Liverpool Fc @ Anfield - Reds Supporters Gatherings

[chairman-mao]

Originally Posted by ProfessorOokami

Well said, bro. Support blindly is not what a fan should do. If the player is weak and bad or whatever (like LUCAS) go ahead and criticize him, if that stubborn Spanish waiter still wants to deploy him, then he loses our admiration and support.

well say cant agreed more.

[bochapsing]

Sky Sports | Football News | Premier League | Liverpool | Syrian eyes Reds takeover

Syrian businessman Yahya Kirdi claims he is in advanced talks about buying Liverpool.

Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are reported to be finally willing to sell their stake in the club after hiring Barclays Capital to find new owners.

A number of potential investors have been linked with a move for the Anfield outfit and now former Syria international Kirdi is ready to end Hicks and Gillett's time on Merseyside.

Former Celtic player Andy Lynch has been brought in by Kirdi to act as a go-between in the deal and he is hopeful a takeover could be completed soon.

"Talks are on-going with Tom Hicks and George Gillett and are at an advanced stage," Lynch told the Daily Mirror.

"The planned buy-out will have massive implications for Liverpool. Liverpool aren't the force they were so this is just what they need.

"I've been to Anfield on business recently and I'm acting as the go-between in the whole deal.

"Hopefully it's not too much longer before it's all done and dusted."

[rahl]

Originally Posted by bochapsing

Sky Sports | Football News | Premier League | Liverpool | Syrian eyes Reds takeover

Syrian businessman Yahya Kirdi claims he is in advanced talks about buying Liverpool.

Best news I have heard all season that the Yanks are going BUT the papers are going to have a field day with rumours so watch what we read!

Let's hope the British Airways bloke does a better job of selling the club than Moores - stadium please to start immediately pls and no debt on the club.

[rahl]

No idea how real the figures are - if they are, we know where the profits went.

+++

Liverpool Football Club (the "Club"), today announced that Martin Broughton has been appointed as Chairman with immediate effect.

The new Chairman will oversee a formal sale process launched by current owners, Thomas Hicks and George Gillett Jr.

Following numerous expressions of interest from third parties, the Club has engaged Barclays Capital to advise on the sale process. The Club has the full support of its existing bankers for this process and has financing in place which will fully support the Club's operations.

Mr. Broughton, currently Chairman of British Airways PLC and deputy president of the Confederation of British Industry, will work alongside the club's existing management team of Managing Director Christian Purslow, Commercial Director Ian Ayre and Financial Director Philip Nash. The day-to-day running of the club remains in the hands of this team, who have overseen a significant improvement in the financial performance of the Club since 2007. During that time:

* The Club's revenues have increased by 55%;

* Commercial revenues have increased by 83%;

* Operating profit (before player trading and exceptionals) has increased by 60%.

The Club will continue to progress the well-advanced plans for a new, larger, and state-of-the-art stadium which will form an exciting part of the club's future development.

Thomas Hicks and George Gillett said: "Owning Liverpool Football Club over these past three years has been a rewarding and exciting experience for us and our families. Having grown the Club this far we have now decided together to look to sell the Club to owners committed to take the Club through its next level of growth and development.

"We are delighted that Martin Broughton has agreed to take the position of Chairman, working alongside the club's excellent senior management team. Martin is a distinguished business leader of excellent judgment and with a great reputation. He is a genuine football supporter and will seek to oversee the sales process in the best interests of the Club and its supporters."

Martin Broughton said: "I am excited and honoured to be taking up this position. Liverpool is a great club with a fantastic history. I will run this sale process in the right way, for the benefit of the Club and its fans. Liverpool is one of the world's greatest clubs and my aim is to try and ensure that we find new owners who are able to build on the Club's recent improved financial performance in order to help deliver sporting success."

LFC announces new Chairman - Liverpool FC

[joew2005]

perhaps the yankees feel tat w/o UCL action next season,they r no longer able 2 svc the interest of the loan ......

[shyboy252001]

Bro Omnia,

want to comment on Jose, just for discussion ok? no ill feel. hahaha. the thing is, while i think he is a good manager, i dont think he will be a better replacement for Rafa. i dont think he really got, like u said, the clue to win EPL. its more like he was luckier/street-smarter to have picked better clubs to manage so far.

Chelsea were already a strong team under Ranieri (finished 2nd in 2003-04 campaign), so were Inter Milan. not to discredit him for winning the league, but it is easier to win the league when u manage a strong squad left behind by unluckier manager before i; just like Benitez did with Valencia, he was left with strong squad from Hector Cuper. also, you got to take into account the other teams' squad. when Jose took over, there were only 2 other main competitors in the League, Arsenal and Man Utd. it was easier back then. anyway, in his last season with Chelsea, Man Utd won the League..

When Avram Grant took over, Liverpool have become a strong contender to the Title, so is when Scolari took over. Now, the league is even more competitive due to the massive improvement in Totenham and Man City. side track, Hughes started with what kind of squad in Man City?

u said, Jose made Terry, Lampard, Cole a better player, didnt we see the same with Carra, Gerrard? in GH era, u saw a young energetic midfielder running wildly, in RB era, Gerrard become the complete midfielder he is now! in my opinion even Torres owe it to Benitez to make him so famous now. Torres is a talent in A. Madrid, but under Benitez guidance, he blossom and become deadlier in Liverpool. so are Reina, Alonso and Mascherano. a good manager make a star of his players. Reina was criticized for punching the ball rather than tryin to catch it, but RB encouraged him to punch the ball out, because a GK job is not to catch ball or not, its to keep the ball out of the goal post! Alonso in Real Sociedad was a decent playmaker at best, but playing for Benitez, he become the maestro passmaker. Mascherano in West Ham under Alan Cursherby is not even playin football. but under Benitez, he is widely recognised as the best defensive mid.

for Rafa to make Liverpool from also ran team to a title contender with such constrained budget is an achievement. he doesnt have one lump sum of 80-100 mil to spend to tweak the squad in one season like Jose had, or Hughes had. but have to do it slowly and pain-stakingly, season by season. A star player a season. if lucky, 2 star players.

and the thing that i am gonna dislike the most is, if a new manager come in, and he won the league, people gonna praise the new manager and forgot that the core team is left by Benitez already. just somehow feel that his effort so far have been unappreciated, not just by the journalists, but also to his own teams' fans!

i just want to "da bao bu ping" at times. people should learn to be more "ying shui shi yuan" and be gratitude for work well done. 1 bad season and everybody asking for his head.. haiz..

anyway, last note on the new ownership, hope Liverpool dont pass from one tiger mouth to a crocodile jaw..

[beck7777]

The only good news in this long and poor season..

Finally the Yankees decided to pack and go home, just that I dont like the way they claimed they have "grown" the club which the only thing they managed to grow is the debts and our hatred for them...

But we have to really hope the new owners will be good ones, not another Yankees in the making...

[omnia]

hello some chaps in here made reference to falcao n dunga when they backed lucas...so donch pray pray hor

Originally Posted by sex crusader

I hope lucas will stay too...he will also be sought after considered his ability to run everywhere on the pitch.The referee association will surely be seriously looking into this. He could be a serious candidate for the upcoming world cup!

[omnia]

i shall believe a sale when it is has been inked in black & white...till then...i take all news wif a pinch of salt...the reds hv been linked wif everyone fm other yanks, arabs, indians and even a prc group...i think there is v little real news to print hence all these 'stories' coming out of the press...

latest 'news'...jose saying almost certain gerrard shall be heading to inter next season, balotelli being mentioned in a part $$$ part player exchange...torres shall be following rafa to juve or torres may be heading to milan instead...

Originally Posted by rahl

Best news I have heard all season that the Yanks are going BUT the papers are going to have a field day with rumours so watch what we read!

Let's hope the British Airways bloke does a better job of selling the club than Moores - stadium please to start immediately pls and no debt on the club.

[shyboy252001]

Originally Posted by omnia

but then one sld also question whether he sold wisely to make another purchase?...for instance sld he hv kept one of 3 - keane or bellamy or crouch on the books as a complementary/back up striker for torres?...

Keane is aging and NOT performing, you can keep him in the book and saw his value dropped further to maybe 8mil-10mil or u can try to cut lose and sell him for slightly higher price.. anyway, i think Keane also someone who doesnt want to warm the bench and he doesnt gel well with Torres, often chasing after the same ball..

Bellamy was a discipline problem kid just like Diouf which were not even given chance to perform under Rafa.. think he dislikes these type of players..

Crouch, i believed were making alot of noises after he was benched often due to Torres' arrival back in 2007, i think he was complaining alot that he - an England regular was not playing often, and i believed his contract were running out in 2009? so u either sell him at his highest possible value or u might get lesser in a year time cause he may not even new contract and walk out on bosman..

let me ask brother omnia or any other fans.. which good competent striker willing to play as a wingman (back up) to Torres? only play when he injured? of course, sometimes can play along Torres, but most likely you will be benched? the most likely answer is up and coming young striker.. cause they are "learning" mah like N'gog.. or old and understand their roles is to fill in when the main players injured like Fowler in 2005.. those in their prime age, of course want to play and show how good they are and earn higher pay mah like Keane, Bellamy, Baros.. or even Owen..

Originally Posted by omnia

u pted out fergie & jose's duds & hv rtly said that every manager has had his share of duds...yes...however fergie & jose hv managed to establish relatively balanced successful EPL squads notwithstanding their duds...so has arsene who has done so on a smaller budget compared to rafa (for eg. i don't think arsene has ever spent more than 15m pounds on a single player)...this is something rafa has thus far failed to achieve in his 6 yrs at anfield...note i am making specific reference to the EPL and not CL...

bro, as mentioned, cant really compare with Alex or Jose ba.. if you read Alex' brief history.. he took 7 years to win the first EPL and was consistently the highest spender during the periods, just that at that point of time, the prices of players are not as crazy as now, but Sir Alex paid top price to get the top talent back then.. took him 7 years to finally get a team of his own.. took another 1-2 years before his young talents start to come out, the Nevilles, Giggs, Scholes, Beckham.. RB had less time, less money, and yet demanded to deliver the same result? really absurd lor..

Jose had it easier because he doesnt need to change the whole squad.. he only need to add here and there.. of course his duds doesnt affect much.. and he got the cash to burn, too.. RB needs to replace almost the whole Liverpool squad.. in fact only left Carra and Gerrard from the team he inherited from GH.. how to compare? u asked whats wrong with Dudek.. Dudek confident was shattered after big blunders and never recover since.. u feel confident with such GK in your goal post? of course u'd want to replace with someone better mah.. Riise as a left back was average cause dont know how to defend.. as left mid not fast or tricky enough.. Kewell consistently on the surgery bed.. Cisse was hot tempered.. Baros was too one-player liao.. Hamann was aging, so is Hyppia..

Arsene is good, but he dont have the "historical pressure" of Liverpool manager to perform.. how many years since Arsenal won EPL? if he is a Liverpool manager, i guess he would be sacked and replaced long ago liao lor.. just like Roy Evans who consistently get Reds to be in top 4 back then or GH also, consistently top 4 mah, but still kena chopped..

anyway, one good thing about RB, i think, is that RB can b quite a cruel manager in a sense that if the players start to have attitude problem or poor performance, or aging player, especially for the latter one, he can be rather heartless and sell them immediately. Case study, Morientes was shipped out as soon as possible after realising that he could not perform in EPL, Mark Gonzales is another example, u see him offloading players as soon as possible before their value keep dropping further, hence giving himself some extra transfer money (Owen?).. but selling quick to get another player also kena flamed..

my four cents worth of comment. cheers.

[rahl]

Originally Posted by shyboy252001

Bellamy was a discipline problem kid just like Diouf which were not even given chance to perform under Rafa.. think he dislikes these type of players..

let me ask brother omnia or any other fans.. which good competent striker willing to play as a wingman (back up) to Torres? only play when he injured? of course, sometimes can play along Torres, but most likely you will be benched? the most likely answer is up and coming young striker.. cause they are "learning" mah like N'gog.. or old and understand their roles is to fill in when the main players injured like Fowler in 2005..

Bro, I don't agree about Bellars - he had that Tiger Woods encounter with Riise but otherwise, I found him a top bloke - read his recent interview and you get a sense of what the guy is all about - straightforward and honest, the kind of guy I want for a pal. Again, this is a case of the media eating up players they don't approve.

Why did he leave? Raise funds for Torres? Also injury prone unfortunately.

The thing about a backup to Torres is something that cannot drag on longer or it will really doom our chances of challenging for the title. Ngog can't be backup (at least not Plan B).

Rafa needs to be creative to find a backup for Torres when he needs a rest or is injured, or who can play 4-4-2 alongside him at home (that's 11 games or so counting out the top 7 sides, and more with the cup competitions).

I would go for a proven striker like Ruud but it seems we missed our boat.

[omnia]

always welcum an open discussion regardless of whether i agree or disagree wif povs...

Originally Posted by shyboy252001

Bro Omnia,
want to comment on Jose, just for discussion ok? no ill feel.

errr...i think i said this in respect of rafa not jose...

Originally Posted by shyboy252001

the thing is, while i think he is a good manager, i dont think he will be a better replacement for Rafa. i dont think he really got, like u said, the clue to win EPL.

regardless jose still had to produce the goods instantly or else he too wld hv been shown the door at the end of his first season at the bridge...something which raneiri, grant and scolari were unable to do...another probable apt eg. wld be pelligrini at madrid...$$$ does not necessarily = instant success...

Originally Posted by shyboy252001

its more like he was luckier/street-smarter to have picked better clubs to manage so far.

by mentioning "luck" time n again i think u r being a tad unfair to jose...same wif yr reference that the EPL at that time may hv been easier to win back then...if that really was the case, then raneiri sld hv won the EPL, but he did not...

Originally Posted by shyboy252001

Chelsea were already a strong team under Ranieri (finished 2nd in 2003-04 campaign), so were Inter Milan. not to discredit him for winning the league, but it is easier to win the league when u manage a strong squad left behind by unluckier manager before i; just like Benitez did with Valencia, he was left with strong squad from Hector Cuper. also, you got to take into account the other teams' squad. when Jose took over, there were only 2 other main competitors in the League, Arsenal and Man Utd. it was easier back then. anyway, in his last season with Chelsea, Man Utd won the League..

so what if the reds became a strong contender?(which btw i disagree, it was only last season that the reds maintained a strong challenge to the end of the season)...i don't see how this wld change things for both ranieri n scolari if they had that x factor nous...btw i dont think spurs/man city/villa/reds count this season as they were/are battling it out for 4th...as for Hughes, he literally had an open cheque before the start of this season...hence his team sld hv been performing much better than it did results wise...

Originally Posted by shyboy252001

When Avram Grant took over, Liverpool have become a strong contender to the Title, so is when Scolari took over. Now, the league is even more competitive due to the massive improvement in Totenham and Man City. side track, Hughes started with what kind of squad in Man City?

yup i generally agree wif what u said abt rafa n his influence on gerrard/carra/torres/masch/reina/alonso...but rafa was unfortunately still unable to find a balance...also why the apparent slump in form in majority of his star players all at the sametime?...also i wonder whether all these players hv that strong personal bond/connection wif rafa that jose seemed to hv wif his lot at the bridge...fm carra's book n interviews wif gerrard/torres/alonso, it wld appear that the ans is unlikely...

Originally Posted by shyboy252001

u said, Jose made Terry, Lampard, Cole a better player, didnt we see the same with Carra, Gerrard? in GH era, u saw a young energetic midfielder running wildly, in RB era, Gerrard become the complete midfielder he is now! in my opinion even Torres owe it to Benitez to make him so famous now. Torres is a talent in A. Madrid, but under Benitez guidance, he blossom and become deadlier in Liverpool. so are Reina, Alonso and Mascherano. a good manager make a star of his players. Reina was criticized for punching the ball rather than tryin to catch it, but RB encouraged him to punch the ball out, because a GK job is not to catch ball or not, its to keep the ball out of the goal post! Alonso in Real Sociedad was a decent playmaker at best, but playing for Benitez, he become the maestro passmaker. Mascherano in West Ham under Alan Cursherby is not even playin football. but under Benitez, he is widely recognised as the best defensive mid.

sorry but rafa has thus far failed to make the reds a consistent EPL challenger...only last season counts in my book...n i dont think it matters that much whether rafa was given the $$$ over a long period as opposed to wifin a season provided he is given a reasonable length of time to build his team...in this regard i wld say 6 seasons appears pretty reasonable to me...

Originally Posted by shyboy252001

for Rafa to make Liverpool from also ran team to a title contender with such constrained budget is an achievement. he doesnt have one lump sum of 80-100 mil to spend to tweak the squad in one season like Jose had, or Hughes had. but have to do it slowly and pain-stakingly, season by season. A star player a season. if lucky, 2 star players.

the winning manager deserves the credit because regardless of who built up the core...the previous manager still failed to complete the deal i.e. win the EPL...that is a fact...as for not appreciating what rafa has done...i disagree if u r talking abt journos & fans who come up wif constructive criticism backed up by rational substantiation...istanbul n even athens has always been appreciated...so too last season's 2nd in the EPL...but that success & appreciation sld not be used as blind faith in rafa...

Originally Posted by shyboy252001

and the thing that i am gonna dislike the most is, if a new manager come in, and he won the league, people gonna praise the new manager and forgot that the core team is left by Benitez already. just somehow feel that his effort so far have been unappreciated, not just by the journalists, but also to his own teams' fans!

if it was just this season...perhaps i may agree more wif what u say...but i get the impression that it goes further than that even after discounting for the ownership $$$ turmoil factors...i stand by what i said previously that it appears that rafa does not appear to get the EPL...

Originally Posted by shyboy252001

i just want to "da bao bu ping" at times. people should learn to be more "ying shui shi yuan" and be gratitude for work well done. 1 bad season and everybody asking for his head.. haiz..

[omnia]

i did not say merely back up striker...i said "complementary" as welll...which means that the other quality striker sld be fielded on a pretty consistent basis as well...to provide goals when the torres/gerrard combo ain't firing...which then leads me back to the issue of rafa's tactics in the EPL...

Keane - he was not given a reasonable enuff time to show that he cld perform...age does not count as he was released before completing a full season...

Bellamy - well rafa sld not hv bought him in the 1st place since his disciplinary problems was a well known fact...

Crouch - rafa sld hv utilised him more, plain n simple...if he did crouch wld hv probably been more than happy to stay on at anfield...also it is possible that reds may been still in the running for 4th if an established 2nd striker like crouch had been available...

Originally Posted by shyboy252001

Keane is aging and NOT performing, you can keep him in the book and saw his value dropped further to maybe 8mil-10mil or u can try to cut lose and sell him for slightly higher price.. anyway, i think Keane also someone who doesnt want to warm the bench and he doesnt gel well with Torres, often chasing after the same ball..

Bellamy was a discipline problem kid just like Diouf which were not even given chance to perform under Rafa.. think he dislikes these type of players..

Crouch, i believed were making alot of noises after he was benched often due to Torres' arrival back in 2007, i think he was complaining alot that he - an England regular was not playing often, and i believed his contract were running out in 2009? so u either sell him at his highest possible value or u might get lesser in a year time cause he may not even new contract and walk out on bosman..

let me ask brother omnia or any other fans.. which good competent striker willing to play as a wingman (back up) to Torres? only play when he injured? of course, sometimes can play along Torres, but most likely you will be benched? the most likely answer is up and coming young striker.. cause they are "learning" mah like N'gog.. or old and understand their roles is to fill in when the main players injured like Fowler in 2005.. those in their prime age, of course want to play and show how good they are and earn higher pay mah like Keane, Bellamy, Baros.. or even Owen..
..

i dont think an extra season shall make any difference...alex's 7 to rafa's 6...as for $$$...rafa has had well over 200m pounds to spend over the 6 years...so i dont think $$$ sld be used as an excuse n hence the expectations r hardly absurd...bottom line it wld appear that rafa does not get the EPL...

Originally Posted by shyboy252001

bro, as mentioned, cant really compare with Alex or Jose ba.. if you read Alex' brief history.. he took 7 years to win the first EPL and was consistently the highest spender during the periods, just that at that point of time, the prices of players are not as crazy as now, but Sir Alex paid top price to get the top talent back then.. took him 7 years to finally get a team of his own.. took another 1-2 years before his young talents start to come out, the Nevilles, Giggs, Scholes, Beckham.. RB had less time, less money, and yet demanded to deliver the same result? really absurd lor..
..

again wif yr broad brush "easier" & $$$ reasoning ...which i think is tenuous at best...i hv already explained my reasoning on these issues abv and shall not repeat myself as i stand by what i said previously...

Originally Posted by shyboy252001

Jose had it easier because he doesnt need to change the whole squad.. he only need to add here and there.. of course his duds doesnt affect much.. and he got the cash to burn, too..
..

well rafa has had 6 seasons and over 200m pounds...

Originally Posted by shyboy252001

RB needs to replace almost the whole Liverpool squad.. in fact only left Carra and Gerrard from the team he inherited from GH.. how to compare?
..

i dont think dudek was that bad...although i agree that reina is in a different class...as for risse i think on balance he was quite ok n scored some much needed goals at times...defence wise i wld say that he may hv been better than johnson who has cost a bomb...cisse was played out of position by rafa n in this regard rafa has to take some responsibility for cisse's failure not all but some at least...baros, well i think he did not appear to be a team player, apparently also wanted to leave...hamann & hyppia ageing then must find able n competent replacements...

Originally Posted by shyboy252001

u asked whats wrong with Dudek.. Dudek confident was shattered after big blunders and never recover since.. u feel confident with such GK in your goal post? of course u'd want to replace with someone better mah.. Riise as a left back was average cause dont know how to defend.. as left mid not fast or tricky enough.. Kewell consistently on the surgery bed.. Cisse was hot tempered.. Baros was too one-player liao.. Hamann was aging, so is Hyppia..
..

first "easier" n $$$...now "historical pressure"?...if u want to talk "historical pressure" what abt 50 yrs waiting at the bridge for a national league title?...as for arsene being sacked at the reds...i disagree because that was not the reds way...well at least not until the yanks came on board...reds management hv a proud history of giving their managers reasonable lenghths of time to build for sustainable success...houllier's sacking was unfortunate but he was given 5 seasons to turn things ard n players like diouf/diao/cheyrou did not make things easy for him...carra(in his biography) seems to think that after his heart attack, houllier's performance as a manager went downhill...so too the failure to blossom by the likes of le tallec...i actually think if arsene was manager instead of rafa given the same period of time n $$$ arsene wld probably hv done better on the EPL front going by his gooners track record...

Originally Posted by shyboy252001

Arsene is good, but he dont have the "historical pressure" of Liverpool manager to perform.. how many years since Arsenal won EPL? if he is a Liverpool manager, i guess he would be sacked and replaced long ago liao lor.. just like Roy Evans who consistently get Reds to be in top 4 back then or GH also, consistently top 4 mah, but still kena chopped..

perhaps...but then does he buy wisely when it comes to replacements?...as for performances, well i guess poor old lucas' case needs to be looked at again...

Originally Posted by shyboy252001

anyway, one good thing about RB, i think, is that RB can b quite a cruel manager in a sense that if the players start to have attitude problem or poor performance, or aging player, especially for the latter one, he can be rather heartless and sell them immediately. Case study, Morientes was shipped out as soon as possible after realising that he could not perform in EPL, Mark Gonzales is another example, u see him offloading players as soon as possible before their value keep dropping further, hence giving himself some extra transfer money (Owen?).. but selling quick to get another player also kena flamed

[omnia]

not just the title but now it wld seem even 4th place...

Originally Posted by rahl

The thing about a backup to Torres is something that cannot drag on longer or it will really doom our chances of challenging for the title. .

[hawksbay]

Originally Posted by sex crusader

I hope lucas will stay too...he will also be sought after considered his ability to run everywhere on the pitch.The referee association will surely be seriously looking into this. He could be a serious candidate for the upcoming world cup!

hopefully steven gerrad can stay n be a passenger in more games.