The Case FOR Hicks

[Sarb]

Liverpool won't get fooled againTony Evans
There are many things you can say about Tom Hicks, the man who owns half of Liverpool, but you can't deny he's clever. He bought - with George Gillett Jr - Anfield on the cheap and will make a huge profit when he eventually leaves.

Hicks has also taken the initiative in the propaganda war. After almost sacking Rafael Benitez in December, he has realised the strength of feeling among the fans and performed a remarkable U-turn on the manager. Almost as astute has been his targetting of Rick Parry, the chief executive.

Parry is not so popular among the fans - after all, he brokered the deal to Hicks and Gillett. But the disatisfaction with Parry runs deeper. The chief executive carried the can for the Athens ticket fiasco, when Liverpool fans were in uproar over the scanty percentage of the 17,000 ticket allocation that made its way to the suppporters. His refusal to 'play the numbers game' over where the tickets went alienated the support.

So when Hicks turned his ire on Parry, saying the chief executive had showed contempt for the fans, it muddied the waters. Even the Texan's biggest opponents couldn't help but agree. And now he wants to keep Rafa at the club for even longer than his present contract - who can argue with that? Classic divide and conquer tactics.

Related Links
Parry's leadership 'a disaster', says Hicks
Hicks set to offer Benitez new deal
Fernando Torres thriving amid chaos
Yet Hicks's attempt to woo his opponents is bound to fail. Like all propaganda, it is just words. The supporters know that the American has not got the money to sustain long-term ownership of the club. Words are cheap. Breaking ground on the new stadium in Stanley Park is expensive.

Liverpool supporters have been fooled once. It won't work again.

Lol. He should try reading this forum before making such a false statement

[fred_plasticine]

Liverpool won't get fooled againTony Evans
There are many things you can say about Tom Hicks, the man who owns half of Liverpool, but you can't deny he's clever. He bought - with George Gillett Jr - Anfield on the cheap and will make a huge profit when he eventually leaves.

Hicks has also taken the initiative in the propaganda war. After almost sacking Rafael Benitez in December, he has realised the strength of feeling among the fans and performed a remarkable U-turn on the manager. Almost as astute has been his targetting of Rick Parry, the chief executive.

Parry is not so popular among the fans - after all, he brokered the deal to Hicks and Gillett. But the disatisfaction with Parry runs deeper. The chief executive carried the can for the Athens ticket fiasco, when Liverpool fans were in uproar over the scanty percentage of the 17,000 ticket allocation that made its way to the suppporters. His refusal to 'play the numbers game' over where the tickets went alienated the support.

So when Hicks turned his ire on Parry, saying the chief executive had showed contempt for the fans, it muddied the waters. Even the Texan's biggest opponents couldn't help but agree. And now he wants to keep Rafa at the club for even longer than his present contract - who can argue with that? Classic divide and conquer tactics.

Related Links
Parry's leadership 'a disaster', says Hicks
Hicks set to offer Benitez new deal
Fernando Torres thriving amid chaos
Yet Hicks's attempt to woo his opponents is bound to fail. Like all propaganda, it is just words. The supporters know that the American has not got the money to sustain long-term ownership of the club. Words are cheap. Breaking ground on the new stadium in Stanley Park is expensive.
Liverpool supporters have been fooled once. It won't work again.

Lol. He should try reading this forum before making such a false statement

now that part's especially funny. like all propaganda it's just words? it really relates to his 'article', doesn't it? he adds nothing to back it up, in fact he's trying to form the opinion of the average supporter, is all he does. what a cheesy and lazy bit of journalism...

[redwien]

now that part's especially funny. like all propaganda it's just words? it really relates to his 'article', doesn't it? he adds nothing to back it up, in fact he's trying to form the opinion of the average supporter, is all he does. what a cheesy and lazy bit of journalism...

I ****ing despair for those who are easily appeased

[Reece]

Lol. He should try reading this forum before making such a false statement

Jesus. None of us are supporting Hicks, it's just we are choosing not to call for him to face the firing squad like most are. Are we not allowed to take the middle ground?

How many times do I have to explain this to you?

[Lecter]

Perhaps I am being a bit thick here, but what is wrong with debt? I have yet to hear a proper reasoned argument against it?

Who here has a mortgage? Could you buy a house without one?

Borrowing is required for investment. The Government does it (Gilt edged bonds), Companies do it (Corporate Bonds), Individuals do it (bank loans, mortgages, credit cards).

Please explain to me what is wrong with this.

I pointed this out to that drama queen Tom one day and he had a benny, so I'm expecting more of the same.

Depends on your level of debt really doesnt it

The bulk of the credit crunch problem is that people had too large a proportion of their debt / equity ratio

[fred_plasticine]

Jesus. None of us are supporting Hicks, it's just we are choosing not to call for him to face the firing squad like most are. Are we not allowed to take the middle ground?

How many times do I have to explain this to you?

[fred_plasticine]

I ****ing despair for those who are easily appeased

you don't get it like, do you?
i don't let someone force his opinion on me. whether that's pro or anti hicks articles. they don't mean anything to me unless they back their claims up. and even the greatest hardliner would have to agree on this - 99% of what's being said in the press is pure and utter guesswork.

[Craig_H]

Sorry to be pedantic, but haven't actually answered my question.

I didnt because it's purely speculative. 'If enhanced profits cover the interest payments, and allow for the required investment in the squad, that is a good thing, no?' - until i see a realistic outlook on how that would happen, there's little point answering it, because it's academic. How enhanced are the profits going to be? £30m more than previous years? How?

And to then also allow for the required investment into the squad, they'd need to be in the region of about £70m per annum (£30m interest plus £40m each summer for transfers).

Our operating profit last year was in the region of £43m and if Hicks is the sort of person who is capable of turning £43m profit into £70m+ levels of profit, then i doubt he'd be struggling to raise the funds required to buy out Gillett.

In short, there's no way that enhanced profits could cover the interest payments, and allow for the required investment in the squad.

[Tee]

They should have a Question Time Special, hosted by Jerry Springer and the panel should be Hicks, Gillett, Parry and Benitez. LFC fans make up the audience.

[Reece]

They should have a Question Time Special, hosted by Jerry Springer and the panel should be Hicks, Gillett, Parry and Benitez. LFC fans make up the audience.

Now that would be class

Carra can be one of the "bouncers".

[pezzzer]

hicks already owns half anyway, the only immediate gain for his total ownership is the fighting and media slagging stops.

as to not totally derail our season he gets my vote......for now.

[Guest]

What's this **** from Sons of Shankly !? Got this in my facebook inbox this afternoon.

SKY INTERVIEW TODAY WITH FANS - 1PM OUTSIDE CARRAGHERS PLACE

We need as many people down there as possible, Sky will be there. We need a big show of Anti-Hicks support!

Thats 60 minutes away so if you cant get there yourself spread the word to anyone who can!

[redwien]

you don't get it like, do you?
i don't let someone force his opinion on me. whether that's pro or anti hicks articles. they don't mean anything to me unless they back their claims up. and even the greatest hardliner would have to agree on this - 99% of what's being said in the press is pure and utter guesswork.

According to Forbes Magazine 2007, Tom Hicks has an estimated wealth of $1.3 billion USD. Today that is worth GBP 820 million. That's his lot. The US is in recession so his income is likely to take a big hit this year. You think he can put anything else into LFC? He'll be lucky if he can pay the mortgage.

[Tee]

Now that would be class

Carra can be one of the "bouncers".

Surprise guests could include DIC and L4

[Reece]

Surprise guests could include DIC and L4

And Dunk