oh dear....

[ronan]

im going to bed will be back in august.

[Roboklopp]

I don't see the cause and effect. There is no detriment to the first team, the first team continues as it is.
Why will we fall further behind if we nurture players?

The current 1st team has done well, but has found its level in 3rd. We need to be aiming for better than that.

Other teams have (Scum) & will be (others) strengthening their 1st teams. We too need to do so - not only to chase for 1st & 2nd in the League, but also to ensure we do not drop lower than our current 3rd.

[Roboklopp]

One thing though. Dave Usher mentioned some tension between our new owners and then it appears in the papers. No way could Usher have see those stores in the press before he posted. Gillett and Hicks falling out is a seemingly new twist to an already bad situation.

I guess it's a case of wait and see but there's no doubt we've had our hopes raised by statement made by G & T.

The coming months will be interesting to say the least.

Aye, but the papers could have seen his post before they printed a similar story.

[Marky]

im going to bed will be back in august.

[bigfooty]

The current 1st team has done well, but has found its level in 3rd. We need to be aiming for better than that.

I don't agree with the first part of that. In both the last two seasons I reckon we could have finished higher if we'd done certain things differently. Had we invested in a proper striker in January 2006 - instead of a half-fit God - I reckon we might have pushed Chelsea very close because it was clear to anyone watching us at that time that we had a plan in Crouch + one other but the others were just not up to it.

Again this season we made some pretty bad decisions in the early stages of the campaign that cost us, rotating the side so much and dropping Crouch a lot. I think Arsenal must be one of the only other sides in the league where their top scorer started barely 50% of their matches and that's because Van Persie got injured. We have no such excuses.

I do agree that we need to be aiming to improve and that Rafa needs funds to do it, but I don't agree that we need to be buying X number of 20 million players. Most of Rafa's best buys have been reasonably priced ones - Crouch, Reina and Agger - and even a classy player like Xabi cost substantially less than 20 million. Yes we need quality going forward, and that usually costs extra, but I constantly hear about Rafa's army of scouts scouring the world for the best talent. If their net result is "let's spend 35M on Eto'o" then we could sack the lot of em and hire someone who plays FM 2007 instead.

[Redmonkey]

I don't think its the fact that we haven't bought anyone yet, just very worrying if this news is true. We all know that we're a good 3 top players off the premiership and they'll cost big money.

If this does happen to be true, then Parry and Moores have dropped a huge clanger. West Ham have big money, Newcastle are on the up in the financial stakes and a few other clubs are being touted around the world. There will be a lot of money flowing about the premiership, lets hope we don't drop down another tier.

Then again it could all be b*llox.

Hello mate.

Newcastle are on the up financially every summer, and look where they have finished for the past 5 or 6 seasons. (**think they'll do ok under Allardyce though **).

WH are possibly looking 5th or 6th at the very best, but realistically you have to say they'll do well for a respectible mid table finish.

The game (PL anyway) has gone money mad again, and look where that ended up before. A lot of it is empty promises. This is all about TV rights & cash, and Roman aside, a very few rich people looking to make more money/save their financial arses.

However, I think we'll be ok. I do think the club could possibly have missed out on DIC but i still do think Moores wouldnt have sold to the highest bidder, and that he may have seen that the deal Hicks & Gillette layed on the table was a better prospect for the club in the long term. I really dont know the figures, but i can't see that an extra 1/2 or 1 million £s would have had that much influence on an already wealthy (& if the rumours are true, unwell man) who has previously (it is reported) bailed the club out with his own money on many an occasion??

But i do agree with most in that I think that Benitez is our wildcard & the key to any further success, & that the club needs to ensure he remains part of us for the immediate & foreseeable future. And I'm reassured by thinking that I really just can't see him walking this summer or next.

Pah, optimisim - the source of all evil!!! Owen returning anyone!?

[sonsofthedesert]

I don't agree with the first part of that. In both the last two seasons I reckon we could have finished higher if we'd done certain things differently. Had we invested in a proper striker in January 2006 - instead of a half-fit God - I reckon we might have pushed Chelsea very close because it was clear to anyone watching us at that time that we had a plan in Crouch + one other but the others were just not up to it.

Again this season we made some pretty bad decisions in the early stages of the campaign that cost us, rotating the side so much and dropping Crouch a lot. I think Arsenal must be one of the only other sides in the league where their top scorer started barely 50% of their matches and that's because Van Persie got injured. We have no such excuses.

I do agree that we need to be aiming to improve and that Rafa needs funds to do it, but I don't agree that we need to be buying X number of 20 million players. Most of Rafa's best buys have been reasonably priced ones - Crouch, Reina and Agger - and even a classy player like Xabi cost substantially less than 20 million. Yes we need quality going forward, and that usually costs extra, but I constantly hear about Rafa's army of scouts scouring the world for the best talent. If their net result is "let's spend 35M on Eto'o" then we could sack the lot of em and hire someone who plays FM 2007 instead.

It is the start of the season that has caused all our problems the past couple of years. We have shon that after sept/october time we have the best record (last season messed up by rafa playing the b team too much at the end). A couple of good signings and we can compete. Although must say I would Like to see Tevez playing for us but can't see it happening.

[Jimthered]

After 5 years of being on various forums I have come to the following conclusions.

There are no posters with inside sources or who are privvy to information within the club, and anyone who claims as much is lying through their arse.

[Sir Bob]

A few points.

Anyone who isn't worried is kidding themselves in my view.
Rafa clearly wasn't happy about the way things were progressing.
Bascombe clearly feels there are problems behind the scenes.
Usher likewise, as does the Count.

Now you can rubbish Usher, Bascombe & The Count if you like ( although they all have a pretty decent track records) but Rafa was clearly not happy. Now in my book the Yanks won't suddenly find an extra £20m or so because Rafa wants more dosh.

H&G are businessmen, they are at LFC to make money. The key is the new ground, thats were the bid dosh is, thats want H&G want. They know that come what may, Anfield will be full next season. They know they can hide behind the new stadium for the lack of funds. Now people will slag H&G off but will they care, not a chance, they'll be stateside, counting their cash. They know we'll all be at LFC next season. The big question for me is will Rafa?

[Roboklopp]

I don't agree with the first part of that. In both the last two seasons I reckon we could have finished higher if we'd done certain things differently. Had we invested in a proper striker in January 2006 - instead of a half-fit God - I reckon we might have pushed Chelsea very close because it was clear to anyone watching us at that time that we had a plan in Crouch + one other but the others were just not up to it.

Again this season we made some pretty bad decisions in the early stages of the campaign that cost us, rotating the side so much and dropping Crouch a lot. I think Arsenal must be one of the only other sides in the league where their top scorer started barely 50% of their matches and that's because Van Persie got injured. We have no such excuses.

I do agree that we need to be aiming to improve and that Rafa needs funds to do it, but I don't agree that we need to be buying X number of 20 million players. Most of Rafa's best buys have been reasonably priced ones - Crouch, Reina and Agger - and even a classy player like Xabi cost substantially less than 20 million. Yes we need quality going forward, and that usually costs extra, but I constantly hear about Rafa's army of scouts scouring the world for the best talent. If their net result is "let's spend 35M on Eto'o" then we could sack the lot of em and hire someone who plays FM 2007 instead.

But the point is we had to sign Robbie back cos we couldnt afford any better option.

Anyway, it's bedtime...

[Rashid]

After 5 years of being on various forums I have come to the following conclusions.

There are no posters with inside sources or who are privvy to information within the club, and anyone who claims as much is lying through their arse.

After 6 years myself, I'd say that Dave Usher is absolutely bang on the money (when he does speak).

[Dhav]

A few points.

Anyone who isn't worried is kidding themselves in my view.
Rafa clearly wasn't happy about the way things were progressing.
Bascombe clearly feels there are problems behind the scenes.
Usher likewise, as does the Count.

Now you can rubbish Usher, Bascombe & The Count if you like ( although they all have a pretty decent track records) but Rafa was clearly not happy. Now in my book the Yanks won't suddenly find an extra £20m or so because Rafa wants more dosh.

H&G are businessmen, they are at LFC to make money. The key is the new ground, thats were the bid dosh is, thats want H&G want. They know that come what may, Anfield will be full next season. They know they can hide behind the new stadium for the lack of funds. Now people will slag H&G off but will they care, not a chance, they'll be stateside, counting their cash. They know we'll all be at LFC next season. The big question for me is will Rafa?

Good post mate

Surely Rafa's holding all the cards? No way the yanks can afford to lose Rafa IMO, it would be too costly to try and find a replacement plus there would be outrage from the fans. May be Rafa should use this to his advantage.

A manager like him really needs to be treated with more respect, honesty, integrity and support. If he's not going to get it here, he will go to a club that will match his ambitions, because if any of these reports are accurate it's clear we're only a second rate club.

[Parm]

If I was Rafa and Real Madrid came knocking this summer I'd walk. The guy has been taken for a ride for 3 years by the people in charge of the club.

He's a top manager and deserves to be backed with the kind of budget the top clubs spend in the transfer market. If this is true, it is confirmation that we are not a top club a la Barca, Real, Chelsea, Man Utd, Inter and AC Milan.

We're a second tier club now who just dream big.

you make \a painful but potentially true point.

[Venton]

Jesus, I am sick of it all.
We gave up on ownership without a whimper, despite the fact we were lucky enough to have a benevolent chairman who put money in year after year.
Now everyone is moaning about how the new owners won't buy us every piece of world talent going. What a crock.
Time was I used to look forward to us just playing decent football for a season and winning something. I've waited for the former and been ecstatic with the latter. But at least I wasn't chasing pieces of change being scattered in the street like we all are now.
It's not just talking to friends, or reading this forum, or all the rest of them, but I think this close season is almost the worst I can remember.

[Sir Bob]

Good post mate

Surely Rafa's holding all the cards? No way the yanks can afford to lose Rafa IMO, it would be too costly to try and find a replacement plus there would be outrage from the fans. May be Rafa should use this to his advantage.

A manager like him really needs to be treated with more respect, honesty, integrity and support. If he's not going to get it here, he will go to a club that will match his ambitions, because if any of these reports are accurate it's clear we're only a second rate club.

They won't want to lose Rafa but how much will they cough up to keep him.
The bottom line is cash & H&G know that even if Rafa left they still get the TV cash & Anfield will be sold out next season. Sure the fans will be pissed off but what are we going to do, not go the match... not a chance.

My guess is there will be some sort of compromise. H&G will give Rafa more than they want but not as much as Rafa wanted or expected. It'll be enough to keep Rafa at LFC but for how long. We all know what happened at Valencia.