All talk appeases the banks but...

[Michael]

Maybe the new stadium design is a delaying tactic..... 2 years of tv money... sell up and no staduim.

[StevieG08]

Maybe the new stadium design is a delaying tactic..... 2 years of tv money... sell up and no staduim.

They've already got the money in place to build the stadium, they would never be able to recoup the money they've borrowed just by sitting on two years worth of tv revenue. They've said from day 1 that the stadium was central to any future plans they have and you would assume future plans would include making money.

[anfieldanfield]

They wont make much of a return if we arent successful on the pitch

Yes they will...

They could increase ticket prices and maintain the 'status quo' ensuring we finish in the top 4 every year, without ever financing the extra push we need for the title.

[StevieG08]

The Beeb website's report/take on the article.


Reds chief refuses to panic buy

Benitez has made only three signings so far this summer
Liverpool's co-owner George Gillett insists he will sanction the level of spending that boss Rafa Benitez has demanded - but not for the sake of it.
Reds fans have become frustrated with the club's lack of action in the transfer market so far this summer.

Gillett told The Times: "I sense that kind of pressure building from the media - but we are working on things.

"Rafa has a programme under way and, as that unfolds, that will be the time for us to be judged, not now."

Following Liverpool's defeat by AC Milan in the Champions League on 23 May, Benitez said Liverpool must "spend big and spend now" to close the gap on Manchester United and Chelsea at the top of the Premiership.

What we've said and what Rafa has said was that we had a programme and he would share that with us and that we would support it



He has brought in Andrey Voronin on a free transfer from Bayer Leverkusen and signed Hungarian teenagers Kristian Nemeth and Andras Simon.

The Reds are also close to wrapping up a £6m deal for Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva.

But the established world-class signings expected by supporters after the arrival of Gillett and co-owner Tom Hicks have not yet materialised.

"We're not going to do something just to try to prove something," Gillett explained.

"What we've said and what Rafa has said was that we had a programme and he would share that with us and that we would support it.

"The first part was that we identified a number of our existing star players (Jose Reina, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso) whom Rafa wanted to sign on long-term contracts.

"That was the first step and it has been done. Now we're moving on to phase two, which is bringing players in."

[Craig_H]

Yes they will...

They could increase ticket prices and maintain the 'status quo' ensuring we finish in the top 4 every year, without ever financing the extra push we need for the title.

People will stick two fingers up if ticket prices are increased that significantly and we're not challenging for the title.

Most feel that tickets are as expensive as is acceptable already. They wont pay it.

[anfieldanfield]

People will stick two fingers up if ticket prices are increased that significantly and we're not challenging for the title.

Most feel that tickets are as expensive as is acceptable already. They wont pay it.

Others will though, even at inflated prices.

60,000 on the season ticket waiting list.

[disco]

Others will though, even at inflated prices.

60,000 on the season ticket waiting list.

I think you're right, but there's an upper-limit. I might pay £40, £45 max a ticket, but I don't think I'd pay £50 a game for a season ticket.

[Rigadon]

the opportunity to acquire a business asset and global brand such as liverpool football club does not come along frequently. to walk into a business acquisition such as this and instantly realise what has to be done to improve the net worth of the business asset in terms of the increase and diversification of the various revenue streams whilst exploiting other existing marketing opportunities is a dream for any prospective acquirer.

its much harder to walk into a new business and find out what's going wrong as opposed to it being obvious how to to improve your multi million investment from day 1.

this is a business investment for the americans and as liverpool fans we will have to come to realise that.

[willa1975]

Frankly, I'll be shocked if G&H don't give us a respectable transfer kitty. If we don't compete, they don't put asses in the seats, they don't sell as many replica jerseys and other merchandise, and they will lose money. If we don't make the CL, they lose money.

Look at Glazer and the Mancs--he hasn't exactly cut off their transfer funds, and I can't imagine that he's any less interested in making money than G&H. After all, Glazer actually held the city of Tampa to ransom after buying the Buccaneers, threatening to move the club if the city didn't build him a stadium with public funding.

G&H have got to know that they have to be successful on the pitch to make money off it. Not only that, but they've got to show some ambition to keep the top players, as well as the manager, here. I don't think Rafa would stick around much longer if he has to endure another summer of settling for second-choice targets and another fall of having to explain why we're ten points behind the top two so soon...

[Craig_H]

Others will though, even at inflated prices.

60,000 on the season ticket waiting list.

Half of which probably cant/wont buy one now anyway, for various reasons.

They wont fill a 60k stadium if they push prices up significantly AND we're not challenging for the title.

[Revo]

Half of which probably cant/wont buy one now anyway, for various reasons.

They wont fill a 60k stadium if they push prices up significantly AND we're not challenging for the title.

people will not give up their season tickets and the season ticket allocation will always sell out, but ****ty football wont fill a stadium

[Craig_H]

people will not give up their season tickets and the season ticket allocation will always sell out, but ****ty football wont fill a stadium

I dont disagree revo, but my point was about the 60k on the ST waiting list. A portion of which i bet are dead, moved away or simply wouldnt be able to afford the £600 odd quid that it costs NOW, let alone the £800-£900 that it could go upto, if they decide they want to milk the fans.

[Revo]

if the prices jumped to 900 quid that would represent a 33% hike in prices and would be a marketing disaster. i just turned down a season ticket not because of the 600 quid (theres always a ticket) but i have become very disillusioned with the way things presently are, the prawn cocktail crowd left old trafford and are now firmly embedded in anfield. i may not even attend 1 game this year, im that sick of the way things are run. mike k says i say that every year, we`ll see

[Craig_H]

I know £900 was a bit extreme, but the general point still stands. If they put them up by more than is usual (most clubs are freezing their's this coming season anyway) then there'll be people who simply cant afford it. As i've said, even £600 will be too much for some on the waiting list, whose circumstances might have changed since they put themselves on the list probably 10 years ago.

[Revo]

there should be ****ing outrage that the prices have been raised this year. these *****, parry gillette hicks have give nothing back. everyone else has been rewarded with the television revenue except the bread and butter who show up every week. wait and see how much a scouse pie and a coke is next year. its a ****ing joke