Liverpool FC Forum

[Bad Bob]

Didn't know where else to put this (who closed the Takeover Thread? ) but the Texas Rangers have made it to the World Series.  The club dumps Hicks and presto they make it to baseball's grandest stage at the first time of asking.  Let's hope we get a similar rebound effect.

[burjennio]

Didn't know where else to put this (who closed the Takeover Thread? ) but the Texas Rangers have made it to the World Series.  The club dumps Hicks and presto they make it to baseball's grandest stage at the first time of asking.  Let's hope we get a similar rebound effect.

Didnt they beat the Yankees in the semis? That would be the Red Sox arch nemesis? Is everything coming up John Henry atm?

[Bad Bob]

Didn't know where else to put this (who closed the Takeover Thread? ) but the Texas Rangers have made it to the World Series.  The club dumps Hicks and presto they make it to baseball's grandest stage at the first time of asking.  Let's hope we get a similar rebound effect.

Didnt they beat the Yankees in the semis? That would be the Red Sox arch nemesis? Is everything coming up John Henry atm?

They did indeed. 

[redsoxfan]

New article on John Henry:
Fans of Liverpool FC, one of the signature teams in the English Premier League, are no doubt stunned that American businessman John Henry recently paid $476 million to buy their team.

Remain calm, futbol fans. I've seen this before. Henry bought the vaunted Boston Red Sox in December 2001 and my city has been pretty happy with Henry's stewardship over the last nine seasons.

Here's a handy-dandy, clip-'n'-save guide for those who know nothing about your new owner:

Henry is first and foremost a businessman. Born in 1949, he grew up in farm country in the middle of America and was not much of an athlete himself. As a young man he loved baseball, guitars and statistics. He wrote music, played in a band and was a devoted fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. His dad died when he was 26 and he took over the family soybean farm. It was then that he learned about commodities markets.

He attended the University of California and spent time at the library studying the history of commodities pricing. He started his own managed futures company in 1981 at age 31. Within a decade, he was rich enough to actually consider buying a Major League Baseball team. In 1998, Henry bought the Florida Marlins. Less than four years later, he was the major investor in a group that paid $700 million for Fenway Park and the Red Sox.

In his nine seasons in Boston, Henry has rebuilt ancient (1912) Fenway Park and sent his team to the playoffs six times. In 2004, the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years, shattering the Curse of the Bambino, and bringing great joy to multiple generations of long-suffering Red Sox fans The Sox won another World Series in 2007 and last year had a payroll north of $170 million, second only to the New York Yankees.

Henry is a quirky guy. He is shy, fragile, private and a notorious low talker. He doesn't smoke and drinks little alcohol. He does not seek the spotlight. In 2007, he bought the home of Dodger owner Frank McCourt for $16 million, only to tear the place down and build a new home. He has been married three times, has a teen daughter by his second marriage and recently became a dad again when his wife, Linda, gave birth to a baby girl, Sienna, in late September. Those who know him best believe that, personally, he has never been happier.

He is a nocturnal creature, famous for sending e-mails at all hours of the night and morning. Other than his wife and children, his greatest love is statistics. Baseball is a game of stats and Henry spends hours poring over data, questioning any strategic decision that is not supported by the numbers. Kansas native Bill James made a nice career publishing books of baseball data, but did not work for a big league team until Henry came calling.

The most traumatic event of Henry's Red Sox tenure came when brilliant young general manager Theo Epstein resigned suddenly after the 2005 season. Henry blamed himself for the departure and suggested, "Maybe I'm not fit to run the Red Sox.'' Epstein eventually returned and Henry came to regret his remark.

"I think when it comes to leadership, people don't want to hear introspection,'' he told me in 2008. "So it wasn't the best thing to say, but I think anytime things go wrong in a business or a franchise you have to question yourself, especially if you are near the top. But it was an emotional day. And there were things that could have [been] done and should have [been] done.''

Henry was the first Sox owner to use Fenway Park for rock concerts. Since Henry bought the team, Fenway has featured Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Buffett, the Dave Matthews Band and Phish. The ballpark was the site of a National Hockey League game between the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers last New Year's Day. It was also the site of an international soccer match last summer.

While owning the Red Sox, Henry bought into the Roush racing team of NASCAR fame. Now he owns Liverpool FC.

When he bought Liverpool, I was hoping he would throw down the gauntlet, Curt Schilling-style, and announce, "I guess now I hate Manchester United.'' But that is not Henry's style. He prefers to stay in the background. And he just found out that's going to be hard to do as owner of a struggling soccer power in Great Britain.

Dan Shaughnessy is a columnist for The Boston Globe. Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010....VadXVDk

[rocky29]

im worried you know there sounding abit tight fisted to me. They better splash the cash in january else we will be fecked

[Redman in wales]

im worried you know there sounding abit tight fisted to me. They better splash the cash in january else we will be fecked

they are not a sugar daddy.

I don’t think they will ‘splash the cash’. They’ll give us a little start up capital to invest in the club each year, but that will be it, £20m or so would be my guess, enough for a good player. The rest will be generated by us. BUT (although its just words at the moment) IF they keep the debt off the club, then all our operating profits can be ploughed back into the club, and not on interest repayments, and we can start to be run like a proper club. Just don’t expect them to shower us with wads of cash. It won’t happen like that

[addy]

im worried you know there sounding abit tight fisted to me. They better splash the cash in january else we will be fecked

I don't think we will be screwed if they don't splash the cash and I am not always convinced it is the best time to splash out anyway.

I've read their comments regarding transfer funds etc. and I am not unduly worried.

We knew they weren't going to splash the cash like Man City - no one really can (except possibly Real Madrid).

What they're saying is that any money spent has to be done wisely - surely no one can argue with that?

Liverpool have just come through one of the biggest crunch points in their history - 5 years ago who would have thought the threat of administration would have been being discussed as a very real possibility?

H&G screwed the club and coupled with some very dubious signings etc. the club was in a bad way. We never want to get there again. Liverpool now are in a very secure financial position but this shouldn't be squandered by shopping in the January sales like a drunken sailor.

All NESV are saying is that new contracts and / or signings have to be scrutinised to ensure they represent good value for money.

Much as I love him and have admired him for years - does anyone else think that the big new long-term contract for Carra represents good value for money?

I don't. His legs have gone now. Yet he has another 3 or 4 years of contract - he'll be lucky to be on the bench by then yet will be picking up £4 million a year.

NESV are right, this type of contract needs looking at and maybe shouldn't be offered but the money invested should be going to younger talent.

[rocky29]

im worried you know there sounding abit tight fisted to me. They better splash the cash in january else we will be fecked

they are not a sugar daddy.

I don’t think they will ‘splash the cash’. They’ll give us a little start up capital to invest in the club each year, but that will be it, £20m or so would be my guess, enough for a good player. The rest will be generated by us. BUT (although its just words at the moment) IF they keep the debt off the club, then all our operating profits can be ploughed back into the club, and not on interest repayments, and we can start to be run like a proper club. Just don’t expect them to shower us with wads of cash. It won’t happen like that

feck that. first thing to do mate is sort this mess of a team out we need 2 or 3 quality players else were doomed.

[tubby]

As Reg mentioned the money we make each year that was going on the debt is enough as long as that is actually pumped back into the team. We just need a new statium and we will see that figure rising. We may need an injection initially to get the 1st team back on par with the likes of Chelsea ect... but after that we should be able to finance ourselves.

[jacdaniel]

if we can get back into the CL and build a new stadium, then we should be able to self sustain.

[boodiddy1]

Dont forget the new rules that  will come into place. We have a great "brand" worldwide. I hate that word but in business circles they love it. We can generate very good profits and us along with arsenal and the mancs when they  sort out theirs yanks will benefit hugely. Chelsea might be ok cos they have built a young following lately. Citeh will probably be doomed after a while.

NESV really seem capable owners. I believe also that un buying in excellent younger players is the way forward. Would you want a Morientes every year or a Chicarito, Young Ronaldo etc.

We will win things again the correct way. The old Liverpool way. Not by whoring our money on mercenaries.

However, NESV, we are watching you. Dont load the club with unwarranted debt. A new stadium has to be built with a long term finance and structure. None of the 1 yr 2 yr pish that the cowboys tried

[rocky29]

first you need a successful side before all this planning for the future bullsh'it.

[stmichael]

All NESV are saying is that new contracts and / or signings have to be scrutinised to ensure they represent good value for money.

Much as I love him and have admired him for years - does anyone else think that the big new long-term contract for Carra represents good value for money?

I don't. His legs have gone now. Yet he has another 3 or 4 years of contract - he'll be lucky to be on the bench by then yet will be picking up £4 million a year.

NESV are right, this type of contract needs looking at and maybe shouldn't be offered but the money invested should be going to younger talent.

Yeah agree with that. Carra's new contract was ludicrous.

NESV aren't saying we're not going to spend money on the right players of the right age. They're saying we're not going to spend massive fees on players and that we're going to recruit players under the age of 25 where possible.

[addy]

All NESV are saying is that new contracts and / or signings have to be scrutinised to ensure they represent good value for money.

Much as I love him and have admired him for years - does anyone else think that the big new long-term contract for Carra represents good value for money?

I don't. His legs have gone now. Yet he has another 3 or 4 years of contract - he'll be lucky to be on the bench by then yet will be picking up £4 million a year.

NESV are right, this type of contract needs looking at and maybe shouldn't be offered but the money invested should be going to younger talent.

Yeah agree with that. Carra's new contract was ludicrous.

NESV aren't saying we're not going to spend money on the right players of the right age. They're saying we're not going to spend massive fees on players and that we're going to recruit players under the age of 25 where possible.

That's how I read it as well.

If we get the new stadium (and I was reading that NESV have been talking to the council about the planning permission which is a decent sign) and can significantly increase our match day revenue, plus the additional revenue from not having to pay interest on the debt, Liverpool are in a very healthy financial position.

If the right people are then brought into the club to maximise the commercial opportunities both here and abroad and then this additional revenue is invested wisely in quality players up to the age of 25 or 26 where Liverpool will be able to get a minimum of 5 or 6 years out of these players whilst they are at their peak then I would say the future could look very good indeed.

However, one thing I would love to see is some English, preferably Scouse, talent coming through from the Academy.

Another Fowler would do nicely

[jacdaniel]

Im gonna adopt a "wait and see" approach in regards to NESV.
They seem like decent people but im not sure they realise how financially competetive football is.  We need to find a balance somewhere in between Arsenal and City.   

We need to spend a lot of money soon or players like Torres + Reina will be considering their options.  Hopefully we can decrease the wage bill during the summer by offloading all the sh.ite we have.