Pressures that threaten to tear LFC apart

[AFII]

I have to admit, I can't see Parry keeping hold of his job for much longer.

and that is not only down to what happened this summer IMO.

Look at the way he ****ed up the Owen deal when he stalled his contract. That costed us millions.

The stadium plans. To even think about building a 60k stadium without any chance to expand is crazy.

The not big enough sponsorship deals, again costing the club millions.

Not having enough staff to take care of the basement things, like merchandising, again costing the club millions.

[lfcruleus]

As I have already said Parry is ****ed and he knows it, he will be gone in August. The fans have turned and so now has the manager openly turned, the Yanks will have no choice, they have already worked out that the fans are the biggest voice of LFC.

[Howard_lfc]

It appears to me that Rafa has identified the players he wants and given the list to the board - and has told them he's going on holiday and bloody well expects those players to be signed by the time he gets back.

I'm worried about this - because you KNOW that when he comes back nothing will have changed. I can see him becoming increasingly frustrated and looking towards the Madrid offer.......

What the feck we'll do then is anybody's guess.

[desertscouser]

It appears to me that Rafa has identified the players he wants and given the list to the board - and has told them he's going on holiday and bloody well expects those players to be signed by the time he gets back.

I'm worried about this - because you KNOW that when he comes back nothing will have changed. I can see him becoming increasingly frustrated and looking towards the Madrid offer.......

What the feck we'll do then is anybody's guess.

That's the worst case scenario you miserable git

On a side note, shame we didn't meet up in Athens. Moscow next year

[Roboklopp]

It appears to me that Rafa has identified the players he wants and given the list to the board - and has told them he's going on holiday and bloody well expects those players to be signed by the time he gets back.

I'm worried about this - because you KNOW that when he comes back nothing will have changed. I can see him becoming increasingly frustrated and looking towards the Madrid offer.......

What the feck we'll do then is anybody's guess.

I hear Gerard Houllier is looking for a job...

[einar]

I must say that I am really not concerned about him going to Madrid just yet.
What Rafa is trying to do is use this opportunity now that we have new owner and make managing LFC a dream job. He is looking to get the same power Alex and Wenger have. If he pulls this of and gets his way I can see him staying for many years and us being very happy campers.

[marcgerard]

I think most people expect Parry to have no medium to long term future with the club but if Gillett Jr is unable to get a work permit until next month then he does have a short term role, and it is at a time when both the Chief Executive and Manager are barely speaking. It is one thing to have the structure of the club re-organized but we also need to have somebody with a clearly defined role and purpose regarding transfer contract negotiations, and we need this now.

If you were Parry at present would you be negotiating or trying to sort out your future?

[Howard_lfc]

That's the worst case scenario you miserable git

On a side note, shame we didn't meet up in Athens. Moscow next year

I'm on a mission today! Miserable git that I am.

Shame we didn't hook up.

I hear Gerard Houllier is looking for a job...

Please no. I can only just handle 4-5-1 at the moment, nevermind 9-0-1 !

[Roboklopp]

Please no. I can only just handle 4-5-1 at the moment, nevermind 9-0-1 !

[einar]

From the Daily mail.

Buy George, Gillett doubts Liverpool title bid
Last updated at 09:59am on 27th May 2007

Comments Comments
Liverpool's American co-owner George Gillett has cast doubt over his club's ability to claim the Barclays Premiership title next season.

Confidence is high on Merseyside after the Reds finished the current campaign strongly, culminating in last week's Champions League final defeat to AC Milan.

Immediately after that heart-breaking loss in Athens, manager Rafael Benitez called on Gillett and fellow owner Tom Hicks to back his summer restructuring at Anfield to give his side a genuine chance of competing for Manchester United Premiership crown next time out.

But although the arrival of the Americans has guaranteed a substantial summer war chest for the Spaniard, Gillett is not convinced the likes of United and Chelsea can be caught straight away.

He said: "I don't know if we are capable of challenging for the title next year.

"We want to make progress but it is a multiple-year programme. We want to challenge but we won't do it overnight.

"Manchester United are formidable competitors, Arsenal are one year older with brilliant young players and Chelsea are perhaps the greatest club in the world. They're not going to get any worse.

"Next season is up to Rafa Benitez and our chief executive Rick Parry.

"They have a plan and we're working on it. We're right behind it but we've got a big job to do."

Does not sound to good does it?

[dww]

Actually it was a press conference and I saw Stevie say the words. You are right you are too cynical.

I didn't suggest that Stevie didn't say it - just that he might well say one thing and act in a different way.

My most cynical thought has been that Rafa told the players not to sign in order to put pressure on the new owners.

Mate, if you think Gerrard's plea wasn't genuine then you're very much mistaken.

I think he will sign and wants to sign but I don't see why he would choose to sign a deal at a time which might not be optimal for him. Why not wait until the summer signings have been made when he may be able to get a better wage?

[einar]

I didn't suggest that Stevie didn't say it - just that he might well say one thing and act in a different way.

My most cynical thought has been that Rafa told the players not to sign in order to put pressure on the new owners.



I think he will sign and wants to sign but I don't see why he would choose to sign a deal at a time which might not be optimal for him. Why not wait until the summer signings have been made when he may be able to get a better wage?

That would be interesting. It is very clear that the players are backing Rafa 100%

[dww]

From the Daily mail.

Buy George, Gillett doubts Liverpool title bid
Last updated at 09:59am on 27th May 2007

Comments Comments
Liverpool's American co-owner George Gillett has cast doubt over his club's ability to claim the Barclays Premiership title next season.

Confidence is high on Merseyside after the Reds finished the current campaign strongly, culminating in last week's Champions League final defeat to AC Milan.

Immediately after that heart-breaking loss in Athens, manager Rafael Benitez called on Gillett and fellow owner Tom Hicks to back his summer restructuring at Anfield to give his side a genuine chance of competing for Manchester United Premiership crown next time out.

But although the arrival of the Americans has guaranteed a substantial summer war chest for the Spaniard, Gillett is not convinced the likes of United and Chelsea can be caught straight away.

He said: "I don't know if we are capable of challenging for the title next year.

"We want to make progress but it is a multiple-year programme. We want to challenge but we won't do it overnight.

"Manchester United are formidable competitors, Arsenal are one year older with brilliant young players and Chelsea are perhaps the greatest club in the world. They're not going to get any worse.

"Next season is up to Rafa Benitez and our chief executive Rick Parry.

"They have a plan and we're working on it. We're right behind it but we've got a big job to do."

Does not sound to good does it?

It sounds sensible and realistic to me. The fact is that they will want us to progress but are accepting that the chances are even if we overhaul the squad it will take time for a team to be built.

They need to put the money in but to be honest people have been living in fantasy land - taking "there is no overall budget - it will be player specific" to mean there is a bottomless pit of cash rather than - "we haven't put a firm limit on how much we will spend, obviously for a player who improves our marketing revenues will be willing to pay more. Any way we don't want to reveal our plans to other clubs or disappoint our fans at this early stage."

[einar]

"Chelsea are perhaps the greatest club in the world."

"It sounds sensible and realistic to me." Really!


And also, the whole thing sounds to me like they have told Rafa that he will not get much this summer and he has to wait longer for things to change.

[dww]

"Chelsea are perhaps the greatest club in the world."

"It sounds sensible and realistic to me." Really!


And also, the whole thing sounds to me like they have told Rafa that he will not get much this summer and he has to wait longer for things to change.

Player for player - they have the most expensive squad. A world class manager and potentially the biggest budget of any club in the world, so on those criteria - i.e. those that define the task of catching up with or overtaking all the other PL clubs / clubs in Europe they have to be seen as the benchmark along with AC Milan and Barcelona. It really depends what you mean about "greatest" but if you can't see the point his is getting at then you are wearing very red tinted spectacles.