Liverpool Season 2008/9

[Bully]

Well that performance against "Boro was just pathetic, worse than pathetic.
That is the worst I have seen Liverpool play in years.
When I saw the boro team I thought it was going to be a canter and after dominating the 1st 15 minutes I thought it was only a matter of time before we scored.
An unlucky own goal to Alonso didnt help but we still should've been good enough to score a few against that opposition.
Title race definitely over for the reds now and on this mornings showing they would'nt bloody deserve it anyway.
Only good news is that Parry is leaving at the end of the season.

yeah saw highlights of the game and was all middlesbrough not much on liverpool, didnt watch the game as i was interested in my team but from the highlights it looked like liverpool werent even on the pitch

[JK]

This from another Forum, makes for interesting reading ... I'd think there is some element of truth to it, how much is anyone's guess ...

This is from a very very well respected and authenticated regular poster on a fan
forum in the UK.
Its not someones aunties mates next door neighbours gardeners friends dogs trainers sister
this is legit.
This is mind blowing!!!!!!!!!

Yes I have a friend who works at Anfield and he said that David Villa was actually here to sign his contract last summer when it all fell through.

Aparently Rafa was on his way to Anfield and David Villa was here waiting with his agent and legal eagle, suddenly Parry walked into the office and told David Villa that the deal was off and that Rafa wasn't coming in because he had found a better deal with a proven EPL player.

David Villa and his team were furious with being fvcked around and stormed out of Anfield, Parry then contacted Keane's people and told them to push the deal through quickly.

Rafa turned up later to see the completion of David Villa's signing and Parry lied to hm and told him David Villa had changed his mind and decided to stay in Spain, but the 'good news' was that Parry had managed to secure Keane for Rafa instead.

At first Rafa thought this was true until speaking to Reina who is friends with David Villa; Reina asked why Rafa backed out of the deal and Rafa said he didn't, it was David Villa who backed out of the move.
Reina told him that wasn't the case and that David Villa told him [Reina] that Parry had said it was Rafa's desicion.

Rafa was furrious and told Reina that he'd fvck Parry over for this, and from day one was set on proving what a failure Keane was as a signing, that's why he played Keane on the wing for the first few games and then as a lone striker, because he knew Keane wouldn't be able to perform in those roles.
And that's why as soon as Keane scored a couple of goals and showed a little form, Rafa quickly dropped him before he could get his momentum going.

Rafa then pushed to get rid of Keane as quickly as possible telling G&H that if they didn't move him on now, they would end up losing millions as he will be virtually worthless by the summer. G&H eventually agreed to the move a couple days ago.

Rafa has told G&H what happened and they are looking to sack Parry as soon as possible, well Hicks is, Gillett wants to keep him on as he believes Rafa is just trying to cover his own arse and hold Parry responsible for his [Rafa] fvck up.

The whole thing was planned by Rafa because he wanted to demonstrate what a monumental fvck up Parry's position at the club has been and because he wants Parry out so he can have full control of transfers by the summer, Parry on the other hand wants Rafa's hands tied because he knows tansfers are essentially his purpose at the club and without them he could very well be gone himself.

Rafa has since spoken to David Villa and G&H have agreed to complete the signing of David Villa in the Summer for £30m, Valencia wouldn't let the move happen now because it would have damanged their la Liga run.

[Swooper16]

Until liverpool sign some real quality they will continue to battle it out for 2-4th. other then Stevie G & torres i dont think there is a player there that would challenge for a starting 11 spot for Man Utd.

[The Dutchman]

Sounds like a biased view from a Man United supporter!
What about some of their internationals, surely they would be a chance to crack the first 11 at Old Trafford?
Argentina's captain Javier Mascherano, Israels skipper Benayoun, Spanish international Alonso, Hyypia and Jamie Carragher must be some chance to impress Ferguson?

[The Dutchman]

Oops...how could i forget their Dutch players!

[JK]

I don't reckon Swoops isn't too far off the mark mate, although some of those names you mentioned would get games here and there.

I reckon Liverpool's lack of top shelf quality is possibly the biggest factor in keeping distance between us and the Man U's, Chelsea's and Aresnals of the last 15 years.

Get another star in there of similar quality to SG and Torres and you'd think it could make a significant difference ... We also need something from the Academy to translate into first team success - Insua and perhaps Nemeth appear to be heading in the right direction.

[Swooper16]

Sounds like a biased view from a Man United supporter!
What about some of their internationals, surely they would be a chance to crack the first 11 at Old Trafford?
Argentina's captain Javier Mascherano, Israels skipper Benayoun, Spanish international Alonso, Hyypia and Jamie Carragher must be some chance to impress Ferguson?

You would put Carragher or Hyypia ahead of Vidic and Rio
Alonso would be 4th choice in the united MF behind Carrick, Scholes and now even Giggs who has done well in the middle this season.
benayoun would be the equivalent of uniteds Park and he is a squad player.
Kuyt would be well behind Rooney, berba & tevez and there is no way United would play him on the right.

As i said other then the big 2 i think every other liverpool player would be a squad player at best at Man Yoo (and arguably chelski). I know Liverpool dont have the resources of the other 2 but the only way i can see them challenging for the premier league was to take a punt and try and sign another big name (villa would have been good.)

And yes i am a united fan but i dont think i have been bias in anything i have wrote.

[RoosterMarty]

Sounds like a biased view from a Man United supporter!
What about some of their internationals, surely they would be a chance to crack the first 11 at Old Trafford?
Argentina's captain Javier Mascherano, Israels skipper Benayoun, Spanish international Alonso, Hyypia and Jamie Carragher must be some chance to impress Ferguson?

Look... Benayoun has had a good season but he isn't that great and wouldn't crack the United team.
Hyypia and Carragher? No chance... too old now and look at our defence. It is rock solid.

Alonso would make the team but probably wouldn't play every week as we have Carrick who is just as effective.
Mascherano is a possibility but he can't pass to save himself and that would work against him.

We would have Torres. Not sure about Gerrard though.


Oops I didn't even read Swoops post above me who basically said everything I said... just 15 minutes earlier.

[smithy]

This from another Forum, makes for interesting reading ... I'd think there is some element of truth to it, how much is anyone's guess ...

This is from a very very well respected and authenticated regular poster on a fan
forum in the UK.
Its not someones aunties mates next door neighbours gardeners friends dogs trainers sister
this is legit.
This is mind blowing!!!!!!!!!

Yes I have a friend who works at Anfield and he said that David Villa was actually here to sign his contract last summer when it all fell through.

Aparently Rafa was on his way to Anfield and David Villa was here waiting with his agent and legal eagle, suddenly Parry walked into the office and told David Villa that the deal was off and that Rafa wasn't coming in because he had found a better deal with a proven EPL player.

David Villa and his team were furious with being fvcked around and stormed out of Anfield, Parry then contacted Keane's people and told them to push the deal through quickly.

Rafa turned up later to see the completion of David Villa's signing and Parry lied to hm and told him David Villa had changed his mind and decided to stay in Spain, but the 'good news' was that Parry had managed to secure Keane for Rafa instead.

At first Rafa thought this was true until speaking to Reina who is friends with David Villa; Reina asked why Rafa backed out of the deal and Rafa said he didn't, it was David Villa who backed out of the move.
Reina told him that wasn't the case and that David Villa told him [Reina] that Parry had said it was Rafa's desicion.

Rafa was furrious and told Reina that he'd fvck Parry over for this, and from day one was set on proving what a failure Keane was as a signing, that's why he played Keane on the wing for the first few games and then as a lone striker, because he knew Keane wouldn't be able to perform in those roles.
And that's why as soon as Keane scored a couple of goals and showed a little form, Rafa quickly dropped him before he could get his momentum going.

Rafa then pushed to get rid of Keane as quickly as possible telling G&H that if they didn't move him on now, they would end up losing millions as he will be virtually worthless by the summer. G&H eventually agreed to the move a couple days ago.

Rafa has told G&H what happened and they are looking to sack Parry as soon as possible, well Hicks is, Gillett wants to keep him on as he believes Rafa is just trying to cover his own arse and hold Parry responsible for his [Rafa] fvck up.

The whole thing was planned by Rafa because he wanted to demonstrate what a monumental fvck up Parry's position at the club has been and because he wants Parry out so he can have full control of transfers by the summer, Parry on the other hand wants Rafa's hands tied because he knows tansfers are essentially his purpose at the club and without them he could very well be gone himself.

Rafa has since spoken to David Villa and G&H have agreed to complete the signing of David Villa in the Summer for £30m, Valencia wouldn't let the move happen now because it would have damanged their la Liga run.

Interesting story CP and doesn't surprise me at all.
For at LEAST 6-7 years fans have grown more and more suspect with Parry's dealings and that story falls into line of what most have been thinking.
This is why Rafa HAS to have control of transfer dealings.
He needs to buy the players HE wants, not what the Chief Exec thinks is right.
I'm glad to see the bloke go (Parry) come seasons end and hopefully we see some progression on the pitch regarding quality signings.

[JK]

Here's another one for you mate, courtesy of the Telegraph (I dont know which of the tabs are more accurate than the others):

How Rick Parry walked alone after relationship with Rafael Benitez fell apart

The seeds of Rick Parry's demise were sown long before Tom Hicks and George Gillett had heard of Anfield or Rafa Benitez cast his eye over Gareth Barry. Instead, the Liverpool chief executive was a marked man from the moment one million Liverpool fans who thronged the city to celebrate the miracle of Istanbul started to disperse.

In the immediate aftermath of that remarkable night, the club's captain and heartbeat, Steven Gerrard, declared he would reject Chelsea's overtures but Parry prevaricated over a new deal. Benitez came within a whisker of losing the man central to his plans to make Liverpool great again.

Interference from those above him is a subject close to the Spaniard's heart. His clashes with Jesus Garcia Pitarch, the sporting director he could not work with at Valencia, have made him suspicious of the efficacy of those above him, of their intentions and agendas.

From the moment Parry almost lost Gerrard, Benitez was on alert, waiting, watching. By the end of the summer of 2005, Parry's failure to agree a payment schedule with Benfica over the £10 million transfer of Simao Sabrosa had cost Benitez his main transfer target with the player's medical completed. The manager was furious. A year later, Parry could not seal an £8 million deal to sign Daniel Alves, the Sevilla full-back.

Benitez knew Liverpool were not cash-rich when he joined from Valencia but, in the days before the club's current custodians arrived with pockets full of credit notes, it was less Liverpool's financial power than Parry's inability to close a deal which concerned the Spaniard.

The manager who complained at the Mestalla that Garcia Pitarch bought him a lamp when he asked for a table found himself at a club where they knew what furniture to buy but could not remember their pin number.

When Parry and Moores, in return for a substantial bonus payment and guarantees over their own futures, sold the club to Tom Hicks and George Gillett in February 2007, money was not supposed to be an issue. That, of course, proved to be a false dawn. After that year's Champions League final, Benitez complained the club had to back him in the transfer market if they were to remain at the top of the European game.

Hicks and Gillett responded, signing Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel for a combined fee of up to £40 million, but it did not take long for the cracks to appear. In November that year, Benitez, furious the club's owners would not give him a concrete response to his detailed plans for the forthcoming January transfer window, revealed in a stormy press conference he had been told to concentrate solely on coaching his current squad.

Behind the scenes, the club was in chaos. Benitez had threatened to leave for one of his long-time Italian suitors, including Inter Milan, if he was not given the requisite funds. In the tumult, Parry helped set up a meeting at Jurgen Klinsmann's California home, which he, Hicks and Gillett attended.

The German was offered Benitez's job should the Spaniard quit. When details of the meeting became public the following April – contradicting Parry's earlier statement that he had known nothing of it – Benitez knew the situation could not continue.

Sources inside Anfield suggest it was at that stage that the manager's relationship with Parry broke down irretrievably. That led to a clear division within the fractured power structure at the club. Hicks and Benitez became allies as the Texan, himself unimpressed by Parry's commercial performance, tried to oust the chief executive, who was saved only by Gillett.

By the time of last summer's Gareth Barry debacle, yet another transfer failure from Parry, the die was almost cast. Hicks spoke in April of Parry as a "disaster" for allowing Liverpool's famous name to fall behind Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea in terms of sponsorship, merchandising and brand value.

Parry, believing the club could be sold in the summer, clung on, believing he could survive as both Hicks and Gillett fell. As Benitez's contract negotiations started last year, it became obvious Hicks was going nowhere, actively seeking new investment to replace Gillett. The reality that Gillett would leave the club, leaving Parry a sitting duck, slowly dawned.

[johntheclaret]

Interesting story her. Deals with sponsorship, Parry, the new CEO, changes to the Champions League format next year, and Liverpools standing in the worlds rich list.

Thanks to The Sporting Life

NEW SPONSORSHIP PLANS FOR REDS

Ian Ayre, a candidate to be Liverpool's next chief executive, has revealed new sponsorship plans and a desire to push the club higher in the football world's rich list.

Ayre, 45, was appointed, primarily, by Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks as the club's new commercial director 18 months ago.

And with Rick Parry announcing he will be quitting as the Anfield club's chief executive this summer after 12 years in the job, Ayre is already being touted for the job along with former FA chief Brian Barwick.

Now Ayre has confirmed a new sponsorship with the Bank of America, the prospect of three other sponsorships soon and a summer tour to the Far East for Rafael Benitez's team.

Liverpool have extended their agreement with the BoA for a further four years, a deal worth £5m to the Anfield club.

BoA is the parent company of Chester-based credit card firm MBNA who supply Liverpool's credit card for fans, and they announced major redundancies in December for their world-wide operation.

Ayre, in an interview with Bloomberg, the financial news agency, said: "Other transactions are under discussion." They could involve the consumer electronics, gaming and automotive sectors.

The Far East tour has been set for July 17 to 26, and will involve matches in Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok.

With Liverpool not involved in the newly-formatted Champions League competition next season until, at the earliest, a play-off round scheduled for August 18 or 19 and August 25 or 26 - rather than the current format of a third qualifying round -they will be able to fit in a lucrative trip to the Far East where they have millions of fans.

Liverpool, currently third in the Barclays Premier League, could well benefit from the new UEFA rule that allows the first three clubs in the Premier League to go straight into the group stages, as opposed to the current top two. The fourth finishing club will compete in the play-off stage.

Ayre clearly aims to exploit the world-wide market. According to a Deloitte report released last month, Liverpool is the seventh-richest club in the world with revenues of over £200m (210.9 million euros).

Liverpool had risen one place from the year before and Ayre says sponsorship gains made in the past 12 months mean he "would be shocked if we did not climb further."

On the decision to tour in the Far East, Ayre said: "If you are going to build a business overseas a key part is to allow people to touch and feel the product on a regular basis.

"What is clear is that there is an opportunity for Liverpool to do much better(financially) than they had in the past."

Asked about his possible elevation to chief executive, Ayre was non-committal. He said: "At this stage I am just committed to driving forward the commercial operations of this football club."

Prior to joining Liverpool, Ayre had been chief executive of Total Sports Asia, who advised companies on sports and entertainment campaigns in Asia.

Prior to that he was managing director of Virgin/NTL subsidiary Premium TV having joined from Huddersfield Town where he had been chief executive and chairman for three years.

[smithy]

Not sure where you got your story from Constance, but this thread makes for similar reading which could put some substance to the story.

http://forums.thisisanfield.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28863&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

[JK]

Well, Parry or not, Im doing my bit for the club

[devilsadvocate]

Nice work connie. Is your missus a fan or did she take some coaxing? I took mine to a Spurs game and she fell asleep

Boy or Girl, any of my offspring will be coming straight out of the womb into a Spurs kit!

[JK]

Nice work connie. Is your missus a fan or did she take some coaxing? I took mine to a Spurs game and she fell asleep

Boy or Girl, any of my offspring will be coming straight out of the womb into a Spurs kit!

She had no choice mate, the two proviso's when we met were that Norwood and Liverpool were part of the package ... Im sure she roles her eyes at 4am when she hears me screaming at Lucs Leiva from another room though

[smithy]

Im sure she roles her eyes at 4am when she hears me screaming at Lucs Leiva from another room though

Thats is so funny.
Last season the Mrs woke up thinking someone was breaking in to the house.
Nope, it was me abusing the hell out of the very same player.

[JK]

Im sure she roles her eyes at 4am when she hears me screaming at Lucs Leiva from another room though

Thats is so funny.
Last season the Mrs woke up thinking someone was breaking in to the house.
Nope, it was me abusing the hell out of the very same player.

Lucas was actually one of the names the missus mentioned when we were trying to come up with something for junior ... Suffice to say, that suggestion was nipped in the bud in record time.

[smithy]

Agreed !

Fernando Perm has a much nicer ring to it.

[devilsadvocate]

Nice work connie. Is your missus a fan or did she take some coaxing? I took mine to a Spurs game and she fell asleep

Boy or Girl, any of my offspring will be coming straight out of the womb into a Spurs kit!

She had no choice mate, the two proviso's when we met were that Norwood and Liverpool were part of the package ... Im sure she roles her eyes at 4am when she hears me screaming at Lucs Leiva from another room though

Hahaha, gold mate. At least you've got yours wearing Liverpool attire. Mine wouldn't be seen dead in Spurs kit.

4am TV beratings will be a regular fixture at our house when we return to Aus. Fortunately my missus sleeps with earplugs.

And personally, I like the name Ledley better than Fernando

[JK]

Nice work connie. Is your missus a fan or did she take some coaxing? I took mine to a Spurs game and she fell asleep

Boy or Girl, any of my offspring will be coming straight out of the womb into a Spurs kit!

She had no choice mate, the two proviso's when we met were that Norwood and Liverpool were part of the package ... Im sure she roles her eyes at 4am when she hears me screaming at Lucs Leiva from another room though

Hahaha, gold mate. At least you've got yours wearing Liverpool attire. Mine wouldn't be seen dead in Spurs kit.

Can't really blame her for that bud