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Welcome back to the midweek topic (think of it as training for the Question (Match) of the Week). Which also keeps you in with a chance to be the Writer of the Month, based on consistency and regularity.
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Now if you can't get a rich Russian, get a rich...sheikh?
That seems to be Liverpool's credo as they have confirmed they have given exclusive rights to Dubai International Capital (DIC) - a firm owned by the fabulously-wealthy Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai - to launch a takeover bid.
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry said the takeover holds the key to the club's new stadium and being able to compete with the richest clubs in the world.
Sheikh Mohammed's fortune dwarfs that of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich - he is thought to be the fifth richest person in the world with a fortune of £5billion.
The Postman's question: Do you think this will pave the way for Rafa and his Shakeypudlians to storm their way to the league title next season? Or will the luxury of buying more players lead to more Rafa rotations?
Answer, in not more than 200 words, by clicking on "comments" below my sign-off here, or e-mail The New Paper's sports desk under the title "Liverpool Takeover".
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At your service
Ernest Luis
The Postman
The New Paper
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56 comments:
I,as a Liverpool fan, have mixed reaction yowards the takeover. In terms of funds available for the transfer of better players, it would be good for both the club and the sport. If they are going to spend money the way Chelsea does, then i would rather they do not proceed with the take over. As for the new stadium,(if possible) I would hope they expand Anfield and not build a new one so the famous Kop And the special European night would still be there.
Roman Abramovich had set the tone in the future of English football when he purchased Chelsea for 50 million. That move have resulted in great success (in terms of trophies) and great loss (in terms of money) for the club. But Abramovich is a billionaire and the amount of money loss is just a pinch to him.
With Abramovich in the English game, other clubs are beginning to find their own sugar daddy to keep up with him. It is not a surprise that Liverpool wants to follow the footsteps of West Ham, Portsmouth, Manchester United, Fulham and Chelsea.
With a sugar daddy as the boss, the club can be sure of getting some money (in terms of million euros) to buy their players or expand their stadium.
Liverpool does need to expand Anfield as it is too small for such a big club. Chelsea and Liverpool are the only european giants that have small stadiums. Just look at Old Trafford, Turin, San Siro, Nou Camp, Allianz Arena and the new Emirates Stadium. Therefore the Stanley Park plans must continue and with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Liverpool may even be able to build a bigger stadium.
However, Rafael Benitez will have a headache when it comes to the transfer window period. Liverpool have the players they need. But the problem is they are not playing the way they should be. This is because of Benitez's thinkering which resulted in the players getting confused with their positions, tasks and the partnership they form.
If Benitez wants to bring in more players, he must being in those of a higher quality than the current ones. This is for their League title chase as the players now simply do not perform as well as they can. I can only imagine the likes of Buffon, Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Robinho to be at Liverpool. Not some Antonio Nunez, Barragan or Josemi.
*I am a Chelsea Fan but I have a soft spot for Liverpool.
Possibly, Liverpool might actually be a title contender next season. They could probably walk away with the title like Chelsea used to. But we'll finally have a proper comparison to be able to see for real, whether its the money that has been giving Chelsea the titles or if it requires more than that.
It will also be interesting to see whether anyone will complain when Liverpool buys many players or if only certain clubs have that right.
It could also provide a competition on a 'fairer level' as those football pundits would say.
On and all, it'll be indirectly good to Chelsea. Im happy. Not ecstatic. But happy. Maybe, just maybe, JM will get more credit for his work and talent in the future.
being a manchester united fan..
i can understand...
being taken over by a foreign owner makes a club lose its special "link" with the fans..but then when ur clubs performing under new management, who complains..
another problem is the release of funds..
with an owner, not only the manager makes the decision who to buy, but the owner also has a say..
in which they may wish to buy players purely for commercial reasons..
which is bad for football..
and for liverpool..
now, already benitez is tinkering with his already trim squad..what if the new owner manages to release a huge sum to bolster the squad??
will we see a new record of rotating squads every game for, say..
200 games?
currently anfield is a little small for liverpool to compete in term of gate receips,so for a sugar daddy to come fund a new stadium would be welcome news for the kops..
try beating man u's premiership attendance record!!!!
sorry for being so fanatical..
Hey Postman! Just a quick note to say hi. Work's killing. Noticed the postman is delivering better prizes. Sweet... Oh, how's the office after the North London Derby? ;)
My views: Abramovich started a (ru$$ian) revolution in english football & got successful. That lead to a trend: Man USA, Port$mouth etc. Al-Liverpool next.
But does getting a sugar daddy mean success?
I liken the whole thing to be the bubble-tea or the Portugese tarts craze. Someone brings something in, makes a success over it and then a whole truckload of copycats try to cash in with the same formula.
What happens? Soon, they'll drop like flies.
The only way to emerge in this foreign spending competition standing is to spend more than the others to kill competition.
And who's got the deepest pockets?
Well, even if there's ample money to spend, the manager must buy the right players. Benitez spent qte alot during the close season too. But he has still found himself below the likes of Man U and Chelsea. The team which wins the title is the one with the most players who are adapted to the English league. In simpler terms, the spine of the team has to be used to the British spirit, ie say, Chelsea or Utd. With the shortage of English players, we could see alittle difficulty next season. With all due respect to the continental players which Liverpool has been getting, I still feel the League winner will come from either Man U or Chelsea. Even Arsenal with all their young talent will find it hard to keep it consistent when they go to the usual difficult away grounds.
Cheers,
Kel (I am back from exams!finally!)
I don't think money would allow Rafa and Liverpool to taste long-awaited league success.
If Rafa is to rotate with his players next season, he might as well say bye-bye to the title. Even Mourinho does not rotate to keep his star players happy. If his squad is packed with stars, he will even be tempted to replace Gerrard.
The new owner may give Liverpool a large transfer kitty. But it is up to Rafa to spend the money wisely. He would probably invest his money on players like Pennant, Bellamy, and Zenden. These are not the type of players that deserve to wear the red shirt. Liverpool need to buy a player who could win matches single-handedly, like Rooney and Henry. Yes, Gerrard is a match-winner. But he is not enough.
However, money isn't everything in football. Arsene Wenger has shown that to get good players, you don't have to splash the cash. Fabregas, Henry and Anelka are proof.
Rick Parry and David Moores are true Liverpool fans who care about the club, and not some Irish magnates, so I’m sure they won't sell the club to just any other highest bidder from America. They've been seeking for investments for the past 3 years, and they were always careful about any potential investors. Imagine what Liverpool would have become if we had been sold to Thaksin back then.
From the official sources, what I've gathered about DIC is only how they recognise the club's tradition and values, and is fully committed to investing in the club and the stadium. It definitely sounds reassuring enough, because while we want the money, we don't want to resort to selling our soul for that.
Still, Abramovich is one in a million, probably billions. We're deluding ourselves if we think these Dubai fellows can come in and start throwing cash at the team like Abramovich is at Chelsea. This Dubai group does not consist of Liverpool fans, and they'll still be treating Liverpool first and foremost as a business venture, not as some rich kid's plaything.
However, I still hope that there'll be enough funds available, such that we can actually start signing Rafa's first choices, and not always having to settle for only the Pennants (sorry Jermaine..) after we can't get Joaquin, Alves, etc.
If Liverpool does a “Chelsea”, the Reds could finally be genuine title contender and “sheikh” things up in the transfer market. However, it would not be all plain sailing for Rafa.
Expectations will certainly be higher. Rafa will be under more pressure to perform and win the major honors. He has been given substantial transfer budgets in the past but his track record is far from impressive. With a bigger purse, he has the luxury to buy any player he craves but he must get them right.
Winning championships is not all about star players. Its how these stars can fit into a system and work as a unit is what Rafa has to think about. Consistency is vital. Ranieri failed to land the league in Chelsea’s first season under Abrahamovich. Though he bought many world-class players, Ranieri failed to get the right balance as he tinkered frequently in order to keep the players happy. So Rafa should take heed.
Liverpool certainly has the ingredients to be champions with an astute manager and a bigger kitty. What is left to do is to buy the right players, build a strong squad and consistently stick to their best eleven players.
Its sad to see another English club of such historical values losing its identity and falling into the hands of foreign investor but thats how the game is played in modern times now.Only clubs with big money will have a higher chances of winning something in such a competitive league.
However I don't think that will means the EPL trophy will be courier over to Anfield from the Blue side of London or Red side of Manchester at the end of next season as I regard Chelsea and Manchester United as the more consistent title contenders among all once again.
With spare cash to spend,they could compete shoulder to shoulder with Chelsea in the market and further strengthen their squad.Here Liverpool will have the upper hands with their more illustrious past playing a huge part,Peter Kenyon will then know whats club values all about.
But with Rafa around,his new stars could find themselves playing merry-go-round every week with his rotation system.Not forgetting that new players,be it from England or foreign countries,they need time to adapt and this rotation isn't going to help much.
Unless of course the money is spent smartly on good quality players and not buying some decorative Pennant.Hopefully Rafa will use them the right way just the Special One over at London.Only then maybe next season could be the one Liverpool fans longed for since the late 1980s,seeing the league title back in Anfield trophy cabinet.
Cheers
i hate takeovers, but if DIC decides to invest big-time in Liverpool, i think the club will benefit a lot. why do i say that?
compared to chelsea and manchester united, who are financed by a russian billionaire and an American millionaire respectively, liverpool always seem to lose out to these two on the transfer market. the Reds may offer a huge sum for a player they're interested in, but if the other two come a-knocking with bigger offers, the Reds are always shunned. i don't think it's fair to Liverpool, because they definitely have a better, richer history than chelsea and in my opinion, the best english club. so logically, they should have the upper hand in matters like this. however, the takeovers of the two english giants, especially chelsea, has ruined liverpool's chances to sign renowned, quality players. this season alone, Rafa didn't make any shocking payments in signing players, unlike chelsea who forked out close to $90 m on shevchenko.
and of course, liverpool needs to expand Anfield. Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford has undergone immense expansion. even Arsenal have moved to a larger stadium. expanding Anfield isn't just about living up to the capacities of the other 3 stadiums, but also to support their ever-growing number of fans.
i think that Rafa keeps rotating his squad not only to find the perfecr balance, but also to help all his players to achieve a better playing form. because seriously, liverpool doesn't have the depth that chelsea or man utd have. so if the takeover does take place, rafa will have a bigger budget (yes, much bigger than Jose's) and can afford to snap up the players they want before other big teams get them. perhaps with the addition of one or two much-needed players, liverpool can actually prove that they're a force to reckon with in the Premiership - and slightly lift the burden of being a match-winner from Steven Gerrard's shoulders.
*i'm a man utd fan, but i simply respect liverpool a lot and perhaps to the chagrin of other MU fans, i do want the best for liverpool.
Sheikh or no Sheikh, good or bad, is only to be judged by what the new owner can offer to Liverpool. He needs to take them to the next level.
Forget about the Champions League, it is the Premiership crown or the lack of that hurts the Liverpool fans the most.
With the take over, Liverpool is set to compete with the likes of Chelsea for the best players next summer that is if Maktoum releases the funds.
Liverpool have never been the type of club who broke transfer fee records, instead relying on a blend of home-grown players and astute transfers although many of Gerard Houllier's purchases are money squandered.
Rafa Benitez is a much better manager than Houllier, with the money, Benitez can finally build a team he wants.
They need a world class player in defence and attack since Gerrard is already the world class midfielder at Anfield to compete effectively with Chelsea in the Premiership.
Currently Benitez may rotate players but there is not many top class players he could rotate around. That is a fact.
On the other hand, I hope this fad of owning a Premiership club ends as I feel it erodes the heritage of the club.
Financially, Liverpool will benefit tremendously. The successful Sheikh takeover will pave the way for a 60,000-capacity stadium in Stanley Park, a possibility of repayment of £80 million of club debts and a potential larger bounty for player transfer. This will definitely put Liverpool in a better position to challenge for the honors.
The sad truth however, is that success cannot be puchase. Chelsea have raised the bar so high over the past two years that now after only 15 matches, the front 2 are already at least 10 points ahead. Liverpool fans must not get carried away but learn to manage their expectations. You can never win with a team of lousy players but you have a higher chance with a better TEAM of players.
Remember Chelsea only got second when the Chelski revolution first started. Instead of aiming for the throne, they must more consistent and improve their point tally. Benitez is a tactically astute coach. He needs to get rid of some of tactically naive players in his team and replace them with players who can flow with him. Liverpool must not buy for the sake of buying. It's all about striking the right chords.
But realistically speaking, Liverpool, compared with Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal, will not be a top destination for many of the top players. Benitez must convince the potential signings that the club is championship material and just scrambling for the leftover crumbs.
Therefore Liverpool as title contenders? Yes. But winning the league? A big no.
I am a massive Liverpool fan.I do not really like the possible takeover.I mean a Middle East man link with Liverpool? Its abit weird.I will never agree to it unless i am the one buying over the club which is impossible for now.
Yes,after the takeover, Liverpool will have lots of money just like Chelsea.However, i don't really appreciate it.I do not want to see a Liverpool that is full of BIG STARS like Chelsea.I do not want a Liverpool that everybody hates except for themselves.I want to see a Liverpool that win games and trophys by true TEAM SPIRIT and DETERMINATION.The passion in playing for the team must be there.I am not saying Chelsea does not have team spirit or determination but what's the use of buying all the stars in the world and claim yourself as true champions? Yes, i would love to see the big players in Liverpool but i am satisfied with players like Crouch and Bellamy.
I am sure we can win the title without the budget that Chelsea or Manchester United have.
On field success is not determine by how much you spend in the transfer market. Newcastle and Tottenham have spent considerably but look at where they are now. The best example I can think of is Leeds United. Buoyed by their excellent run in the Champions League in 2001, they spend, and spend and spend their way into relegation the following year. Liverpool must not get caught into such situation.
Another thing they have to take note is the Chelsea situation where every player that Chelsea is interested in are overpriced. £100m for a £22m rated Villa must be the greatest valuation joke. Liverpool must not be held to ransom by other clubs and pay inflated transfer fees.
Lastly, top players are most likely to go to clubs that that give them the best possible chance of winning. Liverpool is unable to offer that at the moment. Liverpool might end up having the money to spend, but not getting the right mix of players. Nevertheless, the takeover will definitely benefit Liverpool in the long run by providing them long-term resources to achieve the success that their fans craved.
I don't ever want Liverpool to be like Chelsea. I may sound naive saying this, but even if this Dubai guy turns out to be really rich, I don't want to see us starting to throw obscene amounts at players. It just kinda takes the shine off everything. Realistically speaking, I don't think it will happen either, as we're not going to be buying Ronaldinho for 100million overnight.
But the money should at least clear our debts, fund our stadium, and provide Rafa a decent transfer budget every season. We need to be able to spend 10-20mil on a single player, and not always having to get the scrapes for 6mil+. Our transfer budget hasn't just been behind Chelsea, it has also been lesser than what Man U, and even Newcastle have been spending.
I don't think Rafa is stupid though, so with more money, he's definitely won't buy himself more sofas, but perhaps get a sofa instead of the broken chairs he's been getting.
And on the issue of Liverpool losing its identity... well, I was wondering, if I had the money to buy Liverpool, would the fans hate me because I'm a foreigner, or love me for being a fan? Just a thought...
The takeover will definitely be a boost to Liverpool. No doubt that they will now be able to compete with the likes of Chelsea financially.
New stadium and new players will definitely be brought in to strengthen the squad. But it remains to be seen if they will have the ability to compete with Chelsea and Man Utd in terms of winning trophies.
But bear in mind that Rafa Benitez job will be on the line if he does not bring immediate success to the club.
Arabs owner are well-known for sacking managers who does not perform to their expectations. So we can expect to see some changes in the management should Rafa Benitez fail to perform.
It all boils down to how well Rafa Benitez use the funds provided and create a team that will provide a competition for the league title.
I am a Manchester united fan but in this case, feel unjust for Liverpool.
Liverpool being taken over has it's advantages and disadvantages.Rafa can use the spare money to purchase better players when the transfer window opens and thus strengthening Liverpool.Richer clubs like Man Utd and Chelsea always have the advantage of being able to buy good AND expensive players but not Liverpool which always buying unknown players and training them.I think the takeover can help Liverpool by allowing them to buy better players.
BUT if Rafa Benitez keeps rotating the players around then i don't think the extra money would be of any use.The most important thing is teamwork because even the best players in the world are bought into Liverpool,lack of teamwork will also make the team useless.
Expansion of Anfield is also a crucial factor.Man utd and Chelsea have expanded Old trafford and Stamford bridge respectively. Liverpool should use the help of the DIC to expand Anfield bigger to accommodate more seating for their fans.
=)
The takeoever can only be a good thing for us Liverpool fans. With the extra cash now, the management team and the manager can concentrate more on day-to-day football instead of scouting for good buys and transfer deals.
The extra cash pumped into the new stadium translates into more ticket revenues, which means more money to buy players, which means better choices, which means better results, which means more jersey revenues.... the effect snowballs.
I think tradition is made by players. As long as they have the same never say die attitude, the same way of accepting defeat gracefully, of not diving, the tradition is just as good. No one's gonna remember who's the owner in 50 years later, but players like Gerrard and Carra are going to be remembered for life.
Finally, the extra money goes into the new stadium which means a LARGER KOP side!! Imagine the horror of playing Pool at home. Already we can hear the songs loudly from our TV. What more on the actual grounds? Surely the away team will be super demoralised like s**t... lol
It’s a win win situation for Liverpool and the Sheikh. It’s all good man.. all good...
I've said how I don't want Liverpool to have to sell its soul for money, but surely there must be something we're selling here. What is it? Tradition? Regardless of whether the Sheikh is a fan or not, Liverpool will be taking a step away from the traditional route once it falls into foreign hands. Liverpool is a club that's proud of about its history and tradition, and the club doesn’t just see itself as an English club, but also a “Scouse club”. Of course, times are changing... not only do we have foreign players, there's a foreign manager, and soon, a foreign owner...
And I disagree with ‘hope’ about players making the tradition. Man, if Liverpool were all about the players, I wouldn't be a Liverpool fan now 'cause I have been left sick and frustrated by this so-called "spirit" (or the lack of) showed by the team this season. You know, there's many things I love about Liverpool right now, but if I had to name just one thing, its the fans. You can take away everything else from Liverpool, but as long as the fans are still around, I'll be there too... :)
i am a manutd fan.liverpool take over news has brought mixed bag of reactions.some feel yes finacially it would be useful.stadiums can be built,more players can be bought,championships maybe won.however this may not happen.look at west ham at the moment.players confused at the state of their club,cant perform.this could happen to liverpool and would be disasterous.look at chelsea,players are not totally happy as some do not get matchtime.like the law of physics for every action their is an equal amount of opposite reaction.its how the fans of liverpool would take the reaction in their stride which is important
I am a huge fan of Liverpool but when it comes to rich people taking over clubs i`ll be much delight because Rafa could buy talented players to straighten his club and with a hold complete squad they can even beat the tougest club in the world and by beating the toughest club in the world means Liverpool can grab a lot of cups.
Finally - all the talk about potential investors LFC have been linked to for the past years, this seems to be the most likely to happen. With new financial aid, I believe Liverpool will be able to launch a decent title assault. I will not say that the title is a certainty but it will give Chelsea a good run of their money. It is true that currently Liverpool is under-performing, but competitors also know their potential if they are running in full capacity. I can say that the team now is almost complete except for 2-3 positions that require further strengthening. As a Liverpool fan, I have been following LFC transfer targets. Sad to say, our summer acquisitions like Pennant and Bellamy are squad players at best. If only we have stronger financial backing then, players like Joaquin/Alves/Simao (some have openly expressed their desire to join) will be a possibility if not for high fee demanded by their clubs. I disagree that Liverpool has a weaker pull power than their rivals. On the contrary, if you take away the financial aspect from Chelsea, I doubt many players will be “pull” by the London club. They don’t have the history of Man U, Liverpool, Real, Barca, Milan who all have European trophies and league titles to begin with. Chelsea can “buy” their way to it, but until they achieve it, maybe – a decade later, they can truly be a powerhouse in football history. But for now, I can say players are attracted to them for more $. And if money will be a non-factor, Liverpool, Man U, Gunners will definite edge in the transfer market.
Lyrad, 24
purplefootball.blogspot.com
hi
I don't really stand up for the idea of club being bought over by foreign investors.Look at the Glazers who bought over my fav club,they landed us a monstrous sum of debts before we seen any real investments.Thats a worrying sight.
Just like ladylala mentioned,its the tradition and the past of these clubs we supported which made them special to us.The moment we mentioned Liverpool and Man U,people will know its the English powerhouse teams.But now with the takeovers,50 years down the road,when we mentioned the names again,people could be linking them with Dubai,Russia or America.
The English tradition and culture will take on a new identity from then on such as Dub-English,Rus-English or YankeEnglish.Everything will just not be the same anymore.
Cheers
Being a support in living in Singapore, seriously, I couldn't careless who is the owner of the club, as long as the club is being strengthen for success. In the end of the day, it will be the trophies that will be count? In this age of globalization, you have to move on or be phrase out. Without such investment to strengthen your financial muscle, it will be hard to match up to Chelsea's dominance. I would rather have a foreign owner that will help to continue the success of the club then having the “tradition” and slowly submerge totally to be a “history – a club that was once successful”. Clubs like Hudderfield, Wolves, Sunderland, Sheffield Wed - all had a dominance era in the league but where are they now? Move on! (Just a side note, Hudderfield and Wolves had equal title count as our current holder Chelsea and Sunderland had twice as much ) =p
Lyrad
www.purplefootball.blogspot.com
Tradition don't win you trophies. Foreign acquisition of domestic clubs is a rising trend especially in EPL because of its potential profitability. The bar in the Premier League has been raise so high that there are no room for sentiments. I'm sure Rick Parry and David Moores have done their homework and decide that this is the best route to take the club forward.
The undeniable fact that all football fans can see is that since the euphoria of tasting success at Istanbul, Liverpool has failed to progress. Potentially, I feel that Liverpool has much more to offer. Perhaps this investment can chanage Liverpool into a real title contender. If Kops need any assurance, they can look at where Man U is now.
The key now is to get the right players for the right positions at the right price. There is a high possibility that the value of players that they are interested in will be marked up. It's going to be exciting times at Liverpool provided they can create a team that is capable of achieving consistency for home and AWAY matches. Patient is the key.
Will this takeover spark a new era of Liverpool dominance? We shall wait and see.
Having money means Rafa will rotate the squad more often? Yes, he might be rotating again but this time with a bigger and better squad.What's wrong with rotation? He rotated with Valencia to the La Liga.Nobody can say Rafa's rotation is unsuccessful.
and Louis, don't be a joke.Liverpool don't buy unknown players and train them.Liverpool buy players that have potential.Liverpool buy players that are passionate in playing for the club.Its much much better than Manchester United,Arsenal or Chelsea.I've never seen a Liverpool player trying to get his clubmate sent off in a World Cup match.I've never seen a Ashley Cole that is playing for money in Liverpool.I've never seen a William Gallas in Liverpool.Liverpool don't make 30m signings and furthermore look at Man Yoo and Chelsea. 16m for a Carrick that gets knock down in midfield and 30m for Shevchenko who score lesser goals than JT+ Carvalho.
Liverpool maybe struggling now but Liverpool had already proved, with a squad like this they can already be Europe's numbero uno.If Liverpool can be the European Champion this way, i can't see why not it will be the EPL soon.
1 more thing to add on, Liverpool don't spend a single cent to buy divers.Eg. Cristiano Ronaldo
Being a Liverpool Fan since the early 80s, I'm more than glad that we can finally compete not only on the field and which manager is the better tactician but also whom has the deeper pockets. A gentle reminder, Chelsea has won 2 league titles and a league cup. Liverpool has won the Champions League, FA Cup and the Super Cup. The difference, we haven't got a billionaire taking over, yet. I'm sure all the Fans of the scousers can envision the progress and success of the team in time to come. Of course we must be patient, not only with the players but also the manager, coaching staff and trainers. I remember not too long ago when Man Utd was not winning anything but no one threw Fergie out. My concern, will be not going out there, paying dubious amounts of money and promising ridiculous wages to players who will sell their souls to anyone if the price was right. Lets not make the mistake of spending more than what the club earns in a season. That makes everyone, including the Fans look stupid.
True enough,tradition won't win clubs trophies.But how sure can we be that by having tons of money will guarentee success too?If it is so,when one day all 20 EPL clubs are owned by foreign investors,are we going to see 20 champions trophies,one given to each of the club at the end of the season?
Once something such as tradition or culture took a turn for a change,you can't buy it back with all the gold and diamonds investors can offer.The roots of the clubs will be chopped off.What we will see in a club will be just an empty shell used for commercial purposes,no longer will the fans' passion or what English spirits burning like they used to be.
Cheers
Though most fans want football to be the "Beautiful game", we have to accept football is big business. It’s a results-based industry. The Moores have steadfastly preserved Liverpool's traditions and culture for the past 3 decades but has it landed them the league title?
To be successful, clubs need the spending power. It’s that simple. Rafa needs to build a team around Gerrard that share his hunger, determination and ambition. The only way he can do that is to spend big and quality players do not come cheap. More Essiens and fewer Pennants.
Though Rafa did win the Champions League and domestic cups, it is the League that Liverpool fans crave. We keep harping Rafa winning the La Liga with his rotation policy. However, his Valencia team possessed many technical and versatile players. They were able to change their tactics and formations to suit opponents who themselves possess almost similar capabilities. Liverpool’s players do not have that quality.
Most English clubs play a pressing game and are robust and direct. It’s played at breakneck speed and Rafa should buy players to suit the English style. He should keep the spine of the team in tact like Chelsea and Man United and resist from tinkering too much. Rafa should rather stick to his best eleven and impose their playing style on opponents. Only when he does this will Liverpool be great again.
20 EPL clubs under foreign ownership = 20 champion trophies? =P
Having tons of money doesn't guarantee success. Porto did the treble with a shoestring budget under JM while Read Madrid won virtually nothing for the past 2 years. However it does place the club in a potentially better position to compete. Ultimately it's what the club does with the money that determines how successful the club will be.
Pardon me asking this question to all hardcore Liverpool fans, what's Liverpool's tradition?
Allow me to quote the example of Chelsea at the beginning of the 2003/04 season. At this time, Claudio Ranieri was the man at the helms of the Blues. Roman Abramovich had full ownership of the club.
Chelsea became one of the richest clubs in Europe with 1 billion pounds being provided by Abramovich for various purposes including salaries to the staff and players, and for buying players during the transfer windows. Ranieri took advantage of this opportunity to bring in players to strengthen his squad, including names such as Hernan Crespo, Mateja Kezman, Adrian Mutu and Damien Duff, and also in fresh talent such as Alexis Smertin and Nicolas Keegan. As you can see, these names are no longer at the club. Not only that, Chelsea, all through the 2003/04 season, were not getting vital points because their supposed goal-providers, namely Kezman, Crespo and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, were facing a major goal drought throughout the season. Kezman, who was the top goal scorer in the Dutch League and for PSV Eindhoven the previous season, scored only 4 goals in all competitions! So as you can see, to have a consortium take over Liverpool at the current time may also have the same effect.
However, with LFC's plans of a new stadium at Stanley Park, the takeover of the Dubai billionaire would be good to fund the project.
As all of us are aware by now, the new owner is an Arabic billionaire (They seem to be a dime a dozen in the Middle east :P)
If we review how football is being run in the Middle East, we will discover the Arabs have a habit of firing coaches and managers at a whim when things do not go as smoothly as expected. Patience is certainly not a virtue the Arabs possess especially in football.
It would be interesting to see what happens to Rafa when he encounters some bad patch of form. Liverpool traditionally are not a "firing" club but with the sheikh at the helm, maybe the boot will fly faster that you can say Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink!
What's Liverpool's tradition? Eh, it's hard to put down in words you know!
Besides the whole historical aspect, I think the closest description of this 'tradition' is this whole Scouseness to the club. I mean, it's not like I'm Scouse or what, but from forums etc, I can sense that the fans there are very proud of the bond the club has with its local community. The Liverpool we know is this hugely globalised club, and it'll be made even more significant once it has a foreign owner, but it's not so for the local people there. The "campaigns" that fans organise such as KFS (Keep Flags Scouse - the fans hate having St Georges' flags in the stadium) and RTK (Reclaim the Kop - www.reclaimthekop.co.uk), in a way, show how fiercely protective they are of their local roots and support. It's something we as Singaporeans probably won't understand though, but just imagine how we're sometimes against foreign influences too.
It's probably just like having an IR here, because it destroys our local fundamental values, though in our (Singaporean) case, we're probably more used to developments brought about by foreign influence anyway.
The tradition is the passion in supporting the team and playing for the team. You don't see 50000 fans cheering for a team that is 3-0 down at half time.
JM wonders why Chelsea fans are so quiet
Knew you will answer me, ladylala. Haha.
Precisely, the point that I'm trying to drive across is that local roots and support for Liverpool will not be cut away just like that (as suggested by Eric) because of some foreign ownership. Take a look at Man U. At first, before Glazer's successful takeover, Supporter's group were very against the takeover and threaten to boycott matches. Even when the takeover was completed, angry Manchester fans chanted "die, Glazer, die" as the club's new owners made their first visit to the Old Trafford stadium. But look at where they are now at the League table and the near sell-out crowds at every Old Trafford game. True supporters will know that in the long run, the club will benefit.
Ever wonder why there is less opposition this time round against the takeover bid from DIC? The reason is simple, Liverpool fans are sick and tired of living in the shadows of Arsenal, Chelsea and Man U. They want the ultimate glory, that is the EPL throne. Like what ladylala posted earlier, "From the official sources, what I've gathered about DIC is only how they recognise the club's tradition and values, and is fully committed to investing in the club and the stadium. It definitely sounds reassuring enough, because while we want the money, we don't want to resort to selling our soul for that."
At the end of the day, I believe it will be a win-win situation for Liverpool and DIC.
Boon Hock's question set me thinking on the days of Bob Paisley and Bill Shankly. The kind of football played was quite distinct - the patient build up, the strong defence, the superb attacks, the consistent results. The Liverpool since 1990s is vastly different as it depends on the managers and the football played is quite forgettable. Manchester United has a better season this year and their attractive attacking traditions is something everyone knows.
What can money buy? There is a question of retaining talented players. You cannot expect Henry and Stephen Gerard stay forever when success seems so difficult. Also, you get players injured and struggle to get good players to replace them. We can see Chelsea's in-depth strength with the reserve player like Shaun Wright scoring good goals. But you know sometimes you pay top dollar but you cannot get value for money.
The Sheikh is an astute investor saying he recognise the club's tradition and values, and is fully committed to investing in the club and the stadium. If money can mix with tradition, why not?
Well Boon Hock,there will be people who agree with the takeover,there will be those who are against it like me.
The fans base will still be there definately but what I meant is now how much of these emotional and sentiment values will be change with such a takeover project.
Of course its best that the new owner is going to hold onto his words about regconising the club's values and tradition but which investors won't give that comment prior to a takeover isn't it.
I'm looking at a pessimistic prospect of the investor whos having only his own business interest in heart and not the club because most people eyes will open wider in front of money and forget about the possible disaster it may bring.
In the short run,maybe yes,more transfer fund and better players bought to the club,trophies are won.In the long run?How will we know that one day they won't just decide to stop investing and leaves the club in debts which in turns bring the club to bankruptcy since they doesn't have much strings attached,its just another investment to them.
The opposite scenario could well happened too,I'm just being on the safe for the club here.heh
Eric does have a point. Nowadays football is run like a business and clubs are treated as valuable investments.
Liverpool has a global fan base, one of the best supported clubs in the world. With that kind of appeal, the profit potential is there for the taking and the Sheikh is aware of this.
Case in point. Sheikh builds a new stadium and gives money to buy the best players. Liverpool wins major honors. The Liverpool brand becomes a valuable commodity. Its value goes up, more than what the Sheikh bought and potential investors come a calling.
If the Sheikh is able to reap a considerable profit, why shouldn't he sell to the highest bidder? It’s all about making money now, isn’t it?
There lies the crux of the problem. Liverpool fans want success but they also want to ensure it remains a football club, first and foremost; not just another valuable asset that could be passed around to the highest bidder. A foreigner may say all the right things but do they really understand how the scousers feel and the passion and bond they have for the club? We hope for the fans’ sake, they do.
The main question is whether Rafa will still be at Liverpool or somewhere in Italy.
Assuming that Rafa stays and has the luxury of buying any word-class players, he and his shakeypudians still can’t be a serious contender against Chelsea nor Man Utd.
One must remember that when Abramovich first came to Chelsea, ‘tinkerman’ Ranieri was in charge and did not succeed much with his tinkering of the mega-stars. However when Mourinho came, he reshaped and gel the team together and lead them to the trophy for the first time in 50 years.
This season Liverpool has produced woeful performances due to Rafa’s inconsistent line-up. He does not know his main 11 till now. Add in a few more players and the players’ understanding of one another is just not going to get better.
A manager’s style will not change. The Rafa rotation will continue. If Sheikh wants to sit at the top of the Premiership, he needs a manager who is able to create a team of Steadypudians.
I am all right with the takeovers as long as it is not the same as that of Hearts in the scottish league where the owner has a say in everything from transfers to team selections. We have got to recognise that football has evolved to a different level from the old days. If the rich wants to own clubs, let them do so. The tradition or the history will still remain intact. Glazer may have taken over Man U, but we still see Man U being run almost the same way as before. Yes, there are debts that are to be paid. But before they had the PLC in which they had to account to shareholders for players' wages etc. We have seen some positive results in takeovers for A.Villa, Portsmouth and even W.Ham where debts are taken over by the new owner. So instead of focussing on the stuff that are uncontrollable, we should look at it in a positive way, takeovers may help save a club from bankruptcy.
Cheers,
kel
We're talking about a £450million investment on a global brand. Not every invester will turn out to be another irrational Abramovich. The main purpose of DIC is to create a return for its shareholder, Dubai Holding and eventually the Dubai government. Ultimately, DIC will want to see Liverpool tasting success on the field too because this will translate to revenue earned off the pitch. Anyway if Liverpool is being bought over successfully by DIC, the club will be in good hands.
Well, BH, the thing is, I think none of us know what will happen until it happens. Will we be more like Chelsea, will things remain largely the same as before, etc etc. And because I don't know, right now I'm happy enough to just wait and see what'll happen. Not everyone is like me though. There are some people who're just salivating at the prospect of more $$$, there are some who start having nightmares of us wearing the words DIC on our jerseys, and having a DIC Stadium(all unfounded myths).
And regarding Man U, I have to agree that MOST of them are happy now, but I think previously, the ones who were protesting were a minority group there anyway. You don’t see Liverpool fans protesting much, because like I said, most of us wanted the $$$ for years now, and many were already complaining how Parry has been taking so long.
Yes, the stadium at Man U is filled every week, it's also the same at Anfield, but there are still some concerns from the locals. Stadiums are getting filled with more "tourists", and less local supporters. So it doesn't just mean if it's filled, everything's fine.
Dubai International Capital’s takeover of Liverpool will certainly mean more cash for the club, a newer and bigger stadium and may be a better choice of quality players. Rafa having more money will only make him more itchy to tinker with his team and try out new stars.
Money paves the way to success, but it does not always mean instant success. Take league strugglers West Ham for example. For them, buying star players proved to be their undoing. On the other hand, think of Mourinho before he moved to Chelsea. He led Porto to the Champions League title, beating giants such as Man Utd on the way, and on a shoestring budget too.
Liverpool's immediate need is to win an EPL title. The huge base demands it. They have waited too long already. Hopefully the extra money could help to achieve this.
A bigger stadium is a must, but it is a longer term plan.
However, Rafa really needs to better manage his players, and to tinker less often with his team. You don't change a winning team.
It is true that $ can't guarantee you success, but sure it will give you more "possibilities". (Now I talk like Rafa =p). However, I do agree that with the financial backing, Rafa will definitely will be under more pressure to deliver the goods. The difference with West Ham situation with Liverpool is the pedigree of the coach. What have Alan Pardew won so far? When I talk about tradition of the club, it is referring the success it enjoyed in the past, an era unsurpassed (yet) and the title “the most successful English club”. I am sorry to say, personally, if Liverpool cannot win the title, I would rather see Chelsea win it than Man United. To me and many Liverpool fan alike, Man U is the closest to challenge us in terms of the title “most successful club in EPL”; Chelsea is not even a foot near. Like I have said, until they prove otherwise in the next decade, they are no were near caliber of Liverpool and Man United. It is also true that the currently Chelsea are looking indomitable, but it is because they had spearhead a revolution in football by a certain Russian which has stunned the rest of the team for the past 2 seasons. As the world revolves, the rest of the teams are catching up. It used to be “constraint vs constraint”, then later “unconstraint vs constraint” and now coming, “unconstraint vs unconstraint”.
Lyrad, 24,
purplefootball.blogspot.com
Damn! The regulars are showing masterpieces just to get their articles published (other than smsing the # with 5381 at the back more than 3 times a day).
What did this Sheikh do to become 5th richest man? Did he one day tap his backyard with a stick and oil rushed out? Did he wish to be rich from a magic lamp? Did he live in his palace full of fairies shaking their bellies while enjoying the wealth he inherited from his ancestors? Or he simply studied very hard and worked hard?
As for Liverpool...wait a minute, I relaized I have an authentic iPod that can play 2500 songs. Keep up with the excellent comments for the bloggers in attendance and hundreds writing through e mail...
I have realised that despite foreign takeovers, Man United and Portsmouth don't use the millions that they have.
Although Harry Redknapp could have bought young and talented players, he chose to have faith in the Premiership rejects. He has managed to bring out the best in players like Kanu, David James and Pedro Mendes.
Since the Glazers took over, Ferguson has made some good purhases. Carrick aside, Evra and Vidic have been good signings. He has also manage to help some of the reserves blossom, namely Fletcher and Richardson.
So, Liverpool may not splash the cash.
Good Afternoon.
I would like to make a proposal regarding Letter Of The Month. Why not each blog comments and e mails given a rating of 0-5. By the end of the month, the person with the most points at the end of the month wins Letter Of The Month. Everybody will start from scratch in a fresh month.
Maybe this idea is already implemented. If so, I hope the top 5 in the 'league' will be named for the Midweek Question and Letter Of The Week for 2nd, 3rd and 4th week.
People like me who have been eyeing that Letter Of The Month prize may like to know who are in the chasing pack each week. It will be an honour standing tall with the likes of Tan Tu Jin, Kelvin Kwek and Eric Kng.
Perhaps The Postman may e mail personal weekly scores to people who don't make it to the top 5. It's like Fantasy Football with creativity instead of luck as the essential ingredient.
It is highly possible for Liverpool to win the Premiership next season with this takeover which you claimed dwarfs Roman Abramovich's. Raphael Benitez will now have no excuses not bringing back the League title to Anfield or the new stadium. If I'm in Benitez's shoes, top in my shopping list will be Gianlugi Buffon. The Italian may claim to be loyal to Juventus but will be tempted to break his own record for World's Most Expensive Goalkeeper. I will snatch Rio Ferdinand from Manchester United. Rio is perfect to replace the aging Sami Hyypia and he will move to any team that can offer the most. Sad but true. I also can see that Thierry Henry has problems with Arsene Wenger. I would nick him from under the noses of Barcelona. Didn't Thierry Henry said he would like to play for Liverpool? And Steven Gerrard MUST play centre midfield. Look at the long lists of wingers Liverpool have-Jermaine Pennant, Luis Garcia, Mark Gonzales, Harry Kewell...John Arne Riise, Fabio Aurelio and Boudwijn Zenden can play on the wings too. With great power comes great responsibility. Benitez will have spending power and needs to be responsible in choosing the right players.
Ashvin, one of the reasons why some Man U fans were opposed to the Glazer takeover was because he's not that rich. Glazer was said to have borrowed large sums of money to finance the takeover, and there were fears that since Glazer isn't exactly a "soccer person", he'd restrict transfer funds and hike ticket prices to finance his debts. So yeah, Glazer doesn't have these "millions" to be able to splash the cash. Though not exactly in great financial trouble as previously feared, Ferguson's spending post-Glazer has actually been considerably lower than before.
Foreign owners doesn't necessarily equate to being filthy rich like Abramovich. As for Pompey, I'm not sure how rich exactly is their current owner, but I have noticed that since Milan Mandaric transferred the ownership to the current chairman earlier this year, Harry Redknapp has spent quite a considerable sum on transfers in the past year.
And q-s... your idea was ALMOST feasible. The thing is, you don't want everyone to simply be flooding this blog just for the sake of "earning" more points. And um, I don't think Liverpool will buy Buffon (no need), Rio (he's a Manc) or Henry (Wenger isn't that stupid, and Henry has committed his future anyway).
I believe Redknapp bought the likes of Kanu, James and Cole was to mix with the younger players that he has. They are meant as a guidance. These experienced players will mean extra points if they were involved in a relegation dogfight. That is why he signed alot of players but at low costs. As for the money that came with the takeover, i guess it enabled them to compete for the likes of Manuel Fernandes.
Regarding the suggestion of buying Buffon, Ferdinand and Henry, perhaps only the move involving Buffon seems possible. I doubt Henry being Arsenal captain will ever move to another English club even though he may have publicly said nice things abt Liverpool. Ditto for Ferdinand.
Money can only achieve so much. With credit to Chelsea, they have bought wisely players to complement the existing strengths in Lampard,Terry etc. Benitez have not understood the British League yet. That is why we see Liverpool perform well in Europe while continuing to falter away in the EPL. It is because Benitez have not bought the right mix of players. Inter Milan and Real Madrid has spent lots in recent seasons only to see eggs on their faces.
For Liverpool to succeed next season seems a tall order. But i would not discount that possibility a few seasons if the right mix of players become available. Or the players become more steely overnight. Or if Benitez stops tinkering with his winning eleven.
Cheers,
kel
I do agree with Kelvin that it may take some time before Liverpool can become genuine title contenders. The influx of more money is always welcome but until Rafa stumbles upon that magic formula that wins you titles, Liverpool fans will continue to hold on to past glories.
It’s baffling to see them struggling because they have a talented side, a world-class captain, an astute manager who are supported by the most passionate fans in the world. They have all the ingredients to be champions yet have failed to gel all these factors together to their advantage.
Vette was right about Rafa not knowing what his strongest side is. Its amazing Rafa has never stuck to the same first eleven for 100 consecutive matches prior to November! It doesn’t help when most of his signings are continental players still adapting to the English style of football or are simply not good enough for Liverpool.
He should spend the money wisely on versatile players capable of competing in Europe and the EPL and develop team consistency by frequently playing his best 11. If this is done for the next few seasons, we could finally see Liverpool be champions again.
Rafa not knowing his strongest side is an understatement. I think the main problem is that the strongest side that he puts out often fails to perform whenever called on especially for away matches. There is really nothing wrong with his rotation policy. It's a question of whether the players can adapt to it or not. Sadly, Man U's and Chelsea's are better in this aspect. Arsenal and Liverpool has some catching up to do.
Indeed the ingredients for success are present in Liverpool. Perhaps the new inflow of money will multiply that possibility and make the title with the reach of Liverpool and not just be contented for Champion League qualification.
The truth is we really do not know what the future will bring if the take over is successful. Will the long awaited EPL title be within Liverpool's grasp? We shall wait and see how much transfer funds is make available and what quality signings will be arriving at the club. Hopefully the signing don't turn out to be duds disguised as an 'overpriced' Pennant.
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