Liverpool FC Forum

by **RUSHIE#9** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 4:02 pm

This is getting beyond a joke now. It's taken the best part of a decade this project and we STILL don't have a final design for the ground or Know what the final capacity will be!

I don't trust a word that comes out of Parry's mouth anymore and him 'reassuring' the fans that the ground will be built by 2011/12 means sweet FA.

People had reservations about the design unveiled in the summer but I think the majority had now warmed to it 'cos it was gonna be a unique world class venue. Going back to another shitty off the shelf bowl design is gonna be like thinking your about to bone JESSICA ALBA and end up getting your end into SABRE'S friend,

you end up wondering where it all went wrong.

This for me is another nail in the Hicks,Gillett & Parry coffin.

They're all better at using their mouths than a cheap hooker!!!

by **ivor_the_injun** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 6:32 pm

Scrolling across bbc.co.uk/sport...

FOOTBALL: Liverpool scrap new stadium design due to costs but insist new home will be 70,000-seater. More soon.

by **ivor_the_injun** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 6:34 pm

From PA Sport...

GILLETT "HAS FAITH" IN BENITEZ
By Ben Rumsby and Simon Stone, PA Sport
George Gillett has pledged his full support to Rafael Benitez after holding clear-the-air talks with the Liverpool boss.
Benitez met with Gillett and co-owner Tom Hicks hours after yesterday's 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Anfield.
The peace summit had been planned for a number of weeks after the trio suffered a highly-publicised fallout over the American tycoons' transfer policy, casting doubt over Benitez's position.
However, Gillett has now given his full backing to Benitez, and told the Liverpool Echo: "This wasn't supposed to happen, but it has happened, and now the focus has to be on finding a common platform to continue our co-operation."
Speaking at a meeting of the Liverpool Former Players' Association, Gillett added: "Rafa is the one we want as manager further on, and we have faith in him.
"I've been married over 40 years and have first-hand knowledge about how to solve an argument.
"We concentrated on getting an overview over the situation, and I felt we accomplished that."
Despite this, Gillett hinted a decision has yet to be made on Liverpool's transfer policy in the January transfer window.
That may further frustrate Benitez, who insisted in his criticism of the owners that he feared missing out on his top targets if he was not given the go-ahead to pursue them long before the window opened.
"The transfer window opens soon and we might use the option that gives us, or we might not," Gillett added.
"Liverpool is a great club. We are well aware that we have something very valuable in our hands."
One of Gillett and Hicks' first acts after their takeover was to commit funds to the club's proposed stadium move.
Those plans suffered a setback today after Rick Parry confirmed they had been forced to scrap their futuristic design.
Liverpool's chief executive insists this was because of spiralling costs, not due to the 'credit crunch' in America and he sought to reassure fans the club remain confident a new stadium will be delivered on time.
Parry said: "We are now considering two schemes but the stadium will be a 70,000-seater.
"The new stadium will be a significant improvement on the original plans and a slightly downgraded version of the new ones.
"And it will be a massive improvement on where we were 12 months ago, if not quite as dramatic as the plans unveiled in the summer.
"The single tier Kop remains fundamental to the design and we are not expecting any delays - it should be on schedule for 2011."
Meanwhile, veteran defender Sami Hyypia has denied Liverpool are now facing mission impossible in the title race following yesterday's defeat to United.
The Reds started the campaign with high hopes of ending their 17-year championship drought and despite some inconsistent form on home soil were well placed to make their move until 10 days ago.
Although Benitez's side have secured a financially imperative place in the knock-out phase of the Champions League, the outstanding four-goal win in Marseille has been sandwiched by the loss of Liverpool's unbeaten Premier League record at Reading and yet another defeat to United at Anfield.
The latest loss against their fierce north-west rivals - their fifth in six seasons - has left the Merseyside giants nine points behind United and 10 adrift of leaders Arsenal.
Admittedly, Liverpool do have a game in hand but, after picking up just two points in three meetings with their fellow 'big four' members this term, the evidence is not pointing towards the end of that long wait for a 19th title.
Nevertheless, Hyypia is refusing to be downcast.
The Finn is convinced Liverpool proved they were United's equals yesterday.
And, while he accepts his team-mates have a lot to do in order to haul themselves back into contention, Hyypia believes they are up to the task.
"It is not the end of the world," he said.
"Of course, if you think about 10 points it is quite a lot but I don't believe it is a major obstacle to clear and it is certainly not impossible.
"It would have been an important game to win but we didn't manage it, so we have to remained focused on each individual game and see where we are in May."

by **red37** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:02 pm

Ivor's post regards Stadium plans..

From PA Sport...

GILLETT "HAS FAITH" IN BENITEZ
By Ben Rumsby and Simon Stone, PA Sport
George Gillett has pledged his full support to Rafael Benitez after holding clear-the-air talks with the Liverpool boss.
Benitez met with Gillett and co-owner Tom Hicks hours after yesterday's 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Anfield.
The peace summit had been planned for a number of weeks after the trio suffered a highly-publicised fallout over the American tycoons' transfer policy, casting doubt over Benitez's position.
However, Gillett has now given his full backing to Benitez, and told the Liverpool Echo: "This wasn't supposed to happen, but it has happened, and now the focus has to be on finding a common platform to continue our co-operation."
Speaking at a meeting of the Liverpool Former Players' Association, Gillett added: "Rafa is the one we want as manager further on, and we have faith in him.
"I've been married over 40 years and have first-hand knowledge about how to solve an argument.
"We concentrated on getting an overview over the situation, and I felt we accomplished that."
Despite this, Gillett hinted a decision has yet to be made on Liverpool's transfer policy in the January transfer window.
That may further frustrate Benitez, who insisted in his criticism of the owners that he feared missing out on his top targets if he was not given the go-ahead to pursue them long before the window opened.
"The transfer window opens soon and we might use the option that gives us, or we might not," Gillett added.
"Liverpool is a great club. We are well aware that we have something very valuable in our hands."
One of Gillett and Hicks' first acts after their takeover was to commit funds to the club's proposed stadium move.
Those plans suffered a setback today after Rick Parry confirmed they had been forced to scrap their futuristic design.
Liverpool's chief executive insists this was because of spiralling costs, not due to the 'credit crunch' in America and he sought to reassure fans the club remain confident a new stadium will be delivered on time.
Parry said: "We are now considering two schemes but the stadium will be a 70,000-seater.
"The new stadium will be a significant improvement on the original plans and a slightly downgraded version of the new ones.
"And it will be a massive improvement on where we were 12 months ago, if not quite as dramatic as the plans unveiled in the summer.
"The single tier Kop remains fundamental to the design and we are not expecting any delays - it should be on schedule for 2011."

by **puroresu** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:29 pm

What a joke. This stadium thing just seems to drag on and on. So now we have to wait to see another design which I fear will be some bog standard thing like most new stadiums are. I would like to know the numbers and how much over budget the original plans have become.

by **Bammo** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:33 pm

I think recent reports put the cost of the 2007 design at £700m+.

I don't want a generic bowl design but I'm sure there are cheaper ways of making a unique stadium so I'd rather them invest in new plans than pay over-the-odds.

by **puroresu** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:36 pm

So in the summer what we witnessed was a PR stunt:

New Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks said recently: "The design is now final. It's spectacular and I can't wait for everybody to see it.

"I think our fans will love it. It's very creative architecture, very contemporary but also unique to Liverpool.

"It is all centred around the Kop - it will be the symphony stage that plays to the symphony hall."

Final u say Mr Hicks. So what happened?

by **ivor_the_injun** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:38 pm

I'll be a lot more p*ssed off if there's suddenly no money for January window transfers as well, which I'd say would point to a wider problem in terms of financing.

by **puroresu** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:41 pm

What exactly do the yanks bring to the table which DIC didnt? I thought the stadium and finance for the team was already covered when they agreed to sell to them?

Or is it the demise of the $$$ which has made the Yanks suddenly close the chequebook.

by **kunilson** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:08 pm

good point that ^

by **takeactionnow** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:08 pm

you have to start to worry first the fall out now the stadium perhaps no january money what next?

?

by **J*o*n*D*o*e** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:26 pm

Here we go again, you know what im beginning to regret the day these two guys stepped foot inside Anfield, so where is this new design, and what the fook does better than the old one but not as good as the new one mean, which old one and which new one, we`ve seen so many down the years i havnt a clue what its going to look like, how can you issue a press release and not any design, does this mean another planning application, it must do, more fooking time wasted, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh im so pissed off

by **puroresu** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:36 pm

J*o*n*D*o*e wrote:Here we go again, you know what im beginning to regret the day these two guys stepped foot inside Anfield, so where is this new design, and what the fook does better than the old one but not as good as the new one mean, which old one and which new one, we`ve seen so many down the years i havnt a clue what its going to look like, how can you issue a press release and not any design, does this mean another planning application, it must do, more fooking time wasted, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh im so pissed off

exactly. Does it now mean it wont now happen to a season later? And like u said what does better than the old one but not as good as the new one mean? Is that supposed to make us feel better after the letdown. When exactly did they realise the new stadium was running into problems. Is it cos the banks wont give them them the money. Or is it cos the credit crunch crisis meaning the interest to be paid on any borrowing means it aint viable to borrow the money they wanted.

by **Emerald Red** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:45 pm

puroresu wrote:What exactly do the yanks bring to the table which DIC didnt? I thought the stadium and finance for the team was already covered when they agreed to sell to them?

Or is it the demise of the $$$ which has made the Yanks suddenly close the chequebook.

They bring nothing that DIC wouldn't have. I strongly believe that if DIC had taken over, we'd have no trouble at all up to this point, and the stadium wouldn't be an issue at all. Though in saying that, H&G gave themselves a massive headache by employing the architects that came up with that design in the first place, and agreeing to it. I think they got a little to excited about seeing it themselves and were all too eager to show it off like it was a new baby. I think the DIC design would have been bog standard anyway. In either case, I think the boring bowl shape is now what we are going to end up with. Personally, I'd rather they just transfered Anfield brick by brick over to the new site and then extended it evenly to a 70,000 seater as was originally planned in the first place, but for the lack of room.

by **Rush Job** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:04 pm

It seems they like to make promises but then feel no duty to carry them though its just not good enough, we were garanteed a unique stadium and a transfer kitty that would enable Rafa to compete at the sharp end of the market. We are yet to see the yanks put their money where their mouth is infact they seem to get a tad twichy at the very thought, though to hear them talk you'd think they had spent like the Glaisers (and do they bang on about it, no) well, they havent and it doesnt look they ever will.

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