Gravy

In the Spring of 2005 we had a deal in place with a sponsor that due to one thing and another (basically the fecking around of the people our end cutting the deal) got pulled. That left us with no sponsor whatsoever. We were then over a barrell and Carlsberg bailed us out with a one year rolling contract at the same money as before. That then continued into this season at the same price as before. When did I say wait until the CL final finished and then cut a deal? I didn't. I think you'll find that Chelsea get a better deal than us from their kit manufacturer. I don't know how good he ie either. He could be rubbish for all I know. My problem is the fact that we can't seem to land the players than Rafa wants, and to me that's a very big problem.

Coz they all seem to have striker's, apart from Man U who apparently are chasing him as well. We certainly don't have the cash to buy the striker's at 15 million plus that all the other big clubs in Europe would chase.

Sobering reading. But hey, he's only a business analyst, wtf does he know. Course we have loads of money and are in great financial shape - and this without the new stadium.

I'm criticising Parry not for not having it, but not going and getting it in the forms of sponsorship deals and marketing strategies. Instead, he's too busy flying the youth team's goalkeeping coach out to give him lessons while he is on pre-season tours (such as the US), when he should be utilising the fact that England's most successful club is in the richest country in the world and maybe trying to cut a few deals while he is there? Or is that just an stupid optomistic point of view?

I'm afraid most of that isn't supposition, and although comes second hand has been confirmed by various people who would know a lot more about the inner workings of LFC than both you and I.

The away leg as well?

Spot on. I think it is more of a case of the money not being there to start with, not where has it gone. People have been banging on about 30 million transfer budgets every year for as long as this site has been going. They are dreaming. When was the last time we spent 30 million net in a summer. It's easy to assume we have money as we are LFC, the most successful club in England and after winning the CL should have pots of cash. Well, wqe don't. Look at the loss we made the year before winning the CL. Rafa and the team saved the Chairman and the CEO with the CL run and also the immediate future of the football club. Imagine the state we'd be in if we hadn't had that run. If we can't afford 10 million for Kuyt now, what would we have been able to afford without that CL run? The new adidas kit is the same money as the Reebok deal, so we don't get any more money there. We get a vast increase this season on Sky money and yet don't seem to be able to spend it on transfers. Completely fecjked up the sponsorship deal with Carlsberg and got a pittance from them for the season (s) following our CL win (until April 05 we didn't even have a sponsor for the following season and so Carlsberg bailed us out but at a good price for them) We've spent a load of cash on a ground that is never going to happen. We made a £20 million loss three years ago. Any reason why I shouldn't think the buck stops with Parry?

I wouldn't say "about to" but it weas very close to happening.

Then we'll lose him. We just paid close to 6 for Pennant ffs, so why not this if we have the money? I'm pretty sure Newcastle will bid the asking price. What do we do then and we clearly wouldn't be able to match it.

If Newcastle get Kuyt , who I think there is no doubt is Rafa's top striker target, wtf does that say about our financial clout. Both top targets would have been lost this summer. My own personal opinion is that if we were going to buy him we would have bought him by now. I think we'll get another striker but it won't be Kuyt as we don't seemingly have the cash. I haven't got a clue who else it could be though - as long as it isn't Trezeguet.

That may be so and is a whole new discussion, but remember, Liverpool is a city in England so there are propotionatly probably just as many knob heads and t***ts there as there are anywhere else in the country.

I didn't say there isn't, but if you speak to a lot of people second/third/fourth hand of other teams who have been at matches where Liverpool fans have been you may get the shell suit/thieving sterotype told to you of fans who caused the death of many people at Heysel. Just saying, don't believe what you hear. Things change Anny, and in the last 10 years, 4 years even, they have changed enormously for the better. Until you have first hand experience of something then you are not really qualified to speak on a subject are you? It's society, not just England or LFC. But hey, let's not let that get in the way of a slating session of England fans hey.

Where were you on hols? Sandy Lane in Barbados???

HTF do you know? Been to many England away games have you? I can tell you now, there is a huge difference between the people that go now and that went 10 years ago.

I know it was the following week but can't remember who against. Was it Derby?

Now that's dedication for you.

Arsenal 1987 League Cup Final.

I'm sure that semi was 2-0.

You did.

Not Trezeguet I hope. Well overrated.

Parry. There you go.

This would be ludicous in the absolute extreme. Surely not even Parry would give him away. Would he??? We need Kewell. He looked real good last season.

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Looks like Rafa agrees that we need another striker. "I think we still need an extra striker, just in case. I'm happy with the strikers we have but I think we need another and I'm confident we'll sign one."