Liverpool FC Forum

rightly or wrongly the perception is that american owners have no real affinity for the game, they didnt grow up watching it or playing it and the only reason they are over here is because they sense an opportunity to make a quick buck.
lets face it the likes of tom`man ham`hicks, george gillette and the glazers have been controversial figures over here and although fsg are probably the best of all the american owners they havent exactly helped dispel any myths either, praising the arsenal model (when they havent won anything for years but made substantial profits), rubbishing the domestic cups (basically because there`s no money in them) and even saying they were open to the idea of a 39th game (a proposal so ludicrous even H&G were against it) hasnt eased any fears fans may have had post H&G.
but ethanr is right, it wasnt american owners who created the premier league (when the top 20 clubs put two fingers up to the other 70 (and also the grassroots of the game, ripping up over a century of tradition)).
it was british chairmen, in the late 80`s (when thatchers greed is good message was resonating with rich businessmen) that opened pandora`s box, not american owners.
given a choice between fsg or mike ashley there`s only one winner and it aint ashley.

I would rather we followed a sound business model than get ourselves in trouble trying to compete with teams that will disappear as fast as they came. I think you have to earn the right to spend as you can only buy success in the short term. I am ok with FSG building a strong financial foundation, we are are far better than what we were with Hicks & Gillette.

ethanr » Sun Jul 14, 2013 2:23 am wrote:That's quite an argument you state there, full of factual evidence.

It's simple.  Be glad we have the owners we do because, as their record has shown, you make the most money when your time is successful.  That's why they've spent so much on players, they do want to make money, but they know the way to do that without facing issues from the fan base is to also have a successful program ran the proper way.

Arsenal has not been owned by any single person until this last season.  The board didn't want to put a lot of money into it because they feared that if things went south, for one they'd lose their investors who'd no longer have faith in the club being a profitable investment, and they also wouldn't have anybody to back up the club with finances.  Now that an American has taken over, look at what they're trying to do.  They're going after players like Higuain, Suarez, Fabregas, and Rooney, players they have either openly stated interest in buying, or have confirmed bids for. They're looking at an entirely different class of player than usual.

Just because we've had greedy American owners in the past doesn't mean every American owner is out to destroy the club in order to make some money. Look at Mike Ashley at Newcastle.  Any time they have developed a player that is worth more than they paid for, and they get an offer for what that player is worth (or much more) they sell him.  He's purely after making money. Our clubs wants to hold onto the talent we develop and have, so be gracious we have owners willing to invest and doing what they can to hold onto the talent we have.

Well, in an ideal "fair play world" that might be what they get but in the real footballing world they will be getting exactly what Arsenal have been getting these past 5 years.
Meaning the players that turn out great being devloped in the club will jump ship one by one no matter what the owners or the club want. This is what happens when you try to bargain buy your way to the top with only young players.
The club becomes a farm club for the very best as Arsenal did. But please continue to be deluded and think Coutinho, Sturridge etc will stay on later when FSG continues to buy 20 year old hopefuls.

I struggle with the all American's are GREEDY *****'S argument. The club made a substantial loss in FSG's first year. Can't remember the exact figure but I think it was over £50m. They also allowed Kenny and Comolli to spend nearly £150m. They could easily have spent considerably less if they really are that greedy. Is it any wonder that they are being cautious after seeing how easily it is to lose £30m on one player. If we sell Downing FSG will probably lose another £14m. Basically we fkd up with the Torres money and that is going to take time to sort out. FSG are not a registered charity to the best of my knowledge.

don't let the door hit you on the way out

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news ... exit-plans

The Americans have made "minimal" losses due to outgoings covered by money made on sales and wage cuts.

devaney » Sun Jul 14, 2013 9:39 am wrote: They also allowed Kenny and Comolli to spend nearly £150m. They could easily have spent considerably less if they really are that greedy.

Kenny and Comolli never spent 150m, that's absolute nonsense. Net spend was closer to 40m in the time they were here. A distorted figure, so it' really hard to understand how you "can spend any lower" than that anyway!

Also, I think overall the net spend figure in the last 3 seasons under FSG is around 60-70m which is how "real investment" can be measured.

20-23m per season is actually quiet average. Nothing to boast about really, considering we haven't even come close to a 4th place finish in that time.

So far I believe they have spent 2-3m net spend on these 4 new players, so once again show us the money FSG!

I think the majority of fans are ready to wash their hands of Suarez now. He's backtracked now from 'wanting to leave England' to 'wanting to play in the CL' and is now seemingly willing to move to another English club.

I've personally had enough of the little rat fu.cker now. He has shown us zero respect after all the support the club gave him during his psychotic episodes.

But I'd rather let him rot in the reserves than give him away for less than his market value (which is not a penny less than 40 mil in today's market).

We absolutely have to play hardball over this and show we will not give in - to prove a point to Suarez, other clubs and any players we have in the future who try the same stunt.

Whole thing makes me sick. If he ends up coming back pre-season if I was Steven Gerrard I'd go through the back of the little runt in training first chance I had.

john craig » Sun Jul 14, 2013 10:49 am wrote:I think the majority of fans are ready to wash their hands of Suarez now. He's backtracked now from 'wanting to leave England' to 'wanting to play in the CL' and is now seemingly willing to move to another English club.

I've personally had enough of the little rat fu.cker now. He has shown us zero respect after all the support the club gave him during his psychotic episodes.

But I'd rather let him rot in the reserves than give him away for less than his market value (which is not a penny less than 40 mil in today's market).

We absolutely have to play hardball over this and show we will not give in - to prove a point to Suarez, other clubs and any players we have in the future who try the same stunt.

Whole thing makes me sick. If he ends up coming back pre-season if I was Steven Gerrard I'd go through the back of the little runt in training first chance I had.

If only all of us could get this worked up about constantly finishing mid-table and descending into mid table obscurity rather then blaming our best players wanting to leave because we have fked up time and time again as a club.   

You're clueless eds.

These are 2 separate issues.  Obviously fans arent happy about mid table finishes. But Suarez has only had two and a half years of it compared to fans who've supported the team through countless rebuilding exercises and still not seen us win the league.

If Suarez can't knuckle down for another season or two to help us get back there, despite the backing we've given him then he's a disgrace.

It's the johnny come lately premier league era 'fans' who would sooner back a mercenary like Suarez than the club they claim to support.

Would anyone take 25 million and Torres for Suarez

LFC1990 » Sun Jul 14, 2013 7:20 pm wrote:Would anyone take 25 million and Torres for Suarez

No but I take 35 million and Xabi Alonso back

I quite happy to see back of him but really dont want him sold to one of our league rivals

One mercenary for another? No thanks.

Torres is a spent force, I wouldn't take him even on a free. We got the best years out of him and I wouldn't go back.

25mil plus Higuain or 35mil plus Alonso I'd consider, but neither will happen.

From Skysports

Luis Suarez says he will consider all offers to leave Liverpool as he wants to compete at the highest possible level.

The Uruguay international has expressed a desire to leave Anfield after becoming disillusioned with life in England.

He has been linked with Arsenal and Chelsea, but Spanish giants Real Madrid are considered to the frontrunners in the race for his signature.


"This club needs to fight to enter the Champions League and, when it doesn't happen, it damages the morale of any player. So I've suffered."
Luis Suarez


Liverpool are reluctant to let the unsettled striker leave, with boss Brendan Rodgers in 'constant communication' with the South American, but Suarez has reiterated that he will push for a move if he can further his career elsewhere.

He said: "If I receive an important offer to progress my career, I will study it. Some clubs have asked about me but I hand questions over to my agent. I am no stranger to rumours.

"I always want to improve. That's why I left Ajax for Liverpool.

"But this club needs to fight to enter the Champions League and, when it doesn't happen, it damages the morale of any player. So I've suffered.

"It is hard to view the Premier League every week with never a chance of winning it.

"On top of that, the English media do not understand me. The controversies with (Patrice) Evra and (Branislav) Ivanovic were decisive. There are always extra questions when people analyse me.

"After the Evra incident, it was very difficult to convince people about the 'real' Luis Suarez. Things had improved but then the incident involving Ivanovic was another blow.

"Had that not happened, perhaps I would have been regarded as the best Premier League player last season."

Its the longest suicide note in history
Adios luis