I'd love 'Pool to win the title, if only if wasn't for the Mousers and their delusions. It's been donkey years since they had any glory, but in all that time we've had to put up with their delusional bull**** which has, at times, been sickening. Plus, the media is already overrun enough with Mousers, 'Pool legends (such as Lawro, Barnes, and Redknap), and Mouser-lovers, with a new breed of Mouser coming through the ranks (a la Mickey Dim and Carra). Any sustained 'Pool success would be an utter disaster for us normal fans. So, no, I simply cannot route for 'Pool to win the title. It would be utterly unbearable. Fortunately, not only will they not win the title, but this season is very likely to be a one-off for them. United, Arsenal, Chavs, and us will all strengthen in the Summer, which will push 'Pool back down the ranks. Plus, their limited squad will be pushed to its absolute limits in the CL, with injuries and tiredness to follow, which will impact fatally on their league form. Finally, even if they do manage to hold on to Goofy in the Summer (and that is a massive "if"), he'll certainly be off in the January window, after 'Pool get dumped out of the CL at the first hurdle. So, whilst things look bad (for us normal fans) right here and now, I can see things improving dramatically, as we near the business end of next season. Thankfully.
£14/15mill wasn't it? I'd fancy us to get £10mill back for him though, yeah. One bad season in the PL doesn't mean he's crap, his record in La Liga makes him still well worth a gamble for most foreign teams.
To be honest I have no idea. If they did it was down to H&G mismanagement and Dalglish's spend spend spend on crap. I like the way Rodgers goes about building a team, not spending millions. Coutinho, Sturridge and Allen are always decent buys - many of which were derided at the time (probabaly by me!). He has also tunred around Gerrard, Flanagan, Sterling and amazingly Henderson - all of which were looked at as crap or over the hill not long ago. And anyway, the alternatives have spent way more. All things are relative. All good points. On their remaining games however, the most difficult are at Anfield this time - that could be the difference from Xmas. I think City will win it, but I'd like it to be Liverpool (won't get a lot of pleasure from it - but a little).
"To be honest I have no idea. If they did it was down to H&G mismanagement and Dalglish's spend spend spend on crap. I like the way Rodgers goes about building a team, not spending millions." Brendas' reign has a gross/net transfer spend of 98/60m odd (according to transferleague) . Some Poool supporters elsewhere claim (uncorroborated as yet) that 40m odd of their loss for 2012-13 was used to clear down debt from the previous owners. The 70m odd Euros more in annual revenue that they get, I assume got eaten up by transfers and OPEX costs for running the club (wages etc) .
But HIAG, you've already strengthened, to the tune of 110million. It'll be a fair few years until you regain 5th place, don't get too ahead of yourself thinking about next year.
Red, which ever way you cut it, the plain and simple truth is that 'Pool are only where they are today due to the fact that certain better and bigger teams (United, Chavs, Arsenal, us) have screwed up (by each of those club's respectively high standards) on where we should have been this season. The idea that we are all going to screw up two seasons on the bounce is rather fanciful. And the fact that neither you nor your fellow Mousers can see that fact is the very reason why this thread exists.
You are right. FSG wrote-off £50 million of debt incurred by H&G relating to the proposed plans for the new stadium. Other H& G debts relating to the H&G sale (probably mostly legal bills) were also tidied-up
"Other H& G debts relating to the H&G sale (probably mostly legal bills) were also tidied-up" And the sum of those was (assuming they are enumerated in the club annual report) ?? 5m max ??
Perhaps you cannot understand that we have built the major elements of a squad that can be further strengthened over the Summer. That we have increased our commercial income at a faster rate than any other Premiership side - despite no European football. That we are on the brink of re-establishing ourselves as one of the top UK sides whereas you have managed a short term stay. If you want a clear example of a sides success that was more due to the failure of their challengers then you should be looking at United's win (at a canter) last season. The fact that you can even write "The idea that we are all going to screw up two seasons on the bounce is rather fanciful" clearly demonstrates your delusion. If you mean that the top sides will seek to improve next season then that is a given. However, Spurs have shown that they are not a top club both on and off the pitch. The truth hurts but it has to be said.
I haven't got the accounts in front of me so I cannot give you an exact figure but knowing how H&G operated then £5 million would probably be a conservative under-estimate. Remember The Cobys still tried to pass their legal bills back to the club after the sale!
"That we are on the brink of re-establishing ourselves as one of the top UK sides" The "Sky 5" (5 into 4 won't go) ??
You got back £15m. I think we'd still get £6m+ for Soldado, if we chose to sell him, especially as any prospective club is likely to have a few quid available. Did you call them Hull Tigers? They don't like that.
The longer term success of Liverpool will depend on firstly, keeping Suarez. As much as some of you will point to Sturridge, Sterling, et al, Suarez is vital to your future progress. IF he stays, and I do believe it's an if, then much will depend on how you strengthen the Squad. Because, strengthening it will most definitely need.
But if he goes you are not taking into account that BR has possibly already got a replacement in mind, maybe not as prolific but possibly along with maybe another attacker already on the books(Borini), he already has to got to bolster the defence no matter if Suarez stays or goes and the more spending money due to any sale would come in extremely handy. All it's,but's and maybe's. But I think he'll give us at least one more season based on us making sure of qualifying for the CL and BR's transfer dealings before and after the WC.
Well whilst we are strengthening, you'll be re-building (again) with yet another manager (again). Another 2/3 year project.
Let's face it, there IS no replacement for Suarez! If there was, don't you think Real would have tried to grab him by now? I'm sure he wouldn't just walk, the way he tried to do last summer, but if, and yes, it is still if, Real come knocking....who knows?..
I don't think we need to drastically rebuild the squad. Yes, it needs strengthening in certain areas. In others, we could afford to let some players go. What we really do need is proper management and probably, coaching. As I've said before, the main differences between us are, you have Rodgers and Suarez. Do you really think you'd be where you are now if you'd kept "King Kenny"?
