn.

"That means anyone seeking a major loan will have to prove to them that they have the necessary assets to secure it against and Gillett could have a hard time proving this is the case – and that's if he wants to prove it."

Tom Hicks recently promised to have financial restructuring – which would heap around £350m of debt onto the club – completed by the end of last week.

With that deadline now having passed, he is facing a race against time to get it done because the initial one-year loan the duo took out with the RBS to buy the club a year ago expires in a fortnight.

DIC is watching events unfold with interest and, should refinancing not take place, is ready to bid for the club.

Every cloud

[Guest]

Crouchy says they should be doing better:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...ool/7204180.stm

Crouch critical of Liverpool form

Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has criticised the club's form after they slipped even further behind in the title race.

"First and foremost now we have to cement a Champions League spot for next year."

Telling...even the players have given up on the title then. Great.

[Twyford]

Looks like the yanks are going to secure the refinancing deal And if successful we'll see the plans for the new revised stadium tomorrow.

[Guest]

Looks like the yanks are going to secure the refinancing deal And if successful we'll see the plans for the new revised stadium tomorrow.

[Guest]

[Guest]

That's my local Premier League team in Belfast's ground You can have it if you want.

[dizogg]

I'm a bit worried. It actually feels like we could be on downturn now, for a while. I can't remember the last time I felt that way about Liverpool.

[Guest]

I remember years back (90's) seeing a humourous cartoon skit in a newspaper with the players leaving the tunnel at Anfield, and the sign above their head said

"This is A Field"

Is it feeling like that at the moment?

[V3zna]

Seaview!

[ras el hanout]

I'm a bit worried. It actually feels like we could be on downturn now, for a while. I can't remember the last time I felt that way about Liverpool.

Turn that frown upside down.

If the chumps get the money then everything's cool, I mean, this whole bank thing did take the whole globe by surprise so we can't really blame them for that, too much, sure they're not as rich as we'd like but they want to make money and they surely understand you have to spend for that. A lot of it has been stirred up by the media I reckon. None of us really know what's going behind the scenes and we should be worried about what we can see with our own eyes, what's out on the pitch rather that we what read in the papers.

Rafa's a goner though, so it comes down to who will replace him and hopefully that somebody will be awesome. So everything's fine! Unless Paul Ince gets the nod.

And Crouch is right, he's not blaming the goings on.

[dizogg]

There is no better manager out there than Benitez imo that we can realistically get. Possibly Mourinho, but thats arguable.

Losing Benitez will be a huge fuck up. I mean they were talking to Klinsmann, which gives me no confidence whatsoever that will pick the right man. I mean Klinsmann, wtf. That is complete bullshit and an insult to Benitez and the club. They must keep Benitez. Give him time.

[dam_aks]

There is no better manager out there than Benitez imo that we can realistically get. Possibly Mourinho, but thats arguable.

Losing Benitez will be a huge fuck up. I mean they were talking to Klinsmann, which gives me no confidence whatsoever that will pick the right man. I mean Klinsmann, wtf. That is complete bullshit and an insult to Benitez and the club. They must keep Benitez. Give him time.

He did do rather well with Germany... They didn't have as good a team as us on paper in the last world cup, he took them to a semi. England went flaccid.

[lampkin]

Turn that frown upside down.

If the chumps get the money then everything's cool, I mean, this whole bank thing did take the whole globe by surprise so we can't really blame them for that, too much, sure they're not as rich as we'd like but they want to make money and they surely understand you have to spend for that. A lot of it has been stirred up by the media I reckon. None of us really know what's going behind the scenes and we should be worried about what we can see with our own eyes, what's out on the pitch rather that we what read in the papers.

Rafa's a goner though, so it comes down to who will replace him and hopefully that somebody will be awesome. So everything's fine! Unless Paul Ince gets the nod.

And Crouch is right, he's not blaming the goings on.

Suprise? hell, check the house price / economy threads, I've been moaning about about the economic mess that's been set up for years now :| meh, that's another topic though...

Yeh, I think we've all known Rafa will be gone by the end of the season

Maybe things with the yanks won't be so bad..

[dogsout]

There is no better manager out there than Benitez imo that we can realistically get. Possibly Mourinho, but thats arguable.

Losing Benitez will be a huge fuck up. I mean they were talking to Klinsmann, which gives me no confidence whatsoever that will pick the right man. I mean Klinsmann, wtf. That is complete bullshit and an insult to Benitez and the club. They must keep Benitez. Give him time.

That's exactly what I think about this as well. By approaching Klinsmann and then announcing it to the world they confirmed my worst fears; they have no idea about football, and the people advising them don't either.

[dizogg]

He did do rather well with Germany... They didn't have as good a team as us on paper in the last world cup, he took them to a semi. England went flaccid.

Yeh and Benitez WON the Champions League with a team none us probably dreamt would win it. Then got to the final 2 years later. Benitez wasn't England manager either.

You cannot convince me Klinsmann is in anyway a suitable person to be approaching for the replacement of Benitez.

[dogsout]

If the chumps get the money then everything's cool, I mean, this whole bank thing did take the whole globe by surprise so we can't really blame them for that, too much, sure they're not as rich as we'd like but they want to make money and they surely understand you have to spend for that.

Do they? The fact that they're securing the loan against the club's assets suggests otherwise. They bought the club without putting a penny of their own money in, whilst making a bunch of promises which have subsequently been broken one by one. I have no faith whatsoever that they have the best interests of the club at heart in any of their decisions. All they want is money. Money from TV rights, merchandise and gate receipts. If things fuck up on the pitch worse than they currently are and we fail to get a CL spot for next season or the season after that, the banks will come knocking and guess who will be paying the bill.

A lot of it has been stirred up by the media I reckon. None of us really know what's going behind the scenes and we should be worried about what we can see with our own eyes, what's out on the pitch rather that we what read in the papers.

I know that Hicks said this:

Sport is about brand loyalty, it isn't necessarily about winning

And this:

People are worried that I might take money away from the [Texas] Rangers [Hicks' baseball franchise] to go to Liverpool. But it is just the reverse. Liverpool is going to throw off lots of extra money which, if I choose to, I can use for the Rangers or the [Dallas] Stars [ice hockey team].

As the song says: You lying bastards, get out of our club.

[Guest]

He did do rather well with Germany... They didn't have as good a team as us on paper in the last world cup, he took them to a semi. England went flaccid.

Why don't we employ Terry Venables then?

[dam_aks]

Hey, I'm not saying give him the job! Just that the guy was a fantastic player and his venture into management has hardly been poor so far. He isn't exactly the worst choice going.

[dogsout]

Hey, I'm not saying give him the job! Just that the guy was a fantastic player and his venture into management has hardly been poor so far. He isn't exactly the worst choice going.

He's barely done anything, though. He was in charge of Germany for a handful of games during the World Cup in which they were the host nation. It's hardly conclusive proof of his managerial abilities one way or another. He's never been involved in the day to day running of a football club before. I think it would have been a ridiculous appointment, especially considering the pedigree of the man he would have been replacing.

[dizogg]

Yes, i'm not saying Klinsmann is shit, he could turn out to be the best manager of all time, but to be the next manager of Liverpool, replacing Benitez, you really need to be proven to be exceptional at managing a successful club, in my opinion.

[ras el hanout]

Yes, i'm not saying Klinsmann is shit, he could turn out to be the best manager of all time, but to be the next manager of Liverpool, replacing Benitez, you really need to be proven to be exceptional at managing a successful club, in my opinion.

Well that's Ferguson, Wenger or possibly Mourinho then, there's nobody else proven to be a exceptional Premiership manager. So we're going to have to take a punt. If we could get Sven that would be groovy but if not then, I dunno, I mean, it's not my job to pick them. Somebody found Wenger. Let's get the guy who found Wenger to fine one for us.

I've been thinking about this Rafa business A LOT lately. It's a strangely Liverpool thing, this adoring of a manager. I mean, it seemed to start with Houllier, this singing of his name and everything, now Rafa gets it. Do other teams sing their manager's name as much as we do? I don't think so, not even Man U with the best manager around. It's like we're waiting for the Messiah to get us up to the top, and after we pick our Messiah by golly we stick with him no matter how bad he fucks up. Somebody was saying Rafa should get at least as long as Houllier, but didn't it turn out we had Houllier too long? Roy Evans never got his name sang. I mean, it's good, obviously, to love the manager, but, you know, I mean.

To me it seems like you guys are scared of having to take a step back with a new manager to go forward. You'd rather stay where we are, where we can at least dream about winning the title at the start of the season my word that sounds patronsizing but I don't mean it like that. I just can't saee where you're coming from. And as I've said I don't think we would take a step back with a new manager as Rafa has built a fantastic squad. The new guy will obviously play Crouch with Torres so we'll be better straight away. And he won't rest players at the start of the season so they'll be fresh for the fight for fifth.

It's gonna be good. Next season will be exciting!

[mop]

Let's get the guy who found Wenger to fine one

David Dein?