Hicks - "I Have No Problem With Rafa"

[The Glove]

G&H have talked the talk a lot.

I will praise them when they turn their talk into action but until then I will be very critical how they run the club.

Surely then its better to see if the action actually turns up before being critical?

When we sign a player, do you slate him constantly until he does something you like or do you wait and see how he develops first?

[AFII]

Surely then its better to see if the action actually turns up before being critical?

When we sign a player, do you slate him constantly until he does something you like or do you wait and see how he develops first?

I won't slate them as long as they don't pay for the players through loans. I can understand and backs them paying for the stadium that way but not players or the money they bought the club for.

The only thing that should be paid through loans against the club is the stadium.

[The Glove]

I won't slate them as long as they don't pay for the players through loans. I can understand and backs them paying for the stadium that way but not players or the money they bought the club for.

The only thing that should be paid through loans against the club is the stadium.

Ok why should players not be bought with loans? If we are skint what should we do instead? Go without? To make money we need to be successful, to be successful we need money. If we can get loans at a decent rate to help that happen then its win win isnt it?

[Skillz]

I won't slate them as long as they don't pay for the players through loans. I can understand and backs them paying for the stadium that way but not players or the money they bought the club for.

The only thing that should be paid through loans against the club is the stadium.

Wake up and smell the coffee son. Almost all clubs pay for players through loans if they have to pay upfront. Even Chelsea. They owe the Roman Bank over 300mill.

[AFII]

Ok why should players not be bought with loans? If we are skint what should we do instead? Go without? To make money we need to be successful, to be successful we need money. If we can get loans at a decent rate to help that happen then its win win isnt it?

G&H can actually start to spend some money themselves from their own pockets. They will get that money back when the stadium is finished.

They can start to take some personal risks instead of the club taking the full blow if something goes wrong.

[AFII]

Wake up and smell the coffee son. Almost all clubs pay for players through loans if they have to pay upfront. Even Chelsea. They owe the Roman Bank over 300mill.

I know that Chelsea owe Roman a lot of money but for some reason I think Roman can afford to loan money to himself.

Nothing can go wrong there. If something goes wrong then Roman will just write of the debt.

If something goes wrong with the loan G&H will take then we will be owned by the bank.

Chelsea will be owned by Roman if something goes wrong, just like they are now.

[Skillz]

I know that Chelsea owe Roman a lot of money but for some reason I think Roman can afford to loan money to himself.

Nothing can go wrong there. If something goes wrong then Roman will just write of the debt.

If something goes wrong with the loan G&H will take then we will be owned by the bank.

Chelsea will be owned by Roman if something goes wrong, just like they are now.

I don't know any other way to tell you this but we will pay for all our buy's. Hick's and Gillett will not pay cash for any player. Every player we buy will form part of a loan/overdraft. Get used to it.

My point was even Roman keeps count of what he is owed. There are no charity buys and that is how it should be. Although Chelsea do have access to a very friendly bank

[AFII]

I don't know any other way to tell you this but we will pay for all our buy's. Hick's and Gillett will not pay cash for any player. Every player we buy will form part of a loan/overdraft. Get used to it.

My point was even Roman keeps count of what he is owed. There are know charity buys and that is how it should be. Although Chelsea do have access to a very friendly bank

The difference is that Roman is using Chelsea without taking more or less any risk at all.

Chelsea will splash the cash again when they have sorted out which manager they want.

[dww]

The difference is that Roman is using Chelsea without taking more or less any risk at all.

Chelsea will splash the cash again when they have sorted out which manager they want.

They seem happy with Grant to be honest. A good mix of willing to put up with the owners whims and ability to put out a good team. I think he will get at least another season.

[Skillz]

The difference is that Roman is using Chelsea without taking more or less any risk at all.

Chelsea will splash the cash again when they have sorted out which manager they want.

No risk at all. If Roman has invested his money wisely at all he would make more than enough each year to cover his entire outlay at Chelsea.

It is a toy for him and the financials are of no real concern to him.

[glynner]

They seem happy with Grant to be honest. A good mix of willing to put up with the owners whims and ability to put out a good team. I think he will get at least another season.

Didn't Grant just sign a 4 year deal with Chelski?

[Skillz]

They seem happy with Grant to be honest. A good mix of willing to put up with the owners whims and ability to put out a good team. I think he will get at least another season.

I think you are right but it could go very wrong at the moment as they are in disaray with injuries/suspensions ATM. Roman will spend this window and the next to give him every chance. For me Arsenal are the one to worry about. I can see Eto going there, if he does they will be very hard to beat going forward. Not impossible but very, very strong.

[Skillz]

Didn't Grant just sign a 4 year deal with Chelski?

Yes. Paying that contract out would not be much of a worry for Roman if it was required. Agree with dww though that he will get next season to prove his credentials.

[Fiddy]

Tell you what Marky, here's a few highlights of the "bollocks". It does amuse me how people would rather read some made up **** with no attributable source rather than the stuff the people involved actually say.

Tom Hicks said -

"They (the fans) wanted to protect Rafa. That part you have to admire,''

"We think Rafa's terrific. We put all that behind us.''

"We wanted to see what we could do with the players we'd already bought. We just wanted to see if the team was going to jell,''

"And then the media made up everything from that point forward. They made up that we were going to fire him. They made up that I told him to shut up. They made up this battle between Benitez and the Americans. It's really funny to kind of watch.''


Now he might be talking out of his arse and about to sack Rafa tomorrow. But its certainly interesting.

Very.

And those are actual QUOTES too for all the numpty brigade, who should pay more attention to them than things made up by Daily Star reporters. Still, as you can see we're still getting the usual anti-American stuff on this thread

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

That is the quote that worries me to be honest, Hicks quote that is. He is only in football for a wet day and now he thinks he is qualified to give his expert opinion about what went wrong during the game, it is a worrying quote for me, because it suggests that Rafa's motivational techniques or preparation is not up to what it whould be.
Personally, I think it was more a case of being up against a good side, a very staong defensive side who were defending deep and made it difficult, while trying to catch us on the break. I have noticed in recent seasons, United are getting more and more defensive or carfeul when they come to Anfield, they dont approach us with their usual week in week out gung ho attitude when they come to anfield.

Thought his analysis was spot on IMO. I thought the same, said so after the match and so did plenty others.

What would be worrying is if he thought we played well, when we clearly didn't. That would show he knows **** all. Would you prefer that? Would you prefer he was like a Peter Risdale?

Looks like he just can't win with some people. Which says more about some of the fans than him.

Judge them on what they do, not what they say.