So you want to know what the DXB Papers say?

[Michael]

[Guest]

'The fan with false promises', on the right of that paper page, strangely resembles Mr. Oldham.

[Gazmo1]

ALL the talk of the Anfield ownership is wearing rather thin now, especially as it is nothing more than a smokescreen to the real problems at Liverpool.

While Rafa Benitez’s men look even less likely of being able to mount a title challenge with each passing week, rumours refuse to go away that the American owners are now willing to cash in and sell up.


Yesterday, reports in the English press suggested Hicks was now ready to let Anfield suitors Dubai International Capital go through the club’s finances, ahead of a proposed takeover. Something, Hicks, again, forcefully denied last night. He said: “Reports in the UK media that I am about to sell my stake in the Liverpool Football Club, or to invite DIC to examine the club’s books in preparation for such a sale are absolutely and categorically false. The reality is that I am personally, professionally and financially committed to the club and its supporters and that I will continue to honour that commitment to the best of my ability now and in the future.”

And it’s little wonder they are not willing to cash in now. Since buying the club just over a year ago, the American duo have seen little return for their money. Yes, they’ve had an appearance in the Champions League final, but the club has gone backwards in the league and was knocked out of both domestic cup competitions relatively early.

But with the club still in this season’s Champions League, the current owners will be looking to stick around for a time yet to try and get something back in return. But while fans will still be hoping billionaires Hicks and Gillett call it a day and cash in, what they fail to realise is that Liverpool’s problems won’t be solved quickly by a change of ownership.

Last February the duo were seen as the true American heroes coming in to turn the Reds into a major force. But now, because the team is not challenging for honours, despite Benitez getting close to $100 million to spend in the summer, they are the villains for not backing their manager. But Liverpool fans only needed to read the signs to know the American dream was going to happen overnight.

And even if DIC do come to their rescue at some time, while the Burj Dubai maybe reaching new heights rapidly, Liverpool aren’t likely to be reaching for the sky soon. Of all the recent foreign takeovers in the English Premier League, Chelsea is only one that has been a true fairytale. Roman Abramovich came in, threw his roubles around, and the next thing Chelsea had won two titles. The Russian bought the Blues simply as a plaything. Spoilt brat type shopping allowed him to buy the best on the market and turn them into title winners.

Every other takeover has been a business venture aimed at long term success and stability. The Glazers didn’t dish out the dollars like they were going out of fashion when they bought Manchester United. Even the publicity-seeking former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra hasn’t been so careless with his cash since buying Manchester City and hiring shopaholic manager Sven Goran Eriksson.

And neither will DIC if they do buy Liverpool. They are not about to come charging in and hand Rafa Benitez $200 million to start again and build a new team - even if they are supposed to be Liverpool fans. It doesn’t work like that. Whoever owns the club won’t radically overhaul an average playing squad that is not good enough to mount a serious title challenge, for a while yet.

And all the while, the hoohah is only buying Benitez more time to play about with a defunct rotation policy.

[Jack D Rips]

ALL the talk of the Anfield ownership is wearing rather thin now, especially as it is nothing more than a smokescreen to the real problems at Liverpool.

While Rafa Benitez’s men look even less likely of being able to mount a title challenge with each passing week, rumours refuse to go away that the American owners are now willing to cash in and sell up.


Yesterday, reports in the English press suggested Hicks was now ready to let Anfield suitors Dubai International Capital go through the club’s finances, ahead of a proposed takeover. Something, Hicks, again, forcefully denied last night. He said: “Reports in the UK media that I am about to sell my stake in the Liverpool Football Club, or to invite DIC to examine the club’s books in preparation for such a sale are absolutely and categorically false. The reality is that I am personally, professionally and financially committed to the club and its supporters and that I will continue to honour that commitment to the best of my ability now and in the future.”

And it’s little wonder they are not willing to cash in now. Since buying the club just over a year ago, the American duo have seen little return for their money. Yes, they’ve had an appearance in the Champions League final, but the club has gone backwards in the league and was knocked out of both domestic cup competitions relatively early.

But with the club still in this season’s Champions League, the current owners will be looking to stick around for a time yet to try and get something back in return. But while fans will still be hoping billionaires Hicks and Gillett call it a day and cash in, what they fail to realise is that Liverpool’s problems won’t be solved quickly by a change of ownership.

Last February the duo were seen as the true American heroes coming in to turn the Reds into a major force. But now, because the team is not challenging for honours, despite Benitez getting close to $100 million to spend in the summer, they are the villains for not backing their manager. But Liverpool fans only needed to read the signs to know the American dream was going to happen overnight.

And even if DIC do come to their rescue at some time, while the Burj Dubai maybe reaching new heights rapidly, Liverpool aren’t likely to be reaching for the sky soon. Of all the recent foreign takeovers in the English Premier League, Chelsea is only one that has been a true fairytale. Roman Abramovich came in, threw his roubles around, and the next thing Chelsea had won two titles. The Russian bought the Blues simply as a plaything. Spoilt brat type shopping allowed him to buy the best on the market and turn them into title winners.

Every other takeover has been a business venture aimed at long term success and stability. The Glazers didn’t dish out the dollars like they were going out of fashion when they bought Manchester United. Even the publicity-seeking former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra hasn’t been so careless with his cash since buying Manchester City and hiring shopaholic manager Sven Goran Eriksson.

And neither will DIC if they do buy Liverpool. They are not about to come charging in and hand Rafa Benitez $200 million to start again and build a new team - even if they are supposed to be Liverpool fans. It doesn’t work like that. Whoever owns the club won’t radically overhaul an average playing squad that is not good enough to mount a serious title challenge, for a while yet.

And all the while, the hoohah is only buying Benitez more time to play about with a defunct rotation policy.

What arse did this ****e come from?

[Gazmo1]

What arse did this ****e come from?

Pooey bottoms here?

7 Days is a paper in Dubai. It is aimed mainly at ex Pats in my experience. I've read it a few while being out there, some of the stuff is hilarious. How reliable it is I don't know?

I'll have the find the one about superman flying through downtown Dubai only for them to reprint an explanation days later that it was a joke.

MODS, maybe merge this into this other thread??