The Official 10/11 Liverpool F.C. Thread

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

I'm not 100% sure, but i thought England got 3 spots in Europa, one going to the Carling Cup winner (Birmingham), another to the FA cup winner/runner up if the winner has qualified for Europe already (making Bolton highly likely to get this spot), and the next best team in the prem (5th place).

I have also read something about 3 additional spots going to the Countries who have the highest ranking in the financial fair play rules (or something like that), so England could possibly be awarded another spot.

Heard on the guardian podcast today that it's just winners, if a team from the top 5 wins a cup than the 6th place team gets in, if two win than 7th (won't happen this year cause Brum won the League cup)

[Locke]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

I disagree, I think there will be plenty of spending this summer. The new owners were always going to put money into our squad, and so far our players sales equal our purchases. Also, judging by the quality of players that they have been rumored to be monitoring, I think we will have some quality signings.

It sounds as though Ashley Young and Charlie Adam are very likely to sign, as well as Sylvain Marveaux who is out of contract in the summer. Other targets appear to be Benzema, as well as another winger or two.

I also don't think that qualifying for Europa league will have any difference on our chances to sign players. Players don't care about Europa league, at least the top players don't anyway. I think it is going to be a very exciting summer window.

I agree, I just dont think they'll be after high profile signings, I think they're going to be more concerned about rounding out the squad.

I agree about Adam and Young, but I doubt they're going to pay a King's ransom to Real for Benzema.

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

I agree. Soto Kyrgiakos is a terrible defender, as he proved against WBA last game. I'm not so sure we will go out and purchase anything besides a full back though. I think it is more likely that we get to see Ayala and Wilson get a chance next year. I'm sure we'll look to bring in a new left back though.

Soto has his uses, just not in the Premier League I dont think, hes a little too slow and strong to be that last man. He played well in that role with 3 CBs and Carra and Agger behind him.

Either way, this is what I mean, Soto is around after he was a free transfer that Rafa picked up way back in the day which the club will likely be looking to improve upon.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Locke

I agree, I just dont think they'll be after high profile signings, I think they're going to be more concerned about rounding out the squad.

I agree about Adam and Young, but I doubt they're going to pay a King's ransom to Real for Benzema.



Soto has his uses, just not in the Premier League I dont think, hes a little too slow and strong to be that last man. He played well in that role with 3 CBs and Carra and Agger behind him.

Either way, this is what I mean, Soto is around after he was a free transfer that Rafa picked up way back in the day which the club will likely be looking to improve upon.

I read that we had already agreed a fee with Real for Benzema in Dec/Jan. I'm sure Real will want more now though with the way he has been playing recently. I think we could find better players then Benzema anyway, I think he is too lazy.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

I read that we had already agreed a fee with Real for Benzema in Dec/Jan. I'm sure Real will want more now though with the way he has been playing recently. I think we could find better players then Benzema anyway, I think he is too lazy.

I hadnt heard that, but I dont think Benzema is on the radar personally. And I agree, there are better players out there for less.

I'd be surprised if Charlie Adam doesnt sign in the summer, but I dont think the club can add much in the way of marquee players without blowing the fair play rules out of the water.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Locke

I hadnt heard that, but I dont think Benzema is on the radar personally. And I agree, there are better players out there for less.

I'd be surprised if Charlie Adam doesnt sign in the summer, but I dont think the club can add much in the way of marquee players without blowing the fair play rules out of the water.

I don't think the fair play rules should hinder us too much. I think this year is the first year it comes in to play, and so far our player sales match our purchases. With the sales of a few more players currently on the squad (Soto, Javanovic, Maxi, etc..), we should be able to spend 50-60 million pounds and stay within the rules. I'm not saying we WILL spend that much, but I think we have the option to.

It doesn't really seem like the FFP rules are slowing other teams down either, I mean just look at Chelsea's spending. They spent over 80 million pounds in January and there is a lot of talk about them going on another huge spending spree in the summer. I have no idea how they plan to get around the rules.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

I don't think the fair play rules should hinder us too much. I think this year is the first year it comes in to play, and so far our player sales match our purchases. With the sales of a few more players currently on the squad (Soto, Javanovic, Maxi, etc..), we should be able to spend 50-60 million pounds and stay within the rules. I'm not saying we WILL spend that much, but I think we have the option to.

It doesn't really seem like the FFP rules are slowing other teams down either, I mean just look at Chelsea's spending. They spent over 80 million pounds in January and there is a lot of talk about them going on another huge spending spree in the summer. I have no idea how they plan to get around the rules.

Well, the issue is that the rules apply not only to net transfer spend as I undestand but also the salary bill. You cant overpay the players on per week wages more than you bring in in revenue.

I dont know how other teams are going to get around it either, then again, while these new rules have been put in place I have no idea what the consequences to adhering to them will be, I dont think its ever been mentioned.

Forget Chelsea, I have no idea how Man City are going to get around them. Their wage bill has to be the single most screwed up thing I've ever seen.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Locke

I hadnt heard that, but I dont think Benzema is on the radar personally. And I agree, there are better players out there for less.

I'd be surprised if Charlie Adam doesnt sign in the summer, but I dont think the club can add much in the way of marquee players without blowing the fair play rules out of the water.

it doesn't come in to effect really for 3 years though, so unless you go on a Man City like spending spree I don't think buying 2-3 players will do much. And it's not transfers in = transfers out, it's transfers in need to be below revenue

and Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Man U all make money so I don't think any of the two have a problem with it. Chelsea and City will

but I did read something in the paper about why Spurs didn't sell off all of their dead weight at january was to wait until august so that those sales would count as revenue for the fair play stuff, guessing Liverpool maybe did the same thing. It's smart business

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Locke

Well, the issue is that the rules apply not only to net transfer spend as I undestand but also the salary bill. You cant overpay the players on per week wages more than you bring in in revenue.

I dont know how other teams are going to get around it either, then again, while these new rules have been put in place I have no idea what the consequences to adhering to them will be, I dont think its ever been mentioned.

Forget Chelsea, I have no idea how Man City are going to get around them. Their wage bill has to be the single most screwed up thing I've ever seen.

Again this is just a rumor, but I heard that a consequence MAY be that a team gets pulled out of any European play, including Champions league.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

Again this is just a rumor, but I heard that a consequence MAY be that a team gets pulled out of any European play, including Champions league.

Wow, that would be a hefty consequence. But I suppose what else can you threaten them with? Money means nothing to teams like Chelsea and City so you cant really fine them. They dont even need the CL money really.

[d_phaneuf]

that is the consequence, if you don't meet the financial fair play rules you are ineligible to play in UEFA competitions (CL and Europa)

it's a 3 year rolling thing

[Locke]

Agger out for the rest of the season. As much as I like Daniel Agger, he is #1 on my replacement list in the summer. Hes just injured far too often. He is a real quality player and I like him, but you need a guy that can play most of the freaking games!

Glen Johnson out for a month, so effectively the rest of the season.

Also, John Henry blames Rafa for poor squad depth, pretty much what I had been saying all along, other than the fact that I dont think it was really Rafa's fault, moreso that it was a result of working for two cheap bitches in H&G. I mean, if they're not giving you any money to buy players theres only so much you can do in the free transfer market.

Liverpool owner John W Henry feels much of the blame for the club's current struggles should be shouldered by Rafa Benitez and the previous regime of Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

"The worst surprise was the lack of depth," Henry told Four Four Two. "Our biggest concern was this issue - and it was a bigger issue than we feared.

"There was a huge, multi-year payroll for a squad with very little quality in depth."

Liverpool's director of football Damien Comolli is also confident that the club can reassert themselves as a Premier League force next season if they are as successful in the summer transfer window as they were in January.

"There will be movement, that's for sure," Comolli said. "We are very attractive for a lot of players because of what we did in January and a game like the 3-1 defeat of Manchester United is fantastic publicity for us around the world.

"Since the day after I was getting phone calls from agents telling me that their player would love to come and that we are going to compete next year if we get it right. We are attractive to a lot of top players and we want to bring top players to this club."

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...-squad?cc=5901

An article thats good to hear, its unfortunate that most of the rest of the season is pretty much a write off.

Too many injuries, not enough squad depth, too much inconsistency such as beating Man U and Chelsea and then losing to West Brom, and Kenny Dalglish was appointed far too late.

Here the Flames comparison comes in again, this team is going to just barely miss out on Europe next season. Just watch.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

that is the consequence, if you don't meet the financial fair play rules you are ineligible to play in UEFA competitions (CL and Europa)

it's a 3 year rolling thing

I have to do some research on these rules then, I clearly dont quite understand them as well as I'd like. Kind of like the NHL salary cap and waiver rules....hah!

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Locke

Agger out for the rest of the season. As much as I like Daniel Agger, he is #1 on my replacement list in the summer. Hes just injured far too often. He is a real quality player and I like him, but you need a guy that can play most of the freaking games!

Glen Johnson out for a month, so effectively the rest of the season.

Also, John Henry blames Rafa for poor squad depth, pretty much what I had been saying all along, other than the fact that I dont think it was really Rafa's fault, moreso that it was a result of working for two cheap bitches in H&G. I mean, if they're not giving you any money to buy players theres only so much you can do in the free transfer market.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...-squad?cc=5901

An article thats good to hear, its unfortunate that most of the rest of the season is pretty much a write off.

Too many injuries, not enough squad depth, too much inconsistency such as beating Man U and Chelsea and then losing to West Brom, and Kenny Dalglish was appointed far too late.

Here the Flames comparison comes in again, this team is going to just barely miss out on Europe next season. Just watch.

Ya the rest of the season could get pretty ugly with all of our defenders out. For next season I'm really hoping that Ayala and Wilson are given a chance. I think they could be our future at CB.

Its good to see John Henry make comments like these. It shows that he is going to try to get rid of a lot of the dead weight on this squad, and also that he is going to be willing to invest heavily on new players. Good times ahead.

[TopChed]

LeBron James in Deal With Fenway Sports

By MATTHEW FUTTERMAN

Basketball star LeBron James is joining forces with renowned hedge-fund manager John Henry and veteran Hollywood producer Tom Werner in a deal that brings together one of the biggest stars in sports and two of the world's most renowned teams.

The deal between Mr. James and Fenway Sports Group will give Mr. James a minority stake in the soccer club Liverpool, which FSG owns. FSG, which also owns the Boston Red Sox, is partnering with Mr. James's sports-marketing firm, LRMR Branding & Marketing to become the exclusive world-wide representative for Mr. James.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000....html?mod=e2tw

Just read this on the LFC forum. Not sure what to think about it. I really don't like Lebron, but hopefully this partnership benefits Liverpool.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by TopChed

LeBron James in Deal With Fenway Sports

By MATTHEW FUTTERMAN



http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000....html?mod=e2tw

Just read this on the LFC forum. Not sure what to think about it. I really don't like Lebron, but hopefully this partnership benefits Liverpool.

Wow, I'm really not a LeBron fan, but maybe he can help bring in some extra revenues?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by TopChed

LeBron James in Deal With Fenway Sports

By MATTHEW FUTTERMAN



http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000....html?mod=e2tw

Just read this on the LFC forum. Not sure what to think about it. I really don't like Lebron, but hopefully this partnership benefits Liverpool.

This drew a big WTF from me.

Basketball sucks so I really dont follow, but I suppose he'll sell jerseys. Thats all I can figure, its basically a marketing gig but he has someone smart who told him to always ask for a percentage.

[Locke]

Gerrard is done for the season with a groin injury. I'm beginning to think more and more that a season out of Europe is what its going to take to retool this team successfully.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Locke

Well, the issue is that the rules apply not only to net transfer spend as I undestand but also the salary bill. You cant overpay the players on per week wages more than you bring in in revenue.

I dont know how other teams are going to get around it either, then again, while these new rules have been put in place I have no idea what the consequences to adhering to them will be, I dont think its ever been mentioned.

Forget Chelsea, I have no idea how Man City are going to get around them. Their wage bill has to be the single most screwed up thing I've ever seen.

a story on the financial fair play, explains it a bit, and with video

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/davidbond...losses_la.html

[The Big Chill]

Game today against Man City. Could be a tough one since we will likely have Skrtel and Soto both playing against some quick, strong City forwards. I'm looking forward to seeing how Carroll and Suarez continue to improve (hopefully).

[Locke]

I have no idea what to expect today. This team has been amazing against top tier teams but then cant beat lower end squads.

I'm hoping they take City down today, just so they can.

I'm looking for Andy to open his account on the back of another masterful Suarez performance.