As you'll probably remember, during last week I asked my readers on the blog and on Twitter to vote
for their "Ex Reds" that they love to hate. Some hatred is evidently a bit tongue and cheek but
when board members and previous owners are allowed onto the list, it's always going to get a bit
heated.
Unsurprisingly those lovely leeches Hicks and Gillett topped the list followed by El Hadji Diouf,
Fernando Torres, Michael Owen and Christian Purslow.
What on earth is happening at Liverpool FC? Now I know I will probably end up with loads of
abuse at the finale of this blog, seeing as though I am an Evertonian and I am writing about ‘our
nephew' Liverpool. Even though I have no positive attachment to Liverpool, their current crisis
gives me no sense of enjoyment.
FSG are genius saviours returning the club to glory, they have a plan in place, and the
slightest doubt or skepticism means you're a fool for daring to question them. Just never mind
they've been at the club for eighteen months now and are currently looking to sort their second
managerial and director of football hires, while the man presumed to have the most sway in the
matter will be overseeing a move to his fourth manager in two years.
I honestly don't know this club anymore. I'd better get used to that fact.
Look, we're all aware this season's results were horrendous. The denizens of the Andromeda Galaxy
are aware of that. The fact remains it was one season, the season after Hicks and Gillett nearly
destroyed the club and Hodgson helped dig the hole deeper.
Sobering times for Liverpool fans – a season ago, we were celebrating how Kenny Dalglish, with
the mantle of Messiah, seemed to effortlessly restore us back to form, after Woy's charges suffered
5 defeats in the last 8 league matches. But before you bring out the white robe and sandals for the
King, even after the victory at Ewood Park this week, Liverpool's run of 6 defeats in 9 is
comparable to Hodgson's record, which means for 2 seasons in a row, we've been talking –
sacrilegiously – about the infamous 1954 season, the last time Liverpool were relegated (and 1 of
only 3 occasions it has happened).
With charges, arrests and general controversy beginning to stack up, we are once again indebted
to Taiwan-based media group NMA who filter out all the bull plop and present us with nothing but
the clear facts using their trademark subtle blend of retina-searing imagery, dizzying
overly-literal metaphors and featherlight grip on the actual incidents being discussed.
Are we being Eti-had? Why Ayre wants probe into City's sponsorship deal
After digesting the impact of the past 12 months on the club when meeting with Liverpool's
managing director Ian Ayre last week, talk inevitably turned to the future. Liverpool want
breakaway TV rights deal Liverpool were "on the brink" and could have gone bust under Hicks and
Gillett Manchester United and Chelsea to oppose Liverpool's breakaway TV rights plan How are
Liverpool going to compete, he was asked, against the oily millions of Manchester City, and a
Manchester United side with .
Liverpool MD Ian Ayre interview: "Kenny Dalglish has brought everyone
together"
The past 12 months have been the most tumultuous in Liverpool history – and it takes a brave
man to attempt to sum them up. But Ian Ayre, the managing director of the reborn club, is happy to
give it a go.
Pepe Reina's autobiography is out today and depending on how candid he's chosen to be we'll
maybe find out a lot more about the player than we deserve to. When we read it, rather than just
take in soundbites hand-picked by newspaper columnists unconnected to the book and looking for
something juicy for a headline, we'll have a better insight into a man we rely on far more than
some would like to give him credit for.
Liverpool's Pepe Reina has revealed all about the highs and lows of his career at the club in a
new book serialised today by the Daily Mail . The star stopper tells of his ‘depression' under
the previous regime, and how he came close to leaving last January but was talked out of it by his
wife.
'Hicks & Gillett blocked my £20m Arsenal move because they hadn't sold the club'
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina
The Spaniard could have moved to the Emirates after winning the World Cup with Spain last year
but was denied a transfer as he was classed as a vital presence at Anfield
View the full story here: Goal
A news article on 2011-10-08 22:39:00 from: Goal
This news item has been reproduced from today's media.
Liverpool have spent a total of £7.5 million per point in the Barclays Premier League, between
last October when the new owners purchased the club and the end of last season, according to the
FourFourTwo annual football rich list.
Fenway Sports Group purchased the club last October from previous owners Hicks and Gillett, and
have taken the club from being close to ruin to in a stable financial position and capable of
challenging for Champions League football.
Following his move from Liverpool to Chelsea Raul Meireles has been quick to defend himself
after being branded a Judas by some sections of the Anfield faithful. Of course, the comparisons
with another ex-Red's recent departure are inevitable, but in reality the circumstances that led to
the transfers of Meireles and Torres are poles apart.
The difference a year makes. From Hicks and Gillett setting the club's money on fire to FSG opening
the checkbook at will. From an owl-faced over-matched media darling who "deserved a chance" as
manager to the club's greatest living legend. Checking under couch cushions for the privilege of
buying Konchesky and Poulsen to slightly less than £50m spent on Adam, Doni, Downing, Enrique, and
Henderson.
As much as I hate my birthday (and have since I turned 21), I'm actually publicly acknowledging it
this year for some reason. A moment of weakness, most likely.
So, with a lack of content worth scribbling about – at least until tomorrow's first friendly
against Guangzhou (8am on FSC in the US) – I thought I'd post a self-indulgent infographic
showing my age relative to Liverpool's squad from the season before.
Ian Ayre, Liverpool's MD, is an honest and refreshing man with a good commercial pedigree and thus
far has proved himself to be the ideal man at the helm of Liverpool FC.
In a candid interview today he discussed the proposed new stadium, the former disasterous previous
owners Hicks and Gillette and he praised current custodians FSG.
This is what Hicks and Gillett did to Liverpool's playing squad.
Yes, Benitez had a Redknappian fondness for wheeling and dealing – and had to rebuild right away
despite winning the Champions League in his first season – but an awful lot of that business was
compelled by the tumors' poverty and indebtedness, evident in the number of transfers in the last
two to three seasons.
AUGUST 2010 Well it started off at rock bottom for Liverpool, Hicks and Gillett were still at the
helm, the life sucking hold on the club felt like it would never go away. Rafa had gone and his
replacement of Roy Hodgson didn't exactly instill confidence into the masses. Nevertheless, the
Anfield faithful were ready to give him a chance and we started the season in the best spirits we
could.
It has been a while since we had to discuss front office madness and things that can upset some
fans. Well, over the weekend in the game between the New England Revolution and the Chicago Fire
some stuff happened in The Fort, the main section for the Revs supporters groups.
I don't know about you guys, but I've honestly already put Sunday's match behind me. I can't
remember the last time I was this indifferent about an incorrect refereeing decision, but frankly,
we didn't do enough to win that game and Houston probably did. Justice was served in the end.
You can follow Mark on Twitter at @markawarmington and also visit his blog.
There is a question that has been toying with me for the past few months; a niggling little itch
of a query that I just haven't quite been able to scratch into submission.
You can follow Mark on Twitter at @markawarmington and also visit his blog.
There is a question that has been toying with me for the past few months; a niggling little itch
of a query that I just haven't quite been able to scratch into submission.
You can follow Mark on Twitter at @markawarmington and also visit his blog.
There is a question that has been toying with me for the past few months; a niggling little itch
of a query that I just haven't quite been able to scratch into submission.
Brisbane Roar secured their second A-League title on the bounce on Sunday evening, though the
manner in which they did so will make your mind swim as your synapses struggle to comprehend the
weapons grade 'what the f**kity' on show.
With the score level at 1-1 and the last few seconds of normal time ebbing away, Brisbane
striker Besart Berisha blustered through the Perth area to find himself clean through, swung his
leg at a bobbling ball, missed entirely and then fell on his arse to cap off the show.
The Arsenal take-over looks like being a long way from the toxic take-overs of The Glazers
and Gillett & Hicks. But, as SJ Maskell writes, custodianship is about doing more
than saying and doing the right things and the real power in the game lies in the majority
ownership of shares.
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TEAMS - Doncaster vs QPR
QPR: Kenny, Orr, Hill, Derry, Hall, Helguson, Faurlin, Gorkss, Routledge, Smith, Ephraim.
