New stadium update...

[kurtangle01]

I'd certainly hope not mate, because if someone would get any kind of pleasure from seeing the club in trouble just because they are able to say "I told you so" then I'd seriously question their allegiance to the club.

As you know I'm a confirmed yankoskeptic, but nothing would give me more pleasure than to be proved wrong because it means the club is in safe hands. And I look forward to being able to come on here, hold my hands up and say "fair play, the yanks kept their promises, they've delivered, and I was wrong".

I wasn't talking about you, mate. You might be a sceptic, and it's your right to be, but you have at least been fair and balanced.

Some of the ****e posted by some of our 'respected' members has been quite laughable. The less said about that the better though.

I can't wait to see their posts when the stadium build etc... is under way.

[Dhav]

I have my doubts over the Americans too. It's been a bumpy ride so far but, from where I'm sitting, it looks to me like we've had a good week and things are most definitely looking up. As kurt says, Rafa has been backed this week, but that's obviously not good enough for the rags.

Agree, things are looking up and Gillett and Hicks seems to be sticking to their recent words that Rafa is the one they want and they will back him. The rags seem to have invested a lot in this anti-Rafa thing, so now that it's seemingly blowing up in their faces they're looking to cover their backs

I wasn't talking about you, mate. You might be a sceptic, and it's your right to be, but you have at least been fair and balanced.

Some of the ****e posted by some of our 'respected' members has been quite laughable. The less said about that the better though.

I can't wait to see their posts when the stadium build etc... is under way.

That's the day I'm looking forward to, when the first shovel hits the ground, because that's the day when we start going places

[sonsofthedesert]

Agree, things are looking up and Gillett and Hicks seems to be sticking to their recent words that Rafa is the one they want and they will back him. The rags seem to have invested a lot in this anti-Rafa thing, so now that it's seemingly blowing up in their faces they're looking to cover their backs





That's the day I'm looking forward to, when the first shovel hits the ground, because that's the day when we start going places

[Howard_lfc]

I can't wait to get a new ground. Even though we've had loads of deadlines etc I'm of the opinion that it will get built - because it's imperative for our future. However, it takes second place behind what's going wrong on the pitch. We should be doing so much better (again) - but the bottom line is we're not.

[desertscouser]

I can't wait to get a new ground. Even though we've had loads of deadlines etc I'm of the opinion that it will get built - because it's imperative for our future. However, it takes second place behind what's going wrong on the pitch. We should be doing so much better (again) - but the bottom line is we're not.

Totally agree.

Thus far I've been very disappointed by our performances and wher we are in the league. Mid year report - MUST DO BETTER.

[kurtangle01]

I can't wait to get a new ground. Even though we've had loads of deadlines etc I'm of the opinion that it will get built - because it's imperative for our future. However, it takes second place behind what's going wrong on the pitch. We should be doing so much better (again) - but the bottom line is we're not.

Totally agree.

Thus far I've been very disappointed by our performances and wher we are in the league. Mid year report - MUST DO BETTER.

That said. A shovel in the ground, which I have no doubt will happen in the next 12 months, is massive progress and a 70,000 seater to boot. That'll help us compete in the long run and will hopefully see us start to perform better on the pitch as we'll be able to buy better players with the profits.

[Dhav]

That said. A shovel in the ground, which I have no doubt will happen in the next 12 months, is massive progress and a 70,000 seater to boot. That'll help us compete in the long run and will hopefully see us start to perform better on the pitch as we'll be able to buy better players with the profits.

Absolutely. but where are with the planning permissions and transport infrastructure issues? Assuming the yanks will be able to have funding in place, could these other factors cause us any further delays?

[kurtangle01]

Absolutely. but where are with the planning permissions and transport infrastructure issues? Assuming the yanks will be able to have funding in place, could these other factors cause us any further delays?

Undoubtedly the new plans will mean new applications have to be submitted but the ease with which we were granted permssion for the re-design was reassuring.

I'm sure they will be looking at how best to present the plans to the council so that we can gain planning permission and I'm sure the council will be consulted about what they want to do in order to guage what they need to include in the plans.

[rushscored4]

Only question is,how can AFL be confident the club will go with them - have the club given them any indication?

I assume your contact (or anyone at AFL) will not have seen HKS' revised designs?

Of course AFL can't be sure they've got the gig but the fact that they've been invited back in and their revised design is under budget whereas the Yanks' first design were way over budget gives them the edge I think. As my mate said tonight, "the HKS plans looked great but these guys have got no experience of designing a British footie stadium". AFL have been involved with lots of football stadia and have already done work with LFC at Anfield, Melwood and Kirkby. Their next project is the amazing refurb at the Bernabeu.

I had fears about them too, but thank god for HKS coming in because clearly they've risen the bar and it sounds like AFL have risen to the challenge

I asked that this evening. When G&H bought the club and obviously weren't happy with the AFL Mark 1 design why not ask them to go away and re-design it then with a 70,000 capacity? Let's be honest, if none of us had seen the HKS design last summer we'd all be ****ing ecstatic right now if that had happened. Instead our expectations were raised and now a lot of us feel disappointed...

cheers iain hope the nasty pint didnt taste too bad
you botherin goin for few after villa or straight home?

Now I've got the taste again...

Amazing how none of the doom merchants respond to positive news like this, isn't it?!

No doubt Jamo will turn up and bring us all back down to earth again...

[Dhav]

Undoubtedly the new plans will mean new applications have to be submitted but the ease with which we were granted permsiions for the re-design was reassuring.

I'm sure they will be looking at how best to present the plans to the council so that we can gain planning permission and I'm sure the council will be consulted about what they want to do in order to guage what they need to include in the plans.

I'm sure you're right. Obtaining the necessary permissions will be a formaility I'm sure. I just hope the application is expedited and does not cause us any further undue delay. Hopefully the fact it is a 70,000 stadium does not raise any new issues.

Of course AFL can't be sure they've got the gig but the fact that they've been invited back in and their revised design is under budget whereas the Yanks' first design were way over budget gives them the edge I think. As my mate said tonight, "the HKS plans looked great but these guys have got no experience of designing a British footie stadium". AFL have been involved with lots of football stadia and have already done work with LFC at Anfield, Melwood and Kirkby. Their next project is the amazing refurb at the Bernabeu.

To be honest the fact that AFL has the experience does nothing to reassure me. Years of working with LFC, you'd think they'd understand our requirements, yet they came up with such a bland, generic design. On the other hand HKS who have "no experience of designing a British footie stadium" came up with a stunning design that much more accurately reflected the status of the club. The aerial view of the stadium looked a bit like a Liverbird

AFL may have designed lots of stadia, but if their initial New Anfield design is anything to go by, they're all much of a muchness.

I asked that this evening. When G&H bought the club and obviously weren't happy with the AFL Mark 1 design why not ask them to go away and re-design it then with a 70,000 capacity? Let's be honest, if none of us had seen the HKS design last summer we'd all be ****ing ecstatic right now if that had happened. Instead our expectations were raised and now a lot of us feel disappointed...

You're right. For me so far, the stadium fiasco is the single thing that defines my image of the yanks and their ownership of the club (assuming the spat with Rafa is now resolved). Whatever Anfield design is built, I'll probably always dream of that HKS design and think that's what we could have had.

Even if we don't end up with the HKS design, bringing them in must have made AFL up their game, and probably forced them to produce a higher standard revised version than if it was not in competition with another design.

Either way, cheers for all the info mate. Looking forward to you revealing more when you can

[rushscored4]

To be honest the fact that AFL has the experience does nothing to reassure me. Years of working with LFC, you'd think they'd understand our requirements, yet they came up with such a bland, generic design. On the other hand HKS who have "no experience of designing a British footie stadium" came up with a stunning design that much more accurately reflected the status of the club. The aerial view of the stadium looked a bit like a Liverbird

AFL may have designed lots of stadia, but if their initial New Anfield design is anything to go by, they're all much of a muchness.

You're right. For me so far, the stadium fiasco is the single thing that defines my image of the yanks and their ownership of the club (assuming the spat with Rafa is now resolved). Whatever Anfield design is built, I'll probably always dream of that HKS design and think that's what we could have had.

Even if we don't end up with the HKS design, bringing them in must have made AFL up their game, and probably forced them to produce a higher standard revised version than if it was not in competition with another design.

Either way, cheers for all the info mate. Looking forward to you revealing more when you can

First of all I much preferred the HKS design to the original AFL plans but let's get it into perspective. When AFL were first engaged in the late 90s to do the new stadium one of the main considerations was cost and I seem to recall a total budget of around £70-80m was quoted back then. That original design was 'state of the art' and the best you could expect for that sort of money. The Reebok had just been built (and I thought it looked ****ing brilliant back in 1997), the City of Manchester was under construction and Ashburton Grove was still an artist's impression.

Roll forward six or seven years and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid ride into town with a big fanfare. One of the first things they look at is the new stadium design which by then was well past it's sell by date. Rather than haul the architects (AFL) in and demand they give it a face-lift they pay them off (over £1m I heard) and bring in Butch Cassidy's mates at HKS who, fair play, come up with a stunning design. However, even last summer when steel prices had fallen, the bold new Texan design was estimated at costing around £400m. With steel prices rocketing, the dollar weakening and the cost of borrowing spiralling it would probably cost our friends in the South the best part of a million bucks to build the 'spaceship' now.

So... they hold a beauty contest with the local girl whose looks have faded being asked to put some slap on (AFL) and the Texan beauty being asked to drop her drawers for less bucks (HKS). Now it's down to Butch and the Kid to decide which girl they're going to dance with...

...unless this is Brokeback Mountain and they ride off into the sunset together!

[Kaip]

First of all I much preferred the HKS design to the original AFL plans but let's get it into perspective. When AFL were first engaged in the late 90s to do the new stadium one of the main considerations was cost and I seem to recall a total budget of around £70-80m was quoted back then. That original design was 'state of the art' and the best you could expect for that sort of money. The Reebok had just been built (and I thought it looked ****ing brilliant back in 1997), the City of Manchester was under construction and Ashburton Grove was still an artist's impression.

Roll forward six or seven years and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid ride into town with a big fanfare. One of the first things they look at is the new stadium design which by then was well past it's sell by date. Rather than haul the architects (AFL) in and demand they give it a face-lift they pay them off (over £1m I heard) and bring in Butch Cassidy's mates at HKS who, fair play, come up with a stunning design. However, even last summer when steel prices had fallen, the bold new Texan design was estimated at costing around £400m. With steel prices rocketing, the dollar weakening and the cost of borrowing spiralling it would probably cost our friends in the South the best part of a million bucks to build the 'spaceship' now.

So... they hold a beauty contest with the local girl whose looks have faded being asked to put some slap on (AFL) and the Texan beauty being asked to drop her drawers for less bucks (HKS). Now it's down to Butch and the Kid to decide which girl they're going to dance with...

...unless this is Brokeback Mountain and they ride off into the sunset together!

[kurtangle01]

First of all I much preferred the HKS design to the original AFL plans but let's get it into perspective. When AFL were first engaged in the late 90s to do the new stadium one of the main considerations was cost and I seem to recall a total budget of around £70-80m was quoted back then. That original design was 'state of the art' and the best you could expect for that sort of money. The Reebok had just been built (and I thought it looked ****ing brilliant back in 1997), the City of Manchester was under construction and Ashburton Grove was still an artist's impression.

Roll forward six or seven years and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid ride into town with a big fanfare. One of the first things they look at is the new stadium design which by then was well past it's sell by date. Rather than haul the architects (AFL) in and demand they give it a face-lift they pay them off (over £1m I heard) and bring in Butch Cassidy's mates at HKS who, fair play, come up with a stunning design. However, even last summer when steel prices had fallen, the bold new Texan design was estimated at costing around £400m. With steel prices rocketing, the dollar weakening and the cost of borrowing spiralling it would probably cost our friends in the South the best part of a million bucks to build the 'spaceship' now.

So... they hold a beauty contest with the local girl whose looks have faded being asked to put some slap on (AFL) and the Texan beauty being asked to drop her drawers for less bucks (HKS). Now it's down to Butch and the Kid to decide which girl they're going to dance with...

...unless this is Brokeback Mountain and they ride off into the sunset together!

That has to be the best post I've ever read!!!

[Revo]

First of all I much preferred the HKS design to the original AFL plans but let's get it into perspective. When AFL were first engaged in the late 90s to do the new stadium one of the main considerations was cost and I seem to recall a total budget of around £70-80m was quoted back then. That original design was 'state of the art' and the best you could expect for that sort of money. The Reebok had just been built (and I thought it looked ****ing brilliant back in 1997), the City of Manchester was under construction and Ashburton Grove was still an artist's impression.

Roll forward six or seven years and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid ride into town with a big fanfare. One of the first things they look at is the new stadium design which by then was well past it's sell by date. Rather than haul the architects (AFL) in and demand they give it a face-lift they pay them off (over £1m I heard) and bring in Butch Cassidy's mates at HKS who, fair play, come up with a stunning design. However, even last summer when steel prices had fallen, the bold new Texan design was estimated at costing around £400m. With steel prices rocketing, the dollar weakening and the cost of borrowing spiralling it would probably cost our friends in the South the best part of a million bucks to build the 'spaceship' now.

So... they hold a beauty contest with the local girl whose looks have faded being asked to put some slap on (AFL) and the Texan beauty being asked to drop her drawers for less bucks (HKS). Now it's down to Butch and the Kid to decide which girl they're going to dance with...

...unless this is Brokeback Mountain and they ride off into the sunset together!

hahaha ****ing class

[Guest]

Great news RS4, thanks for that. Delighted if things at last start kicking in.