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TUESDAY 6 |
Gillett targets Liverpool fans in Latin
America
The U.S. sports tycoons buying Liverpool see opportunities
to build the Premier League club's following in Latin
America and will be cautious about spending too much on
players, one of them said on Tuesday.
"We've got a Spanish coach and a number of Spanish players,
and I think we can grow our fan base in Central and South
America and Mexico," George Gillett told Reuters in a
telephone interview, noting that his partner in the deal,
Tom Hicks, has large investments in Latin American cable.
(Reuters)
New Reds owners lay down gauntlet
Liverpool's new American owners have warned Manchester
United and Chelsea they aim to make the Reds the biggest and
best club in the world.
Tom Hicks and George Gillett laid out their vision for a
bright Red future at an Anfield news conference little more
than an hour after clinching an historic £470million
takeover of the club.
They will be in direct competition with fellow Americans the
Glazer family but, unlike the owners at Old Trafford, the
two sports tycoons insist there will be no debt tied to
Liverpool from their purchase.
The pair formed an impressive team, and made clear they had
huge respect for the club's heritage.
Gillett said: "This is truly the largest sport in the world,
the most important sport in the world, and this is the most
important club in the most important sport in the world and
what a privilege we have to be associated with it."
(TEAMtalk)
Gillett: No debt for Reds
George Gillett Jnr has confirmed money has not been borrowed
against Liverpool's debt in order to buy the Premiership
club.
Along with American business partner Tom Hicks, Gillett has
agreed a deal to take over The Reds after his offer was
recommended to shareholders.
There have been suggestions that the buy-out will be similar
to that of the Glazers' takeover of Manchester United, but
Gillett says Liverpool will not be saddled with
any debt.
(Sky Sports)
Parry: George wouldn't go away
Rick Parry has revealed George Gillett's sheer persistence
played a major role in his proposed joint takeover of the
club, which was announced first by liverpoolfc.tv on
Tuesday.
"When we go back to last November, it was a very finely
balanced decision when we went with DIC," said Parry.
"Clearly things with DIC took longer than we expected and we
thought we would have things wrapped up before Christmas,
but it was taking significantly longer than that.
"As we got well into January, so George started to come back
again. I wouldn't say we welcomed him with open arms at
first, but he wouldn't go away."
(Sky Sports)
Mascherano training with Liverpool
Javier Mascherano has arrived on Merseyside to begin
training with his new team-mates as Liverpool await the
go-ahead to play the Argentinian.
The transfer is still being discussed by the Premier League
despite FIFA giving the all-clear for the 18-month loan move
to be completed.
But Mascherano was at Liverpool's Melwood training ground on
Monday and manager Rafael Benitez believes it will just be a
matter of time before he can hand the 22-year-old his debut.
"Mascherano is here now. We are still waiting for an answer
but we think it will be okay for him to train with the
squad. He needs to be able to train so he can be ready to
play when he's needed," said Benitez.
(TEAMtalk)
Hicks: We'll support Rafa plans
Tom Hicks has outlined Liverpool's new owners' determination
to offer manager Rafa Benitez the support he needs to make
the club champions.
On Tuesday, Hicks, along with his American business partner
George Gillett Jnr, was presented as the new custodian of
the Premiership club.
Reports have suggested the duo will provide Benitez with a
huge transfer kitty in a bid to close the gap on Chelsea and
Manchester United at the top of the table.
While Hicks was not willing to divulge any figures, he
confirmed the intention to back Benitez's plans for moulding
a competitive squad.
"Talking to Rafa this morning, he was talking about you need
to combine keeping your core players, the need to bring in
some top star players and also the need to develop your own
young players," said Hicks at a press conference live on Sky
Sports News.
(Sky Sports)
Gillett and Hicks on their new club
Liverpool Football Club are today owned by two Americans.
After arriving at Anfield to seal an historic takeover,
George Gillett and Tom Hicks revealed they had been told all
about the club and its importance last night when they met
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and vice captain Jamie
Carragher.
It is understood Gillett and Hicks will bring their sons –
Foster Gillett and Tom Hicks jnr – into the boardroom to
help them, taking Britain’s most successful club forward
into a new era.
Gillett said of last night’s meeting with Gerrard and
Carragher: “They delivered us a clear message. They are all
about winning, and the fans.
(Liverpool Echo)
Date set for youth game
The date has been set for Liverpool's FA Youth Cup quarter
final.
Liverpool will play Sheffield United in the quarter finals
of the FA Youth Cup at Bramall Lane on Thursday February
15th.
The game will kick off at 7pm and must be settled on the
night. In the event of a draw there will be extra time and
then penalties if the game is still level.
(LFC Online)
Gerrard: McClaren needs time
Steven Gerrard is still “hurt” by England’s World Cup
failure last summer and has plead for Steve McClaren to be
given time to stamp his mark on the squad.
Gerrard conceded England face a tough challenge as they look
to erase the disappointments of Germany by qualifying for
the Euro 2008 finals.
But he points out McClaren is still barely six months into
his reign as Sven-Goran Eriksson’s successor and needs a bit
of breathing space amidst the high expectancy levels always
placed on England.
Gerrard, who will lead the side in tomorrow’s friendly
international against Spain at Old Trafford, said: “I think
there is still a lot of work to do.
“We need to play more as a team, work harder with and
without the ball. We all know we’ve got a big job on our
hands. It is always the case with England. There are a lot
of expectations on the team – but, please, give the new
coach and his staff a chance.
“We have only played only five or six games together under
the new coach – and for him to get the team playing better
and playing as a unit, it will take a little bit longer. But
if you are all patient, I am sure Steve McClaren will get it
right.”
(BreakingNews.ie)
Reds agree takeover deal
The American pair flew into Liverpool on Tuesday to tie up
the final details of
the takeover deal.
The deal is reported to be worth £470m with the American duo
splitting the cost between them paying about £175m for the
shares in the club, £80m to cover the debt and a further
£215m towards a new stadium.
Liverpool's board have now made an announcement to the Stock
Exchange of the offer and they have recommended for the
club's shareholders to accept the deal.
Reds chairman David Moores welcomed the deal and revealed he
will be staying on at the club as Honorary Life President.
(Sky Sports) |
|
MONDAY 5 |
England captaincy excites Gerrard
Steven Gerrard admits it will be a massive honour to captain
England for the friendly with Spain on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old will skipper the side for the first time in
three years, with John Terry unable to play the full 90
minutes following a back injury.
Gerrard said: "It means an awful lot to me. To walk out at
the front and lead the boys into battle is extra-special."
Liverpool's skipper also said he had no problem with Joey
Barton, despite his criticism of Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
Manchester City midfielder Barton, called up by England for
the first time, said in January that Gerrard and Lampard
could not play together in the same midfield as they "needed
a ball each to succeed".
He also condemned some England players for bringing out
autobiographies after the dismal showing in the World Cup
last summer, of which Gerrard was one.
But Gerrard added: "I haven't seen Joey yet but I'll give
him a knock on his door and present him with a signed copy
of the book so he can read it over the next couple of days.
"There's no hard feelings between myself and Joey, the
interview he's done has pretty much gone over my head."
(BBC Sport Online)
Mascherano keen to make an impact
Javier Mascherano is keen to establish himself at Liverpool
and prove he can make an impact in the Premiership.
The midfielder is awaiting clearance from the Premier League
before his move from West Ham can be finalised.
The 22-year-old made only seven appearances for the Hammers
and said: "I want to prove to myself that I can play here in
England.
"I want to gain the respect of the Liverpool players and win
a place in the team on merit."
Mascherano arrived at West Ham from Corinthians on transfer
deadline day last August.
But his experience at the Premiership strugglers has not put
him off English football and instead it has made him more
determined to try to make his mark on the game.
He added: "I've not been a on the pitch enough yet to know
if I can. Now, there is a chance to play in a top team and
fight for a place in the team with great players like Steven
Gerrard or Xabi Alonso.
"It's a fantastic challenge."
(BBC Sport Online)
Moyes moaning adds to rumblings
David Moyes has added to Rafa Benitez's off the cuff remarks
that Everton are a small team in the Premiership.
The Toffee boss repeated his belief that his side are still
one of the big teams in English football - despite their
recent lack of success.
"Everton are not a small team. Everton are one of the big
clubs in England," complained Moyes to a tabloid newspaper.
But Moyes did accept that the Reds recent success in
claiming the European Champions crown and FA Cup made
Liverpool a bigger side than his.
"We are, at this time, smaller than Liverpool, but we are a
competitive football club, a determined football club, and
we are trying to achieve as much as we can,"
Moyes conceded.
(LFC Online)
Stevie: It felt like a defeat
Steven Gerrard insists the Reds must stay positive despite
admitting Saturday's draw against Everton "felt like a
defeat".
The Anfield skipper says he and his teammates must not dwell
on losing ground over Chelsea and Manchester United.
"At the end of the game it felt like we'd lost because we
were so disappointed not to get the three points," he said.
"Credit to Everton for the way they defended, but it was
clear there was only one side trying to win the game."
(LFC Official Website)
Rafa releases statement
Rafael Benitez has released a further statement after
pointing out that Everton are
a small team.
Benitez has been prompted to release a further statement
following a day of non stop whinging by Evertonians after
the Liverpool boss correctly pointed out that Everton are a
small team.
"I’m not talking about them. You can only see the things
that you see out on the pitch, and they were playing deep,
compact, narrow, playing counter attack and trying to score
from set-pieces," said Benitez.
(LFC Online) |
|
SUNDAY 4 |
Rafa calls for swift takeover conclusion
Rafael Benitez has called for a speedy conclusion to the
Liverpool takeover saga.
US sports moguls Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jnr will be on
Merseyside this week hoping to clinch a deal.
The pair have made what amounts to a £450million bid to buy
the club, including chairman and owner David Moores' 51.6
per cent controlling interest.
Benitez, who could be given significant summer funds by the
new consortium, said after the goalless Merseyside derby
clash with Everton: "If it is sorted out next week, then
that will be better because we can start talking about the
game and the players rather than other things."
(Daily Mail)
Evertonians will show Rafa no Mersey
The day Liverpool managaer Rafael Benitez called Everton a
small club is undoubtedly going to go down in Mersey derby
folklore.
The next time Everton win one of these high-octane
collisions, you can be sure the headline will be 'Not bad
for a small club.'
Benitez may well now hope such an occasion does not come on
his watch!
The Anfield boss may well have been suggesting that
Everton's ambitions were small because of their defensive
approach to this match.
(TEAMtalk)
Everton hit back at Benitez jibe
Everton have responded angrily to Liverpool manager Rafael
Benitez branding the Toffees a "small club".
The Spaniard said after Saturday's 0-0 Merseyside derby:
"When you play against the smaller teams at Anfield you know
the game will be narrow."
Everton chief executive Keith Wyness responded on the club
website and said: "Benitez is in a minority of one in
believing Everton is a small club.
"Somehow we just expect more of a Liverpool manager."
Everton manager David Moyes brushed off the remarks and felt
his side were unlucky not to have gained their second win
over their neighbours this season.
He said: "We've taken four points off Liverpool this season,
so we must be doing something right."
(BBC Sport Online)
£120m: Rafa will have cash to burn
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez will be handed an astonishing
£120m transfer budget if the proposed American takeover goes
through this week.
US tycoons George Gillett and Tom Hicks are set to take
control at Anfield. Under formal proposals of a projected
£480m takeover, additional funding will be made available to
Benitez to ensure Liverpool can match their free-spending
rivals in the transfer market and compete for honours.
(Sunday Mirror)
Cisse in French squad
Djibril Cisse has been named in the French squad for the
first time since breaking his leg.
Cisse has been in excellent form since returning from the
broken leg he sustained playing in a pre-World Cup friendly
for France against China and has been rewarded with a place
in the French squad for the friendly with Argentina next
week.
A return to international level will be a boost for Cisse
and also makes it likely Marseille will sign the player from
Liverpool on a permanent move at the end of the season.
Liverpool will be looking to get around £8m for the striker.
(LFC Online)
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Thor Zakariassen
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