More Ownership Fodder; Spurs in the Careless
Always a good day when I can see the hills on my way to work. Maybe that bodes well for today's match...
So I'm hearing rumors that the impending credit crunch - what, you didn't hear? we're entering the neo-Depression - our beloved owners will be forced to sell Liverpool Football Club, making substantially less profit than they had hoped.
A couple of points:
The bank has sufficient reason to be anxious about the loan - businessmen like Gillett and Hicks have lost substantial money in the past few months, they're clearly unable to maintain a functioning business relationship (despite reports to the contrary), the operating revenue is not on par with the other big clubs, due to a significantly smaller stadium less effective marketing of the LFC brand, and it seems that Gillett was always going to be trying to keep his head above water in this deal, so lacking the financial clout that he was forced into the co-ownership with Hicks.
The thing is, I'm not sure if the bank would call the loan in at this point. Aren't banks in this thing to make money? They're generating interest off the loan, and the value of the club (um, Fernando Torres, Gerrard, Babel, etc?), the stadium, brand name, and the operating revenue far exceed the value of the loan.
Still, it begs the question of whether the Sheikh will come in, our Arab in shining armor, and take over the club. I'm still not sure what that would mean for the club - I certainly wouldn't want him to turn us into a cartoon like Abu Dhabi has done at Citeh (Champions League - Are You Having a Laugh?!? F.C.), and to be honest, Gillicks' last 8 or so months has been very good. They're not blabbing off to the media, they're backing Rafa, with a reported long-term contract extension on the way, and they have, at least in terms of public perception, kissed and made up. We made some nice purchases this summer, even if it meant selling a few players (who in all honesty needed to go anyway - we've got too youngsters to blood), and we're atop the table.
If the banks do come calling, Gillicks will have no problem finding a buyer. We're not Newcastle. We won't be Leeds. The club is just fine - the only risk is bore by Gillicks: they may have to sell the club at a cut-rate price because the Sheikh will have them by the short & curlies. But fuck 'em, they were in this solely as a financial investment and that was the risk they took.
On to Spurs today, however. Let's fuck 'em up with our B team and remind them that they're bottom of the table for a reason. Lucas and Hyypia to score in a 2-0 win, though I'm guessing it will be difficult to keep the sheet clean, especially if Degen gets a run-out.
Come on you Reds.
So I'm hearing rumors that the impending credit crunch - what, you didn't hear? we're entering the neo-Depression - our beloved owners will be forced to sell Liverpool Football Club, making substantially less profit than they had hoped.
A couple of points:
The bank has sufficient reason to be anxious about the loan - businessmen like Gillett and Hicks have lost substantial money in the past few months, they're clearly unable to maintain a functioning business relationship (despite reports to the contrary), the operating revenue is not on par with the other big clubs, due to a significantly smaller stadium less effective marketing of the LFC brand, and it seems that Gillett was always going to be trying to keep his head above water in this deal, so lacking the financial clout that he was forced into the co-ownership with Hicks.
The thing is, I'm not sure if the bank would call the loan in at this point. Aren't banks in this thing to make money? They're generating interest off the loan, and the value of the club (um, Fernando Torres, Gerrard, Babel, etc?), the stadium, brand name, and the operating revenue far exceed the value of the loan.
Still, it begs the question of whether the Sheikh will come in, our Arab in shining armor, and take over the club. I'm still not sure what that would mean for the club - I certainly wouldn't want him to turn us into a cartoon like Abu Dhabi has done at Citeh (Champions League - Are You Having a Laugh?!? F.C.), and to be honest, Gillicks' last 8 or so months has been very good. They're not blabbing off to the media, they're backing Rafa, with a reported long-term contract extension on the way, and they have, at least in terms of public perception, kissed and made up. We made some nice purchases this summer, even if it meant selling a few players (who in all honesty needed to go anyway - we've got too youngsters to blood), and we're atop the table.
If the banks do come calling, Gillicks will have no problem finding a buyer. We're not Newcastle. We won't be Leeds. The club is just fine - the only risk is bore by Gillicks: they may have to sell the club at a cut-rate price because the Sheikh will have them by the short & curlies. But fuck 'em, they were in this solely as a financial investment and that was the risk they took.
On to Spurs today, however. Let's fuck 'em up with our B team and remind them that they're bottom of the table for a reason. Lucas and Hyypia to score in a 2-0 win, though I'm guessing it will be difficult to keep the sheet clean, especially if Degen gets a run-out.
Come on you Reds.
posted by stephen at 9:47 AM
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