LFC Talk

Liverpool were in great form at the end of last season, with Maxi Rodriguez bagging two hat-tricks. This campaign has failed to build on that promise, with limited opportunities. Is he being treated fairly?

Feyenoord sporting director Martin van Geel has admitted he would love to re-sign Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt for the Rotterdam club – but has admitted it is unlikely to happen this summer.

Kuyt has become something of a cult hero at Anfield since making the move to Merseyside back in 2006 from Feyenoord, but has seen his first team opportunities dwindle of late.

The 31-year-old was dropped for Carling Cup final against Cardiff last month, but emerged from the bench to score for the Reds in extra-time at Wembley Stadium as he lifted the first trophy of his Liverpool career.

Kuyt, contracted with the Reds until 2013, recently revealed that while he is happy to remain with Liverpool for the time being he could leave the club if he cannot break into the first team on a regular basis in the near future.

Geel says he hopes to capitalise on Kuyt’s lack of football at Anfield and bring him back to his former club, but says there is little chance of a move happening at the end of the current season.

“I would love to welcome Dirk at Feyenoord as soon as possible. He fits in here more than anybody else,” Van Geel was quoted as saying by NUsport.

“He is more than welcome at the club. However, I do not think that it’s realistic to believe that he could return this summer.”

In recent seasons Kuyt has been forced to ply his trade on the right wing having occupied a more central role earlier in his career at Liverpool, however manager Kenny Dalglish’s preference to deploy Jordan Henderson out wide means his chances are becoming increasingly limited.

Rob Jansen, Kuyt’s agent, confirmed he will return to De Kuip when his time with Liverpool comes to an end, but said it was impossible to put an estimate on when that could be.

“Feyenoord know that Dirk will join them once he returns to Netherlands. But when? It’s impossible to answer that question,” Jansen said.

“We are just waiting to see what happens at Liverpool now and what’s coming his way. We will make a decision on his future after that.”

http://www.givemefootball.com/premier-league/feyenoord-want-kuyt-return?

Click here to discuss this in our forum

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has warned Manchester United not to make a move for goalkeeper José Reina.

Recent reports have claimed that United are joining Arsenal in pursuing the Spanish international as each look for replacements for their current custodians.

Arsenal have been linked with Reina sporadically over the last few months, but it appears that United’s interest has particularly irked Hodgson.

“It was just one of those stories that seems to occur – it’s just disappointing and annoying,” Hodgson told the Liverpool Echo.

“Pepe is fantastic here, he is a lifeblood of this team.”

“Everything he does around the club is excellent – he is always lively in the dressing room, he is always first class in training and he always wants to do more to improve.”

“He demands better from those around him, he is always pushing people on. He is a player who we hold in the highest esteem.”

“We have heard nothing from Manchester United and, more to the point, we don’t want to hear anything from Manchester United.”

“If (Sir Alex) Ferguson is looking around at the end of the season and he has got lots of money to replace (Edwin) van der Sar, he might very well want Pepe Reina because he is the best around.”

“But we do not want to sell him. I would like to think that we are going to become a successful club once again and Pepe is crucial to that.”

Click here to discuss this in our forum

Manuel Pellegrini has claimed that Liverpool have made an approach to install him as Roy Hodgson’s successor at Anfield – and that he would welcome the chance.

Hodgson has overseen Liverpool’s worst start to a season since 1953 and has been under mounting pressure to leave from sections of the Reds support – but he has stated his determination to remain in the job.

He may not have much choice if this is true, as Pellegrini is hopeful of returning to management by the end of the year.

Pellegrini was sacked by Real Madrid in May, despite collecting their biggest ever points tally in La Liga last season at an average of 2.53 per game – but crucially he failed to pip Barcelona to the title.

He is said to favour a move to the Premiership and sees Liverpool as the ideal club for that given the managerial situation and Latin contingent.

“Yes, Liverpool contacted me.” he said.

“It is a great club with many Spanish players who I already know, and it is my intention to work in the Premier League.”

“I had lots of offers, some that I like. Ideally, I would like to find a club in December.”

Click here to discuss this in our forum

Roy Hodgson’s start to life as Liverpool boss has been rocky to say the least, and with NESV now the new owners of the club…will he keep his job?

Defeat in Sunday’s Merseyside derby would give John Henry and co the perfect early opportunity to dimiss the Englishman, should they wish to bring in their own man. Potentially, if the Reds are beaten at Goodison Park on Sunday they could find themselves rock bottom of the Premiership table.

That scenario would surely put massive pressure on the former Fulham boss and could see his reign at Anfield cut dramatically short.

But are NESV likely to act so quickly when they have been so non-committal in interviews so far?

If the new American owners do wish to bring in their own guy, they would surely see this as the ideal chance to dispose of Hodgson. He has suffered one of the worst starts to any Liverpool manager’s tenure at Anfield – with just one league win so far. That was a tight 1-0 win over ten man West Brom at home – the same home that Blackpool managed to take three points from. Credit must go to Ian Holloway for masterminding a fine performance – but the mentions of heavy defeats at Chelsea and Arsenal are not fair.

Liverpool are not in the same bracket as those clubs in terms of quality on the field at present. The club outstrips both in terms of support, passion, history and aura – but they aren’t in the relegation zone through misfortune.

Hodgson’s tactics have been even more drab and insipid than Benitez’s last season. There’s no pace, no creativity and idea from his team thus far this season. Ok, it can take a long time for a manager to bed in at a new club and impress his ideas on his players – but surely this squad hasn’t been depleted so much that it can drop from seventh best to relegation contenders so quickly? There must be an influence in there somewhere of Hodgson’s tactics and methods.

While NESV may take that view, they may also sympathise with a manager trying to bring new ideas and progress to a club that has been in the doldrums for the last eighteen months since finishing a close second in 2008/9.

The club’s financial uncertainty and ownership issues have walked hand in hand with the team’s disastrous form. The new owners may feel that Hodgson deserves time, and hopefully funds, to turn things around in more clement circumstances.

Hodgson would surely not preside over a relegated side were he to stay as boss for the foreseeable future, but how far can he go with what he currently has available to him?

The low ebb and poor form of Fernando Torres this season will worry even the hardiest of Reds. His mind seems to be elsewhere and Summer rumours of him pining for a move to Chelsea may seem to ring even truer given his body language. The likes of City and United have also recently been linked for moves for the World Cup winning striker, but the long-awaited takeover may see an upturn of form in the former Atletico Madrid man.

Nobody is performing to the best of his ability in a Red shirt this season though. Steven Gerrard is struggling to hit the back of the net again this term and even seems happier plying his trade in the white of England. Pepe Reina made an uncharacteristic error against Arsenal in the season opener and has voiced his concerns over the club’s plight.

The departure of Javier Mascherano came as no surprise to anyone, but the Argentine’s late withdrawal from the team to face Manchester City did not help the new manager. A 3-0 hiding from the rich kids from down the East Lancs Road may have been a hammer blow to a squad already suffering from low confidence – it could have set the tone for the last couple of months.

The latest chapter in Liverpool history begins today and the first opposition for the NESV-owned Liverpool is a massive away day at Everton on Sunday. How the blue half of Liverpool would have been enjoying the disastrous tenure of Hicks and Gillett. Disappointment must have set in with them after seeing Liverpool’s ownership change hands in a massive morale lift today.

But how long will Roy Hodgson be part of the “virtually debt-free” Reds?

Click here to discuss this in our forum

Jamie Carragher has signed a new deal with the club that will keep him at Anfield until June 2013.

The vice-captain, who turns thirty-three in January, admits that his future has had to be put on the back burner with the recent turmoil at Anfield.

“We’ve been talking about it for the last couple of weeks but obviously there’s been more important business for the club to deal with and rightly so,” he said.

“Mine was put to the back of the queue and that was no problem but it’s finally sorted now.”

“When Liverpool offer you a contract you sort it out pretty quickly.”

“I’m looking forward to hopefully finishing my career at the club.”

“Since the day I made my debut, my dream would have been to finish my career at the club and hopefully now that will be the case.”

Roy Hodgson spoke of his delight to seal an extension with the defender: “I am really pleased Jamie has been offered and agreed a new contract,” he said.

“He is part of the heart and soul of this club and is a man who literally would do anything to achieve success for the club and he has proved it over the last 10 years or so in the Premier League.”

“His contribution on the field has been of the very highest quality.”

“Jamie has been one of the few players in the seven league matches this season who could hold his hand up and say ‘I can’t do any better, you could never put a lack of result down to my performance.”

“That is something to be proud of.”

“He is one of the best centre-backs in the Barclays Premier League and I look forward to working with him for the next three years.”

Carragher has been a main figure at Anfield since making his debut in 1997 and is sixth in the list of all-time Liverpool appearances, having played 641 times so far.

He has won ten major honours with the Reds, including two FA Cups, two League Cups, a UEFA Cup and the Champions League.

Click here to discuss this in our forum

Roy Hodgson had a difficult time in the Summer transfer window in spreading around his cash enough to build the squad he inherited from Rafael Benitez.

Despite the financial constraints of having to sell to buy, the Englishman managed to bring in Joe Cole ahead of the likes of Arsenal, Spurs and West Ham. Milan Jovanovic was another free signing, a deal engineered by Benitez before his departure.

“We have a limited squad of players,” Hodgson told reporters on Friday. “I don’t think we’re as strong in depth as many of our rivals, I’d like us to be stronger.”

“I think that the 11 players that we can put out from the start don’t give me enormous alternatives at the moment, especially up front and that’s where the most alternatives would be. We are also short of back players at the club.”

“In midfield we have quite a lot of players, many of whom play in the same position, so for me to really be happy with the squad I would want to balance it out a bit differently to how it’s balanced at the moment but I’m not going to do that in two and a half months.”

Hodgson will be hoping that NESV provide him with funds in January – that is if he remains Liverpool manager under their ownership.

Click here to discuss this in our forum

Tom Hicks has hit out at former Reds boss Rafael Benitez, claiming that the Spaniard wasted millions in the transfer market – and that his hands were never tied by financial constraint.

The American, along with former Liverpool co-owner George Gillett, have tried to contest through every legal venue to stop New England Sports Ventures from purchasing the Anfield outfit.

Hicks and Gillett may have dropped their proceedings in a Texan court for £1bn of damages, but they appear to be planning to go back to the High Court to reveal “the truth”, as Hicks stated to Sky Sports News.

In an exclusive interview from his Dallas offices, the American claimed that the media have misrepresented him and Gillett and got many statistics wrong.

“We spent £300million on players, £150m net – I think it’s the second or third highest in the English Premier League,” he said..

“You never read about that in the media.”

He continued to blame the departed Benitez for the downfall which saw Liverpool slip from Premiership runners-up to seventh place, no Champions League football and a current position of eighteenth in the league.

“I read a very interesting article in which Alex Ferguson said Rafa had more money to spend than the rest of us, he just bought bad players.”

“Rafa lost the club. We didn’t finish at the top – that’s not the fault of the owners, we spent good money. Rafa has to take accountability for his own results.”

“When we finished second the year before, people weren’t nearly as angry. Liverpool fans are just unbelievably strong supporters and they want to win.”

The Texan also went on to explain how this loss has affected him and his family: “It’s hurt my family tremendously. This is a valuable asset that has been swindled away from me in an epic swindle. I’m very angry about it.”

While admitting that the sale of the club was inevitable, he went on to pan NESV and their chances of taking Liverpool to “where they belong”.

“I accepted the club would be sold in April,” he continued. “We know there are better owners around the world to own Liverpool than the Boston Red Sox group.”

“The right owner would have paid Gillett and Hicks a fair price, and had the resources to buy players and build a better stadium.”

Hicks continued to say that he did not understand why he and his partner Gillett were so unpopular with the Anfield faithful.

“I really can’t [understand fans' anger]…I’ve been in the sports business for nearly 15 years.”

Furhter claims were made by Hicks that he and Gillett had the money lined up to repay RBS today and end the debt at the club – but were denied any chance to do so.

He said: “I can’t get into details but I can confirm, yes, we did have the money to pay off RBS in its entirety.”

The American has not given up on recouping some of the money he lost in the sale to NESV by returning with a claim that hinges on his “truth”.

“I just want the truth to come out in the courts, and I want the fans…to not think of Tom Hicks the way some of them do.”

Click here to discuss this in our forum

Tom Hicks has spoken out against NESV and the club after the takeover was completed today.

He told Sky Sports News: “I’m shocked, devastated, frustrated … It’s hurt my family tremendously. This very valuable asset has been swindled away from me in an epic swindle. I’m very angry about it.”

Hicks also claimed that he and George Gillett were in the position of being able to pay back the outstanding £237m to RBS today – but he insisted a “conspiracy” meant that they could not make the payment.

He hit out at Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton, a Chelsea supporter, and his role in the sale of the club: “Martin Broughton wanted a good PR event in his life because he’s a Chelsea fan, he’s not even a Liverpool fan. He wanted to be seen as the guy who got rid of the Americans,” he said.

Hicks claimed his efforts to attract wealthier owners than NESV had been hampered by the board and “militant internet terrorism campaigns” by supporters.

Reds cannot now believe that they have seen the end of this man – he said in the interview that “it is not over.”

Click here to discuss this in our forum

An attorney for Tom Hicks and George Gillett claims the American pair are set to drop the £1billion lawsuit.

The American pair were planning to seek $1.6billion in damages following the sale of the club to NESV against their wishes.

NESV concluded a £300m takeover today after a week’s worth of court cases and media interest. John Henry announced the deal today with Martin Broughton.

Hicks and Gillett, however, felt that the £300m was some way short of their valuation of the club – closer to £800m.

All their attempts to halt the sale this week have been blocked by the High Court in London – allowing NESV to seize control of the club from their compatriots.

Hicks and Gillett took every option available to them to fight the case and even went to Texan courts to try and stall the deal with NESV.

The pair finally appear to have accepted that they have lost the fight with these reports that their outrageous damages claim has been ditched.

Their attorney, Tom Melsheimer, told the press that Hicks and Gillett were dropping the damages claim to comply with the orders of the High Court – but he added “a different picture will be painted when the English court has a chance to hear all the facts”.

This saga looks set to run and run.

Click here to discuss this in our forum

OFFICIAL STATEMENT:

New England Sports Ventures announces that it has completed the purchase of Liverpool Football Club. NESV wishes to extend its sincere gratitude to the Board of Liverpool FC for their diligence and their efforts on behalf of the Club and its supporters.

The transaction values the Club at £300m and eliminates all of the acquisition debt placed on LFC by its previous owners, reducing the Club’s debt servicing obligations from £25m-£30m a year to £2m-£3m.

New England Sports Ventures is committed to winning and currently owns a portfolio of companies, including the Boston Red Sox, New England Sports Network, Fenway Sports Group and Roush Fenway Racing.

NESV Principal Owner John Henry said:

“On behalf of the entire NESV partnership, I want to express how incredibly proud and humbled we are to be confirmed as the new owners of Liverpool FC. We regard our role as that of stewards for the Club with a primary focus on returning the Club to greatness on and off the field for the long-term. We are committed first and foremost to winning. We have a history of winning, and today we want LFC supporters to know that this approach is what we intend to bring to this great Club.”

Liverpool FC Chairman Martin Broughton, said:

“I am delighted that we have been able to successfully conclude the sale process which has been thorough and extensive. The Board decided to accept NESV’s offer on the basis that it best met the criteria we set out originally for a new owner. NESV is buying Liverpool in order to put it on an excellent financial footing and continue to develop it internationally. This is a good deal which comprehensively resolves the pressing issue of the Club’s debt and should give staff, players and fans great confidence regarding the future of Liverpool FC.”

NESV Chairman Thomas Werner said:

“We recognize that Liverpool Football Club is an historic institution ultimately grounded in the community and the fans. Our first step as new owners will be to listen. We want to hear from the Manager and the players and those who are part of the daily operation of the Club. We will be visible at Anfield and will embrace and listen to those who have stood by this Club and who are the rock on which its future success will be built. We want to hear from the fans, local leaders and the local community. We want to hear from those who know LFC best, who have made it the best and share our desire to return to a culture of winning.

NESV is committed to creating a long-term, financially strong foundation for the Club and dedicated to ensuring the Club has the financial resources to be successful again and attract the best players. To that end, the transaction has been structured in such a way as to eliminate all of the acquisition debt on the Club.

In the coming days and months, NESV will work closely with the LFC executive team to listen and learn about every facet of the organization. During this time, the new owners will begin to look at areas for greatest opportunity to increase the appeal of the Club nationally and internationally. NESV wants to once again create a culture and environment to allow people to excel at the Club on every front. During this period, NESV will also begin to examine opportunities to enhance the matchday experience in the short-term, while also carefully studying the various long-term options that may be possible.

Mr Henry and Mr Werner added:

“We are eager to commence with our plan, spend time with the organization, its leadership, its supporters, and the local communities. We will take these steps alongside the Club’s executives with a shared objective of stabilizing the Club and ultimately returning Liverpool FC to its rightful place in English and European football, successful and competing for trophies.”

Source: Liverpoolfc.tv (Official website)

Click here to discuss this in our forum

New England Sports Ventures have formally completed the takeover of Liverpool FC.

John W Henry and Martin Broughton are currently announcing the news to the media.

More to follow.

Click here to discuss this in our forum

Mr Justice Floyd will announce the ruling of the High Court case tomorrow at 10:30am.

RBS have claimed that Tom Hicks and George Gillett have broken terms of the contract by trying to sack Ian Ayre and Christian Purslow from the board to replace them with loyal employees to them.

Hicks and Gillett agree that they have broken these terms, but argue that they felt they had to after being denied involvement in the negotiations over potential deals and the lack of exploration by the board to bring in a better price for the club.

Martin Broughton, along with Ayres and Purslow, claim that the Americans simply refused to take part.

Click here to discuss this in our forum

The battle for power at Anfield is said to be nearing a resolution with a High Court judgement set to be announced this afternoon.

Owners of the club Tom Hicks and George Gillett are hoping to win the case to prevent the bid from New England Sports Ventures, of around £300m, being put through.

The Royal Bank of Scotland, the major creditor to Kop Holdings who have imposed a Friday deadline for a debt of over £200million to be settled, have brought the case as they want the NESV deal to be completed.

Richard Snowden QC, representing creditor RBS, told Mr Justice Floyd that the American owners now admitted “a calculated breach of contract” by seeking to change the constitution of the companies and the boards involved without the consent of the bank.

He said this was in order “to frustrate the sale necessary to repay the bank £200 million by this Friday”.

The bank successfully brought in an injunction to prevent the pair from sacking any members of the Anfield board and replacing them with employees loyal to the Americans.

Mr Snowden said Hicks filed evidence that if RBS did not like what he was doing, then it could enforce its security rights.

“This would derail the carefully planned process designed to achieve a sale of the club in a timely manner.”

He said that plan would not carry the risk of Liverpool losing the nine points deducted by the Premier League when a team goes into administration.

The judge was asked to impose injunctions on the owners requiring them to restore the original constitutions of the companies and managing directors.

This would remove the final stumbling block to a £300 million takeover by NESV, who own the Boston Red Sox and are fronted by John W Henry, which will see the RBS recoup its original £237million loan to Mr Hicks and Mr Gillett when they bought the club in March 2007.

Mr Snowden said evidence filed to the court showed “breathtaking arrogance on the part of Mr Hicks and Mr Gillett”.

Both admitted their actions were a breach of contact, and Hicks apparently took it upon himself to think RBS “would not be prejudiced because it would not make the position any worse”.

Paul Girolami QC, representing the American owners, said his clients “were not trying to throw a spanner in the works” of the proposed sale deal.

He claimed that other offers had been made for the club and were potentially better for the fans, owners and team.

Opposing an immediate injunction, he said all the issues involved needed more time to determine and “should not be rushed into”.

“What has happened is that the English directors have gone forward with the NESV bid without properly considering alternatives when those alternatives at least appear to give better prospects.”

Mr Justice Floyd, a Crystal Palace supporter, is expected to give a ruling this afternoon.

Click here to discuss this in our forum

Singapore businessman Peter Lim has lodged an increased offer for the club – said to be around the £320m mark.

The billionaire, whose original bid was rejected in favour of the £300m offer from New England Sports Ventures, has come back with a counter offer that may add further chaos to proceedings at Anfield.

Lim hopes to trump the offer from John Henry with a £320m offer – with a further £40m to be spent on players this January.

Lim has said that his offer is made up from his personal wealth, paying off the £200m acquisition debt, the club’s existing debt and outstanding bank fees and providing much-needed funds for transfer purchases in January.

“I believe that if its massive debt burden can be removed, the club would be able to focus on improving its performance on the pitch,” Lim said. “If the board accepts this offer, the monies are available immediately thereby removing the threat of administration.”

“The club needs to strengthen its existing squad. As part of this offer, I will be injecting £40m in cash into the club for Roy Hodgson to bring in new players during the upcoming transfer window. Liverpool needs to start winning again.”

“I respect and admire Liverpool Football Club, which is steeped in tradition and history. I am committed to rebuild the club so that it can soon regain its position at the pinnacle of English and European football, where it truly belongs.”