Okay here goes!

We all know the current situation that one of Britain’s most successful football teams currently finds itself in - they need shot of their owners one way or the other and it seems that after several years of rumour and conjecture (it is now approaching 2 years since The Guardian proclaimed they would almost certainly be sold by the end of the week), this may finally come to pass.

What I would like to know is, what do people feel is likely to be the long term outcome of all this?
Do you think that they are liable to be bought by someone in the Sheik Mansoor/Roman Abramovitch bracket who will put them back up with the big boys?
Do you think they will get bought be a mid level player like Randy Lerner who, whilst not exactly scrimping, isn’t throwing oceans of cash at Villa, keeping them competing between mid and upper table?
Or do you think that the next owners are gonna be as bad or worse than the current lot, able to buy a big club on the cheap and run it further into the ground?

My gut feeling as a fan is something akin to option 2, with a bit of 3.

Answers on a postcard…

It’s supposedly the Premier League’s job to make sure that option 3 doesn’t happen, obviously they’ve failed numerous times before but you’d think that fucking it up again with a huge club like Liverpool would be the last straw.

Hoping for option 2 because I’m a Spurs fan and I want a half decent chance at competing with them but it’s difficult to know at the moment, all of the buyers who have been linked so far seemed to be basically a mixture of option 2 and 3.

As a Manchester United fan I can’t say I’m particularly unhappy seeing Liverpool languishing in mid-table (or below, as it currently stands) but I do think it’s sad that such a great club with fantastic history and, it pains me to say it, great fans, are doing so poorly, even though they have great manager in Hodgson. I really can’t see them struggling for much longer.. surely something has to be done, i.e. some big business bloke has to buy them? There’s got to be someone out there who can agree a price with the Americans..

So I think they’ll sort it out eventually, I just think it could be a while before it happens.

There’s no way they can handle having another season like they did last time round.  They’ve got some exceptional players. Are their debts so bad that even a fella from the UAE won’t even touch them?

Im from the UAE and I wont touch them. Don’t want any germs.

But in all seriousness this is a rebuilding season they have good squad players and their bench looks miles better than last seasons. They do need investment to challenge for the top 4 yes, and a manager with a slightly better away record would do them no harm either.

Someone will buy them, in Singapore a company which ex- Liverpool player Steve McMahon works for (Profitable Group) were close to buying Newcastle but it fell through so perhaps a bid for Liverpool could be on the cards. Plus their email is “Thekop@profitablegroup.com” if that isn’t a sign I do not know what is!

I think we’re in huge trouble. We’re now effectively at the mercy of RBS who are under huge pressure themselves to recover their debts. October 6th is a key date as the Yanks have to refinance by then. If (when) that doesnt happen administration is a possibility. Alternatively given the profile of the club the bank may run us until a new owner is found. There are apparently people waiting in the wings to get us at a knock down price.

David Moores has much to answer for here. It’s a total mess.

On Oct 6, if the Yanks don’t pay off their loans, the club will probably go into administration, which’d usually be a bad thing, but in Liverpool’s case, might actually work out - I *think* it means that potential new owners will only have to pay the debt - around 237 million - to buy the club, which I think is less than Liverpool’s value, so the new owners may have money left over for a stadium and transfers etc. Hopefully, we’ll get rid of Hodgson and get back Benitez.

BikramRana - 15 September 2010 08:16 AM

Hopefully, we’ll get rid of Hodgson and get back Benitez.

...What?!

JonnyGabriel - 15 September 2010 10:45 AM

BikramRana - 15 September 2010 08:16 AM

Hopefully, we’ll get rid of Hodgson and get back Benitez.

...What?!

Yeah, Hodgson is a massively overrated manager - for 34 years, he’s managed mediocre teams (with the exception of Inter), and he’ll be found out with Liverpool. Its a completely different thing managing a top team and Fulham.

Benitez, on the other hand, is loved by the Kop, and a fantastic manager. He was the last manager to win La Liga with a team other than Barca or Real, and you only have to look at their table positions before and after he took over.

And with the exception of his last season, he was also really good with Liverpool. Don’t let the media revisionism get to you.

BikramRana - 15 September 2010 06:38 PM

JonnyGabriel - 15 September 2010 10:45 AM

BikramRana - 15 September 2010 08:16 AM

Hopefully, we’ll get rid of Hodgson and get back Benitez.

...What?!

Yeah, Hodgson is a massively overrated manager - for 34 years, he’s managed mediocre teams (with the exception of Inter), and he’ll be found out with Liverpool. Its a completely different thing managing a top team and Fulham.

Benitez, on the other hand, is loved by the Kop, and a fantastic manager. He was the last manager to win La Liga with a team other than Barca or Real, and you only have to look at their table positions before and after he took over.

And with the exception of his last season, he was also really good with Liverpool. Don’t let the media revisionism get to you.

that’s a good point, but hodgons time at inter wasn’t as unsuccessful as many people make out, he built a very decent squad who went on to win silverware. as a lfc fan, i liked rafa and though if he was ever given a decent budget (people think he’s spent a crap load but his net spend over 6 seasons was only £80m, a sizeable chunk of that went when we brought in torres and babel), but it was time for a change.
the leeds utd team of the 70’s was built on basically leeds going out and buying the best young talent around and waiting for them to mature as they had no money, this summer we seem to be doing something simular. time will tell if this is a bad or good forecast

i think we’ve got a very good squad, and hodgson knows how to get players playing to their full ability. my worry is how long this will take him, as i think we need champions league football immediatly to keep the likes of torres (although would letting him go be the worst thing in the world?)

Scouser is walking down the high street when he sees a video entitled “Liverpool The Glory Years” in the window display of a chairty shop.

He goes in and says to the assistant: “Eh ar kid, ow much for the ‘Pool video like?”

After wiping the phlegm from his face, the assistant replies: “£100.”

“That’s a bit steep innit la?, the lovable cheeky scamp asks, “ow come its dat dear soft lad?”

“Well,” the assistant says, “it’s £1 for the tape and £99 for the Betamax player.”

“I don’t see why Liverpool can’t win the title” says Kenny Dalglish

I’ll tell you why Kenny, because Liverpool are fucking shite.

On paper, they seem to have a good first team, however when you see them play, you realise that they are nowhere near the top of the table.  Saying that, I fancy them to cause Utd trouble today. 

They always seem to play far better than usual when they play United.. quite frustrating.

Also Torres seems to know the secret of how to destroy Vidic.

yeah we can’t win it. just get 4th. that’s all i’m arsed about

Roses_Legend - 19 September 2010 11:40 AM

They always seem to play far better than usual when they play United.. quite frustrating.

Also Torres seems to know the secret of how to destroy Vidic.

It’s strange as Vidic is a beast usually.  Yet when he sees Torres he seems to wet himself.

Dutch Maestro 10 - 19 September 2010 11:33 AM

On paper, they seem to have a good first team, however when you see them play, you realise that they are nowhere near the top of the table.  Saying that, I fancy them to cause Utd trouble today. 

Do they seem to have a good team? Really? Reina looks a shade of his former self, there were times i’d look at him thinking “nobody will put past him today”, I now think teams won’t struggle too much. Their defence isn’t close to good enough, and apart from Gerrard, their midfield isn’t good enough for the top 5 in the Premiership. Their strikeforce clearly isn’t either, especially when Torres isn’t in form.

Liverpool feel like their on a slow drop fro Champions League status to Europa, and right now I can’t conjur up many reasons as to why the downfall won’t continue in the next few years, unless a miracle occurs.

I know they got it back to 2-2. But another poor display from Liverpool. I really can’t see them even finishing in the top 8 this season.

Charlie - 19 September 2010 11:41 AM

yeah we can’t win it. just get 4th. that’s all i’m arsed about

THIS, THIS right here is why the premiership is dead to me

Why have Liverpool converted Kuyt, Babel and Jovanovic into wide players when they signed as strikers ? I think that Torres should play with a strike partner.

Wasn’t Jovanovic a winger at Liege?

JonnyGabriel - 19 September 2010 08:58 PM

Wasn’t Jovanovic a winger at Liege?

Was he ? I presumed that because he’s so shit on the wing he must have been a striker.

Babel is wasted at Liverpool as well.  Always seemed like a decent prospect until Benitez got his dirth littyle mitts on him.

Babel has no idea. His head isn’t there. Reina’s fucking amazing. Liverpool will come 4th and I’ll celebrate like they’ve won the Premier League.

I think it says it all that Liverpool’s first meaningful shot on goal yesterday was the pen. It baffles me how Liverpool continue to buy half decent strikers and shove them out wide, and Torres can do f all with one decent ball in all day. I can honestly see Liverpool struggling to qualify for the Champs League yet again. Im afraid Thursday nights on channel 5 will become a regular occurrence for Liverpool

Yeah, I really can’t see them qualifying for the Champions League.  Hell, they struggled to beat West Brom at home.  Can see Spurs and Man City ahead of them by some distance as they have much better squads. 

iPete - 20 September 2010 12:13 PM

Babel has no idea. His head isn’t there. Reina’s fucking amazing. Liverpool will come 4th and I’ll celebrate like they’ve won the Premier League.

Liverpool will not come 4th. Absolutely no chance. ‘Woy’ is fighting a losing battle at Anfield.

Konchesky was hilarious yesterday.  I think that I read somewhere that he was so far out of his depth that he required armbands.  Nani had a field day. 

soapy - 20 September 2010 12:37 PM

iPete - 20 September 2010 12:13 PM

Babel has no idea. His head isn’t there. Reina’s fucking amazing. Liverpool will come 4th and I’ll celebrate like they’ve won the Premier League.

Liverpool will not come 4th. Absolutely no chance. ‘Woy’ is fighting a losing battle at Anfield.

Ah right. Ah well, I’ll just head up the road then.

Kenny’s now come out and said that the Premier League is Liverpool’s focus. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/9010534.stm

Does anyone seriously think that Liverpool can get anywhere near the title? Poor old Woy

Especially if Torres and Reina end up being sold as part of Tom Hicks’ reported buyout.

Bull Boys Shoes is what you need - 21 September 2010 12:54 PM

Especially if Torres and Reina end up being sold as part of Tom Hicks’ reported buyout.

Liverpool is in ruin. Mega LOLZ.

Sorry, that was harsh. But true.

I’m becoming increasingly infuriated at watching liverpool this year. The only thing making it better is knowing that manchester united aren’t on top and everton are just as bad. but I’m wondering a few things…

1-glen johnson is a great wing back but he doesn’t have a defensive bone in his body. why wouldn’t liverpool just buy a proper RB and put glen on the wing up front?

2-After watching carragher getting skinned at the world cup I knew that it was going to be a tough year at anfield. Is it time for him to accept a lesser role with the team?

3-Torres, for my money he is the best striker in the world but recently (the past year or so) he has taken to complaining more and more. his body language is quite obvious as well. is it time to cash in? (side note: when he runs, does it look like he’s running in quick sand?)

I think that liverpool should sell off their assets (reina, johnson, gerrard, torres, maxi, babel, jovanovic, lucas) if things aren’t shaping up by december and they’re in a relegation battle. but only on 2 conditions. 1- they’re sold to teams outside of the EPL. I think over 100million could be raised. 2-the money is available for buying new players. The players have lost their drive and Gerrard can’t save them every game. its not fair to him or the team.

Sometimes you gotta just push the reset button…

but who am I to say, i’m just a Canadian in Taiwan

Cheers everyone!

Ouch…

What is exactly going on at Anfield? Have the fans already turned on Woy? Does the ownership issue really affect on field performances? Basically, what the bloody hell is happening up on Merseyside?!

The floor is open…

I take great delight in mocking all the Liverpool fans i know, but this has gone beyond a joke. I think its a combination of supporter unrest, incompetence from the board and a shit squad inherited from the previous manager. Liverpool need to write off this season, look at qualifying for the Europa as a success and keep faith with Woy.

As (I dare say it…) a Liverpool fan of just over 20 years, I dont think i’ve felt as low in a playing sense as today…..

I actually started to well up this evening just as the thought of all the catastophies which we find ourselves in right now…...

I know the right thing to say is “Give Roy Time” but to be totally honest with you, has he got the strength of personality, the energy and drive to turn even this around…..

Someone of Rafa Benitez’s undoubted past quality was reduced by the massive pressure from the supporters and to add to that the most sad of stories regarding the ownership.

Liverpool FC fans do not think they have a god given right to win the league, we just want excitment and football played the right way. The other thing is we just want someone to own the club who will look after it in the right way. If we cant win the league then fine, we will keep trying, but every negative aspect about people using one of English Football jewels as a money making machine is a disgrace.

I hope that the situation of what may happen to my club will in the long term make others think twice about a quick fix…..

Only from the greatest adversity come the greatest triumphs…..

Its Liverpools way to rise like the phoenix….. you just know that its written to turn itself around, it just has to….

YNWA to all you fellow reds out there, keep the faith.

Poor old Woy. What has he left himself in for?

I hope Liverpool fans don’t think that this is down soley to Hodgson.

Eyeball Kid - 03 October 2010 09:42 PM

Poor old Woy. What has he left himself in for?

He’s massively out of his depth

Can he not play two up front ? Liverpool are a dull team. Carragher should be dropped.

As an outsider looking in, there seems to be a dark cloud over the whole club. It would be easy and lazy to pin it all on the takeover issue, I for one do not believe this impacts on the payers on the field.
I suspect they may get a win in the Mersey derby which will be the boost they need. If they don’t, well…

Either way, I fully expect Torres to be elsewhere, wither January or certainly next season.