The Liverpool Red Sox?? (1 Viewer)

[Peter Reuss]

With the impending purchase of Liverpool of the English Premier League by the owners of the Boston Red Sox....does that mean that a NY Yankee fan now must automatically hate Liverpool? Must very person in Liverpool come to loathe the Yanks?

Hmmm......

 

[jazzeum]

Some years ago, the Yankees and Manchester United had some sort of alliance, don't know if it still exists. Liverpool has a lot of problems, and not all of them on the pitch. They have a lot of debt to pay down to its creditors, principally (I believe) the Royal Bank of Scotland. I know the supporters groups were very unhappy with the the Hicks-Gillette management, mostly because they apparently never kept their promises. I have to think this is a step forward.

On the pitch, they're not faring to well, being right now in the relegation zone, having emabarrasingly lost to Blackpool on Sunday, 2-1. As they're one of the great sides, you hope things get better soon.

 

[VIRIATO]

I hope so, they are my favourite international team (national is Sporting Lisbon, another pack of problems at the moment).


Paulo

 

[Warrior]

Instead of buying a soccer team, the owners of the Red Sox should be more concerned with putting a baseball team on the field that can make a playoffs.

Nice job by the Doofin Rays today, 5-1 loss at home, way to go..................

 

[jazzeum]

You're not serious? They had tons of injuries this year. Francona did a heck of a job.

 

[Warrior]

You're not serious? They had tons of injuries this year. Francona did a heck of a job.

Not trying to hijack this thread, but since you asked; they let Bay walk, signed Cameron, who was a complete and utter bust, moved Ellsbury from center to left and he promptly got hurt, broke a rib and was useless all year as a result.

Their bullpen was a train wreck from day one, they did nothing at the trade deadline to address any of their needs.

Oh and they signed Lackey to a small fortune, who won a whopping 14 games.

Terry did a spectacular job, he held the team together all year long.

Management let him down, he was brilliant and has been brilliant since he got here.

Speaking of the Red Sox, I caught the show called "Four days in October" on ESPN last night, recalled the four days in October of 2004 when the Red Sox came back from the dead vs the Yankees, overcoming a 0-3 hole to win the ALCS and then go on to win their first World Series title in 86 years.

Not going to lie, the show hit me where I live, thought of my two uncles and my grandfather who all died before they got a chance to see their beloved team win the whole shooting match................pretty emotional, especially when they showed some older fans in the stands, I thought about all the nonsense they saw before 2004.....................the Yankee fans can have their 27 world series titles, the 2004 WS title is THE greatest sporting event of my lifetime, nothing will ever top that.

As in ever.

 

[Mitch]

The last thing Scousers want will be another US owner. Just spoke to some good mates in Liverpool who are filled with gloom as they have watched under US ownership their team fall apart massive problems off field . I think another set of US owners will soon see its not as easy to run clubs especially, with their fan base.

Please guys its not Soccer its football!!!!! and, Blackpool are not a rubbish team and they have done all their pre match homework well and played at teams weaknesses. No embarrasment at being turned over by them they work hard as a team and its what counts. Its only embarrasing as the players all think they are better than they are and as the national side does think they are a sgood as their hype.

Liverpool will only get worse as a few players now want out come January transfer window new owners need to see this and calculate what this effect will have on the footballing side of things. The sensible thing was to let the local millionaire buy it get the fans on side and develop from there.
Mitch

 

[jazzeum]

If you're going to have foreign ownership, the people who own the Red Sox are the group you want to have as they have made them a winner with two championships in the past six years.

As far as Blackpool being a good side they are in the top half of the table right now but were beaten pretty decisively by the Gunners and Chelsea an we are only seven matches into the season, which is good news for Liverpool since they're only three points from being in tenth.

It also seems that Hicks won't go quietly into the night.

As far as what Americans call the sport, does it really matter as long as we all enjoy it?

 

[Frank Millward]

Hi Guys

Well said Mr. Jazzeum - This is an different thread I must say - I thought I would read this for the interest value - Perhaps K&C were going to produce scale models of our favorite teams??? Never mind it's put a smile on my face.
What does it matter if we Brits play soccer and you play rounders it's the love of the game is it not - Just joking.

 

[Mitch]

Don't really think anyone expects Liverpool to be where they are at the end in may but, the debt the club has and the money for the stadium has to come from somewhere and, many scousers and other Liverpool fans fear all this unceratinty and turmoil will make the club lucky to finish in the european places. As I say players are now stating they want out which does nothing for on field stability.

Many said exactly the same thing about the present owners ''they are the ones you want behind the club'' as you say now. Proof will be how they manage the huge job of raising the club. Just seen on news channels both US and UK that fans at fenley were scathing of how the owner will support two large clubs without diminishing one. For sure Liverpool fans will expect huge things after what has happened.

I don't think Hicks will go quietly but, saying that I don't think he wanted to go at all. US ownership of football teams has yet to be shown as good or acceptable so, many will await what they do differently.

Blackpool winning against Liverpool is not embarrasing at all unless you think big clubs should not be defeated by teams like that. My point was that they are in the PL by merit and, Chelsea and Arsenal are miles ahead of Liverpool in terms of stability and football at this very minute. Thats what makes the PL the best league in the world that on any given day any team can turn over any other. Expected or not.

They are a good team and racking up these points is crucial for them when it comes to the crunch part of the season in December. I do think its like me stating this or that about baseball etc we know our league well and what teams are good or not. Blackpool will still IMO be a PL team in may 2011.

As for soccer/football its quite important as we have sufficient americanisation in sport without the terms being obfuscated and that was my opinion
Mitch

 

[thebritfarmer]

As for soccer/football its quite important as we have sufficient americanisation in sport without the terms being obfuscated and that was my opinion
Mitch

It is important!!! Over here they have baseball, in the UK our version is rounders (to a degree) I think our American friends would be upset if we started calling it Rounders or their football American Football.

It is a difficult thing to explain unless you have been in that situation, I get it all the time with my accent, people think I am Scottish, Irish even Australian and I take offence as anyone would, if called something they are not.

There are all kinds of things that are named differently eg. aluminium aluminum (by the way it is aluminium !!! ) I have these discussions at work all the time, my co-workers know it winds me up and do it all the more. LOL

 

[jazzeum]

I myself refer to football as football because the American version is hardly football. However, I come to this from a slightly different approach as I lived overseas when I was a kid and started following football since the age of six, my first team that I rooted for being Penarol in Montevideo.

I also played rounders when I lived in Trinidad and as I recall (last time I played was in 1960) it's different than baseball.

 

[Spitfrnd]

With the impending purchase of Liverpool of the English Premier League by the owners of the Boston Red Sox....does that mean that a NY Yankee fan now must automatically hate Liverpool? Must very person in Liverpool come to loathe the Yanks?

Hmmm......

Not sure how that follows but I do not feel the least constrained by my place of domicle. I have little interest in any of the Boston teams despite my proximity. Perhaps if I were born here, since I favor the Redskins and Orioles, it might be different.

 

[Mitch]

The Britfarmer picks up on the important point here which, I mentioned part in jest and part serious as this has been the problem especially in football in the UK especially with US owned clubs. Hicks et al did nothing to bond themselves with fans by constantly calling the game soccer what that shows to Brit fans is a lack of understanding and appreciation of the game in its entirity so, how can you trust that this overseas investment will embrace and support the tradition of the club if it cannot get even the rudimentaries correct?

I have seen representatives of the red sox owner today talking about what they want from future ownership of the soccer club liverpool. As a passionate NUFC geordie fan I can tell you now that scousers will not give the new owners much chance if they continue in that vain. It will be very hard raising sustainable capital with a half empty stadium and, protests every week.

They need to be on their very best or, Peter's comment may come true that every scouse may come to loathe the yanks more than they do at the moment.
Mitch

 

[jazzeum]

This article about how the Chairman and RBS won control of the club is a good read.

It's also not a question of American owneship but the right owner, regardless of nationality. If owners try to improve the team and keep their promises, I think that's all that fans want. For example, 29.9 percent of Arsenal is owned by Stan Kroenke, who also owns a portion of the St. Louis Rams, the Denver Nuggets of the NBA and Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, and as far as I can tell there are few complaints about his stake. As a matter of fact, the Arsenal Supporters Trust to encourage ownership in the team has the full support of the Gunners. Americans also own
Aston Villa and Sunderland and Chelsea is owned by Roman Abramovich.

 

[Mitch]

Jazzeum...

Sorry, it is about US ownership and if you were over here and knew the hostility and problems caused at these clubs then you would not say that. I agree its about the right owner regardless of nationality but, as you raise Abramovitch he did not come into English football to make money but, to win and bring success to Chelsea. He has spent huge amounts of his own money and has done that. He now wants the continued success but, without having to spend the same year in year out and, wants the club ran correctly and profit making. That regardless of the initial attack he took at spending his way to a title is long term and, a good owner.

Now, look at the problems at Aston Villa, Man Utd and Liverpool and, you see a totally different story and, all ran by US owners. All have in common they have little understanding of English football and seem to believe its a purely profit industry without any understanding of the game and what else apart from money is needed. My point was that if they cannot call the game football they cannot get the basics right and, that has been and is being proven.

The cracks are there for all to see its just lightly papered over at the moment. but, they are there for all to see in the English game. You mention Arsenal and 29.9 stake of Kronke but, he does not own the club and, arsene wenger is the glue which holds that club toghether. If Arsenal were ran like liverpool etc mentioned, there would be trouble but, they are not so are not a similar proposition.

It does seem and many have commentated on this that US business owners do not ''get'' the game and come in on the wrong footing perhaps due diligence should also be exacted over the history and fan base of the clubs they buy.

The Red Sox owners need to understand this and, react accordingly. As you seem to know about footy did you see the representatives of Henley talking about their interest in a soccer club called Liverpool this morning?? It does not take much to get the terminology right and, thats the issue ignorance of the culture does not bode well for Liverpool fans or future.
Mitch

 

[jazzeum]

The High Court has ruled against the present owners, Hicks and Gillett, finding that they breached their agreement with the Club Chairman, essentially allowing the sale to proceed, with the Board to meet later today. Interestingly, there is another outstanding offer (all cash) from an Asian businessman.

According to the accounts I read, Hicks' and Gillett's best avenue is to bring a suit for damages, rather than file an appeal.

 

[Mitch]

Don;t they now have an injunction from a court in Texas??? Just cannot see what that will do against a High court ruling in the UK. Saw the new owner looking rather sheepish as the new acquistion crashed to the dreaded evertonians. 19th place with a new owner and strife everywhere. Bet poor old Roy had wished he had stayed at Fulham.
Mitch

 

[jazzeum]

The old owners pulled the TRO on Friday. They probably did this so they could let the sale go through and file their damage suit, reprtedly in the billion range.

 

[Mitch]

I think its going to get very messy which, is a shame as I cannot see how you can get stability with all this happening.
Mitch