On whose head does it fall?

[King Emlyn]

Ha ha, I remember watching that hat trick on sportsnight, remember that? Of course you do, Bang on about Keegan by the way.

Just on that point I think Keegan and Hughes were arguably the two most seminal signings in our history.

[rainman]

To be honest, I'm getting a bit sick of this disrespectful conspiratorial claptrap aimed at the owners.

 

They have no interest in money and only ache to win, if you don't believe me, read Mr. Henry's heroic words from last year:

 

John Henry's open letter to fans - Liverpool FC

 

I am as disappointed as anyone connected with Liverpool Football Club that we were unable to add further to our strike force in this summer transfer window, but that was not through any lack of desire or effort on the part of all of those involved. They pushed hard in the final days of the transfer window on a number of forward targets and it is unfortunate that on this occasion we were unable to conclude acceptable deals to bring those targets in.

 

But a summer window which brought in three young, but significantly talented starters in Joe Allen, Nuri Sahin and Fabio Borini as well as two exciting young potential stars of the future - Samed Yesil and Oussama Assaidi - could hardly be deemed a failure as we build for the future.

 

Nor should anyone minimise the importance of keeping our best players during this window. We successfully retained Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel and Luis Suarez. We greatly appreciate their faith and belief in the club. And we successfully negotiated new, long-term contracts with Luis and with Martin.

 

No one should doubt our commitment to the club. In Brendan Rodgers we have a talented young manager and we have valued highly his judgement about the make-up of the squad. This is a work in progress. It will take time for Brendan to instill his philosophy into the squad and build exactly what he needs for the long term.

 

The transfer policy was not about cutting costs. It was - and will be in the future - about getting maximum value for what is spent so that we can build quality and depth. We are avowed proponents of UEFA's Financial Fair Play agenda that was this week reiterated by Mr Platini - something we heartily applaud. We must comply with Financial Fair Play guidelines that ensure spending is tied to income. We have been successful in improving the commercial side of the club and the monies generated going forward will give us greater spending power in the coming years.

 

We are still in the process of reversing the errors of previous regimes. It will not happen overnight. It has been compounded by our own mistakes in a difficult first two years of ownership. It has been a harsh education, but make no mistake, the club is healthier today than when we took over.

 

Spending is not merely about buying talent. Our ambitions do not lie in cementing a mid-table place with expensive, short-term quick fixes that will only contribute for a couple of years. Our emphasis will be on developing our own players using the skills of an increasingly impressive coaching team. Much thought and investment already have gone into developing a self-sustaining pool of youngsters imbued in the club's traditions.

 

That ethos is to win. We will invest to succeed. But we will not mortgage the future with risky spending.

 

After almost two years at Anfield, we are close to having the system we need in place. The transfer window may not have been perfect but we are not just looking at the next 16 weeks until we can buy again: we are looking at the next 16 years and beyond. These are the first steps in restoring one of the world's great clubs to its proper status.

 

It will not be easy, it will not be perfect, but there is a clear vision at work.

 

We will build and grow from within, buy prudently and cleverly and never again waste resources on inflated transfer fees and unrealistic wages. We have no fear of spending and competing with the very best but we will not overpay for players.

 

We will never place this club in the precarious position that we found it in when we took over at Anfield. This club should never again run up debts that threaten its existence.

 

Most of all, we want to win. That ambition drives every decision. It is the Liverpool way. We can and will generate the revenues to achieve that aim. There will be short-term setbacks from time to time, but we believe we have the right people in place to bring more glory to Anfield.

 

Finally, I can say with authority that our ownership is not about profit. Contrary to popular opinion, owners rarely get involved in sports in order to generate cash. They generally get involved with a club in order to compete and work for the benefit of their club. It's often difficult. In our case we work every day in order to generate revenues to improve the club. We have only one driving ambition at Liverpool and that is the quest to win the Premier League playing the kind of football our supporters want to see. That will only occur if we do absolutely the right things to build the club in a way that makes sense for supporters, for us and for those who will follow us. We will deliver what every long-term supporter of Liverpool Football Club aches for.

 

i think that if we all read two of the above paragraphs carefully, and examine the current playing situations of the named players, then it will tell us all we need to know about henry's knowledge of football, and also his suitability to be "running" a major socca franchise.

[clangers]

If Alberto and Aspas had signed for Norwich, would we rate them so highly, just to bring a bit of reality to the party, not saying they wont be successful for us.

 

I think we might be rating Aspas and commenting on Norwich having bought well.

 

They're potential at the moment, Aspas looks like he's genuine quality and will play a part this season. I've no complaints about the way we're going about buying younger, up and coming players who might go onto to establish themselves.

 

You can't run a football club by always and only focusing on the (often long distance) future. There needs to be consideration for both present and future planning.

 

FSG seem to be based around the long-term which is conveniently cheaper.

 

A couple of seasons down the road we may well be applauded for being one of the most talented, up and coming bottom half Premiership sides who have real potential to break into the top 10 if they can keep their squad together.

 

An important comment recently was John Henry complaining about FFP not being implemented. That's a critical part of their strategy and a significant wheel falling off the cart.

[xerxes]

An important comment recently was John Henry complaining about FFP not being implemented. That's a critical part of their strategy and a significant wheel falling off the cart.

 

Who says it's not bring implemented?

 

The problem is that FFP damages those outside the Euro and Pl elite- and sadly that is us.

 

There is no streetwise euro football or english football expert on the board, no-one. Unsurprisingly they are struggling strategically.

[Nightcat]

They said we'd spend what we earn. We've earned nothing but spent around £80m.

 

That's right, a world class football club with an enormous world class fan base earns nothing. No sponsors, No TV rights (which double from this summer and onwards to aprx £80- £100m per season), No merchandise, No season tickets. Absolutely nothing. We are a subsidiary, a burden on the shoulders of the merciful benefactors FSG.

Edited August 22, 2013 by Nightcat

[RedRazor]

Sorry if these points have already been made but can't be bothered to read all the previous posts.

 

1. How is a player's value determined? Is it really about what someone is prepared to pay for him or is there a weekly guide published showing prices for slightly soiled players? Do we set a range of value for the player e.g. £20 - £28m? Do we try to get him at the lower end but be prepared to raise the bid if needed? Is this a good strategy or does it just piss people off and alert competitors?

 

2. Do clubs sometimes express an interest in, or bid for players, who they have no intention of buying just to push up the price for one of their competitors? Is this what we have been doing with some of our activity this summer (e.g. Willian)?

 

3. Do we know for sure that every approach for a player that the club has made this summer has been reported in the media?

 

4. Do we have a transfer pot this summer? Who makes the decisions on whether we buy a player or not? Is it BR, Ayre or FSG?

 

5. Do we know what all our targets were this summer? Did we get as far as a bid for any of them? Do we target players to fit specific positions and have a first, second, third choice for that place?

 

6. How do we respond if a player who wasn't a priority target becomes available during the window if it would make an improvement to out squad? Do we just ignore him because his name isn't on the list?

 

 

And if we want to go all conspiracy theory.....

 

7. Did FSG completely engineer the Arsenal bid for Suarez just so that they could give him a public slapping down thereby sending a message to every player in the squad?

 

In summary, I don't think we have anywhere near enough information to be able to safely draw any conclusion or direct any criticism.

[piscinin]

This isn't about drawing conclusions though. It's about being pissed, venting and finding someone to blame. And calling them cunts, etc. It's all very heart of darkness.

[Anubis]

What conspiracy theory?

[Ranxerox]

What conspiracy theory?

 

Man has never walked on the moon.

[xerxes]

In summary, I don't think we have anywhere near enough information to be able to safely draw any conclusion or direct any criticism.

When this window is closed,we will have all the information we need.

[LFC64]

Who says it's not bring implemented?

 

The problem is that FFP damages those outside the Euro and Pl elite- and sadly that is us.

 

There is no streetwise euro football or english football expert on the board, no-one. Unsurprisingly they are struggling strategically.

 

Yep. This would be a more significant signing than a Willian.

[RedinSweden]

You can't argue with science

 

 

[Captain]

We have a winner. Take a bow, RiS.

[Ranxerox]

I'm convinced.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

I'm convinced.

 

Well, it's science. It doesn't matter what you think or I think. It's science. It cannot and shall not be refuted.

[RedRazor]

When this window is closed,we will have all the information we need.

 

I don't think is true. I think we still will not have the answers to the questions I posed.

 

If we don't sign anyone else is it because:

- we have no money

- our valuation is way below that of his club

- the club didn't want to sell

- the player didn't want to move

- the player wanted too much wages

- there is no-one with the right attributes available

- we haven't even tried.

[TheHowieLama]

 

If we don't sign anyone else is it because:

- we have no money

- our valuation is way below that of his club

- the club didn't want to sell

- the player didn't want to move

- the player wanted too much wages

- there is no-one with the right attributes available

- we haven't even tried.

 

Yes.

[Dr. J]

The club could straighten this out instantly if it didn't treat every piece of business like nuclear launch codes. It's not 1970 - everybody's talking all the time, and the more the club stays silent about some things the more the speculation eats away.

[Anubis]

I still don't have an answer to the question I posed:

 

• what conspiracy theory?

[Ranxerox]

I still don't have an answer to the question I posed:

 

• what conspiracy theory?

 

George Bush was behind 9-11

[ZonkoVille77]

I owe you rep for that RiS. Quality.

[RedinSweden]

Well, it's science. It doesn't matter what you think or I think. It's science. It cannot and shall not be refuted.

 

Precisely. Can we close the thread now?

[Saintslfc13]

The club could straighten this out instantly if it didn't treat every piece of business like nuclear launch codes. It's not 1970 - everybody's talking all the time, and the more the club stays silent about some things the more the speculation eats away.

 

Just a few years ago didn't we all want to go back to business being conducted behind closed doors?

 

I hate the cunt but it's relevant in that Mourinho has just basically came out and said that if Tottenham hadn't publicized Willian's medical and fee they might not have gone in for him. How many targets have we lost out to other clubs on because we've done all the legwork publicly only for the player to change his mind when someone who looks better now came in?

[xerxes]

Just a few years ago didn't we all want to go back to business being conducted behind closed doors?

 

Those days are over.

 

Agents, from both club and player, leak to suit themselves/