The media's reaction to our takeover

[Maldini]

Strange that they're more concerned for our future than we are isn't it. I've read a few articles having a go at Gillett and Hicks, picking certain words and phrases (Franchise and Liverpool Reds mostly) and basing their article and thesis about our future on them.

 

This is ridiculous, Winter is usually better than this. I reckon he's based it on articles about the press conference rather than the press conference itself.

 

Don't price out true Kopites

 

By Henry Winter

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtm...07/sfncom07.xml

 

Memo to George Gillett and Tom Hicks:

 

In buying Liverpool Football Club, you have not acquired another "franchise", as you unfortunately described them yesterday. You have purchased one of the crown jewels of English sport, an emotional force in the lives of countless people, a place where community means more than commerce. At least you didn't call them the Liverpool Red Sox.

 

Be careful with your new investment. We realise you are here only for the profits, that you perceive Liverpool as an ATM shaped like a stadium. George, your comment that "the new TV contracts are outstanding" clarified your game plan. We know you are corporate raiders.

 

Tread carefully. Liverpool are not a mere business, a megastore with pitch out back. English football clubs are not about bucks and mortar; when fans gather they don't talk about bottom lines, but about shared heartaches and triumphs, about centre-forwards, not CEOs. So think New York Yankees, the closest your great country comes to a sporting institution steeped in history, personality and passion.

 

Ask Roman Abramovich. When Chelsea's owner visits Anfield, he gazes in awe at the Kop, listening to the many songs, reading the banners, just revelling in a unique atmosphere. Don't ruin it. Transplanting Anfield's special feel to a new arena in Stanley Park was always going to be daunting, so don't make it a disaster by pricing out true Kopites.

 

Where you come from, no one really blinks when a "franchise" pack up in the middle of the night and re-locate thousands of miles away. Over here, a debate rages over whether Liverpool should move 200 yards.

 

So talk to the fans. Draw on the wise counsel of fans in smart jackets such as Rick Parry, or fans in bomber jackets like David Moores.

 

They understand Liverpool's soul. Do not stay away from Liverpool, like the dreadful Glazers do from Manchester United. Enjoy your new venture.

 

If you understand the Liverpool way, that brashness is frowned upon, that the club are nothing without the fans, then you will never walk alone.

 

Memo to Richard Scudamore:

 

Although Gillett and Hicks deserve a cautious welcome because their takeover is free of debt, should you not begin to worry that the Premier League is fast becoming a money-making operation for far-off moguls?

 

You will rightly take Gillett's gleeful observation about "outstanding" TV contracts as a compliment to your own substantial negotiating skills, yet do not let the Premiership become a bunch of foreign-owned brands who sacrificed their local identity on the altar of dollar-lust.

 

English football will lose its global appeal if the Premiership becomes more about Uncle Sam than Big Sam. Be wary. Owners who think only of profit will not hang about when the sport encounters turbulence. Look at the mess the Italians are in ? and they are the world champions. And foreign proprietors are quite capable of pushing for a European League, cutting adrift the smaller Premiership organisations.

 

And don't you find it sad that United can deliver sensational football and still the Glazers do not often come to watch?

 

So rewrite your "fit and proper" person's rule to demand owners actually show their faces on match-day. They may like what they see.

[johngibo YPC]

I don't think its that bad. Isn't alot of it a compliment?

[honourablegeorge]

I think you're being pointlessly sensitive. The article highlights all the worries that most of us have, and should still have, regardless of a day of impresive soundbites.

 

The sentence "If you understand the Liverpool way, that brashness is frowned upon, that the club are nothing without the fans, then you will never walk alone." - how spot on can you be, like?

[cymrococh]

I don't think its that bad. Isn't alot of it a compliment?

It presumes a lot, and is a more than a little patronising.

[Maldini]

I found it presumptuous to be honest, like every other article I've read he chose to pick on two phrases that were used rather than the other 45 minutes of the press conference where both men covered all of his concerns time and again and assured fans that they had no reason to be worried.

 

He doesn't mention any of that though.

 

It's not really trying to pay us a compliment anyway, it's having a go at Hicks and Gillett.

[RP]

It presumes a lot, and is a more than a little patronising.

 

 

Which sums up Henry Winter perfectly.

[Bologna]

I don't think its that bad. Isn't alot of it a compliment?

Yes, it seems complimetary to me as well.

He's simply reiterating to the new owners what it actually means to own our great club.

[Romario]

Franchise and Liverpool Reds is what people on here are going on about. We have whole threads about what the "yanks speak" so we can hardly complain when journos bring it up when all they hear from Liverpool fans is about the great history, heritage etc. of the club.

There's more to this than money. If it was only about cash it would be a non story as that bit sounds done and dusted. We needed investment and we got it. It's two different cultures clashing and what that will bring that's the interesting part really. How Liverpool have opperated as a "family club" for as long as possible and how we've now moved on kicking and screaming into a marriage with two very powerful US businessmen.

[Maldini]

I think you're being pointlessly sensitive. The article highlights all the worries that most of us have, and should still have, regardless of a day of impresive soundbites.

 

The sentence "If you understand the Liverpool way, that brashness is frowned upon, that the club are nothing without the fans, then you will never walk alone." - how spot on can you be, like?

Did either man seem like they didn't understand that yesterday?

 

It presumes a lot, and is a more than a little patronising.

Patronising is the word I was straining for

[tomski]

It presumes a lot, and is a more than a little patronising.

 

 

 

Good article, the fact is that none of us have a clue what these people are going to do. A cuddly news conference

isn't enough of a guide really. I think the article on the whole pretty neatly sums up my concerns about what *might* happen and

hope doesn't.

[Buzz]

The Media has not been very warm to us in recent years, and yet now we are now "one of the crown jewels of English sport". Wish they would make their minds up....

[Billy Dane]

It is a bit strange though for the media to be concerned about "one of the crown jewels of the British game" when they seem to spend so much time slagging us off prior to yesterday.

[Cobs]

Which sums up Henry Winter perfectly.

[Stevie H]

"one of the crown jewels of the British game" = fallen giant / underachiever, usually.

[Boca]

We realise you are here only for the profits, that you perceive Liverpool as an ATM shaped like a stadium. George, your comment that "the new TV contracts are outstanding" clarified your game plan. We know you are corporate raiders.

 

Well I for one am glad that us Liverpool fans have someone like Henry Winter to speak for us

[liverbird04]

They wrote far worse articles about the chelsea takeover ,think we have come off lightly .

Edited February 7, 2007 by liverbird04

[honourablegeorge]

Did either man seem like they didn't understand that yesterday?

 

 

No, they came off very well. But it's just talk - DIC's soundbites sounded wonderful too. We're stepping into the unknown here, in a big way. I'm encouraged, more by the debt free nature of the takeover than the soundbites, but still wary.

 

Winter's asked that they respect our traditions. Maybe it sounds little patronising, maybe a little anti-American. But you wouldn't have had to search this forum for long to find that same sentiment last week.

 

Personally, I'm glad to see something like this in the press. I don't agree with the "I'm never going to Anfield again" phone-in idiots, but I think those concerns need to be publicised.

[DanielS]

Amazing how many experts are popping up at each newspaper though. All of them well versed in international finance, Baseball contracts and the history of assocciation football.

[Cunny]

christ we have some precious souls who support us

[Stevie H]

Amazing how many experts are popping up at each newspaper though. All of them well versed in international finance, Baseball contracts and the history of assocciation football.

they seem to know all about ice hockey as well all of a sudden.

[honourablegeorge]

they seem to know all about ice hockey as well all of a sudden.

 

Aye, until last week they didn't give a puck.

[Maldini]

No, they came off very well. But it's just talk - DIC's soundbites sounded wonderful too. We're stepping into the unknown here, in a big way. I'm encouraged, more by the debt free nature of the takeover than the soundbites, but still wary.

 

Winter's asked that they respect our traditions. Maybe it sounds little patronising, maybe a little anti-American. But you wouldn't have had to search this forum for long to find that same sentiment last week.

 

Personally, I'm glad to see something like this in the press. I don't agree with the "I'm never going to Anfield again" phone-in idiots, but I think those concerns need to be publicised.

If he wrote it last week I'd have agreed with it, but the article was about the press conference yesterday. His article does not reflect was was said at the press conference and it doesn't reflect the opinions of most Liverpool fans who saw it.

 

christ we have some precious souls who support us

crown jewel souls

[honourablegeorge]

Maybe it should, mate. I'd like to see a few more of us a bit more worried about these guys. They're here to make money.

[Guest Ross17]

Maybe it should, mate. I'd like to see a few more of us a bit more worried about these guys. They're here to make money.

 

Everyone buys a football club to make money, apart from Chelsea who have thrown money at everything because they needed to at that present time. Even now they have 5 year plans to break even and start making money, nobody would buy a company to see it fritter all of their money away would they? Hicks and Gillet see it as an opportunity to make money and increase their wealth but they havent risked borrowing aginst the club, I cant see much wrong with it to be honest

[Eskimo]

No doubt from now on G&T will be keeping close tabs on what the British media has to say, not only about them personally but also about the club and what makes this club tick and in a funny way these sort of articles may actually help them understand, if they don't already, what they have actually bought into. In other words don't feck it up or there will be trouble...