redzonerocker wrote:west ham away at chelsea on the opening day of the season
not for the faint hearted!!!
Chelsea ain't faint hearted! Be good for the future management team to keep in touch with the club.
I understand we're taking maldini on as specialist defence coach as no-one ever replaced Clarkey after he left.
Funny isn't it? Chelsea have a new Italian manager who everyone said didn't speak a work of English, who then spoke in English at his press conference and it emerges he's been having English lessons for some time (wonder why ). Then there is Ray Wilkins, who was brought back to the club last season as coach, having been one of our all times greats and coach previously and who speaks fluent Italian having played in Italy and now Maldini, surely one the most respected players of any generation and without doubt a 'great' who spent his whole career in Italy at one club, but somewhere along the line, learnt fluent English.
caller wrote:Talking of fixtues, here's an interesting article courtesy of the beeb as to how they are worked out. They've been sorted for some time, so its possible anyone with connections to a club or the FA et all, will get to know.
Owen's four years on Tyneside have been blighted by injury
Hull manager Phil Brown intends to make his move to sign England and Newcastle striker Michael Owen "within a week".
Owen, 29, has confirmed he will leave the relegated Magpies when his contract expires at the end of June and is available on a free transfer.
Brown told the Hull Daily Mail: "I would think he has a number of offers and we'll have to be competitive.
"We'll speak to him within a week. I wouldn't sit down with him if I thought I was wasting my time."
Brown is adamant the lure of first-team football could tempt the England striker to East Yorkshire.
He added to talkSPORT: "I don't think Michael will go for the best financial offer, I don't think it's about that for him at this stage of his career, he'll want the best offer for his future.
"He needs to spend a high percentage of next season's games at the highest possible level and that's where we can come in.
"There has been a lot of documentation about injuries and being unable to fulfil contracts because he can't get on the field of play.
"But as far as I'm concerned, with a good pre-season under his belt, he's still a quality player."
Owen rejected a new deal at St James' Park at the turn of the year and on Monday stated his desire to remain in English football's top flight.
"I don't think I'm going to be re-signing at Newcastle and I would prefer to play in the Premier League or a top division somewhere else," he stated.
"I'm still a Newcastle player but it will only be for a matter of weeks."
The announcement was not surprising as the Magpies attempt to slash their wage bill following their relegation.
Owen is widely reported to be earning more than £100,000-a-week at Newcastle after signing a four-year deal when he moved from Spanish side Real Madrid in August 2005 for a club record fee of £16m.
Even though he is available on a free transfer his time on Tyneside has been plagued by injury problems, including a broken metatarsal bone, knee ligament damage sustained at the 2006 World Cup, a double hernia operation and a thigh problem.
Earlier in June, Owen's management company sent a brochure to potential buyers to remind them of the talent that resulted in him scoring 158 goals in about 300 games for Liverpool and 40 goals in 89 appearances for England.
"There are plenty of clubs who would interest me but we will see where that is, whether that's home or abroad," said Owen.
"There has been a lot of interest from abroad and quite a bit from at home as well.
"Obviously, the Premier League is where I feel I belong. I played a year out in Spain and enjoyed it at Real Madrid but it definitely confirmed to me that I prefer the Premier League.
"So if it was to be a good English club, that would be my preference but I have had quite a lot of interest from abroad, so I wouldn't rule that out."
Last season Owen scored 10 goals in all competitions, although an ankle injury and groin operation forced him to miss five games.
The forward has made 79 appearances for the Magpies and scored 30 goals in four seasons.
Owen has also recently been linked with a move to Aston Villa.
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
The club's owners are having to sell assets in the US
Liverpool Football Club - which owes two banks £350m - is close to renegotiating its debt with the Royal Bank of Scotland, the BBC has learnt.
RBS has told club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett the debt, due to be repaid in July, will be refinanced.
BBC business editor Robert Peston says RBS will insist on significant payments in the subsequent six months.
It comes as Portsmouth's defender Glen Johnson has agreed to join Liverpool in a £17.5m move.
Lending agreement
Our business editor says the good news for Liverpool FC supporters is that the club is not about to go bust.
The club borrowed too much; and it now has to tighten its belt, pay down debt and endeavour to live within its means
Robert Peston, BBC business editor.
"I understand that Royal Bank of Scotland has told its two billionaire owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, that their £350m debt - which falls due for repayment on 24 July and is owed to Royal Bank and Wachovia of the US - will be refinanced.
"A new lending agreement will be put on place."
A spokesman for the US pair would not comment on the development. The other bank owed money, Wachovia, has yet to make any announcement.
US sales
Latest accounts show Kop Holdings, the parent company of the Anfield club, lost £42.6m in the year to August 2008.
The RBS revelation comes days after Liverpool co-owner George Gillett agreed to sell one of his major assets in a deal which would ease financial pressures at the Premier League club.
He is selling his 80% stake in the NHL's Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team, in a deal reported to be worth at least $550m (£332.9m).
His fellow Liverpool owner, Mr Hicks, has also been looking to sell off elements of his own sporting empire - which includes Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers and the NHL's Dallas Stars.
The sales will help provide financial guarantees to RBS and Wachovia that Mr Gillett and Mr Hicks have funds available for the operation of the football business.
'Commercial acumen'
Meanwhile, the club has appointed a new managing director, Christian Purslow, as overall manager of the club until a new chief executive is in place.
Mr Purslow will represent owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks and liaise with manager Rafael Benitez on his summer transfer dealings.
He is an executive board member and co-founder of private equity firm Mid Ocean Partners.
"His strategic and commercial acumen will be a real asset and we're delighted that he has made a long term commitment to the club," Mr Gillett said.
______________
The BOLD print above. Wachovia is now owned by Wells Fargo, and they're not messing around concerning debt. We may very well see them not agreeing to a debt restructure.
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
prcscct wrote:Brown told the Hull Daily Mail: "I would think he has a number of offers and we'll have to be competitive.
Owen is now checking out the facilities at a few clubs who are chasing his services. In particular he is interested in the treatment rooms to see who has playstations and big screen TVs
The club's owners are having to sell assets in the US
Liverpool Football Club - which owes two banks £350m - is close to renegotiating its debt with the Royal Bank of Scotland, the BBC has learnt.
RBS has told club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett the debt, due to be repaid in July, will be refinanced.
BBC business editor Robert Peston says RBS will insist on significant payments in the subsequent six months.
It comes as Portsmouth's defender Glen Johnson has agreed to join Liverpool in a £17.5m move.
Lending agreement
Our business editor says the good news for Liverpool FC supporters is that the club is not about to go bust.
The club borrowed too much; and it now has to tighten its belt, pay down debt and endeavour to live within its means
Robert Peston, BBC business editor.
"I understand that Royal Bank of Scotland has told its two billionaire owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, that their £350m debt - which falls due for repayment on 24 July and is owed to Royal Bank and Wachovia of the US - will be refinanced.
"A new lending agreement will be put on place."
A spokesman for the US pair would not comment on the development. The other bank owed money, Wachovia, has yet to make any announcement.
US sales
Latest accounts show Kop Holdings, the parent company of the Anfield club, lost £42.6m in the year to August 2008.
The RBS revelation comes days after Liverpool co-owner George Gillett agreed to sell one of his major assets in a deal which would ease financial pressures at the Premier League club.
He is selling his 80% stake in the NHL's Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team, in a deal reported to be worth at least $550m (£332.9m).
His fellow Liverpool owner, Mr Hicks, has also been looking to sell off elements of his own sporting empire - which includes Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers and the NHL's Dallas Stars.
The sales will help provide financial guarantees to RBS and Wachovia that Mr Gillett and Mr Hicks have funds available for the operation of the football business.
'Commercial acumen'
Meanwhile, the club has appointed a new managing director, Christian Purslow, as overall manager of the club until a new chief executive is in place.
Mr Purslow will represent owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks and liaise with manager Rafael Benitez on his summer transfer dealings.
He is an executive board member and co-founder of private equity firm Mid Ocean Partners.
"His strategic and commercial acumen will be a real asset and we're delighted that he has made a long term commitment to the club," Mr Gillett said.
______________
The BOLD print above. Wachovia is now owned by Wells Fargo, and they're not messing around concerning debt. We may very well see them not agreeing to a debt restructure.
redzonerocker wrote:west ham away at chelsea on the opening day of the season
not for the faint hearted!!!
i did actually mean for the supporters
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
after the vastly ridiculous & overinflated ronaldo/kaka deals, further indication has emerged to suggest that football has lost it's direction & as a sport, is becoming even further detached from reality
i give you glen johnson, an average at best, right full back!!;
pompey to liverpool for £17 million , with a wage packet of £90k a week
tell me it's april the first ffs!!!!!!!!
Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Baa Baa, he is terrific going forward, but don't forget Chelsea let him leave twice. The first on loan to Pompey and he did so well, he was brought back and started as first choice at the start of X season - Joses last, but defensively he was caught out too often and Benetti was brought in to replace him and he was packed off to Pompey on a permanent deal. I like the player myself but do not believe for one moment that Chelsea were planning to bring him back again. We have Boswinga and Ferreira will be back fit as cover for the coming season.
But I truly hope he does well. Its not often on duty for England that he will meet as many talented players as he does in the premiership.
caller wrote:Baa Baa, he is terrific going forward, but don't forget Chelsea let him leave twice. The first on loan to Pompey and he did so well, he was brought back and started as first choice at the start of X season - Joses last, but defensively he was caught out too often and Benetti was brought in to replace him and he was packed off to Pompey on a permanent deal. I like the player myself but do not believe for one moment that Chelsea were planning to bring him back again. We have Boswinga and Ferreira will be back fit as cover for the coming season.
But I truly hope he does well. Its not often on duty for England that he will meet as many talented players as he does in the premiership.
Boswinga or Bosingwa? The idiotic English press haven't quite got to grips with that one yet.
I agree he's better going forward than defending but don't forget he's got the best defensive striker/right back/right winger/marathon man covering his ass!
Overpriced but hopefully he'll do well, then the price wont matter, eg Carrick.
I'll make a prediction and say (as long as Masch and Alonso stay) Liverpool have got the best, most settled side in the League and will win it next season.
caller wrote:Baa Baa, he is terrific going forward, but don't forget Chelsea let him leave twice. The first on loan to Pompey and he did so well, he was brought back and started as first choice at the start of X season - Joses last, but defensively he was caught out too often and Benetti was brought in to replace him and he was packed off to Pompey on a permanent deal. I like the player myself but do not believe for one moment that Chelsea were planning to bring him back again. We have Boswinga and Ferreira will be back fit as cover for the coming season.
But I truly hope he does well. Its not often on duty for England that he will meet as many talented players as he does in the premiership.
Liverpool play with 2 defensive midfielders and so Johnson will be perfect with his attacking style.
Liverpool have to pay the money that ManUre and Chelski are paying if they want to win the League.
It's been soooo long for Liverpool....even Leeds & Blackburn have won the League more recently than Liverpool.
). Then there is Ray Wilkins, who was brought back to the club last season as coach, having been one of our all times greats and coach previously and who speaks fluent Italian having played in Italy and now Maldini, surely one the most respected players of any generation and without doubt a 'great' who spent his whole career in Italy at one club, but somewhere along the line, learnt fluent English.
