Messages

Yes, of I course I believe that. Who are you blaming - Rafa??

Im fairly sure that if we had sold to somebody like the Man City owner or even DIC, there wouldnt have been half the dung in the media that we've seen over the last 5 months. A little bit of discretion isnt much to ask for.

As i said, let the yanks shut up & allow rafa get on with his job.

what exactly have the american owners done to incur your wrath? have they not bankrolled rafa sufficiently? why is everyone keen to welcome DIC?

Uladh, my main gripes with the yanks are as follows:
- Their complete lack of respect towards Rafa. They were tapping up Klinsmann as a possible replacement as soon we had a dip in form.
- They promised alot in finances but delivered little. People will point to torres, Babel, etc as big spending but yet again we had to sell players before getting these funds - Bellamy, Luis Garcia, Cisse & others. It's far from the big war chest that was promised.
- The club has being dragged through the gutters in relation to the off field activity. It's no coincidence that this has happened under the reign of the arrogant, loud mouthed yanks.

To be honest, I dont know alot about DIC. And with the relationship starting to settle between rafa & the yanks, Im wondering if selling to the arabs would be a good move. If the yanks could shut up, let rafa get on with his job & just write checks whenever required then I'd be happy enough with them. The recent Skyrtel & Masch deals were much appreciated, more of the same please.

by jaysus, that was a cold & wet day yesterday. but went away happy with the much needed 2 points & a much improved performance on the wexford game. the switch at centre back effectively won the game for us as maguire turned in a superb 2nd half. It does pose a headache in whether to leave him at no.6 or bring him back to full back. in any case it should now be him & naughton taking up those 2 positions and the next few lge matches might tell us which is the best selection.

O'hara also showed why he is still irreplaceable in the 2nd half. Not sure whether his first half performance was down to lack of match practice or just saving his energy for later in the game but he was a different man for the 2nd period.

Fizzy did well with kick outs and apart from the mistake for their goal, he had a good game overall. Backs did fine and with maguire operating in chb, they looked a formidable unit going forward too.

Midfield, big improvement in work rate from quinn but at times he seemed to be battling on his own in this area. So what do we do in this critical area - It's great to give Beirne plenty of game time and he'll improve im sure, but at this stage i couldnt see him starting come ch'ship. Does O'hara still have the legs for midfield?? Time will tell i suppose.

forwards, gallagher & kelly lively again. brehony looked sharper and is definitely better on the 14 than the 40. Sweeney showed yet again that for some reason, he's better coming off the bench. still lacking a bit of strength up front but could have options if john mac comes good or if mcnamara makes the switch.

Obviously I would disagree with you in that I still think that LFC winning a Premiership far outweighs another couple of CLs at the moment. My brief to Rafa now, if he cared , would be 'Win the premiership, the rest is gravy'.

If he can't do that, or still looks as far away in 2 years as he is now, well then yes, I would ask him to leave.

I totally agree with AZ, that LFC winning the PL far outweighs the CL, but not because 1 competition is better or gives more financial reward than the other. They are the 2 elite competitions but the fact is Liverpool have never won the PL and havent been champions in England for 18 years. Thats the single reason why it is far more important to win the PL. If you ask Fergie/Wenger/Grant, what competition they would prefer to win this year, I'd bet they'd all say the CL, simply because all 3 clubs have tasted PL success in recent years and they know they have strong chances of getting further PL titles in the coming years. The CL, on the other hand has eluded them all, apart from utd's title way back in '99.

Regarding the question about Rafa's future. He needs big money to buy 2-3 more high profile players - of the torres class. Then he needs to prove he can be competitive in the PL. But he also needs time, look how long it took united to win the title under ferguson!! It's no coincidence that the most decorated clubs in the PL are the two with the longest serving managers. Unfortunately, with the pressure at LFC and the fans demands for PL success, he mightnt be afforded the time he needs. But before sacking rafa, you need to have a good man to step into his place - who will that be??

ah ok, i missed that point. 

would never read the indo myself but someone at work had the paper and i just spotted the article. anyway, just looked at the times online and exact same article there too...

Taken from todays irish independent, See here:
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/american-owners-get-anfield-takeover-ball-rolling-1297971.html

more talk about the DIC takeover (from the indo today)


American owners get Anfield takeover ball rolling

By Oliver Kay
Tuesday February 26 2008


TOM Hicks and George Gillett Jr, Liverpool's American owners, are preparing to signal the beginning of the end of their regime at Anfield by granting Dubai International Capital (DIC) permission to examine the club's accounts with a view to making an official takeover bid next month.


Hicks has consistently claimed that he has no intention of selling his 50pc stake in the club, but, while he plans to retain some of his shares and some of his influence at Anfield for the immediate future, face-to-face discussions with DIC officials in Dubai and, more significantly, London last week, have brought a deal closer.

Although a final agreement is understood to be some weeks away, with the Americans eager to maximise their profits after a turbulent 12 months in control, sources in the US have indicated that Hicks and Gillett are ready to show their willingness to sell by granting a period of due diligence to DIC.

Gillett, whose involvement with the club is now minimal, is expected to be the first to sell his 50pc stake, possibly by the middle of next month. Hicks is likely to sell only part of his stake initially, leaving DIC in majority control of the club but retaining some interest and his board place at least in the short term.

Hicks's abrasive manner means that he is regarded as the most likely obstacle to any deal being completed, but discussions are said to be progressing "sensibly and professionally", albeit slowly. Although Hicks could, in theory, buy Gillett's stake in order to strengthen his own bargaining position, that is thought to be unlikely.

For now, no price has been agreed between DIC and either of the co-chairmen. The Americans, whose initial takeover just over 12 months ago was valued at £218.9m, now put the club's worth at more than £400m, but £350m of that figure would be swallowed by the debts incurred as a result of their recent refinancing deal. DIC would be reluctant to meet that valuation if, as remains the case, Liverpool are in danger of missing out on qualification for next season's Champions League and the associated riches.

DIC's plans for Liverpool are not yet clear beyond its eagerness to conduct a wide-ranging review of all departments of the club, but its arrival would be greeted enthusiastically by many fans.

Welcomed by some as saviours in February last year, the Americans have attracted hostility not only by taking the club into debt -- something that they pledged they would not do -- but also by their treatment of Rafael Benitez, the manager, having held talks with Jurgen Klinsmann about replacing him. There was also the embarrassment over their grandiose designs for a new stadium, which were unveiled amid fanfare in July only to be dropped owing to spiralling costs five months later.

Tom Hicks Jr, who was invited to join his father on the board, was confronted angrily by some supporters when he visited a pub near Anfield on Saturday. He claimed yesterday that he "had several constructive conversations" during his visit and that he hoped to "follow up with them next time I am in Liverpool".

By contrast, Gillett's son, Foster, who was initially dispatched to Merseyside to liaise between Benitez and the owners, has spent the past month in Montreal, apparently with no plans to return. Benitez has attempted to build bridges with Hicks in the meantime, but now it seems that power at Anfield is about to be transferred to Dubai. (© The Times, London)

- Oliver Kay

OK, tactical genius was a bit OTT, what I meant what he seems to enjoy the games of chess that you get more often in Europe than you do in the Premier League. Premier League teams & managers don't rely as much on tactics as European clubs do.

That's a good comeback though, stevo-08, kicks my theory into touch!

yea, i agree mackers. he definitely seems to enjoy the CL. and to be fair, i think in the CL, you dont often play teams who set out to defend 100%. unlike the PL, where man city for example, boasting a 100% home record and lying 5th, played for a draw against liverpool. that just doesnt seem to suit benitez. but i actually think he is a good manager and given more time & money could deliver the PL.

anyway, lets hope for some improvement in todays game v boro.

It's a honeymoon Steve and I already have the Miraflores Park Hotel booked for 3 nights - Junior Suite with ocean view, sauna, massages etc in the room (my surprise wedding pressie to her) Haven't booked Machu Pichu yet as the guidebooks recommended waiting until we got there but I'm kind of wanting to get as many of the costs paid up front as I can. We're going for three and a half weeks and were originally heading for Arica from La Paz via Lauca Park but I've since learned there's an airport in Arequipa as well, so didn't know whether to aim for there instead of Arica for the end of the journey. Will check out that Cusco hotel though the woman spotted 'Ninos' as well that sounds good (profits go to an associated orphanage).

Good stuff Donagh, you wont be disappointed with the miraflores, probably the finest hotel i've ever stayed in. make sure you book the $40 Honeymoon package when you get there. a nice treat!! I was fairly sure you had to book machu pichu in advance, but it depends on whether you do the 4 day or 2 day trip. they only allow 500 people per day on the 4 day trip (that includes approx 280 porters/guides) so, particularly in the busy season it gets booked up very quickly. if you are staying in arequipa, you just have to go to Zig Zag restaurant and try the "Trilogy" - superb...

Doing the same ourselves this summer. Have Caracas and Lima hotels booked already - any recommendations for Cusco and booking the Machu Pichu trek? Going on to Lake Titicaca and La Paz and back by Arica in Chile for the flight back to Lima.

We stayed in Novo Hotel in Cuzco  www.novotelcusco.com nice hotel & fairly central.
Is this a honeymoon or a holiday. if it's honeymoon, then i'd highly recommend miraflores hotel in lima - absolutely superb. as for machu pichu, to do the 4 day trek, you need to book 6months in advance. we booked everything through an agent in cork Beacon South America. They used Condor Travel in peru, who looked after everything for us including the machu pichu trek. Are you going to Arequipa? absolutely beautiful city. Caracas is a dump, we spent 1 night there and it was more than enough.

we went to south america - venezuela & peru. wouldnt have changed a single thing about it. totally chilled out & relaxed on an island off venezuela before heading to Peru for amazing sightseeing & trekking, including doing machu pichu.

suppose it all depends on what you're looking for.

Not sure i subscribe to the "Rafa's tactical genius" theory either.
look at his results for liverpool:

Champ Lge: In the 4 seasons, Liverpool have played 52 CL games, winning 31 (59.6%), drawing 10 (19.2%) & losing 11 (21.2%). Now for the PL, in the last 2 full seasons, we have played 76 games, winning 45 (59.2%), drawing 15 (19.8%) & losing 16 (21%).

Very similar % rates. I think the simple reason we have been so successful in the CL, is that for away games a draw/narrow defeat isnt a bad result. However in the PL, you just fall further & further away from the top teams with those results.

i think the biggest difference between 2005 & now is that back then, even though we had a brutal team, they had a huge amount of confidence, were actually playing well & had a habit of playing above themselves when needed. Totally different now, our lge form has been shocking and even regulars like carragher & alonso are off form and there is a huge lack of confidence throughout the squad. Also the off the field antics certainly havent helped either.

im very worried about tonight. will need to keep it tight and hope for something special from gerard or el nino. certainly possible, but it's more hope than expectation im filled with in advance of the game.

I disgree strongly on brehony 0-5 2 from play. Did just fine, Id settle for that every game. Did he kick a wide? And here ye are saying he was poor. BS. Sure hes not fit and he'll come good when really matters. ;

Sligonian, we'll agree to disagree then. It's very easy to look at the scoresheet reading 0-5(2 from play) and say he had a good game. Thats just lazy. In my opinion, he was invisible in first half and was actually our worst forward during that period. He did nowt from play for about 50mins of the game and I think he's capable of alot more. Yes he got the frees and I acknowledged that, but forgive me for expecting more of a very experienced player operating on the 40. And just to point out, I dont have anything against brehony. I actually think he's an excellent player and a vital player for sligo but sunday was not his best day at the office.

With all due respect how can you say Brehony was very poor yday. Justify that criticism. He scored 2 brilliant points from play and got all his frees.

if you noticed, i did mention the freetaking & his point off right in 2nd half but IMO, it was still the worst performance from brehony in a long time. totally anonymous in first half, only for the free i didnt realise he was on the pitch. alot of breaking ball around the middle & he never seemed interested in getting involved- curran the only one battling for breaks. 1 point from a free in opening half says it all. jordan obviously thought the same as he moved him into the full forward line. and as for your criticism of quinn, you seem to have forgotten his excellent point in first half and pass to brehony in 2nd half which set up his last point. he didnt have a good game but he's the least of my worries. we need to sort out numbers 6, 11 & 14 to do anything this year.