Liverpool Set to Complete Intelligent £10m Summer Signing and Europa Squad Named

redrum - February 3rd, 2010 at 12:46 am

Can we at least see Pacheco get some significant minutes here…

trav09 - February 3rd, 2010 at 6:51 am

wow..exciting news. How come rafa isnt signing another defender?

nicklovesliverpool - February 3rd, 2010 at 9:07 am

the deal is complete he is joining in summer shame he could not come now but at least we bought the guy.

Leon - February 3rd, 2010 at 11:44 am

Milan..i have reservations about him hope he wont be like morientes or those players we have signed who always have the tag thwy will make an impact..Remember that their league is totally different from the english league but anyway if he can cut it why not????I think we should have secured turan earlier saw what he can do that boy can spin nutmeg and do wonders to defenders…like no one’s business..those are the people young and developed…

the kids have been included in the europa league that is a story..i wonder if Benitez will actually play them but would particularly love to watch Eccleston and pacheco play..even amoo here he is fast hopefully they will be able to also cut it as they will be playing experienced opponents but all the best….

Leon - February 3rd, 2010 at 12:28 pm

Anon…12:00 Benitez should give them an opportunity as experience is what they need..hopefully the young will get that opportunity……….am hoping he wont let the young go if they have been tried and tested and can play at the premier league level………..

Retryboy - February 3rd, 2010 at 1:35 pm

Hope we have still got enough money to get turan in the summer, he can make a massive difference to the team. Would still put priorities as a top left back to compete with insua let Aurelio go and wide players don’t really know a lot about jovanovic, goal scoring record is good though. Definitely hoping some of the youngsters especially pacheco get game time in the europa league. They don’t make you commit yourself with the squad do they lol 35 man

RyanO - February 3rd, 2010 at 2:55 pm

David Villa is going to play for Liverpool.

Aquaman - February 3rd, 2010 at 3:17 pm

Greetings all. Unfortunately I bear completely unsurprising news which many of you may already know. There will be no special investment on new players in the summer. Hicks lied. How many of you are surprised? Didn’t think so…

Just read through the minutes of a meeting between SoS and Christian Purslow (apologies if I spelt that wrong). Apparently the yanks have not made any plans to invest any more money, and have not done so since the refinancing of the the debt all those months ago. If there is any truth to Hick’s claim then that is purely down to how much Rafa already has and has not spent (if there is any at all).

So, once again, we will be selling if we want to buy except that this time (like the last two seasons, apparently) we will be receiving nothing from the owners. The transfer kitty will be made up of profit from the holding company and ALL money from sales. Payments from this account include wages, transfer fees, and signing on fees. On the plus side, no money that goes into this account can be used for anything else, so we won’t be selling to pay off debt.

These minutes were sent to Purslow for confirmation and were returned with some modifications, so all of this is according to the man himself. If you want to read them for yourself then check the Spirit of Shankly website. Google it.

Leon - February 3rd, 2010 at 4:11 pm

Hey Aquaman..u have become the bearer of bad news..mmmhhh??anyway but the couple hicks and gillet need to raise 100 mil or else they need to sell the club that sounds pretty tasty news..hopefully that will happen…..

Aquaman - February 3rd, 2010 at 4:28 pm

Not likely. That’s Purslow’s job. That’s why he was allowed to come in. If we fail to get the cash, then the club will be auctioned to pay the loan (which may actually be a blessing in disguise except that we don’t get to choose our owners).

I should probably dlarify that this way of assembling the transfer kitty is the same as it has been for 2 seasons now. So nothing has changed, and we can actually expect even less funds next year because of our poor performance in the CL. Still a new investor may help with that, but I doubt it and it sounded like Purslow did too. Sigh.

RyanO - February 3rd, 2010 at 4:35 pm

Purslow is a stooge for the bank. The club WILL BE sold and the club WILL LIVE ON.

Aquaman - February 3rd, 2010 at 4:46 pm

Wish I had your optmism RyanO. The only good news is that the yanks may soon be out of our club, but at what cost? Hopefully not our stars and hopefully not our league position. The only concilation is that the mancs have it worse than us. Fergie is gonna retire and the club will fade to insignificance. Too much debt for anyone to dare to touch it.

nicklovesliverpool - February 3rd, 2010 at 5:51 pm

aquaman is right the Money is a load of Bollocks it even said in the Papers Liverpool have to pay off a debt of about 200 million for the end of the season so once again we will have to sell to buy is a big shame but come on guys even if we did have the money villa would not come so those who Fantasize about that you will have to get over the Fact that Villa will not play for the Club. Oh well good to see we did get Jovanovic.

...samlfc.... - February 3rd, 2010 at 6:09 pm

Aquaman is spot on again….no surprises there haha.
and the squad looks very good as finally Amoo and pacheco might actually get more playing time which is good news.

Just to let people know but i won’t be on here as much as usually am at the moment because of severall reasons. i will be back fully either sunday or early next week.
when i say fully i mean proper essays/ insight etc. i will be on just without massive essays………so watch out for an anonymous with my name on.

dr.Barnard - February 3rd, 2010 at 6:19 pm

Aquaman:
A propos #3. You wrote: “.Dr Barnard…Well, 3 is not at all the impression that I got from the interview. I’d hate to be proved wrong here.”
First of all you have to consider the track record of the “gentlemen” in question. Hicks and Gillette bought the club through a leveraged buyout. i.e. putting 5 M each, hoping to flip it quickly for max profit to the next in line, maybe even DIC people. There were a lot of promises made, none in good faith, I’m afraid, as none were fulfilled. The fact that the duo is still there, means they were overreached asking for a pile of money, that not even DIC wanted to pay. They are like 2 vultures sleeping by a body of an antelope they stumbled upon. Now they’ll have to move on, unless they can throw another piece of meat (100M) to keep the approaching lions (RBS) at bay. Sorry, could not help myself with this metaphor. I’ll leave it alone now.

So do they have credibility in what they are saying? Not im my eyes. They are desperately trying to sell the club and get their meagre investment back.(I personally think the sum of 130M in capital supposedly invested by H&G is a bit high). Anyway, the balloon is sinking, the land they are trying to reach is barely visible. They already threw food supplies overboard, and then (Hick’s) son. If, still they are a distance away, from the safety of the land, meaning they can see a better offer coming in, they will stop from nothing to buy time. What are the assets, they can liquidate quickly to stay afloat? The answer is obvious; the players who Man City, Real, Inter, Chelsea feel can get them to the top. Carragher is safe, Gerrard, Torres, Mascherano would be sold if the American owners deem it necessary. Remember, they plan for today, not the next 10 years. Until this happens, of course they will deny, obfuscate and so on.
Also, do not forget that Purslow is not really the decision maker. He executes the orders. He is there at the indulgence of the owners, and can be ejected from the board in a New York minute.
Last point, who other than the three mentioned can bring in any substantial money, that can be used for purchases of new players and pay the interest on debt? I hear what Purslow says, about not using the money from sales for debt service. That undertaking can change quickly, with or without Purslow there. Remember, there will be reduced cash flow the club can use in a near future, no CL involvement this spring, and God knows about next year. Out of FA, Carling Cup!
Also remember, the sale price of 400M-500M (or whatever it may be) would include the H&G paying whatever debt is there at the moment of closing the future sale.

Retryboy - February 3rd, 2010 at 7:52 pm

They need to cut the debt by £100m then they will refinance over a longer period. Funnily enough they are trying to get £100m investment so that will come straight off the debt, they have until july to sort that out. There is the £20m from standard charter to come in. They have never forced any sales of players yet and they are desperate not to alienate the fans any more so i can’t see them needing to or wanting to sell off players. Obviously they will get more for their shares and be in a much better bargaining position if we make top four so they will hold out, they are businessmen. People are getting obsessed with this net spend business. We have a top four squad as it is and Voronin was on holiday picking up wages, Dossena never got a game so they needed to be sold. Few others that we could lose from the squad too with better youngsters to take their places. Sure that is what happens the board say to rafa why are we paying money for mr x who never plays then rafa throws him in for a game to prove he is needed. People seem to forget too that we lost however many tens of millions going out of the champions league at the first hurdle, plus the fa and carling cups no income from them of any note and all that rafa has been made to do is sell to buy. Players have been signed up to big long term contracts no problem people forget all this and expect massive investment in players. They will get their £100m our debts will be massively reduced and spread over 5 years the interest cut massively and they will have the sponsorship money for players £20m plus rafa can sell some deadwood you lot are so negative lol

RyanO - February 3rd, 2010 at 10:18 pm

Honestly, I feel like the club is in a great position to get where we need them to be. I just don’t share the pessimistic, piss on the parade mentality that many are partaking in at this time. Sure I’ve hade a go at Rafa on more than one occasion, but once I’ve calmed down, I still believe in him. Purslow is the key and has done well since being here as evidenced by the shirt sponsorship deal that is done, as well as the talk of stadium naming rights (it will be built) selling for over 100 million! I know that there are many who would rather shit in their own hat than have that happen, but facts are facts and things are different now. Commercialism and Advertising are the only way to keep the club BIG and naming a new ground after a fucking can of sardines would be fine with me if it would help us bag a title. Now he has shown his true colors and that he is all for getting the Yanks out. He leaked these details as a message to the supporters. The Yanks will be gone soon enough, there are potential investors and, basically, we are in a holding pattern until such time as the banks come to collect. I do not believe that players will be sold to service debt and Purslow has basically said that by stating that none of the incoming players sales proceeds have been put towards it previously, including Alonsos proceeds. If that’s the case, then why in fuck would they start a fire sale on our top stars when there is money available and they are locked in long term? Makes no sense to me, but so many keep prattling on about it. I also don’t buy any arguement that new owners will fail to invest in players. You think they want to buy a club so close to becoming a force, both on the pitch and globally with merchandising and such and not invest? Nonsense. You think a new owner would love nothing better than to ride in on that white horse and ask Rafa what he needs and make it happen? I certainly do, I think the bank is making quite sure that any new investor/owners are going to be cut out of the proper cloth, that is the money in the bank cloth , rather than the leveraged buy out rubbish cloth. I’m sorry, but Liverpool are still and always will be The Greatest Club in Europe and they are so very close to showing us that. You must believe it will happen, for only then will you see the bright side of things. Stop looking for reasons to hang heads and take heart. WE ARE LIVERPOOL

Retryboy - February 3rd, 2010 at 11:35 pm

Aquaman-you are wrong on your last statement, Purslow’s minutes differ massively to sos’s and he denies saying a lot that is in there’s so they have published both of them. Amongst quite a few things Purslow says they have misrepresented and misquoted him on is the transfer budget only being made up of income generated. Sos have said they realise by publishing their version as well they will strain relations with upper management but they are sticking to their guns that it was the way it was put across. Some things in sos version i would doubt very much someone would say about their boss it may have been implied in their eyes or not denied but Purslow isn’t naive enough to make comments like sos have said especially when minutes are being taken. Remember sos stance is the yanks out no matter what.

Retryboy - February 3rd, 2010 at 11:44 pm

Sam-think its a bit early for amoo to be included remember this is a 35 man squad, he was in the 25 man champions league squad with Eccleston and even though the last match was a dead rubber neither of them even travelled and that was before maxi arrived. Pacheco, kelly, Darby and spearing are the ones most likely to be getting run outs if any. Agree with you though amoo does look a great prospect hopefully we will start seeing him breaking through next year with Mavinga and Eccleston have Nemeth and san jose back then too.

Warren Bloggs - February 4th, 2010 at 12:01 am

Jovanovic has signed great news! It may be a little premature but it would seem Rafa is beginning to acknowledge what kind of squad we need with the sale of the deadwood and the signing of some quality players. Dossena and Voronin were just picking up wages and Rafa is willing to listen to offers for player such as Plessis which is good. I think the summer will see us trimming th squad, Rafa knows it is far too big and that it is too costly hence why he is selling some of the youth as well e.g. Butchmann (shame). Maxi Rodriguez and Jovanovic (pre-contract) are shrewd signings in January and the summer should see quality and not quantity.

Retry you may be pleased by this but it would seem one of Rafa’s highest priorities for the summer is a new left-back and rumour has it that Marseille’s Teemu Taiwo is being highly linked with a switch. Rafa also understands that Carra is not getting any younger and although Kyrgiakos has been brilliant of late our manager is looking to sign a new young english defender, reportedly one of Tomkins (West Ham), Stearmen (Wolves), Onouah (City), Cahill (Bolton) etc.

Also i expect one big signing in the summer, and that player will probably be a new world-class winger. Four players are being lined up, Silva, Mata (both Valencia), Krasic (CSKA) and Turan (Gala). Also rumour has it Rafa is looking to young english wingers as well with the likes of Milner, Bentley, SWP, Young etc.

In the summer I expect yet more youth players to leave as well as much of the deadwood and the squad will be shortnened considerably.

In?

Left back: might be Taiwo
Centre-back: might be Tomkins
Milan Jovanovic
Winger: Mata or Turan?

Does anyone know anything more on Chamakh?

Warren Bloggs - February 4th, 2010 at 12:03 am

Bentley would be a good shout as well

Retryboy - February 4th, 2010 at 12:20 am

Think its you that doesn’t understand Robbie i follow it all very easily. I don’t agree with anyone who when they were asked if there was anything H&g could do to win them over and the good sponsorship deals and other marketing moves they have made were pointed out to them said no, they don’t care they just want them out. So even if they end up paying off the debt which if you don’t understand i will explain they are doing by selling their shares which is the right way meaning they are paying not the club(yes i know the club has paid interest payments) build the stadium and become great owners(not saying this will happen) but even if the good started outweighing the bad with them then sos would still want them gone that isn’t doing the best for liverpool with that approach. Don’t like H&g as people but don’t see that as important they see liverpool as an investment only way for them to make good on their investment is to make us a success on and off the field a point that is lost on a lot of people. I also go off the evidence not the speculation as the papers and sos have their devils and will villainise them every opportunity i’m not campaigning for H&g just not crucifying them because its the popular option make my mind up based on the facts suggest you read both versions of the minutes there is a piece on the guardian website about the differences and dr barnard has just pointed that out too on the other thread.

Donavan Ried - February 4th, 2010 at 12:25 am

I don’t think Rafa will be signing anyone in the summer as he will be gone

Retryboy - February 4th, 2010 at 12:38 am

Warren-very happy that rafa is looking at a top quality left back i hope this means we will see the back of Aurelio who has spent another season injured. Also glad that we are aren’t finished sorting out the wings we need pace and i think turan is the one signing who on his own could have a massive impact(short of a £30m player obviously) the centre back issue i see differently think Carragher has got a couple more seasons at the top left and would like us to lose one of skrtel or Kyrgiakos. San jose is doing great things on loan in bilbao we have kelly and ayala too think we need to make way for their progression by only having 3 experienced centre backs next year. Jovanovic i haven’t seen enough to judge think we need to change the system though to accomodate 2 strikers at least sometimes else Nemeth and pacheco won’t be the stars they can be. There were talks of a £10m signing on fee not sure if that was milan or Chamakh though you can guarantee Jovanovic is getting a hefty one though so he isn’t really free. Don’t think Chamakh is coming he said he didn’t want to join if it wasn’t certain rafa would be here.

Retryboy - February 4th, 2010 at 12:42 am

Evening Donovan mate lol agree with you there!

Retryboy - February 4th, 2010 at 2:10 am

Donovan found out who was posting the racist stuff mate check the racist anon comment on the end of the Buchtmann thread…he slipped up because if you google ‘caught offside liverpool hahahahaha’ you get only one name pages and pages of Jed’s posts on liverpool stories
The only person who uses that and he has used it over and over

dr.Barnard - February 4th, 2010 at 8:20 pm

Well, I hope we can still get him. However, it may be a harbinger of things to come. Jovanovic’s agent sure is working hard to bid up his price.
There is definitely a price to be paid for being in limbo, not signing anybody of substance for two consecutive trading periods etc. Now to the story itself:
“1745 GMT: Liverpool could miss out on signing Standard Liege forward Milan Jovanovic.

“There are many possibilities,” the Serb’s agent Zoran Stojadinovic told Spanish newspaper Superdeporte, referring to the interest of other clubs. “The situation will be resolved soon, but he has not signed for any club as yet.”"

RaNE - February 4th, 2010 at 11:33 pm

With most of the comments above me i’d just like to state one thing. Im really happy with who the americans brought in Christian Purslow. Finally someone who understands us.

He is trying to find more sponserships and also investors for the club so that we can have are new stadium and hopefully some money for a transfer warchest.

RaNE - February 4th, 2010 at 11:37 pm

Jovanovic is a really good player BUT he has not signed anything yet. I feel he would be a hit at anfield because we all know how some belg’s can play in the Premierleague. Hate to admit this one but Fellani, Great player. But plays for Everton

RaNE - February 5th, 2010 at 12:33 am

No need for the childish behaviour is there??

Well im sorry if ive somehow angered you but from what you have written i can see you nothing more than an Attention seeking little fuck who wastes peoples time by writing simply crap comments. Oh and well done you got my attention, Next time i would like to direct a comment to you as a person, so have the balls to leave a comment.

Thank you.

pete - February 5th, 2010 at 4:19 am

unfortunitly Rane we get dicks like this all the time
its best to ignore if ye can