In the midst of the media frenzy surrounding Liverpool's recent form and freakish bad luck, the press sharks are circling, waiting hungrily for Liverpool to drop more points, notepads in hands, licking the tips of their pencils with a predatory look in their eyes.
And yet there is a note of hope. A reminder to all those would-be journalists of what Liverpool was, is and still will be. A reminder that Liverpool is still the single most successful football club in the Premiership. Manchester Utd may well be drawing level with them on League titles, but Liverpool are still the number one English force in Europe.
They are still without doubt, the club that every other club seeks to model itself upon. A poeple's club. A bastion of days of glory that still echo through fortress Anfield, reflected in the voices and faces of it's ever-loyal fans.
The corporate greed of Americans will never stifle what Liverpool stands for. Nor will the slapdash paparazzi or the cash-driven scum that are known as the modern media. For Liverpool stands in the care of its custodians. And the custodians of the club are not the owners. The custodians of the club are not its board of directors. The true custodians of Liverpool Football Club are its fans.
They stand tall and ever proud, savagely defiant in the face of the tyrannical American greed machine that is stubbornly doing its best to bleed it dry. However, Liverpool is the peoples club, gifted to them by the greatest footballing figure ever known, and the media hyenas that are gleefully baying for the clubs downfall would do well to remember what is possible when the Anfield faithful sense a threat to their beloved club.
The media would do well to remember what happened to certain newspaper when disgusting allegations were printed for all to read. Liverpool fans will not sit idly by while the loathsome red top rags try to make an example of a club that made English football what it is today.
As 20,000 reds once proudly chanted: "You got your education from the Kop".
It is absolutely unacceptable that anyone should drag Liverpools name through the mud like some two-bit Burlesque whore, after all of its past glories, triumphs, and indeed its contribution to both the past and to the modern game. Liverpool is a proud, noble institution that deserves more respect, more humble recognition of what it stands for. It will not be tolerated.
Liverpool is far from finished. And this is far from over.
Showing posts with label Premiership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Premiership. Show all posts
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Game: Liverpool vs Sunderland 25th September 2010 (H)
Liverpool welcome Sunderland to Anfield on Saturday in what many are saying is a pivotal game on the back of their shock defeat to Northampton in the Carling Cup. The game was drawn at full time, with 2 more goals in extra time, taking the game to penalties. Liverpool subsequently crashed out 4-2.
At this point it seems Roy Hodgson needs to pull a rabbit out a hat as he tries to lift his demoralized troops. However, one can only wonder at his decision to leave out most of the senior squad, not even including Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres or Jamie Carragher on the bench. Roy had earlier challenged the youngsters to prove that they were stars by defeating Northampton, however this proved to be a most unwise move given the lack of experience on show.
Fast forward to Saturday and one has to wonder if the senior squad has what it takes to deal with an attacking Sunderland, with the likes of Zenden, Cattermole, and especially Bent, previously the subject of speculation about a move to Liverpool.
Torres (undoubtedly one of Liverpool's generals) is currently an enigma. There is a lot of speculation about him including doubts about match fitness, desire, tiredness, injury worries, confidence etc. The question must be asked: is the amount of media speculation affecting his concentration or confidence? He has shown small flashes of his best, contrary to what the rest of the press might say, including mazy runs, creating penalties and assisting goals.
It will be interesting on Saturday to see if Hodgson decides to drop his brand of seemingly very cautious play and actually go for the throat. In most people's opinion, this is a must, as Liverpool continue to languish at the bottom of the Premiership table.
A little less conversation, definitely a lot more action please.
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Roy Hodgson - The Carling Cup Does Matter
Roy Hodgson has today revealed that he feels the Carling Cup is important to the club, with many supporters feeling that he wouldn't view the competition as a priority, while he also admits he will rest his star players.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the visit of Northampton Town on Wednesday, he said:
"It's a strange game for us in a sense.
"It's one where we definitely need to rotate the squad having played so many games, and with us having to play so many more before the international break.
"But on the other hand it's a competition I take very seriously and I want to have a good run in the competition. We are bothered.
"There's a responsibility on those who replace the big-name players like Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina and Jamie Carragher to name but four."
This should send out a great message of faith to the fringe players like Brad Jones, Suso, Shelvey etc, while he also added:
"To be fair they've shown themselves capable of taking on that burden in a couple of European matches already.
"As we saw in the last game against Steaua Bucharest, Jay Spearing was arguably one of the best players on the field.
"If you never give him a chance, how do you know that?"
Fan Power Stage 2
Ok, lets get stage 2 under way!
Taken Directly from http://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php?topic=33070.new#new
Hi all - again, the Kop Faithful guys and also the staff at YNWA.tv have prepared draft email text and have asked if we can help them - if you can, please send emails as instructed below. Your help's much appreciated.
The email, as you see, challenges the premise of any refinance to the current owners. If you've any questions for Kop Faithful please ask them here:
http://kopfaithful.org/
------------------
To: stephen.hester@rbs.co.uk; john.hourican@rbs.com; roger.lowry@rbs.co.uk; rebecca.oliphant@rbs.com; richard.holliday@rbs.com; tommy.mclean@rbs.co.uk; customer.service.alerts@rbs.co.uk; online.service@rbs.co.uk; invoicefinance@rbs.co.uk; investor.relations@rbsir.com;tom.mckillop@rbs.co.uk; fred.goodwin@rbs.co.uk; guy.whittaker@rbs.co.uk; millermclean@rbs.co.uk; richard.oconnor@rbs.co.uk; info@rbsspreadtrading.co.uk; ellen.alemany@rbs.com; elaine.hunter@rbs.co.uk
CC: gngillett@bcmgt.com; ian.ayre@liverpoolfc.tv; philip.nash@liverpoolfc.tv; thicks@hicksholdings.com; tohjr@hicksholdings.com; martin.broughton@ba.com; mhicks@hicksholdings.com; stephen.schwarzman@blackstone.com; bennett.goodman@blackstone.com; timothy.white@gsocap.com; marketing@gsocap.com; jon.laycock@barcap.com; kopfaithful@hotmail.co.uk
Dear Mr Hester
Following revelations today that the private equity firm The Blackstone Group has ended talks with Tom Hicks regarding a £280m, two-year refinancing package, we ask that you finally take the appropriate action and call in the loans now and end the disastrous ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
We urge you to take the sale process out of the hands of the owners and their appointed representatives Barcap and focus on selling the club to suitable custodians who can bring stability to the football club, who will invest in the playing squad, and finally deliver the new stadium in Stanley Park on which the future prosperity of the club and the local area depends so much.
The Royal Bank of Scotland have previously stated that they wish to act in the best interests of Liverpool Football Club and that the long-term future of the club will be at the centre of any decisions. Well as a lifelong supporter of LFC and a British tax payer, clearly the best interests of all parties cannot be served by providing further extensions to the current financing arrangements, or by enabling Hicks and Gillett to remain in charge by any other means.
What we want
• Hicks and Gillett out now. RBS to call in the loans with immediate effect and oust the current owners.
• RBS to take over the club in the short-term and retain the current management team of Martin Broughton, Christian Purslow, Ian Ayre and Philip Nash who will continue to run the club on a daily basis until the club is sold.
• RBS to take control of the sale process from Barcap and seek suitable custodians who will: a) clear the current debt and not borrow against the assets of the club; b) run the club with a sensible business model; and c) Construct the new stadium in Stanley Park as soon as is reasonably practicable.
What we don't want
• RBS to extend the refinancing with Gillett and Hicks.
• RBS to sell the debt to a faceless investment bank who will load yet more debt onto LFC, increase the interest repayments, extend the disastrous ownership of Hicks and Gillett and put the final nail in the club's coffin.
Liverpool supporters worldwide are very concerned at the actions of RBS in recent days and get the impression that the bank want to wash their hands of the problems at LFC. While supporters are relieved that Blackstone appear to have pulled out of negotiations with Tom Hicks, inevitably it means that RBS' actions will once more become the main focus for the millions of LFC fans who've joined the successful email campaigns.
It is time for RBS to give something back to the Liverpool fans that contributed towards the £500bn taxpayer bailout, without which you wouldn't have a bank to manage.
Yours faithfully
The Kop Faithful - No to RBS refinance - Liverpool FC
http://kopfaithful.org/
Taken Directly from http://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php?topic=33070.new#new
Hi all - again, the Kop Faithful guys and also the staff at YNWA.tv have prepared draft email text and have asked if we can help them - if you can, please send emails as instructed below. Your help's much appreciated.
The email, as you see, challenges the premise of any refinance to the current owners. If you've any questions for Kop Faithful please ask them here:
http://kopfaithful.org/
------------------
To: stephen.hester@rbs.co.uk; john.hourican@rbs.com; roger.lowry@rbs.co.uk; rebecca.oliphant@rbs.com; richard.holliday@rbs.com; tommy.mclean@rbs.co.uk; customer.service.alerts@rbs.co.uk; online.service@rbs.co.uk; invoicefinance@rbs.co.uk; investor.relations@rbsir.com;tom.mckillop@rbs.co.uk; fred.goodwin@rbs.co.uk; guy.whittaker@rbs.co.uk; millermclean@rbs.co.uk; richard.oconnor@rbs.co.uk; info@rbsspreadtrading.co.uk; ellen.alemany@rbs.com; elaine.hunter@rbs.co.uk
CC: gngillett@bcmgt.com; ian.ayre@liverpoolfc.tv; philip.nash@liverpoolfc.tv; thicks@hicksholdings.com; tohjr@hicksholdings.com; martin.broughton@ba.com; mhicks@hicksholdings.com; stephen.schwarzman@blackstone.com; bennett.goodman@blackstone.com; timothy.white@gsocap.com; marketing@gsocap.com; jon.laycock@barcap.com; kopfaithful@hotmail.co.uk
Dear Mr Hester
Following revelations today that the private equity firm The Blackstone Group has ended talks with Tom Hicks regarding a £280m, two-year refinancing package, we ask that you finally take the appropriate action and call in the loans now and end the disastrous ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
We urge you to take the sale process out of the hands of the owners and their appointed representatives Barcap and focus on selling the club to suitable custodians who can bring stability to the football club, who will invest in the playing squad, and finally deliver the new stadium in Stanley Park on which the future prosperity of the club and the local area depends so much.
The Royal Bank of Scotland have previously stated that they wish to act in the best interests of Liverpool Football Club and that the long-term future of the club will be at the centre of any decisions. Well as a lifelong supporter of LFC and a British tax payer, clearly the best interests of all parties cannot be served by providing further extensions to the current financing arrangements, or by enabling Hicks and Gillett to remain in charge by any other means.
What we want
• Hicks and Gillett out now. RBS to call in the loans with immediate effect and oust the current owners.
• RBS to take over the club in the short-term and retain the current management team of Martin Broughton, Christian Purslow, Ian Ayre and Philip Nash who will continue to run the club on a daily basis until the club is sold.
• RBS to take control of the sale process from Barcap and seek suitable custodians who will: a) clear the current debt and not borrow against the assets of the club; b) run the club with a sensible business model; and c) Construct the new stadium in Stanley Park as soon as is reasonably practicable.
What we don't want
• RBS to extend the refinancing with Gillett and Hicks.
• RBS to sell the debt to a faceless investment bank who will load yet more debt onto LFC, increase the interest repayments, extend the disastrous ownership of Hicks and Gillett and put the final nail in the club's coffin.
Liverpool supporters worldwide are very concerned at the actions of RBS in recent days and get the impression that the bank want to wash their hands of the problems at LFC. While supporters are relieved that Blackstone appear to have pulled out of negotiations with Tom Hicks, inevitably it means that RBS' actions will once more become the main focus for the millions of LFC fans who've joined the successful email campaigns.
It is time for RBS to give something back to the Liverpool fans that contributed towards the £500bn taxpayer bailout, without which you wouldn't have a bank to manage.
Yours faithfully
The Kop Faithful - No to RBS refinance - Liverpool FC
http://kopfaithful.org/
Monday, 20 September 2010
Tom Hicks Suffers Major Blow
Tom Hicks has suffered a major setback in his attempt to regain control of Liverpool Football Club. Blackstone GSO have reportedly snubbed his request for aid in refinancing the clubs debt to RBS.Over the weekend, following the news of his board meeting in London with Martin Broughton et al, Liverpool fans all over the world reacted angrily and voiced their displeasure at the Texan's latest plan.
The owner of Blackstone GSO, the American Billionaire Steve Schwarzmann, is a close personal friend of Hicks, and is the third richest man in America. This latest move was seen by some as a last desperate attempt to cling on to Liverpool for a further 2 years, while new owners were being sought out.
However, The Guardian has reported that Schwarzmann has walked away from the deal without comment and this can only mean that Hicks has failed.
There are still two weeks remaining until the current loans against Kop Holdings mature, however it seems unlikely that any buyers will come forward in that time. Indeed, it is estimated by many that there are many buyers waiting in the wings in order to get the club at the knockdown price of the club's debt, as opposed to the ridiculous asking price put in place by Hicks and Gillett.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
The Meireles Mentality
New Liverpool FC signing Raul Mereiles has been quoted as saying "I came to Liverpool to win trophies". Roy Hodgson's £11m signing has also revealed that another part of the reason he came to Anfield was because Roy Hodgson worked so hard to get him.
The Portuguese midfielder, signed from Porto just before the end of the transfer window, also lauded the club's fans, saying "I played at Anfield with Porto and I lost 4-1, but I remember the supporters were great. Everybody in Portugal says the Liverpool fans are the best supporters in England.
"I have also played at Chelsea and Manchester United, but I can say the Liverpool fans are the best".
For most Liverpool fans however, this flattering praise is not needed. All that is required to play in red is heart, soul, and the desire to succeed, whatever the cost. And for Meireles, uttering the afore-mentioned words about winning trophies couldn't have been a smarter move, honest or not.
Joe Cole - Misfit or Big Hit?
As Joe Cole starts to find his feet, questions are being asked around the hallowed halls of Anfield. The first of such questions concerns the sending-off during Cole's first game for Liverpool, against Arsenal. While fans may bemoan the fact that Liverpool were then starved of a natural outlet on the left for the remaining 50 minutes, Joe Cole must also be congratulated.
When the replay is examined, it can be seen that Cole hardly makes any contact, while at the same time, constantly watching the ball. The ball leaves play, and only then does Cole turn to face the player he is supposed to have "brought down", Laurent Koscielny. For an older generation of fans, this shows what Cole is all about. Professionalism, pride, and bags full of passion.
He was unfairly villified by the press after this event, and deserves no less than an outright apology from Laurent Koscielny as well as the referee that day. While Liverpool FC accepted the red card quietly, there were mutterings among hardcore red fans that the referee was blind, and that Koscielny would never have 'survived' in the older game.
Cole is an example of those days in modern day form, and long may he continue to demonstrate the skill he is renowned for as well as the passion and belief that has already endeared him to the fans. Questions answered? Without doubt.
Joe Cole - What Gerrard Deserves
Liverpool Playmaker Joe Cole has said he believes Steven Gerrard deserves the Premiership title.
"He's a tremendous player", he said. "I've known Steven since I was 17 or 18 and I obviously trained and played with him for England for 10 years so I know what he's all about".
Cole also said he would really like to help Gerrard make his Premiership dream a reality.
"But when you see him in a Liverpool shirt he's even better. A player like him deserves to win the championship," said Cole.
"I know that's what he wants over the next four to five years at the club.
"He's a fantastic player and if he plays well, the team plays well and it's up to me now to assist him and try and help the club move on."
Game: Manchester Utd vs Liverpool (Sunday 19th September) (Away)
One of the juiciest fixtures of the season is here. Liverpool travel to Old Trafford, hoping to leave with the bragging rights.
Last Season's Results
March 2009 - Manchester United 1 Liverpool 4
What a day this was as the reds went all out and destroyed the Devils 4-1. The scorers that day were:
Torres 28th minute
Gerrard (pen) 44th minute
Aurelio 77th minute
Dossena 90th minute
Highlights
It was universally agreed that this was the Stevie and Fernando show with all the action in the midfield up to the front controlled by the terrible two. The team just oozed confidence and control that day, owing to the inspirational Captain and the greatest striker alive, and actually reminded me a little of the brash, swaggering, swashbuckling Liverpool of old.
October 2009 - Liverpool 2 Manchester Utd 0
The Reds couldn't believe their luck as once again they ran out victors at home courtesy of goals from David N'Gog and Fernando Torres.
Highlights
Fast Forward to Now
So, reports around the web are suggesting that Fernando Torres and Wayne Rooney will be the two most dangerous men on the pitch tomorrow. Myself, I can't bring myself to agree with this, owing to the fact that Fernando Torres has a way higher goal-to game ratio than Wayne Rooney. This makes Torres the most dangerous man on the pitch. If he really pulls it together. Recently, Torres has looked less-than-sharp, a shadow of the gloriously gifted player the footballing world knows him to be. But Liverpool fans also need to keep David N'Gog in mind. The young Frenchman has now bagged 6 goals this season, and is really turning out to be a promising prospect.
Bleak Prospects
Can Liverpool really walk away with a win tomorrow? Reports around all the major newspapers suggest that this hinges on one player - Fernando Torres. This could be cited as unfair and completely blown out of proportion when you look at a certain Frenchman's contribution to the club so far this season. Torres just needs a little more time to get his sharpness back and after all Roy Hodgson's priority here is to keep him fit and injury free, a difficult task at the best of times when taking care of the best striker in world football.
Prediction here:
Manchester Utd 2 - 3 Liverpool
YNWA
Last Season's Results
March 2009 - Manchester United 1 Liverpool 4
What a day this was as the reds went all out and destroyed the Devils 4-1. The scorers that day were:
Torres 28th minute
Gerrard (pen) 44th minute
Aurelio 77th minute
Dossena 90th minute
Highlights
It was universally agreed that this was the Stevie and Fernando show with all the action in the midfield up to the front controlled by the terrible two. The team just oozed confidence and control that day, owing to the inspirational Captain and the greatest striker alive, and actually reminded me a little of the brash, swaggering, swashbuckling Liverpool of old.
October 2009 - Liverpool 2 Manchester Utd 0
The Reds couldn't believe their luck as once again they ran out victors at home courtesy of goals from David N'Gog and Fernando Torres.
Highlights
Fast Forward to Now
So, reports around the web are suggesting that Fernando Torres and Wayne Rooney will be the two most dangerous men on the pitch tomorrow. Myself, I can't bring myself to agree with this, owing to the fact that Fernando Torres has a way higher goal-to game ratio than Wayne Rooney. This makes Torres the most dangerous man on the pitch. If he really pulls it together. Recently, Torres has looked less-than-sharp, a shadow of the gloriously gifted player the footballing world knows him to be. But Liverpool fans also need to keep David N'Gog in mind. The young Frenchman has now bagged 6 goals this season, and is really turning out to be a promising prospect.
Bleak Prospects
Can Liverpool really walk away with a win tomorrow? Reports around all the major newspapers suggest that this hinges on one player - Fernando Torres. This could be cited as unfair and completely blown out of proportion when you look at a certain Frenchman's contribution to the club so far this season. Torres just needs a little more time to get his sharpness back and after all Roy Hodgson's priority here is to keep him fit and injury free, a difficult task at the best of times when taking care of the best striker in world football.
Prediction here:
Manchester Utd 2 - 3 Liverpool
YNWA
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