Sunday news report thread

[Kilteragh]

The problem for LFC is we've got businessmen in charge now not an LFC fan. This means the balance sheet rather than the pursuit of trophies will be their God.

12 months ago the opposite of this was the problem.

[Sir Bob]

In the long run, with the revenues from the new stadium, you'd hope that getting the balance sheet flourishing should have the knock on effect to mean on-field stuff should also be very healthy.

I'm sure our off the field health will improve significantly with the new stadium. However until its built we will continue to struggle for funds for new players. There's no way H&G will give loads of cash for Rafa to splash as they pour cash into the new stadium.

Whilst the Emirates was being built, Arsenal spent very little in real terms and they struggled as a result. The task facing Rafa will be to keep us in touch with Utd, Arsenal & Chelsea until the funds from the new stadium come through.

[Neil Young]

Rafa's interest is in his ability to do his job correctly for the benefit of Liverpool Football Club and its supporters.

What are their interests, because if they differ then we need to **** them off pronto!

Come on, Alun, talk about a leading question - you know they're in it for the money. Of course having a successful team will help that but they want to minimise their spending while maximising their return. Rafa wants to spend as much as possible to give himself (and LFC) the best chance of winning.

Their goals aren't entirely at odds with each other but their interests are not identical. That's where the dispute lies, at least in part.

[Neil Young]

I'm sure the Yanks fully understand the transfer market. However they won't commit any funds until the CL picture is clear.

The problem for LFC is we've got businessmen in charge now not an LFC fan. This means the balance sheet rather than the pursuit of trophies will be their God. The upside of the Yanks is that we will have a brilliant new stadium, the likes of which we could never get under Moores.

I agree.

[Morph]

I loved the interview Rafa gave, stayed in the pub just to see what he had to say and he didn't dissapoint, he was honest made perfect sense and it gave closure to a few days of media **** i though.

However he made Hicks look like the bell end I think he is, if hicks could understand what he's trying to say then he's a retard, he needs time to manouver in the market and 2 weeks before the window is not the best time for this to happen is it.

The best resolution would be for Hicks to get of his fat arse, come over here have a chat with rafa after the porto game on weds when hopefully we'll have some good news on the CL front (if that is an issue) and agree some for some funds to be put in place. It doesn't really take a genius to figure this stuff out.

[desertscouser]

I loved the interview Rafa gave, stayed in the pub just to see what he had to say and he didn't dissapoint, he was honest made perfect sense and it gave closure to a few days of media **** i though.

However he made Hicks look like the bell end I think he is, if hicks could understand what he's trying to say then he's a retard, he needs time to manouver in the market and 2 weeks before the window is not the best time for this to happen is it.

The best resolution would be for Hicks to get of his fat arse, come over here have a chat with rafa after the porto game on weds when hopefully we'll have some good news on the CL front (if that is an issue) and agree some for some funds to be put in place. It doesn't really take a genius to figure this stuff out.

As I said yesterday, Rafa needs to shoulder some of the blame for what's happened here but the more I think about it, the more I think Rafa was calculated in everyhting he's said over the past few days. I reckon he knew what kind of reaction he'd get and to be honest it's put him in a very good light and has made Hicks look like a prick.

The absolute majority of LFC fans will back Rafa over Hicks, especially now and Hicks needs to start behaving himself. His outburst yesterday has done him no favours. He maybe Rafa's boss, but we (the fans) are his boss. Without us LFC is nothing and he knows it....he needs our support.

[Morph]

it does make you wonder if all the fans got together to show their support for Rafa maybe a mosaic at the mancs game saying 'in rafa we trust' then hicks might get the message

[desertscouser]

it does make you wonder if all the fans got together to show their support for Rafa maybe a mosaic at the mancs game saying 'in rafa we trust' then hicks might get the message

That would be a brilliant idea. I've been critical of Rafa in the past (this season and the last) and he still baffles me with some of his decison making but I fully support him and sometimes it takes what's happened over the last 48hrs to realise how lucky we are to have him as our manager.

At LFC, adversity has always brought the players, supporters and managers together and it's high time we show the likes of Hicks where our loyalties lie.

[redblood]

i loved the bit where he said "My supporters"

So did I very clever wording from Rafa he knows the majority of support is in his favour.

[redblood]

That would be a brilliant idea. I've been critical of Rafa in the past (this season and the last) and he still baffles me with some of his decison making but I fully support him and sometimes it takes what's happened over the last 48hrs to realise how lucky we are to have him as our manager.

At LFC, adversity has always brought the players, supporters and managers together and it's high time we show the likes of Hicks where our loyalties lie.

That's it mate our owners need to know there would be a backlash if Rafa was pushed out without good reason.
Rafa looking to buy players to win the league is not a good reason.

[alunevans]

Come on, Alun, talk about a leading question - you know they're in it for the money. Of course having a successful team will help that but they want to minimise their spending while maximising their return. Rafa wants to spend as much as possible to give himself (and LFC) the best chance of winning.

Their goals aren't entirely at odds with each other but their interests are not identical. That's where the dispute lies, at least in part.

Their interests while different must also coincide or else we're in ****.

And this is about planning and about letting Rafa organise his targets, not about finances.

[Craig_H]

it does make you wonder if all the fans got together to show their support for Rafa maybe a mosaic at the mancs game saying 'in rafa we trust' then hicks might get the message

A better one would read "Hicks - open the wallet and shut the gob"

[thekop]

Watched the comments, Rafa seemed a lot happier and chilled which could be becuase we won and the fans were singing his name so he felt he was in a stronger situation or they have already had a quick chat and a bit of understanding has been reached.
I am not as worried as I was on Thursday but I do wonder how Hicks will respond to the comments. I hope he realises that Rafa is trying to do the best for LFC and Hicks.

Couldn't have said it any better myself bud

[Neil Young]

Their interests while different must also coincide or else we're in ****.

And this is about planning and about letting Rafa organise his targets, not about finances.

Why wouldn't they want him to organise his targets? It has to be about money or control (which effectively involves spending decisions anyway).

[AFII]

The only things G&H should do is to write the checks and give Rafa a transfer budget when it comes down to the team.

They shouldn't tell Rafa when he can negotiate transfers for example.