Liverpool’s owners have made today a statement of intent. The morning headlines ran wild with the news that New England Sports Ventures (NESV) had turned down a $35M bid for Fernando Torres from rivals Chelsea. Many think this must have been a difficult decision given that the striker has been under-performing and is most-likely less valuable than the proposed price tag.
In refusing the offer, NESV made it clear that they intend to pull the club up by its boot-straps back into the realm of world-class competition.
To put an exclamation point on this statement, the club has just released the news that they have finalized the uncertain signing of Luis Suarez from Dutch club Ajax.
Suarez impressed the world with his dazzling striking prowess this summer at the FIFA World Cup 2010, but all of this was cast in a shadow by his use of the Dark Arts:
Liverpool’s Ryan Babel has gone and done it now! After his team’s loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup this weekend, he posted this picture on Twitter along with the following tweet:
“And they call him one of the best referees? That’s a joke. SMH.”
OMG! Look out, Howard Webb! Suffer the wrath of teen-like typing!
Please… the famed official was ROFLing when he heard about this… and then, he probably needed to ask what Twitter is.
After the national uproar, Babel re-tweeted with his tail between his legs:
“Sorry Howard Webb. My apology if they take my posted pic seriously. This is just an emotional reaction after losing an important game.”
Looks like B-to the-A-to the-B-E-L has new material for his blooming rap career!
You gotta love it when soccer stars get bored and start recording dope-boy-fresh hip hop. A few months ago, FFY showcased some of the rhyme-spitting talents of Clint Dempsey, Asamoah Gyan, and Ryan Babel.
Well, folks, if you’re looking for more of that sweet action, we’ve dug up another example of RB’s lyrical genius. Dutch fluency or not, “R to the A to the B-E-L” transcends any language barrier. Like love. Just like love.
Turn up the bass and bump this ish!
Filed under: Liverpool
It’s official!
John Henry’s New England Sports Ventures has completed the purchase of Liverpool Football Club after former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett removed their temporary restraining order on the sale.
It’s been a mess, but it’s done. And everyone seems happy about. Well, except for Hicks and Gillett, of course.
Supporters will be looking for the team to be moving onwards and upwards now that the ownership saga has passed. Now, there are no excuses for poor performance.
For now, though, everyone seems content to take a deep breath and take in an owner that finally seems sensible.
Here is John Henry’s first press conference as the owner of LFC:
In a surprising turn of events, Liverpool are back in High Court today after owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett played the trick up their sleeves. The Americans proved that they’re far from pushovers by taking their ownership dispute to court in Texas, after they lost in England’s High Court yesterday.
After yesterday’s jubilation, Liverpool’s board and supporters are shocked… and PISSED!!!
Though, experts believe that this move is merely delaying the inevitable sale, there’s no arguing that such a delay brings back into worry the prospect of the Royal Bank of Scotland placing the club in administration.
Hicks and Gillett continue to drag this dispute out because they feel the club is being undersold. In fact (and hilariously), the duo have called the potential sale to New England Sports Ventures an “epic swindle.” EPIC!!!
Along with their petition to the Texas court, they have also set out a claim for $1 billion in damages. EPIC!!!
Needless to say, this is an EPIC mess that will be spewing about for days. Check back soon for the latest in the saga.
Inspiring video of the Chairmen and their supporters walking out onto the courthouse steps:
Unsure as to why Liverpool was in court? ITN News provides some explanation:
Filed under: Liverpool
Not quite sure why this whole Liverpool takeover has to be taken to the High Court? Well, that’s probably a good thing. Otherwise, you might cause a legal nerd alert.
To get some explanation, The Daily Telegraph spoke to a sports lawyer at the firm Thomas Eggar LLP.
Here is their Q&A:
What must Liverpool prove in the High Court to get the sale through?
Martin Broughton, Liverpool’s chairman, will look to argue that Tom Hicks and George Gillett have breached undertakings that were either signed as a separate agreement when he was appointed in April or that form part of the club’s articles of association. He will look to prove that only he has the power to appoint or remove directors and that he has the power to sell the club to an appropriate bidder.
SOLD… for £300 million!
It seems that the ownership crisis which has gripped Liverpool FC for months now may truly be coming to an end.
However, fans have made it very clear that they are wary of American businessmen simply looking to make money, without honoring the team’s history. So, are the new potential owners any better than the old?
New England Sports Ventures (NESV), which owns the Boston Red Sox, is the group which has made the winning bid. Since buying the BoSox in 2002, they have seen majors ups and downs.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the financial situation with either Manchester United or Liverpool, outspoken British entrepreneur and host of England’s “The Apprentice” Alan Sugar has just given his two cents.
As former chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, club ownership is something with which he’s quite familiar. And he feels there is a bleak outlook for teams like ManU and Liverpool, while it’s nothing but blue skies for Chelsea and ManCity.
This is a lengthy read, but for those interested, here’s what he had to say:
”If you are asking me if foreign owners are good for football then I would have to split them into two categories… There is Roman Abramovich and that bloke from the Middle East [Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan at Manchester City]. To a certain extent [Fulham's] Mohammed Al-Fayed and, although I was not a foreign owner, I would include myself in this category of owners who use their own money to buy football clubs.
“How can you say anything about these foreign owners? Roman Abramovich is passionate about Chelsea and football and he is putting up the money to buy the best players in the world, and now Manchester City are doing the same. Yes, it might be unfair to everyone else, but that’s life, and it hasn’t done much harm to their football clubs, now has it?
“But there is another type of foreign owner: The Glazers and those guys at Liverpool, Hicks and Gillett. Now, I am sorry to have to say this, but they are done. They are gone. They have big problems ahead.
Yesterday’s Carling Cup matches had their fair share of craziness. Liverpool fell to League Two (3rd Div.) side Northampton. Chelsea were stunned late by Newcastle. And two goals in two minutes led West Brom to victory over Manchester City.
Needless to say, the day was full of excitement.
And, what better way to see some of the action than through the eyes of fans?
