A case of Xabi Alonso v Javier Mascherano?

So much for thinking that our Spanish players would have a rest following their Confederations Cup semi final exit. No, they were required to play in a third place off which even went to extra time. Can you believe it? A meaningless, drawn out game in a meaningless tournament? As it is our first friendly, against St Gallen, is scheduled for 15th July which gives the likes of Alonso, Torres et all less than three weeks off! The season itself starts on 8th August, a week earlier than normal because of the World Cup. Make the most of it gents!

One of the players resting will be Xabi Alonso however speculation, as whether he will start season in a red shirt, continues. Clearly they are separate deals but, as a fan, it’s hard not to divorce thoughts on Alonso’s current situation from the one Javier Mascherano faces and the effect one, of both, of these players departing would have on the team. In short Spain calls for both players, Real for Xabi and Barca for Javier.

If you’d asked me at the beginning of the season who, out of the two, would be likely to go I would have said Alonso. This is hardly a surprise given Rafa’s attempts to offload him to Juventus last summer and bring in Gareth Barry. The openness in the way these negotiations, with Aston Villa and Juve, were conducted has in many ways backfired on Rafa. Barry ended up to Manchester City and it also sent out a message to other clubs that, rightly or wrongly, Alonso might be, as it were, “fair game” for a move. Would the interest have been as intense had we kept last summer’s dealings under wraps?

Much has been written about Alonso’s relationship with Benitez which, if reports are true, seemed to deteriorate when the player decided to stay at home for the birth of his child when Liverpool were on Champion League duty in Milan. Cleary no one apart from Alonso and Rafa knows what level of understanding or agreement they have. Only recently the relationship was described by Alonso as “professional”. Many people will read things into this comment but Rafa strikes me as the type to keep ALL his relationships with his players at that level rather than crossing the line and getting too close.

One also has to admire Alonso for his mature handling of the situation. It would have been easy, after Rafa’s well publicised attempts to shunt him out last year, to have gone down a path that’s been well trodden by other players, thrown his toys out the pram, slagged Rafa, suggested he’s not wanted or appreciated and demanded a move. However, his response was to produce one his best seasons for us. Even now, as the transfer rumours have re-emerged, he remains pragmatic and professional.

“I don’t see why a marriage with Madrid is impossible, but I would also have no regrets at all staying at Liverpool.”

One wonders about the first bit of this statement as Alonso has a family steeped in Barcelona history. He’s a Basque and his father played for the club. Would a “marriage with Madrid” really be on the cards?

Perhaps if Barcelona came in Alonso would go however they appear intent on courting another of our midfielders, Javier Mascherano. The worries concerning The Argentinean’s departure appear to have eased slightly, despite Lionel Messi urging him to join him at the Nu Camp. Again at this time of year it’s always difficult to speculate on reports but suggestions are that Liverpool will offer Mascherano more money. There is also the fact that Barcelona have offered a new contract to Yaya Toure, a similar player to Mascherano. Two reasons that perhaps make it a possibility that he will stay at L4?

Quite how this squares with Mascherano’s wife being unable to settle on Merseyside I don’t know. If your family isn’t happy wouldn’t this take precedent over everything else? And what of the negotiations conducted by his agent? Perhaps they are now laying the ground work giving Barcelona “first dibs” on Mascherano at some future date?

Be it this summer or the next eventually the pull of Spain will surely be too much for these players to resist? To lose both would be disastrous and Rafa has maintained that both are not for sale. However, if one were to go, I suspect there is more of a case for selling Alonso as the gap left by his sale can be filled easier than the one left by Mascherano? There aren’t many holding midfielders in Mascherano’s class. I guess it’s almost a specialist position and, as a result, players are at a premium. If Alonso goes the departure can be accommodated easier with Rafa buying a direct replacement or perhaps buying a really top class striker with the money and dropping Gerrard back into Alonso’s old role? The other argument is that because of the alleged relationship issues, already mentioned in this piece, an Alonso sale might be the one preferred by Rafa?

Perhaps there is more concern over these possible departures because of our performance in the Premiership last season? In an ideal world the plan would be to keep the same side with one or two additions or tweaks and this is more or less what Rafa said he would do. Losing key players were not part of the plan? However, no side’s line up, formation or tactics are set in stone. One of the attributes of any top side is that they can react to and absorb changes in personnel, move on and even improve.

Although it will be disappointing if it happens, at least the sales of Alonso and/or Mascherano will give us the money to try and achieve that?

Rafa’s “clear out” starts and getting shirty….. “probably”

Watching Spain lose the other night to USA, and as a result fall just short of beating the longest ever unbeaten run for an international team, took me back to 1988 and when the same thing happened to us in the league. The team that stopped us? Everton with a 1-0 nil win at Goodison thanks to a Wayne Clark I seem to recall.

I guess Spain had to lose sometime and perhaps, as Liverpool fans, we should welcome it as it means that our players have a little more time to rest before pre season training? Torres has spoken about getting back fresh despite their involvement in the Confederations Cup but presumably Rafa will allow them a bit more leeway in July before they are required back at L4?

One of Spanish contingent who might not return is Alvaro Arbeloa who seems to be on his way to Real Madrid as we attempt to recoup some of the Glen Johnson outlay. An Arbeloa move has been on the cards for some time particularly since we’ve been linked with Johnson and I guess once he know Madrid were in for him that was that? I suppose you have to put yourself or Arbeloas’ shoes. If you were offered a chance to join one of the top sides in your own country and play alongside Kaka and the pouting, bronzed hell child what would you do? As a result we find ourselves bowing to the inevitable and all that remains is to agree the price? Whatever is agreed it will certainly exceed the £2.5m we shelled out for Arbeoa in 2007 so on the face of it looks like a good bit of business on Rafa’s part. One wonders if we will recoup, or exceed, the £7m we paid for Dossena should he go back to Italy?

On top of that is the proposed sale of Sebastian Leto to Panathinaikos for £3m – the bid has been accepted. Again this is hardly a surprise Leto has been on loan in Greece at Olympiakos for a year and he would be well down the pecking order should return to Anfield. Again the Leto deal represents good business for Rafa as we signed him for only £1.8m. So far so good and we’ve still managing to hang on to Alonso and Mascherano!

Meanwhile according to a report in yesterday’s Times we could be calling “time gentlemen please” on our shirt sponsorship with Carlsberg who we have been with since 1992. It looks like the star Spangled Duo, in keeping with their assertion that we have been underselling ourselves commercially, will be looking to attract bigger bucks from elsewhere. Apparently the Danes have offered around £40m over four years but this doesn’t compare favorably with the other sponsorship deals – for example at The Mancs deal with AIG is worth around £80m. Real ale drinkers will not doubt suggest that Carlsberg is not really worthy of this description I guess there is also the issue of advertising alcohol on shirts which presents problems in certain countries and certain markets.

I often wonder at the effect this sort of advertising has on punters. I drink lager but I’ve never actively sought out to buy Carlsberg only because we advertise it. I’ll just go for the best deal at the time or whatever the pub is selling. If anything it can work the other way? For example I would never buy anything made by Sharp or Vodafone when the Mancs had these firms on their shirts!

I realise that this is big money and is part and parcel of the club’s business plan and that a portion of this will eventually permeate down to Rafa’s transfer budget, that’s assuming it’s not all used to service our debts. I also realise that the club is probably involved with many good causes but it would be excellent gesture if we were to follow the example of Barcelona and Aston Villa and advertise a charity on our shirts. It would be a grand statement and send a message out that in football not everything is about money and commercial gain. Hell it might even give the owners some much need kudos. Above all it would also give us another reason to be proud of the club? However, such is the reality of life that I’ve more chance of scoring the winning goal in next year’s World Cup final then The Star Spangled Duo turning down the sort of money they would get from a renewed shirt deal.

Johnson signs but Rafa’s “fine tuning” policy in need of a rethink?

Wimbledon, Wimbledon, Wimbledon. There are many things to detest about this tournament. The exclusive, smug, middle Englishness which is increasingly out of tune with reality and what tennis needs to get the British top players it so yearns for. However, if Newcastle and indeed other football teams in the premiership or elsewhere think they are subject to suffocation of expectation they should spare a thought for poor old Andy Murray who has assumed Tim Henman’s mantle as this Island’s sole white hope. Such is the interest in Murray they even interviewed his granny the other day! The only thing that I’m enjoying about Wimbledon is the weather. How I bet the All England Club is secretly praying for rain so they can show off their new £80m “toy” of a roof. Shine on!

Onto Liverpool and by the time you read this the finances may have taken a significant step to being sorted, though to what extent and for how long remains unclear. Glen Johnson may also have signed for us.

Regarding Johnson, Rafa has taken the unusual step of justifying what many see as a high price – £17m or so.

“Sometimes you have to spend a little bit more. You can’t compete in the top four of the Premier League unless you spend some money. We were looking for a player of quality and also somebody who is British because of the new Champions League rules. Glen Johnson fits both categories.”

Hats off to Rafa for his honesty but is Glen Johnson a good buy? The British quota issue was also a reason why Rafa pursued Gareth Barry for so long? However, it’s all relative (a few years ago Torres appeared pricey) and ultimately only time will tell, if Rafa is right. Who knows perhaps in say a few years time, if Johnson performs well he will be regarded as a bargain? I’ve feeling that despite these hard times, and clubs losing out to the likes of Satanta, transfer fees will continue to escalate, particularly if the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea continue to flex their muscles.

They say you get what you pay for and arguably in the past when it comes to full backs Rafa has got just that. We have yet to address the problem of these positions to the point that one wonders why we ever sold Steve Finnan and John Arne Riise. Dossena, Arbeloa and Aurelio haven’t exactly set the world on fire with their performances and we have often resorted to playing Jamie Carragher, and disastrously at Middlesbrough Skrtel, in that position. Perhaps Rafa, impatient and exasperated by what he sees as lack of progress, stability in this area, has decided that he now has no real option to splash the cash on Johnson?

In an ideal world Johnson’s signing illustrates the “fine tuning” policy Rafa spoke of a few months ago when he was asked about improving the squad this summer. Having got Johnson I guess it would not be unreasonable to expect him to acquire perhaps more major signing (in a more offensive position?) and leave it that? However, one wonders when considering this policy if Rafa actually bargained for the possibility of the likes of Alonso and particularly Mascherano leaving? It’s funny it seems ages since one of our major players has been tempted to move on because another club has made a better offer. Moved because he fancied a change, yes. Moved on because we wanted to sell him, yes but not because a club has moved in an attempt to prise him away from us without our blessing?

Perhaps this has caused Rafa to rethink the “fine tuning” strategy? Firstly because he might need to find replacements and secondly because he might have more money to play with – £30m odd more than he bargained for if Mascherano goes? Glen Johnson was a quick signing however others could be a long time in coming this summer because it may be dependent of other factors, or moves, that Rafa hadn’t bargained for?

What Johnson’s signing does throw in to focus is the need more than ever for Rafa to get his signings right. The current full backs were all Rafa’s signings so was Ryan Babel, Jermaine Pennant who have also been linked with moves away? Although these can be sold on and the money used to buy replacements surely there is a limit to this before Rafa’s judgment comes under more scrutiny particularly since he signed his new contract he has increased “purchase power”.

Thankfully signings such as Alonso, Torres, Mascherano, Agger, Skrtel, Reina, Kuyt and, too a lesser degree Benayoun ad Riera add much needed counterbalance this argument. Let’s hope that Glen Johnson will be another player we can add to this list?

Money matters and transfer developments – the worry and uncertainty continues.

Have been becalmed recently due to a small break away with the family and no access to the internet.

The announcement that George Gillett has sold his majority share in the Montreal Canadians ice hockey team in a deal worth an estimated £330m, has been interpreted by many as good news for Liverpool FC. However are we being too simplistic?

The assumption that Gillett will use ALL this money to the benefit of Liverpool should not be an automatic one. Gillett has many business’ which presumably have been hit hard in the current economic climate so perhaps The Reds will only receive a slice of it, or none at all? Nonetheless many will point to the timing of the deal as evidence that this is not the case. Next month the Star Spangled Duo are due to negotiate their financing deal with the banks. Presumably Tom Hicks, who has also been seeking to sell off some off his assets, such as Texas Rangers baseball team and the Dallas Stars ice hockey team, will soon be able to provide similar financial guarantees for the banks?

I guess the next questions are will this mean that that things will get moving on the stadium front? The stadium and the unfulfilled promises to date has increasingly becoming an issue. The delay means that grants have been lost and the associated development of the surrounding locality is also delayed. Perhaps many were thinking that June and July would be the tipping points for the Star Spangled Duo, the point where they cut their losses and decide to sell rather than renegotiate with the banks. However, actions speak louder than words and it seems that these attempts to free up money mean the Americans intend to, stubbornly, stay put?

A more short term ask is will some of this money be used to top up Rafa’s transfer kitty? This summer we are increasingly looking like much less than second best when it comes to funds and therefore clout in the market. The Mancs will be buoyed by the £60m for Ronaldo, for City the sky’s the limit and Chelsea, if they’ve the mind, can flex their financial muscles way beyond anything we can afford. One of our long term targets David Villa looks like going elsewhere, we can’t afford Tevez and in general we have become “the hunted” (Mascherano, Alonso and Torres) rather than “the hunters”?

However, perhaps I’m too negative, too premature. Since the last post not much has changed on the transfer front in terms of leavers and the bid for Glen Johnson has been firmed up and accepted. It’s been said that Johnson now has the choice – between us and Chelsea. However, would he really want to go back to his former club where his chances of first team football will be more limited? I guess the rapid announcement regarding this can be put down to Rafa’s new powers of transfer negotiation that he acquired with the signing of his new contract? At £18m or so Johnson looks expensive. Although we’ve called in the £7m Portsmouth owe us for Peter Crouch it doesn’t make the deal any better. If we’ve got Johnson for £11m net then we’ve basically given Crouch away?

As a response to the Johnson saga Andrea Dossena and Alvaro Arbeloa, perhaps anticipating what they see as the inevitable, have gone on record over their Liverpool futures. Dossena seems more enthusiastic about a move to Juventus. Said his agent.

“He is happy at Liverpool but Juventus is Juventus, and he’s a little nostalgic for Italy.”

Arbeloa was more non committal saying he was happy to stay but won’t complain if he went to back to Spain.

“I have one more year remaining on my Liverpool deal, but anything can happen. A contract renewal is in the air. I am contracted for one more year, but if Liverpool get an offer, they will consider it. It is all in the hands of my agent.”

I think it’s a certainty that Rafa will sell at least one full back. Dossena appears favourite despite having only had one season with us. However, of more concern is the projected move of Xavier Mascherano. I guess it’s easy to forget that, as in every career, there are other considerations besides football that might determine a player’s decision to move. Family matters for example? Mascherano’s wife is pregnant and apparently hasn’t settled in the North West. Then there is money. Real can pay more and the weakening of the pound against the Euro could also be a significant factor?

Although Rafa has mentioned that £50m wouldn’t buy Mascherano he can’t hold him against his will. If he wants to go then you can’t stop it and I doubt we will get the sum mentioned with £30m or so being a more realistic amount for a player of Mascherano’s type?

If it happens we will just have to take the medicine and Rafa will hopefully use the money wisely. For every cloud…..?

Johnson and Richards and the case for the defence. Cally finally Kops his medal.

So it’s mid June and it’s a year ending in an odd number which means no major international tournament. So we are scrabbling around the Confederations Cup and the Under 21 Championship for footballing succour!

Congratulations to Fernando Torres for this hat trick against New Zealand in the said Confederations Cup, which is being held in South Africa. Torres dedicated his hat trick to the African fans and then said that he expected to beat New Zealand, but not by five goals. Whether he expected Spain would score more than five or less is not clear!

Torres then shot down talk about links with Real Madrid and The Mancs. The Real thing is understandable, they’ve been linked with any player who has a pulse, however the Mancs rumour is clearly nonsense and quite simply not worth giving the oxygen of publicity in fact it’s not worth giving it the oxygen of oxygen!

Elsewhere Michael Owen has taken the novel step of issuing to all the top flight managers a glossy brochure advertising his services. I await an advert on TV but hopefully not a card in a phone box. Time to check Rafa’s recycling bin?

Sadly rumours about the departures of Alonso and Mascherano refuse to subside. Stories about Mascherano’s family being unable to settle in the North West presumably add fuel to the speculation? If either go then perhaps Rafa will need to alter his list of transfer targets? However at the moment he appears content to look at the back rather than the middle or the front. Glen Johnson, Sylvain Distin and Micah Richards have all been mentioned as potential signings.

I would have no major issue if we signed any of these players. Johnson and Richards are good, young international players who can only get better that the added experience of playing for us would bring. Johnson in particular appears to have flourished, at Pompey and on the international stage, since his move from Chelsea where his opportunities were limited. Rumour is that Rafa put a bid in for Johnson in the last transfer window however because of some impressive international performances he will probably have to pay more? At a rumoured £17m Glen Johnson looks a tad expensive however, name a player who isn’t these days? Ironically our main rivals for his signature could by Chelsea, his old club, and Manchester City. If the latter out bid us then perhaps this will free up Micah Richards for us?

At 31 Distin is more experienced. However, one of the reasons he choose Manchester City over Newcastle, with whom he was on loan, was so that he could play centre back instead of full back .Will he get the regular first team start he would want with Agger, Carragher Skrtel as competition?

Out of the three my inclination would be to go for Johnson or Richards as the position of full back as proved to be a constant thorn in Rafa’s side. Arbeloa and Aurelio have had their moments, particularly when going forward however, they have often been exposed when it comes to the spade work ie, marking up and defending especially from set pieces. And our other full back Andrea Dossena? He’s had, commendably by his own admission, a tough time of it however, as I’ve mentioned before in previous pieces, I believe we owe him another season. The puzzling thing is that he is Italy’s first choice full back however, visions of “catenaccio” do not exactly spring to mind when his name is mentioned, not yet anyway!

Finally warm and much overdue congratulations to Ian Callaghan for finally getting his 1966 World Cup Winners medal. There seems to be something very wrong that Cally, as a squad member, had to wait all this time when we saw Bobby Charlton getting a Champions League winners medal in Moscow last year.

Maybe Real will want to sign him too?

Mascherano rumours – never mind signings, can we hold on to what we’ve got?

Never assume anything.

We should have never assumed that we were going to beat Wimbledon in the 1988 FA Cup Final. We should have never assumed that we were done for at half time in Istanbul and we should never assume that this summer it’s just a case of adding to and improving our squad rather trying to stop key players leaving?

To be honest it never seriously crossed my mind that there is a possibility that some of our key players might go on to what some would consider to be bigger and better things. However, if reports are true Javier Mascherano could fall into this category. Barcelona are the club.

Once more the villain of the peace appears to be the dreaded agent, Mas’s is called Walter Tamer. Walter Tamer! sounds like he should wearing a cardigan, mowing his lawn, playing bowls and painting his back gate rather wheeling and dealing at the sharp end of football. The fact that we have only just signed Mas and set him up with a contract seems to have escaped Mr Tamer’s memory, but this clearly isn’t down to old age.

“It is an honour for Javier that a club like Barca pay such close attention to him. He would have a very easy job there. Sometimes we talk and joke that the only thing he has to do is run, rob the ball and pass it on to all the superstars in front of him.”

Is this serious talk? Time will tell but is it a testament to how Mascherano is regarded at the club that Rafa was extremely quick to issue a “hands off” warning. He even saw fit to cut short his family holiday to do so.

“Mascherano has no price Barcelona could not afford to match his value to Liverpool Football Club. We do no want to sell and Javier is very happy here. I have spoken to Javier two or three times this summer – the last time was only last week – and he was very happy, very positive.”

Before going back to his family and his bucket and spade he also addressed Tamer’s comments.

“Walter told me that two clubs with big, big names were asking after Mascherano – and I told him to forget it, that Javier was happy in Liverpool and he was not for sale. So I was surprised to see the agent’s comments today. He has a long contract and any club can forget about bidding for him. They can offer $40m or even $50m, we don’t want to sell.”

As for Mascherano it goes without saying that we would feel his loss dreadfully. There may be arguments that if we were to get £50m plus for him we could use the money towards two world class players however it looks like Rafa, rightly in my opinion, is not tempted to go down this route. To my mind Mascherano is up there with Gerrard and Torres in terms of his importance to the team. He is one, if not the, best in the world at what he does and despite Mr Tamer’s assertion there is more to it than just robbing the ball and feeding it to superstars!

If we add to this the possible departure of Xabi Alonso and all of sudden conceivably, and looking on the dark side, we could severely wakened in on of the key areas of the side. There is no way Rafa would let both go he would need to get replacements as Lucas, bless him, would be not able to fill in on a permnament basis replacement – for either!

Perhaps news about our debts have prompted this interest in our top players? However, debts do not necessarily mean we are a selling club. We are far from insolvent and are generating enough income to service them. News suggesting that the Star Spangled Duo will successful refinance their loan might perhaps put a stop to clubs like Barcelona and agents trying it on!

Still with you can’t get too angry with Mascherano’s agent, not with a name like Walter!

Time for Reds to leave Lavezzi ludicrousness alone.

I guess one has to remember that in this season of transfer silliness, players and agents, with a move or a new contract in mind, will use every opportunity to make sure things go their way.

The press is a useful outlet for such aims. Bogus stories are planted which although untrue, at least get the message across to clubs that their player is available and open to offers. Equally stories about other clubs being interested are concocted; perhaps to make the club they are negotiating with improve their offer? Oh what a tangled web of intrigue bluff and counter bluff we weave!

It’s a generalisation but these sort of stunts, rightly or wrongly, tend to be viewed as part and parcel of the game. However, sometimes the mark is overstepped and they can descend into farce or downright stupidity and provoke the sort of response that Rafa made yesterday over rumours about us signing Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Rafa has said he is not interested in signing this player and hopefully this will bring to an end a blatantly transparent piece of one-upmanship from Lavezzi and his team in which Liverpool have been used as a bargaining chip to help improve his lot.

We learn from Lavezzi’s agent that

“Liverpool’s proposal (to buy Lavezzi) is true”

He has gone to say that Napoli’s President Pierpaolo Marino is stalling and has tried to block meetings with us. Compare and contrast that with Rafa’s comments yesterday.

“We never contacted Lavezzi and we have no intention of doing so. We want to put a stop to these rumours.”

On top of this we have, via a letter to the Napoli fans, the biggest load of self righteous tosh from Lavezzi in which he claims to have been treated with “a lack of respect”.

“The only sure thing is that one day there won’t be either Lavezzi or Marino but there will always be this great club and this immense city simply because Napoli does not belong to anyone, it represents the synthesis of the sentiment of their fans’ dignity. Today I have to choose between dignity and a lack of respect, because of my loyalty to my upbringing without doubt I choose dignity.”

Give me strength! All we need is an orchestra of violins and a children’s choir!

People should always check the small print before they use words like “dignity” and “respect” as sticks to hit people with. Sadly Lavezzi’s attempts to elevate himself as some kind of paragon of virtue are rather undermined by these comments from his agent which seemingly reveal the true purpose behind his touching eulogy?

“There is a very real offer from a team who are playing in the Champions League and where he would earn much more than here.”

Presumably that team is, sorry was, us and on balance I think Rafa is right to knock it on the head for a number of reasons. Although he can play wide Lavezzi’s scoring record is not good – he only scored 8 goals in 35 games, in 2007-08, and only 7 in thirty, last season. He ran away to Argentina after Napoli ignored his request for further contract negotiations despite having got himself a deal to 2013. Does this raise questions about his behaviour and commitment if things don’t go his way? How for example will he react if, as is Rafa’s want, he is rotated?

Less seriously he was called “The Chubby One” when was at Genoa and then “The Beast” after joining Argentina side San Lorenzo on loan. Chubby, beast like and verbose (as seen in his letter) – it looks like we could be signing the footballing equivalent of a cross between John McCririck and Vanessa Feltz!

In short I believe Rafa is right, we can do better and that, to paraphrase Lavezzi’s words, is my respectful, dignified “synthesis of the sentiment”!

Hicks and Gillett no expense spared, except on the club!

The news that Liverpool FC are in the financial s*** does not really come as a surprise.

Those who have kept even half and eye on the activities of Tom Hicks and George Gillett will know this anyway and we are not alone. Of all the Premiership clubs only a handful, if any at all, are “debt free”. Us, along with Arsenal and The Mancs, account for the highest proportion of the total Premiership Club debt. If you class the money Chelsea owe to Arbramovich as debt then the big four account for well over half the overall total.

For the record, Liverpool reported a pre tax profit of £10.2m in the year to August 2008. Turnover was up to £160m, a record. However, that is not the full picture. The club’s parent company owed by Hicks and Gillett lost around £42m. This was mainly due to interest payments on loans the Star Spangled Duo took out to finance the take over bid and the building of the new stadium. Although Hicks and Gillett have put some of their own money into the club the amount, as a percentage of total money owed, is small. The owners, despite claiming that they wouldn’t do a Glazier, are in effect draining money out of the club to service the debts they have saddled it with.

On 24th July these loans will need to be refinanced. Although the owners remain bullish about the situation KPMG, the clubs accountants, disagree saying the situation. “may cast significant doubt on the group’s and parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern”. Hicks in a typically, insulting, patronising quip that fools no one described this as “accountancy speak”

In the meantime the latest news that Hicks and Gillett have claimed nearly £2m in expenses from the club in one year will only serve to worsen their relationship with the fans. It is hardly good PR a time when expenses are not exactly yesterday’s news. Perhaps Tom and George have become good friends with Hazel Blears? Maybe we’ll see a “duck island” on the Kop or a moat around the Anfield Road End!

This will only serve to fuel an image of two men callously and greedily milking the club for all it’s worth. This season the Star Spangled Duo have cut down of the daft, patronising statements and kept fairly low profiles. However, this sort of news brings to the top of the agenda once more all the doubts that many – do not be fooled gents just because it’s gone quiet and we’ve been preoccupied by events on the pitch – still hold and at a time, with loan refinancing imminent, when they simply don’t need it.

So where does leave Liverpool? I cannot see us going out of business. Even if the banks call in the loans the first thing they will do is to try and sell the club. There will be no shortage of takers, even in these troubled times. The problem appears to be The Star Spangled Duo who are simply hanging around the club unwanted and unpopular. Sadly, the fact that they are trying to free up capital from selling some of their sports interests in the US so that that it can be ploughed in Liverpool, suggests they are not thinking of leaving and still see long term worth in their involvement?

Despite these efforts perhaps the situation will ultimately force their hand? In the US Hicks’ Sports Groups have already defaulted on loan repayments three times to the total of £354m. Hicks has insisted that this was a negotiating tactic with his bankers. I’m sure that will really go down well with them – who would want to do business with a man who pulls these sort of stunts? If I were the bank I’d seriously consider rewarding such arrogance with a harsh lesson he’d never get! One wonders if Hicks will the try the same with the Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia, who he has the refinance the loan with before 24th July? Remember RBS is now part owned by the government. Perhaps he won’t be so cock sure this time?

Perhaps, as the financial screws are turned, Hicks and Gillett will run out of options or realise that there isn’t the cash flow to make their involvement in the club work? Perhaps it will be too much of a risk? Or may be they will try to “tough it out” and try and get the stadium project working even though other sources inside the club have basically said it’s a non starter? Like Arsenal once this is built revenue will increase the problem our couple have is making sure that they are still in place when the gates are opened?

Ultimately of course all this speculation is pointless. Who knows what is round the corner. Although many will say they saw it coming, who would have predicted the financial state the world finds itself in when the takeover happened? How many football clubs, even those in the Premiership, will be in business in five years time?

As it is the knock on effect is felt by when it comes to building the team. Rafa has only a limited sum available this summer and it looks like he’ll have to sell before he can buy. The chief victim of this policy, despite everyone’s reassurances, looks like being Xabi Alonso. Yet Rafa plus many of our top players have signed new contracts with suggests they feel all is not totally lost? We are generating enough money to finance our debts, and the banks won’t turn their noses up at £30m interest payments per year, but it brings home the importance of Champions League football. Perhaps we‘re being naive about the conduct of the owners and that this is normal business behaviour however does that make it acceptable when it comes to our club?

In their accounts, Hicks and Gillett said they were.

“….committed to building a new stadium and actively seeking funding to complete the project”

However, reassuringly there are still many, who hold this club in deep, deep regard, who are still committed to seeing it’s future secured under a more competent, pragmatic, less manipulative, less unscrupulous and more respectful ownership. For most the achievment of that vision will necessitate the removal of the present incumbents?

Forward talk – the unconvincing race to partner Torres

When we sold Robbie Keane in the last transfer window many thought we would leave ourselves severely exposed up front. What if Torres was injured? If this were the case we’d be left with Dirk Kuyt, David Ngog or even Babel filling in or even the prospect of hauling Voronin back from Hamburg!

As it turned out there was no problem. Torres was injured for part of the run in but goals flew from all quarters in the last third of the season to make us the Premierships top scorers. Nonetheless like last season it is still widely felt that we need another top class striker. Rafa has said that this summers transfer policy will be one of “fine tuning”. However, if we were to sign to another recognised striker one wonders if that would be the case?

Whoever we sign would raise the same questions about his role that were never really answered with Robbie Keane. In an attempt to accommodate him Keane seemingly played in every position except keeper! Eventually Rafa settled for offloading Keane and, as in the 2007-08 run in, playing Steven Gerrard in a more advanced role behind Torres. Would the new signing be able fit in with this arrangement? Torres has played alongside another striker before but he seemingly prefers to lead the line on his own with Gerrard backing up? Nonetheless, as was sadly seen this season, the two of them only started around a dozen games together. So, in keeping with laments about our lack of strength in depth, it makes sense to have another top class striker?

Of the list of candidates we’ve been linked with Napoli’s Ezequiel Lavezzi is the most recent and Valencia’s David Villa is the most persistent, two years and still counting! However, it is Carlos Tevez who appears to attract the most attention. Is this a genuine rumour? The fact he’s a Mancs player and is being linked with us makes it hard to take seriously? It’s an intriguing issue as the direct route from Old Trafford to Anfield is not a well trodden one and both clubs in the past have been at pains to prevent players from taking it. You can be sure Fergie will be doing the same with Tevez although the Argentine’s “ownership” situation makes it harder? Either way one suspects we will have to be prepared to break our transfer record to obtain his services and even if we do, Manchester City, who look like they are finally beginning to flex their transfer muscles, could simply blow it out of the water?

Naturally Tevez has one supporter at L4 Mascherano, his compatriot. Only yesterday Steven Gerrard stated that we needed more players of “Torres level”. Presumably Tevez would fit the bill? However, with City’s undoubtedly financial clout and rumours of Chelsea being prepared to splash around £73m on Kaka we will face stiff competition if others decide to muscle in?

I believe there are real doubts about how he would fit in with us and, at the price we will have to pay, Rafa needs to think very, very carefully. So perhaps he needs to think outside the box (not literally as we are after a striker) and maybe even take a little gamble? Further north there’s a player with a proven goal scoring reputation who, because his club has been relegated, is facing the unappetising prospect of facing the likes of, with respect, Scunthorpe and Peterborough next season. I refer to of course Michael James Owen. No come on, hear me out!

Unlike two years ago, when Newcastle bought him for £16m, we can get Owen on the cheap. Wages and fitness are a big issue but it’s a good opportunity that wouldn’t hurt us too much if it doesn’t come off and would still enable Rafa to spend elsewhere. Prepares Owen, staring professional oblivion in the face, may jump at the chance to return “home” and would be prepared to compromise over terms if it means enhancing his chances of resurrecting his international career?

Throughout his career Owen has always got goals. Players of his ilk do not suddenly become duds overnight. No one should be fooled by his recent barren run at Newcastle, no goals in his last twelve games; he was an out of sorts player in an out of sorts side. Moving to Anfield and back to the North West where he has roots and his business (a horse racing stable) would surely galvanise him and at 29 years, if handled sympathetically (a case where Rafa’s rotation might be of benefit) there is still plenty in the tank?

Last time Owen was on the market Rafa was slow in coming forward, understandably so as the price and the circumstances weren’t right then. However, this has changed. Rafa has his main striker and perhaps money issues dictate a more pragmatic approach? He should also consider that Owen’s return seems to have the support of his captain. Said Steven Gerarrd

“If I was a scout or a manager, I would be giving Michael a ring. I’m a big fan and a good friend of his. And I would love to see him get a move from Newcastle to a big club and get his England career back. I still think he can play for his country again. He has suffered a lot in the last couple of years with injuries, but a fit Michael Owen has the ability to be involved in this squad for sure.”

Go on Rafa, pick put the phone, what have you got to lose?

Related post: Owen regrets

Barry’s City move strengthens Red’s hand over Alonso?

So here we go again. Another summer of rumour, counter rumour and seemingly, if past years are to go by, endless wait! Its transfer time again

The waiting to tie up deals is something that has always irked Rafa and now that he has the new awesome transfer powers thrust on him by the owners via his new contract agreement we’ll hopefully see a quicker resolution? Behold the force of Rafa! Jesting aside I hope we do, I don’t think I can face another summer like the last one where the Gareth Barry issue went on for … well my brain hurts just thinking about it!

Who are this summer’s candidates for a move to and from L4? Obviously this is a “fluid” list which will change depending on things like agents demands the desire of the player, who we can sell and of course how much real news there is to report. The latter is in inverse proportion to the transfer rumours that suddenly appear in the paper!

Early runners for a move to Anfield are one Carlos Tevez, However we’ve also been liked with Wheater, Downing, Johnson, Villa, Silva, Eto’o, French, Saunders, Hall, Oates, Emerson, Lake, Palmer, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and finally, but by no means last, some short, unwanted and unloved bloke from Newcastle whose name escapes me! I understand that since Saturday our reported interest in Susan Boyle has cooled!

The favourite from the pack appears to be Tevez and, until yesterday, Gareth Barry. We are reported to be in a bidding war for both with Manchester City. I suspect that when it comes to bidding wars with Manchester City there will be only one winner, however we might win “on points” as we can guarantee Champions League football in 2009-10. However, Mr Barry, after being at pains last summer to assert that it was Champions League football he wanted, has overlooked this in favour of the “potential” of City. Perhaps at 28 years he feels confident about sitting out Europe for another reason and waiting a few more years until City build up their squad (either that or he thinks he’s signed for United) and in the meantime the money will do very nicely thanks very much!

Thankfully this means we will not be subjected to another summer of fruitless pursuit and the verbosity of a certain Mr O’Neill however, does this mean Xabi Alonso, his sale to Juventus seemed to be key to the Barry deal, will stay? I suspect it’s thrown Rafa off course a tad but presumably there are other options and sadly Alonso’s future still seems unclear? Real Madrid’s desire to sign him is plain even though Rafa is at pains to stress that he wants him to stay.

“The situation is clear, we do not want to sell our best players and that includes Xabi. He had a very good season for us and can be an important player in the future. There is no agreement with Real and we want him to be part of our plans going forward. Xabi himself told our club magazine only two weeks ago that he was looking forward to his sixth season as a Liverpool player. Why should he want to leave now?”

Why would Xabi, a Barcelona fan (his father also played for them) want to go to Real Madrid? However, perhaps the question we should be asking Rafa is what’s changed since last summer when he seemed more than happy to off load Alonso to Juventus and only a disagreement over the asking price prevented him for doing so?

It’s rumoured that Real are prepared to put £22m is on the table for Xabi. Will this sum, which was considerably more than we wanted from Juventus twelve months ago, sway Rafa? Presumably it’s an option for him if he fails to raise the money he needs for sales of other players? However, he will need to weigh up what the other players can bring to the team to replace what Xabi takes away?

It will need to be a lot.