Liverpool FC Forum

[account deleted by request]

Getting things into perspective
By: Dez Corkhill
Friday January 11, 2008

Apparently, Rafael Benitez’ days at Liverpool are numbered. Apparently Jurgen Klinsmann, a man without any club managerial experience, is lined up to replace the man who has won Spanish League, English FA Cup, UEFA Cup and European Cup titles in the past four years.

Apparently Senor Benitez future – and not the little matter of a $600 million stadium - was top of the agenda when Rick Parry flew across the Atlantic to meet the American owners. Apparently, Rafa himself is concerned about his future. Apparently he’s one defeat from the sack.

These “apparentlys” are in the public-domain because the anti-Liverpool press are up to their tricks. Again! A week after Benitez held an “off-the-record” meeting with several key journalists; these rumours are printed in story-form with sources “close to the manager”.

I’m not quite sure what Benitez has done to ruffle the feathers of British newspaper writers, but he’s clearly a man in their sights. Maybe it’s the fact that he doesn’t have as many “off-the-record” chats as he “should” with Fleet Street’s finest. I hear that former Liverpool Echo, now News-of-the-World, journalist Chris Bascombe was removed from an ‘inner circle’ when Benitez took over at Liverpool. That may be one reason why that particular ‘paper is on Benitez’ tail.

Or maybe it’s just the fact that English is very much Benitez’ second language and he doesn’t get his message over effectively enough. In every interview you’ve ever seen with him, you’ll notice how Rafa is careful in his choice of words. As those of us who live in Asia well know, misunderstandings over language often occur when dealing with people for whom English is a second, third or even fourth choice. Interpretation of phraseology is not an exact science.

Benitez has already explained that the original problem between him and Messer’s Hicks and Gillet was due to misunderstandings over language used over the ‘phone. I can easily imagine it with the recipients on both sides of the Atlantic wondering what the other was really meaning.

Even so, this was a week when – for whatever reasons - the press had a field day against the 18-time English champions. Not only did the Reds stutter against a lower Division side in an early round of the FA Cup, but they also had the temerity to turn down an appeal by their opponents to give up their portion of the gate receipts. And one of the star names, Jamie Carragher, gets into the public domain for an after-match spat with supporters. All portray Liverpool in a bad way and “suggest” Benitez is no longer in control.

Perspective, please! In a week when Sam Allardyce is sacked by Newcastle less than six months into his contract for not turning them into title contenders, perspective is a scarce commodity in English football.

Perspective for Liverpool tells us that struggles against lower league opposition in the early rounds of the FA Cup is something that has often happened. In 1965, Bill Shankly’s Reds needed a replay to get past Stockport County, as they did in ’74 to get past 92nd (and last) in the League Doncaster Rovers. Kenny Dalglish’s 1986 team struggled to get by York City and the 1992 side under Graeme Souness nearly came a cropper – needing a replay against Bristol Rovers. Even as recently as 2006, the 5-3 classic against Luton was hardly a clinical disposal of a lesser team by the Reds. Guess what happened in each of these years? Liverpool went on to win the FA Cup.

Perspective tells us that Liverpool refused a share of the gate receipts to a club who are currently facing close to 50 charges of financial wrong-doing.

Perspective tells us that far from Jamie Carragher being responsible for the after-match confrontation with fans, the real story is that he was regaled during the Liverpool warm-down by a “supporter” who thinks growling abuse and throwing beer at a professional footballer is a reasonable thing to do.

Perspective also tells us that Liverpool are still behind the best teams in the Barclays Premier League, but are getting closer. Perspective tells us that while Liverpool have just broken their record fee for signing a defender ($13 million for Matin Skrtel), Manchester United’s record defender cost five times as much. Financially, Liverpool are still not on the same ball-park as United, Chelsea and – due to their astute Stadium investment – Arsenal.

So let’s hope Liverpool don’t behave like Newcastle. Liverpool have a manager who deserves, and has earned, trust. His managerial record both in Spain and England screams to all-and-sundry that he is extremely good at his job. Those who have Liverpool’s best interest at-heart need to ignore the lurid Newspaper headlines, and look at the situation in true perspective.

Liverpool – for all the frustrations they bring as a work-in-progress – are very much on the right track and Rafael Benitez has earned the right to finish what he is starting. There must be a time-limit, but it can’t and won’t be one defeat. That’s the story in perspective.

A cracking article from star sports (Asia).
Ripped from TLW.

[zarababe]

Fantastic read - thanks !

Perspective is defo needed and I'm glad we or me are not the only ones convinced of a conspiracy among the Brit press to drive a wedge of distrust between the Manager and the Club's hierarchy!

Wouldn't hurt to bring this article to the attention of some of those so-called experts in the trash presss !

[Sabre]

Can't we do a black list of journos? Freedom of speech is nice and all that, but we really shouldn't have time for journalists like John Edwards. The guy of the source closes and "it's understood" and "reports suggest". Then reality points out the obvious Klinsmann doesn't come to Liverpool, Klinsman says he hasn't been approached. But will John Edwards track back and say that he just wrote bóllocks?

No! This guy has no shame, he keeps saying the same shít! Oh my. English journos

[The_Rock]

Can't we do a black list of journos? Freedom of speech is nice and all that, but we really shouldn't have time for journalists like John Edwards. The guy of the source closes and "it's understood" and "reports suggest". Then reality points out the obvious Klinsmann doesn't come to Liverpool, Klinsman says he hasn't been approached. But will John Edwards track back and say that he just wrote bóllocks?

No! This guy has no shame, he keeps saying the same shít! Oh my. English journos

u sure about that

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpo....0341918




New twist adds to doubts over Rafa Benitez's future

Jan 12 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
Rafa Benitez

Rafa Benitez

FRESH doubts have emerged over Rafael Benitez’s long-term Liverpool future after it was claimed yesterday that Jurgen Klinsmann had been offered the manager’s job at Anfield.

Klinsmann ended weeks of speculation by agreeing to replace the departing Bayern Munich coach Ottmar Hitzfeld at the end of the season. And sources in Germany state the former Tottenham Hotspur striker rejected the chance to take over from Benitez in the summer before opting to join the Bundesliga side.

Liverpool, who released an official denial when linked with Fabio Capello last month, yesterday refused to comment on the speculation.

At a Press conference to announce his move to Bayern, Klinsmann denied any firm interest from a Premier League club.

“I did not have any offers from England,” said the German, who had been out of football since guiding Germany to the World Cup semi-finals 18 months ago.

“Bayern is the number one club in this country and I had a lot of other options, but this was by far the best offer.”

But high-level insiders at Bayern say they believe Klinsmann was considering a detailed proposal from Liverpool’s American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

The German, who is based in California, has forged a friendship with Gillett after his sports consultancy company did some work for the American.

The emergence of those links are thought to have contributed to Benitez’s manner during the infamous Press briefing at the end of November that lifted the lid on the discord behind the scenes at Anfield.

That almost led to the Spaniard’s immediate dismissal. Relations between the two parties have since improved, but yesterday’s claims seemingly place Benitez in a precarious position once again, especially as Gillett and Hicks continue to refuse to offer their public unequivocal backing of the manager.

Benitez, though, retains an unshakeable faith in his own ability to continue bringing success to Anfield having already won the Champions League, the FA Cup and the UEFA Super Cup since arriving in the summer of 2004.

Asked about the continued speculation, he said yesterday: “I’ve been managing for 21 years now. I know for a manager I am young but 21 years is enough experience to have. I do not have any problem with my ability or any doubt about the quality of the squad. You can’t control everything. If I can prepare the team properly for Middlesbrough and Luton and we keep winning, each week it will be easier to find an answer to this question.”

Benitez added: “I have a lot of experience in football. You must try your best in every game. I’m not happy when we finish fourth. I want to finish first. I spent 20 years at Real Madrid and to finish second there was a disaster, so I always want to win. Every time I lose, I’m always wondering why. Always analysing. It’s been the same for all my three-and-a-half years here.

“How can you find a solution? By working harder and better. That’s the only way I know.”

Liverpool’s American owners were confident enough in Benitez’s judgement to sanction the £6million signing of Martin Skrtel from Zenit St Petersburg, which was completed yesterday.

The 23-year-old Slovakia international has become the most expensive defender in the club’s history, and Benitez believes his arrival is a further indication of the progress being made by his team.

“Martin is a centre-back that we needed,” said Benitez. “He is 23 and is a player for the present and the future.

“You know our plan to build for the future. Agger, Reina, Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Torres, players that can play three or four years for us without any problems. They will have experience in the Premier League and at this club, so I believe the plan is continuing. I think that we are improv-ing and everyone is moving in the right direction.”

A lack of match practice means Skrtel won’t be considered for a debut at Middlesbrough today.

However, fellow centre-back Daniel Agger is in the squad for the first time since breaking a metatarsal in September, while Steven Gerrard and Alvaro Arbeloa have recovered from injury and are available. Fabio Aurelio (hamstring) is out.

[Dundalk]

When all the storys about Klinsmann came out I read through them to see if there was any quote from The Americans, Liverpool Football Club or Klinsmann himself.

Now we have one from Klinsmann....

“I did not have any offers from England,” said the German, who had been out of football since guiding Germany to the World Cup semi-finals 18 months ago.

“Bayern is the number one club in this country and I had a lot of other options, but this was by far the best offer.


Now can we please put this one to bed.

[account deleted by request]

Arabs eye £500m Liverpool buy-out


Duncan Castles and Richard Wachman, City editor
Sunday January 13, 2008
The Observer


Liverpool FC could change hands for the second time in a year as their American owners encounter difficulties in refinancing £350million of debt incurred in taking over and running the club.
Beset by the steeply rising costs of a new stadium and manager Rafa Benitez's demands for new players, Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr have been attempting to transfer the debt, for which they are personally liable, on to the club itself. City sources believe this is an extremely difficult task to complete before the loan's due date at the end of February.

It is possible that the Americans will meet the deadline, but if not an Arab investment group, Dubai International Capital, is understood to be close to lodging an offer to buy out the American pair, probably for about £500m. Takeover discussions are thought to be due before the end of this month.
If successful, DIC, led by Liverpool supporter Sameer Al Ansari, would invest heavily in two areas: the new stadium that Liverpool need if they are to compete with Arsenal and Manchester United for matchday revenue, and an improved playing squad. Were they also to acquire a new management team Jose Mourinho, who is known to be interested in managing Liverpool, would be a prime candidate.

DIC were extremely close to buying Liverpool last February, only to lose out to Hicks and Gillett when the club's chief executive, Rick Parry, switched his support from the Arab camp to the American. The latter paid £174.1m for a 100 per cent shareholding, also agreeing to take on the club's then debt of £44.8m.

The purchase, however, was funded solely with borrowed money, Hicks and Gillett's loan from the Royal Bank of Scotland swelling to £350m as it was used to fund several high-profile summer transfers, development work and architect's plans for a 60,000-seat stadium in Stanley Park, and to roll up the interest on the debt.

The RBS loan is due for repayment next month. The Observer understands that attempts to restructure it have so far failed and the Americans have yet to inject new equity into the refinancing.

While RBS have asked Hicks and Gillett to each commit £20m of their own cash to the deal, City sources believe that at least one of the pair is not prepared to do so. Hicks and Gillett declined to comment last night.

Meanwhile, work on 'New Anfield' has been held up by the impasse over the acquisition loan, with no chance of funding being put in place for the £400m stadium project until the issue is resolved. A meeting in New York last week at which architects HKS and AFL presented competing stadium designs, was described by Parry merely as 'another big step forward to finding the best possible solution. Everyone is reflecting on what they have heard and a clear decision will be taken soon'.

The global credit crunch has made it harder for Hicks and Gillett to raise new revenues elsewhere and also affected the value of their other assets. Should they fail in their efforts to repay the £350m acquisition debt on Liverpool when it comes due in just over six weeks, there would be the possibility of the next owner of the club becoming RBS.

The bank, however, are extremelyunlikely to allow the situation to develop that way. Nor are Parry and club honorary life-president David Moores, the former principal shareholder. Parry and Moores are horrified that the Hicks-Gillett deal has not thus far brought long-term financial stability to the club. As a consequence, there are increasing tensions between the Americans and other board members as the refinancing deadline approaches. Parry and Moores are understood to be open to a second takeover.

Sources in the Middle East have confirmed that DIC remain as keenly interested in buying Liverpool as they were one year ago. DIC last night refused to comment on the matter, but they appear best placed to resolve the financial problems affecting the club's competitiveness in the Premier League. A mooted valuation of £1billion has been ridiculed, but an enterprise value of around half that figure might prove acceptable, allowing the Americans to exit with a profit of £75m each.


link

[ClONMEL_RED]

Take off the rose tinted glasses we are going no where under Benitez, he is the shittest league manager we have had in years ! JUST ADMIT IT!!! 5TH , 4TH, 3RD............................ HOULLIER WAS EVEN BETTER IN THE LEAGUE! ACTUALLY WE GOT EXCITED WHEN ROY EVANS WAS OOUR MANAGER!!!!

[Dundalk]

It alls sounds very promising from DIC and if they were to come in and invest in the stadium and the squad it would be brilliant but we have heard it all before from the Americans when they came in and promised the earth moon and stars.

Ill believe it when i see it

[bigmick]

It would be the best available solution, but those two feckers getting 75 million each makes you want to turn communist. Cheeky c...s.

[Igor Zidane]

Take off the rose tinted glasses we are going no where under Benitez, he is the shittest league manager we have had in years ! JUST ADMIT IT!!! 5TH , 4TH, 3RD............................ HOULLIER WAS EVEN BETTER IN THE LEAGUE! ACTUALLY WE GOT EXCITED WHEN ROY EVANS WAS OOUR MANAGER!!!!

I smell a Wummie wapdong.

[ruskiy playmaker]

I hope that this DIC story is true.  I was very disappointed last year when the Americans bought the club instead of them.  With these guys in charge, we can finally challenge the likes of Manure and Chelsea in the transfer market.

[roberto green]

At least the DIC are genuine football fans and more imprtantly LIVERPOOL fans:)

[Paul C]

From the Mirror:

Benitez left exposed

By David Maddock 12/01/2008

Rafael Benitez's worst fears were realised last night, as news emerged that his job had been offered to Jurgen Klinsmann.
The former Germany boss was yesterday installed as the next coach of Bayern Munich, but senior officials at the Bavarian club confirmed they moved so swiftly because Klinsmann had been the subject of an official approach by Liverpool.
One high-ranking official admitted: "There was a detailed proposal made to Jurgen by Liverpool, just waiting for his signature."
would have been relieved yesterday to hear Klinsmann had chosen to resume his coaching career in his native country.

But that relief will have barely had time to register, before the full horror of the situation dawned on him.
Klinsmann it seems, was not only sounded out as a possible Anfield manager, but had a contract on his desk waiting for him to sign following negotiations in America.
While it means that the Spaniard is safe at Anfield for the time being, it also suggests that Benitez's position at the club is virtually untenable.
Liverpool declined to comment on the offer to Klinsmann last night, but their refusal to deny it is confirmation of what has been apparent for some months - that American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett want a new manager.
Benitez will continue until the end of the season, but he becomes almost a lame duck manager, with the knowledge that his bosses are clearly so keen to replace him as soon as possible.
Benitez yesterday proudly backed his ability to produce results at Anfield, but it would probably take the miracle of a Premier League title win for him to survive.
Martin O'Neill and Jose Mourinho now appear the main candidates to take over.
Benitez, though, was yesterday allowed to complete the signing of £6million Slovakia international centre-back Martin Skrtel from Russian club Zenit St Petersburg.
Benitez said:
"His qualities are similar to Jamie Carragher's, in that he's aggressive, good in the air and with pace."

[Cool Hand Luke]

I really don’t think that DIC will be much better than the Americans. I think they will have a plan to maximise the value of the club and sell within 5-10 years. They will probably be just as out of touch with the realities of how the football side of the club works.

[Ciggy]

Liverpool in Civil War
Written by Pat Dolan

on Sunday, 13 January 2008

In isolation, a draw away to Middlesbrough is not a terrible result. But in the context of a club that is totally divided, that is enduring a civil war right now, it just fuels that!

It’s a disastrous day for Benitez because it’s not just the disappointment from the draw, but the performance was appalling.

The big losers here are the Liverpool fans. They had so expectation and much hope that these two guys, both of them billionaires, Gillette and Hicks, that they would really support the team and the desire to claim a league title by giving the manager a huge ability to compete in the transfer market.

That hasn’t happened and you can see the results and of what is going on at the football club in terms of the performance which was inept.

Defensively, and in all the major areas of the pitch, except for maybe Reina who did a good job sweeping in behind the back of a very slow back-four. Midfield, attack and defence; they were all very poor!

You look at Arbeloa, absolutely appalling. Carragher who is completely overrated. He is fully committed, has a great attitude but he is not a great player.
They were inept. If you look at the start of the second half, he made the substitution, Babel came on, he did OK but they paid a lot of money for him.

Would Benitez have of survived a defeat? I was just surprised at how poor they were defensively. And then a moment of brilliance by Torres, and my goodness what a pearler! That’s a player fighting for his manager.

It is positive that they didn’t get beaten, but that is the only positive. Middlesbrough are a poor team, without any confidence and Liverpool handed them a result on Saturday.

http://sport.setanta.com/en....vil-War