Jayesh1987

LIVERPOOL 6, HULL CITY 1 26/09/2009 CHRIS BASCOMBE YOU could almost hear George Gillett whisper into the ear of his rich Saudi guest as Fernando Torres completed his hat-trick 47 minutes into this massacre. "Better stick another £80m on that club valuation." No wonder the Liverpool co-owner joined in the standing ovation as Torres was substituted long before the end of the rout, presumably as an act of mercy to Hull. The sound of the cash till must have given Gillett tinnitus. "Take a good luck at him, Prince Faisal. One day, a share in him could be yours!" Poor Ibrahima Sonko and his Hull team-mates were not so much put to the sword by the striker as suffer as close to a decapitation as you can get on a football pitch. The best description of Torres' second is to imagine Hull's defenders impersonating orange police cones as he nimble-footedly zig-zagged through them and past keeper Boaz Myhill before tapping home. So bemused were the visiting defenders, you got the feeling Torres could have repeated the trick before applying the finish. It was a stroke of genius matched only by the opening goal, which began with a drop of the shoulder that left Sonko stranded before Torres stroked the ball past the keeper. The Spaniard's third owed more to luck as he sprinted past Sonko before blasting through Paul McShane's legs into the bottom corner. It was a regal display worthy of the presence of a prince, assisted it must be said by a Hull defence lamer than a two-footed donkey with chronic arthritis. Brown said his main aim is still to be Hull manager by next month. The way his side played, he'll be lucky to survive beyond the first editions of this newspaper. "I was disgusted," he said after undergoing a 50-minute post-mortem with his players in the visiting dressing room. "We just didn't defend." It's believed Darren Ferguson is on standby for Brown's job. He would be well advised to stay close to the phone for the next few hours. The manner of Hull's capitulation was exceptional. There's bad, there's woeful, there's truly abysmal and there is this Tigers defence. If the words 'closing down' or 'tracking back' have appeared in a recent Brown team talk, the sound must have been drowned out by the loudness of the Hull chief's tan. Here's another piece of advice for his defence if they really want to save their manager's job - throw in a tackle or two. The Tigers were pussycats. They might as well have taken a seat on The Kop in the second half and admired Torres from a more comfortable position. You felt for teenager Liam Cooper, thrust into his debut, as he was terrorised as much by his own team-mates as the Reds' attack. A lingering, bitterly repeated question for Liverpool fans is how a club bought for £195m three years ago is advertising itself for double the price via the Middle East's equivalent of 'Loot'. Then you see Torres' performance here and it all becomes clear. Never has there been a more perfect example of speculating to accumulate. Liverpool broke records and the bank to secure the striker's services but he is worth treble his £23m fee now. "We knew when we spent what was a massive amount of money on him for this club he could improve," said Rafa Benitez, in what amounts to a eulogy about one of his own players. You cannot blame Benitez for reinforcing the point in the presence of one of his bosses when the time comes to ask for another mega-cheque. "He can do even better," said his manager with a dry sense of humour, fully aware he wouldn't be expected to say anything else. The demand for even more is admirable but it's hard to imagine a more complete goalscoring performance than this. Liverpool, so often the ruthlessly efficient machine of the top four, are transformed into the great entertainers. The six here took their league goal tally for the season to 22. That's the best the club have achieved at this stage of the season since 1895-6. The presence of Steven Gerrard in central midfield and the sight of rampaging full-backs Glen Johnson and the under-rated Emiliano Insua is adding a flourish in home games. That's made them look more vulnerable at the back on occasion. Geovanni's equaliser after Martin Skrtel's poor headed clearance was a reminder where problems still arise. Once Torres had taken his bow, his team-mates enjoyed an encore on his behalf. Gerrard swung in a cross from 30 yards which dipped over Myhill. Even the Liverpool skipper didn't dare claim he meant it. Then Ryan Babel notched the last two, although it's doubtful he knew much about the fifth as the Dutchman deflected an Albert Riera drive. As adverts for the club sale go, Torres was pure Saatchi and Saatchi. The Saudi prince took the chance to thank Torres after the game. If he was as impressed as he looked, the £23m striker may have contributed to bringing in another £200m.

I saw on the SSN ticker last night that Eccleston has also signed a new 2 year extension but can't find the story online... Can anyone confirm this?

Won't that leave us 1 homegrown player short in the CL squad?

Keane played 45 mins for Spurs in Spain today.

Maybe we should all start emailing Parry now instead of Hicks :D

5 live saying it (refinancing) will go thru on Thurs

Posted by ShanksLegend, he is as reliable as they come.

New snippits from the BBC: The interest has now been seriously revived, but DIC is insistent it will not pay over the odds to buy the club, and until Gillett and Hicks agree to certain terms contained within the deal, an impasse has been reached. Joe McLean, who is a football finance expert with accountants Grant Thornton, told BBC Radio Five Live: "The talk at the moment is that there will be some hard bargaining going on and it may take a few weeks before it is resolved." DIC has put together a package of around £350m to put to Gillett and Hicks, which also includes taking on the debts incurred by the pair when they took control in March last year. The Americans are currently attempting to finalise terms on a £350m loan that would enable them to repay money borrowed for their £218.9m takeover, repay loans used to sign players, and enable them to start work on a re-scaled plan for a new stadium in Stanley Park. DIC hopes the offer would present the American duo with a get-out clause before they take out the massive loan. McLean believes that bankers could try to encourage that to happen and he says that even if Gillett and Hicks do strike a refinancing deal, it would only be a prelude to them selling the club. BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Liverpool | Liverpool braced for takeover bid

Hicks and Gillett won't be sellin up imo. :wallbutt:

Anfield crisis: Owners could sell Liverpool for £50m profit as title hopes crash Last updated at 22:13pm on 19th January 2008 Liverpool's future is in the balance after it emerged last night that the club's millionaire American owners are ready to reject the chance to make a staggering profit of up to £50million by selling out less than a year after their takeover. Dubai International Capital have made an offer, reported to be £400m, to buy out George Gillett Jnr and Tom Hicks and take on the club's debts. The deal would result in the two American millionaires making a huge profit without having put a cent of their own money into the club, an outcome which would anger Liverpool fans already dismayed by their team's lack of progress towards becoming genuine Premier League contenders since the arrival of Gillett and Hicks. Liverpool face Aston Villa tomorrow with their hopes of a title challenge already conceded by defender Jamie Carragher to be virtually non-existent. Despite the temptation to cash in, Hicks and Gillett are understood to be planning to cling on to control of the club and go ahead with their intention to take out £350m in refinancing loans. The worrying downside to that venture would be the crippling effect on the transfer plans of manager Rafael Benitez and the fear that it could be the first step towards a Leeds United-style meltdown. Neither DIC nor the club's bankers, the Royal Bank of Scotland, would allow that to happen and they will hold crisis talks this week to discuss how DIC, the investment arm of the Dubai government, could rescue Liverpool from crisis, on and off the field. Gillett and Hicks are close to finalising a restructuring package with RBS, who loaned them £220m to buy Liverpool last February, and American bank Wachovia. The new £350m loan would cover the Americans' original borrowing, the money the club raised to buy players last summer and the start-up costs for a new stadium project. But City observers believe the new loans would be merely a 'sticking plaster' for the problems at Liverpool and would leave them unable to compete with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea because of crippling £30m-a-year interest charges. There are even fears that any future failure to qualify for the Champions League could leave the club vulnerable to the kind of downward spiral suffered by Leeds. RBS, who have a long relationship with Liverpool, are so concerned about the deal that a senior figure in the bank has been called in to oversee the delicate negotiations. But with fans due to mount a huge demonstration against the Americans at Anfield tomorrow, the pressure on them to walk away is increasing by the day. Hicks, however, is playing hardball, refusing to be forced into accepting DIC's current price for the shares and believing that, if the refinancing goes through, he will be in a stronger negotiating position. For their part, DIC will not pay a price which does not make commercial sense under their own plans and are prepared to bide their time. Gillett has found himself embarrassed and annoyed by the way Hicks has conducted himself, particularly in the clumsy confirmation of an approach to former Germany World Cup manager Jurgen Klinsmann over replacing Benitez. But sources suggested last night that Hicks is now likely to fall into line with the Texan. Gillett, asset-rich but cashpoor, has found himself in a kingmaker role and could still trigger a takeover by DIC by refusing to sign off the refinancing or even by joining forces with DIC to buy out Hicks. But in recent days he has stepped back from those drastic courses of action in favour of proceeding with the new loan from RBS and Wachovia. If DIC, which is headed by Liverpool fan Sameer al- Ansari, do move in, it is thought that they would retain Benitez as manager after the way he has kept up his team's challenge for trophies in a very difficult season. Although Liverpool's homegrown stars, Steven Gerrard and Carragher, have declined to offer Benitez any public sympathy or support since his disenchantment with Hicks and Gillett became public in November, the manager said yesterday: "We know we need to improve in the Premier League, but in the Champions League it's clear we have been the best English club over the past three seasons." Benitez also revealed that his players have quizzed him over events away from the field. The Spaniard said: "Some of the players, a lot of the players, have asked me: 'What is going on?' The only thing I can say is to keep going and try to do our best." Benitez appeared optimistic about his chances of staying in the job when he added: "I am thinking about the future — and the future does not just mean next week. It is next season and beyond." Anfield crisis: Owners could sell Liverpool for £50m profit as title hopes crash | the Daily Mail

Don't get to excited: Liverpool waiting on takeover bid By Phil McNulty Chief football writer Dubai International Capital - the investment arm of the Dubai Government - is ready to table a new £350m bid to buy Liverpool Football Club. BBC Sport understands DIC has drawn up plans to take control from American duo George Gillett and Tom Hicks. But the deal is subject to conditions which Gillett and Hicks are currently unwilling to meet. DIC was originally thought to be ready to make an offer for Hicks' 50% share, but now favours a total buy-out. BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Liverpool | Liverpool waiting on takeover bid

Liverpool ponder move to buy out Hicks Gillett considers a future without his co-owner Americans fall out over plans for re-financing Andy Hunter Friday January 18, 2008 The Guardian Liverpool's co-owner George Gillett will spend the next few days deciding whether to support a plan to buy out his partner Tom Hicks or throw his weight behind a refinancing package that would strengthen Hicks's hold on the club. Gillett and his co-chairman Hicks have almost finalised terms on a £350m loan that would allow them to repay money borrowed for their £218.9m takeover, repay loans acquired to sign players last summer and commence work on their revised plans for a new stadium. The deal, with the Royal Bank of Scotland and US investment firm Wachovia, could be completed early next week providing the two Americans sign the terms on offer. After a period of instability unprecedented in Liverpool's recent history, Gillett is understood to have grave misgivings over his continued involvement with Hicks, the man he brought on board to secure the takeover last February but who has proved far from the silent partner he originally envisaged. A fresh dilemma for Gillett is that Dubai International Capital, the investment arm of the Dubai government, is now prepared to provide him with the financial backing to make an offer for Hicks's 50% stake in Liverpool. DIC lost out in the pursuit of the former chairman David Moores' majority shareholding last February when its failure to meet agreed deadlines for the takeover enabled the Americans to succeed with a late and more lucrative bid. Though it withdrew acrimoniously from negotiations DIC has maintained its interest and, having baulked at a £150m asking price for a 15% stake last October, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum's investment company now hopes to capitalise on the disunity in the hierarchy. DIC is willing to join forces with Gillett in an attempt to persuade Hicks to sell his interest in Liverpool for a substantial profit. A source confirmed yesterday that a deal has been drawn up in principle and will be presented to the Americans before they put their signatures to the £350m loan. "It is a very delicate situation but DIC has reignited its interest," said the source. "The terms of the offer, which will be made to Tom Hicks, have been agreed and DIC are hopeful they will be finally be able to invest in Liverpool." Major obstacles remain in the way of DIC gaining a financial interest in Liverpool, however, not least Hicks's insistence that he has no intention of selling up. There is also doubt over Gillett's determination to attempt to oust his business partner by agreeing terms with DIC. Gillett and Hicks both have an option to purchase the other's stake in Liverpool, although the former would require backing from Dubai to achieve that goal. Hicks, owner of the Texas Rangers baseball franchise and the Dallas Stars ice hockey team, created further problems for the American regime this week with the revelation that both he and Gillett, owner of the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey franchise, had approached Jürgen Klinsmann last November as "an insurance policy" against the possible departure of the Liverpool manager, Rafael Benítez. What was an attempt by the Texan to draw a line under the uncertainty surrounding the future of Benítez has proved hugely embarrassing for Gillett, who is disturbed by the furious reaction among Liverpool supporters it provoked, but it is how much of the £350m loan should be placed on to the club's books that is the fundamental problem. Both Moores, who became honorary life president of Liverpool under the terms of the takeover, and the chief executive, Rick Parry, have blocked attempts to load all of the debt on to the club amid concerns at annual interest payments of £30m. Under the terms of the loan it is anticipated half will be burdened on the club and the rest secured against Kop Holdings, Gillett and Hicks's parent company, although that still represents a U-turn on their promise to use their own funds and not to adopt the Glazers' handling of Manchester United. The Americans will still require a further £300m loan at a later date to complete work on a proposed new stadium. Gillett could exert pressure on Hicks to sell next week by refusing to commit to the refinancing package. Should Gillett agree to the loan, and sources yesterday insisted that he remains undecided, then Hicks - the driving force behind the stadium and the biggest threat to Benítez - will be empowered in his plans to bring the development to fruition in 2011 when he can demand a higher price for his stake. Football: Liverpool ponder move to buy out Hicks | News | Guardian Unlimited Football

bring back l4 :laugh:

So if the bank owned us, wud that mean we would be minted? lol

Chimbonda to Chelsea then?

finished 0-0

was wondering the same thing myself...

From tribalfootball... Atletico Madrid have already struck terms over the method of payment for the fee of Independiente striker Sergio Aguero. The Spanish outfit have stunned Europe with their £15 million swoop for 17 year-old Aguero, rated as big a talent as Barcelona dazzler Lionel Messi. Independiente president Julio Comparada and IMG chief Arturo Canales, whose company owns 25 per cent of Aguero's transfer rights, were in Madrid last week and agreed with Atletico officials to the fee being paid over two years. Atletico are already house-hunting for Aguero and his family. The teenager lives at home with his parents, six brothers and two cousins - and all are expected to follow him to Madrid in the summer.

I beleive that Independiente only own 75% of his contract so it is probably that Atletico have agreed a fee with his club for 11mil and the other 3 mil with the people that own his other 25% and that Palmero have only agreed a fee with Independiente so far.

from sky sports..... Palermo set for summer spend Palermo supremo Maurizio Zamparini has confirmed he will be giving the club money to spend during the summer. The Rosanero president will give sporting director Rino Foschi €50 million (£35 million) to improve the squad ahead of next season. The current campaign has seen the Italian side progress to the latter stages of the Uefa Cup as well as challenging in the top half of Serie A and Zamparini is ready to invest more money to strengthen the side. "I've put at Foschi's disposal €50 million with the intention of building a very competitive side," he confirmed to the Italian press. "In the next month we will be working on names. "I don't sell, I buy. About ten players will arrive, many of them young but I want to build a team that can count on 18 regulars." Zamparini also revealed that he will be conducting talks with Internazionale during the week to discuss the transfer of players between the clubs. Reports claim Palermo are keen on bringing Inter's David Pizarro to the club and the meeting could open the doors to a possible player exchange. "On Thursday I will be having a meeting with Massimo Moratti," he added. "We have players that interest them and it's possible there could be a few of them that could interest us." Meanwhile, the Palermo chief says the club have struck a deal with Independiente to sign Argentinian starlet Sergio Aguero (pictured). Atletico Madrid had looked to have clinched a deal for the 17-year-old, but Zamparini says his side have now agreed a fee with the Argentinian club. Villarreal, Juventus and Bayern Munich have also been linked with the talented teenager. "He will go to Atletico Madrid? It doesn't seem that way to me. "Two days ago Independiente told us €16 million (£11 million) and we accepted. "I hope they aren't using us as an auction." ;) ;)

from Sky Sports: Bayern close on Aguero Bayern Munich are locked in negotiations to sign Argentine starlet Sergio Aguero from Independiente. Aguero is rated as the next big thing to emerge from Argentina and has expressed an interest in joining Premiership outfit Liverpool. Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid are also tracking the teenager, but Bayern are the sole club to make a formal offer for Aguero. The German champions are aiming to strike a deal for the gifted playmaker, although Independiente are refusing to budge from their €20 million (£13.8 million) asking price. Independiente accept they are likely to lose the attacking tyro, but are determined to be fully compensated by an eager Bayern. "It's difficult, it's very difficult to make Aguero stay for more time at Independiente," said the Argentine club's president Julio Comparada. "We had several meetings with the Germans. "I have heard many types of amounts of money, but Independiente isn't going to change anything about that. "They pay what we have asked for Aguero or Aguero stays with us." Reports suggest that Aguero's family are anxious for an agreement with Bayern to be reached as they are aware they will be financially secure for life, if the forward moves to Europe. http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=379990&CPID=22&clid=156&lid=9&title=Bayern+close+on+Aguero

He was dropped from the whole Spain squad reccently, so i doubt that very much.

just out of interest mate, what do you have against dunk/insider ?

Sergio Aguero and Dirk Kuyt