dear god... hicks : we lined up klinsmann

[kurtangle01]

Hicks is either thick as bull **** or he is trying to hound Rafa out. Either way the man is showing how much of a tool he is.

A bit of both probably.

Sad state of affairs we've found ourselves in. I really am lost for words tonight.

[CAD]

Really mate? Most people were of the opinion that Moores had taken us as far as he could and were crying out for new owners. I don't remember too many predicting that it would turn out this way.

Moores had taken us as far as he could in 97

[Roboklopp]

I haven`t once said that Rafa should be sacked.

& nor did I suggest you had. Are you deliberately trying to misunderstand my post?

Those were the circumstances which would have led to Rafa being sacked- on failure to reach the knockouts in 4 attempts which have included 2 finals.

Clear?

[Sir Bob]

Really mate? Most people were of the opinion that Moores had taken us as far as he could and were crying out for new owners. I don't remember too many predicting that it would turn out this way.

Some of us were against not just G&H but any invester here only to make money.

I just never believed they would pour untold millions into the club. They are hard nosed American businessmen with no understanding or passion for LFC or football. They care about money not trophies.

I think Moores on his own had taken us as far as he could. Thats why i wanted a groundshare and a partnership with Morgan. I felt it was vital to keep the ownership of the club in the hands of people who had LFC's best interests at heart.

I didn't expect G&H to make such carnage so soon, and I was no more in favour of DIC or any other money making investor but I did say it was the death of the LFC we all grew up with.

[sonsofthedesert]

It's started in the press then.

Rafael Benitez struggling to walk on

Oliver Kay
Rafael BenÍtez will battle on as Liverpool manager, despite having his position undermined further yesterday when Tom Hicks, one of the club’s owners, admitted that he had attempted to line up Jürgen Klinsmann to replace the Spaniard.

The news did not surprise BenÍtez, who had already learnt of the meeting that Hicks and George Gillett Jr held with Klinsmann in California in late November, but he is understood to be aghast at the co-chairman’s willingness to make the information public. Hicks defended the approach by saying that the former Germany coach was targeted as “an insurance policy” against BenÍtez’s departure for Real Madrid or another club, but that casual admission has caused astonishment even within Liverpool, where some believe that the manager has effectively been rendered a lame duck.

The threat from Klinsmann has since evaporated, with the former Tottenham Hotspur forward signing a contract on Friday to succeed Ottmar Hitzfeld as coach of Bayern Munich from July 1, but, despite the insistence of Hicks that BenÍtez has his “support” after a clear-the-air meeting last month, there is a feeling within the club that the Spaniard’s position is untenable in the long term and perhaps even in the short term after another damaging blow to his credibility.

In an interview with the Liverpool Echo, Hicks said: “In November, when it appeared we were in danger of not advancing in the Champions League, weren’t playing well in our Premier League matches and we were having communication issues [with BenÍtez] over the January transfer window, George and I met with Jürgen Klinsmann to learn as much as we could about English and European football.

“He is a very impressive man. We attempted to negotiate an option, as an insurance policy, to have him become our manager in the event Rafa decided to leave our club for Real Madrid or other clubs that were rumoured in the UK press, or in case our communication spiralled out of control for some reason.”

BenÍtez chose not to respond to Hicks’s comment, but, upset as he may be, he has no plans to resign from his position. Manuel GarcÍa Quillon, his agent, last night told The Times: “Rafa wants to stay at Liverpool. He is happy with the club, with the supporters and with the city. He does not want to leave.” Cynics may feel that BenÍtez is merely holding out for a payday, with Liverpool likely to have to provide £6 million in compensation if he is dismissed, but the Spaniard has not abandoned all hope of staying on as manager, even if it appears that he has little or no chance of surviving under the present regime.

There have been indications in recent weeks that Hicks and Gillett may be forced to Liverpool, with the American tycoons under serious pressure to refinance the £270 million loan that they used to buy the club last February. Doubts about their financial strength increased with Hicks’s admission that they had held talks in October with Dubai International Capital, the private-equity arm of the Arab state, about selling a 15 per cent stake in the club for £150 million, but that meeting did not come to fruition.

Hicks added that no further talks were planned, while there were indications from Texas last night that Hicks expects to secure a successful refinancing package “this week”, which would enable them to proceed with their troubled bid to build a new 70,000-capacity stadium in Stanley Park.

Regardless of their long-term plans, though, Hicks and Gillett face an immediate battle to win back the trust of the supporters, having plotted to replace the popular BenÍtez. A protest of some kind is expected at this evening’s FA Cup third-round replay at home to Luton Town.

[AFII]

Rafa shouldn't really have any pressure on him to finish in the top four or win anything this season after this mess. How many points have our owners cost the team? Probably the difference from us challenging for the title and now being in fourth place and it will continue to cost even more points.

****ing clowns.

[Roboklopp]

For me it’s nothing to do with whether you want Rafa in or out. You simply don’t act like this if you are Liverpool football club.

The Hicks piece for me is clear – we were having “communication” problems with Rafa – i.e. he wouldn’t roll over and play dead - or “shut up and do as you’re told”. Much of the red faced ****’s success at United is because he’s been left to get on with it.

The “they’re dammed if they do etc” or “I’m glad Hicks has settled this” comments are naïve beyond belief. Look at the reaction from the vast majority of fans across the vast majority of forums. Hicks has settled this? He’s blown it all wide open.

What possible benefit does this achieve? Best case scenario says “Rafa will not be sacked so long as he keeps his mouth shut”. He’ll walk – or at least he should if he has any sense. Tell me a top notch Manager who’ll put up with this – even Maureen got so fed up he was happy to leave. And if he (Rafa) walks where do we stand then?

Anyone who seriously – I mean seriously thinks that dear ol Jurgen is a credible Liverpool Manager……………. Germany third place? Do you really want me to tell you who they beat to achieve that illustrious outcome? Or that most knowledgeable footballing commentators assign most of any success to his no 2.

We dump a Champions League winning coach for someone who has never managed a club football side? And with Rafa treated this way which top notch Managers will want to come.


Yeah good luck to Bayern. He may do well there. Personally I don’t think you appoint Managers on the basis of “hey – you never know it might work”.

We’re f**ked folks with these two in charge. Where's the money we hoped for? Where’s the stadium we hoped for? All held up whilst 2 yanks trying to esnure they push the debt they ran up buying us, onto the club itself.

Over on other boards there are United fans pissing themselves laughing tonight…………….. because “Hicks has settled it”

Aye.

[the rev leeroy brown]

Some of us were against not just G&H but any invester here only to make money.

I just never believed they would pour untold millions into the club. They are hard nosed American businessmen with no understanding or passion for LFC or football. They care about money not trophies.

I think Moores on his own had taken us as far as he could. Thats why i wanted a groundshare and a partnership with Morgan. I felt it was vital to keep the ownership of the club in the hands of people who had LFC's best interests at heart.

I didn't expect G&H to make such carnage so soon, and I was no more in favour of DIC or any other money making investor but I did say it was the death of the LFC we all grew up with.

i think the only investor who wouldnt have been in it to make money was steve morgan but he just never had the ability to launch a successful bid.

i didnt care who bought the club (foreign or not) let them make their money, all i wanted was for the traditions of lfc to remain. sadly, they havent!

[Kilteragh]

I was no more in favour of DIC or any other money making investor but I did say it was the death of the LFC we all grew up with.

It was always going to be unfortunately. I just wish they'd get on with actually managing "the business" and leave the football to the manager and players and fans.

[Roboklopp]

It's started in the press then.

Jesus ****ing Christ, I could cry.

[CAD]

I seriuosly believe that The yanks are that stupid that they would think their interview with the Local LIVERPOOL newspaper was to help clear the air.Their stupidity has backfired on them.I think most on here don`t take into account that there is a culture difference where the American people don`t dissect and analyse every word.The English do as does their press.I really do believe there was no malice in their intention.

I`d hazzard to guess that Rafa spoke to them before their interview and that Rafa knows(was told) that he would be replaced if we didn`t qualify for the last 16 of the CL.

I also believe that Rafa is safe as long as we finish 4th and Challenges for a trophy.If not then the Yanks are entitled to look for an Alternative.


Some on here are only happy when they are unhappy.

I`ll wait to see Rafa`s answer to this before a chuck a wobbler.

It`s a bumpy road this yr and this is just another one.

2/10

[Sir Bob]

i think the only investor who wouldnt have been in it to make money was steve morgan but he just never had the ability to launch a successful bid.

i didnt care who bought the club (foreign or not) let them make their money, all i wanted was for the traditions of lfc to remain. sadly, they havent!

Trouble is mate, the traditions of LFC and the pursuit of making money above winning trophies are not compatable.

lets not be naive here. Anyone investing in LFC would like to make a few quid but its what you aim to do with the club that counts.

Morgan & Moores primarily wanted to make LFC successful. DIC/G&H etc primarily want to make money and as much of it as they can.

Arsenal have shown the way to go. Keep the ownership in the hands of talented businessmen who want Arsenal to succeed. Finance a new stadium yourself and employ a genius as manager. Not easy, I grant you but possible.

[StevieG08]

Pathological liars, they must think we've got the memory retention of goldfish.

Tom, looks like Bascombe's contacts at Liverpool aren't as dead as some people on here have claimed!

[reddragon]

any ideas on whats happening tomorrow night vis-a-vis the yankee dogs

[Kaip]

any ideas on whats happening tomorrow night vis-a-vis the yankee dogs

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