'Disgrace' in Lyon sparks a £100m rescue package for Rafa...
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'Disgrace' in Lyon sparks £100m Reds rescue plan with Liverpool nearing Champions League exit
'A disgrace': Reina berated Liverpool's failure to beat Lyon
Liverpool's hierarchy are piecing together a £100million rescue package to try to turn round a season that has been branded 'a disgrace' by one of their own players.
Anfield bosses hope to have the cash injection in place by January and will be eager to avoid any delays after keeper Pepe Reina turned on his own team-mates and berated their Champions League failings.
A 1-1 draw in Lyon has left Liverpool staring at a costly group stage elimination and Reina fumed: 'Disgracefully, it is not in our hands any more - we need Lyon to get something at Fiorentina.'
In-fighting: Liverpool pair Mascherano and Benayoun argue during a disappointing evening in Lyon
As Liverpool braced themselves for a shortfall of up to £18m on their latest Champions League takings, it emerged they have been working feverishly behind the scenes to ensure there is no repeat next season.
Co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have been courting potential investors in recent weeks and are now ready to press ahead with a rights issue of shares that would dilute their holding but, crucially, generate extra income of around £100m.
After being vilified by fans over alleged broken promises, the Americans view surrendering some of their power as a price worth paying for being able to kick-start their much-delayed stadium project and provide transfer funds for the January window.
It is understood managing director Christian Purslow has already had negotiations with interested parties and that Hicks and Gillett, while retaining a majority stake, are prepared to reduce their holding to around 35 per cent each to secure the necessary investment.
The rights issue has echoes of David Moores' appointment as chairman 18 years ago, when he bought over 50 per cent of the club for £12m, and heaps even more pressure on manager Rafa Benitez.
While building a new ground a stone's throw away at Stanley Park remains the priority for Hicks and Gillett, they are acutely aware of their squad's shortcomings and keen to release transfer funds in the New Year.
Summer exodus: Torres could quit Anfield if Liverpool fail to qualify for the Champions League next season
Whether Benitez will be trusted with them evidently depends on what happens between now and then. The promise of new investment could give Hicks and Gillett the financial muscle needed to dispense with their under-fire manager, even at a cost of £20m in compensation.
It is bound to be given serious consideration if Liverpool continue to falter and risk missing out on the Champions League altogether next season. They will forfeit up to £18m if they fail to overhaul Fiorentina in the next few weeks and face being out of pocket by almost twice as much if they finish outside the Barclays Premier League's top four next May.
As an added concern, such a nightmare scenario would also cast doubt over the futures of key players such as Fernando Torres, Reina, Javier Mascherano and even Steven Gerrard. Torres, Reina and Mascherano all see the Champions League as an essential showcase for their talents, while Gerrard would be just as dismayed, even if he is unlikely to turn his back on his home club, at this late stage, after twice pulling out of moves to Chelsea.
Stoppage time: Lisandro secures a draw for Lyon against Liverpool
A return of one win from eight games has surely put paid to Liverpool's title hopes, but Reina was just as perturbed by the way they have been left lagging five points behind Fiorentina in Group E, with just two games to go.
But he argued: 'We can handle the pressure. We can trust in ourselves, and we will turn this situation around - I am sure of that.' Ronnie Whelan blamed Benitez's transfer dealings for Liverpool's plight.
'I don't doubt Benitez's passion for Liverpool or his hunger to win for the fans, but his judgement in the transfer market has been awful and that's why the Kop will be watching Europa Cup games before too long,' said the former Liverpool midfielder.
Ex-Liverpool skipper Graeme Souness said: 'If Rafa had been at any other big club - Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United - he would not still be manager, because their supporters are not like Liverpool's. Liverpool fans are a bit more patient.'
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wth???? JUST USE 20M AND SACK HIM!
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Originally posted by youyayu:
wth???? JUST USE 20M AND SACK HIM!
just give them 300M and sack the owner -
with a lousy manager, even with 1billion for the transfer also no use
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ah ben simply cmi.
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no xabi alonso no talk for liverpool
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Originally posted by ViewtyKU990:
no xabi alonso no talk for liverpool
absolutely agree. Cannot be replaced. -
Reina got a great bod.
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I got this from a "todays rumours" site....
It says that Ah Ben wants to buy some midfielder in January...
And this midfielder is from Hamburg and goes by the name of Eljero Elia.
JUST WHO THE FUCK IS THIS GUY!!!!
Liverpool really sucks if they keep on buying this type of unknown, average players... haiz.. i feel sorry for the liverpool fans...
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the last thing a liverpool fan should be doing is rejoice over the win of manutd. cause the manutd nxt match, they won and liverpool nxt match? i only see them losing to fulham and lyon. all ben does is open his mouth and talk w/o any actions. i personally dont believe that losing xabi alonso is the cause of their loses. xabi is a terrific player, how about c.ronaldo? manutd are still at least the title challenger as EPL champions this season. compensate 20m and sack ben ffs.
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wow anyhow manage world class team and bring it down also can earn 20 million pounds. this is a mad world
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indeed reina have great body.
if they can afford to pool out 100mil now.
why not pool out during transfer window open.. -
Originally posted by ASKL!:
indeed reina have great body.
if they can afford to pool out 100mil now.
why not pool out during transfer window open..already abit too late don't u think?
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well, once Rafa got $$$, I think we will see better players coming in la.
at least some damage control la, give him a chance leh..
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he's buying players who are individually VERY good. like torres. the rest are not exactly up to standard. look at arsene wenger who doest spend much for like 3seasons or more already. the UNKNOWN players that he gets are at least adapting into arsenal playing style.
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100 million for 30 % of the club doesn't seem attractive, given the financial state of the club and its debts..
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Just put these two "fools"(Lucas,Mascherano) up for sale or free tranfer and Pool will survive.
These two not only do not know how to play "professional football" but also get themselves into unnecessary yellow cards and even red cards thus jeopardise the whole team.
Long Live Liverpool!!!
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Oop! another "idiot"-Voronin.Get him out of the team and fast.
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Originally posted by charleslee:
100 million for 30 % of the club doesn't seem attractive, given the financial state of the club and its debts..
ya lor.. if it's mi i just let them rot first.. wait till they beg for mi to buy them for 1 dollar -
Originally posted by Tsh2005:
Just put these two "fools"(Lucas,Mascherano) up for sale or free tranfer and Pool will survive.
These two not only do not know how to play "professional football" but also get themselves into unnecessary yellow cards and even red cards thus jeopardise the whole team.
Long Live Liverpool!!!
are u nuts???!! lucas and mascherano are essential to liverpool's present and future... lucas, although he's quite average, but he has proved to be a consistent performer, not tt wonderful but at least better than jay spearing... mascherano's a world class player, he's the liverpool equivalent of claude makelele, for this season, i believe that mascherano is shaken by the loss of alonso and argentina's WC problems n is tempted by barcelona..if lucas or mascherano wants to go, sure, just have the buying club be prepared to fork out a hell lot of $$$.. -
Originally posted by I-like-flings(m):
ya lor.. if it's mi i just let them rot first.. wait till they beg for mi to buy them for 1 dollar
it will take something drastic to them to start begging....coz' they r still interested in making a decent profit... -
Originally posted by Collectible:
he's buying players who are individually VERY good. like torres. the rest are not exactly up to standard. look at arsene wenger who doest spend much for like 3seasons or more already. the UNKNOWN players that he gets are at least adapting into arsenal playing style.
we got to admit that wenger's a better judge of a player's ability and potential than rafa benitez.. -
Originally posted by iceFatboy:
well, once Rafa got $$$, I think we will see better players coming in la.
at least some damage control la, give him a chance leh..
but is there still time?we aren't even sure abt the making to No. 4 in BPL leh...plus CL is damn screwed up... -
Unless they can bring Villa and Silva from Valencia, there is still little hope for Liverpool if and only if they still qualify for champion league football in Jan 2010.
Any footballers that operated under Ah Ben will become retarded due to his defensive and kiasi style of playing.
As for the american, they are still protecting their investment.
Imagine Liverpool with no champion league next season.
They will not be able to get more loan and higher price for their share.
So, they have to sell the shares when Liverpool is NOT out of champion league yet.
It is getting more and more disgusting.