No **** Rick, they almost destroyed us ----------------------------- Former Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has no doubt the Reds are still feeling the effects of the period when they were overseen by George Gillett and Tom Hicks, who he says "we all wish passionately had not owned the club". American businessmen Gillett and Hicks took over at Anfield in early 2007 and their tenure lasted until late 2010, when their compatriot John W Henry assumed control. The 2009-10 season was the last time Liverpool appeared in the Champions League and they have failed to finish higher than sixth in the Barclays Premier League since coming second in 2008-09. Regarding the Hicks and Gillett era, Parry, who was Reds chief executive at the time of their takeover and departed the post in 2009, told BBC Radio Merseyside: "That period of destabilisation is when we fell out of the Champions League. "Once you're in there, you're achieving those regular revenue streams. It's a mountain to climb when it falls away." During the reign of Gillett and Hicks - whose relationship was described by the former in 2008 as having been "unworkable for some time" - the debt against Liverpool's holding company, stemming from a Royal Bank of Scotland loan the pair had used to help them purchase the club, continued to grow. "The debt was never on the club because previous chairman David Moores and I blocked that," Parry said. "It was in the holding company, but clearly they needed to get money from the club to pay the interest so that was going to be a burden. "Our clear understanding was that it was short-term debt while they reorganised their own finances. "It was in the offer document that there would be no debt on the club, or the club would not have to bear the costs, and certainly that changed." He added: "That (2008-09) is maybe the best ever chance we've had to win the Premier League and that was a time where we should have been kicking on. "With a few more adjustments to the squad, who knows what might have happened in the next year or two. "You'd do a million things differently with hindsight, but that's not an option. We all wish passionately that they hadn't owned the club." http://sport.bt.com/sportfootball/f...arry-regrets-gilletthicks-era-S11363828834560 I ****ing hate that pic of those two
They definately set us back a few years. At the end of the 2009 season it didn't look likely we'd be out of the top 4 for years it looked likely that Arsenal would be the ones falling out. However as much harm they did the club I feel the main reason for falling out of the top 4 the following season was replacing Alonso, Arbeloa and Hyypia with 3 far inferior players in Aquilani, Johnson and Skrtel.
OUT: Alonso (£35m), Arbeloa (£3.5m) and Hyypia (free) Total = £38.5m IN: Aquilani (£20m) and Johnson (£17m) Total = £37m (Skrtel was already at the club) Rafa isn't blameless, the three outgoings were all excellent whereas the two incoming weren't. However, it clearly shows the sell to buy approach that H&G enforced which clearly didn't help matters.
He wanted to Jovetic and had to settle with Aqua due to Roma oweing us money, Same with Johnson as Pompey owed us for Crouch still. Edit: Even before Arbeloa we had Alves pretty much signed for 10-12 mil ( can't remember) and H&G pulled the plug thinking he wasn't worth it. H&G ****ed us and Rafa no doubt. Hence why all the success dried up when they arrived, Rafa could barely bring in the players he wanted. Only Torres and probably babel were players that Rafa wanted and was funded for. You could say keane as well but there is a lot of smoke on who actually wanted him.
The only problem was we had no money so Rafa was told to do business with Portsmouth and Roma because they owed us money for Crouch and Riise.
Yeah I know Skrtel joined in the january window 2009 but he was still pretty much Hyypia's replacement. Rafa made a few mistakes but in hindsight I think he should have got a chance to put it right. Then again without any money to spend would have been hard
The Keane thing from what I have read was Rafa Wanted Barry and Keane as he thought they would compliment each other but he only wanted Keane if he got Barry. If it was a choice of one then Rafa wanted Barry but our board went and bought Keane but wouldnt stump up the cash for Barry.
A lot of people refer to the sale of Alonso as the reason why we performed so poorly - however, as you rightly mentioned, we lost two big players in Hyypia and Arbeloa.
This was before getting rid of Alonso too right? So we would have had Mashcer, barry, Alonso, Gerrard, and I think sissoko still right? Lucas as well. Keane should have stayed regardless of Spurs coming back in with 15 mil. We were so light up front and I still think to this day had we kept Keane, we would have won the league as he could have turned some of those draws into wins as Torres was starting to flux in and out of the team due to the injuries. Also that Chelsea game ( epic game) might have gone differenlty.
Dont think Keane would of made much difference From February we had 15 games won 12 lost 1 Middlesbourgh and Drew 2 Man City and Arsenal ( the 4 all draw stupid arse shaving!) We did have Alonso but the plan was to get Barry in and sell Alonso to Juve but as Barry didnt work out we kept Alonso and probably had his best season with us.
Rafa wanted him but not for anywhere near that amount Hyypia played on the left side of the CB's, Agger was always Sami's replacement. Skrtel was a Carragher back-up/replacement.
unlike some here i don't blame the schisters one bit for trying to get i non the prem gravey train. I humbly submit that rick parry should be hung drawn and quartered for his actions but David moores wants impaling for his actions over years and years. ................ now... skertl. both rafa and hodgson tried to force him to play lcb so he did take on hyppia and lose out. for me he is just plain bad on the ball compared to a top player... and not good in the air.
Hodgson tried to force him because he's a dinosaur who likes 1980's style football which Agger doesn't fit into. However, other than that it was merely a case of Agger being injured so one of Carragher or Skrtel had to play LCB. Even during the nightmare Skrtel-Soto partnership Skrtel was forced LCB. He is by far and away a better RCB then LCB, there is very little question about that.
