Ed the Wool

Nah prefer his one. Am hoping for unequivocal Rafa backing as step 2 of the recovery. Step 3 will be spiking Ant's WKD with more of the same.

I mis typed 07 and then edited it a couple of seconds later...

In a thread where Kev is the optimist and I'm the pessimist. Its a crazy world. I hope you are right mind.

Do you mean in 05 or 08

There is still the potential Gillett could refuse to sell to Hicks, even if he gets the cash. That's up to GG though. Feel like we are going round in circles here.

If his private placement goes through, then yes. I think he thinks he can raise it. Presumably JP Morgan think he might be able to as well. I'm guessing, but I'd bet he's not even thinking about where to get the finance for the stadium, or even how to pay off the 30 m a year in interest. He's going hell for leather to own us and he'll worry about the other stuff later.

Do you mean me or Hicks?! I seriously think this is what he's up to. All the posts over the last few weeks that say he's posturing to drive the price up, I wanted to believe them all along, but I'm seriously doubting it now.

He won't be heading to the pearly gates. I really hope this isn't going to get any worse.

I'd add, I don't think he's doing this to get DIC or anyone else to buy parts of his other businesses. I think he's hell bent on owning us, because he knows he has a buyer, and knows the further down the road he gets with the stadium, he's on a half a billion pound plus profit. I think he's a wild eyed nasty b*****d when he smells an enormous profit.

I'm pretty sure the way Hicks would propose to bundle his stock, the voting rights won't be attached. The crafty c***. I have no idea how attractive this would be to an investor at the minute. The packaging of debt as the posts above suggest is very out of fashion at the minute, so I'd doubt the take up would be huge. The big houses (QIB's) are down on volume, but if he spread these notes out there might be enough takers. I work in the City, and what he is attempting sounds feasible. It knocks me sick to think about it. The only option then would be all out boycott, so he defaults on his loans and has to sell. I can see this might be where we are heading. And I could see him selling players for large sums to cover himself in the short term. The legal point about him selling part of his share without offering to GG first is an interesting one. Of course it would depend on GG wanting to get the lawyers involved.

You are Arthur Jackson and I claim my five pounds.

As long as you get the differnence. Its up to you then which mast you nail your colours to.

I'm not talking about his 'rubbing it in'.

People have repeated the answer ad nauseum, but I'll try again. Its not just the winning its the way you win. If Mourhino won the league with us I'd be delighted. If he carried on like he did at Chelsea in the process, I'd still think he was a c***. Its just like Ferguson. Best British manager of a generation. All those titles. What's the first thing you think about him? That's right, that he's a c***. I don't really want that for LFC, if I have the choice. I do want the league though. But I'd like to do it the way Shanks did it 'for the people', like Paisley did it, with humility and quiet confidence.

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Yeah, I knew at the time you weren't doing it for effect. I've been on here a good few years and I know you speak your truth and there's no drama. I think that's why it surprised me at the time. What has gone on since makes it look like you were right, with the caveat that everything about LFC post November has been a total f***ing disaster anyway. I can see why people want him to go. You'd be a total moron if you couldn't. My question (and there isn't an answer to this really, only opinion) is, given that we have a 30m a year debt to service, a pair of totally, vile, clueless, penniless bellends as owners, a f***ing bumbling idiot as a chief exec in charge of transfers, who on god's green earth would come in on those terms? And would they be better than Rafa? Even if the owners decide to borrow the money to get a TOP manager in and give them money to spend, it's going on the club as debt, its going to make us weaker. Hand on heart, and thinking of the long term future of the club, not just because the last 6 months have ben painful and embarrassing, I don't think we can do better.

I was totally opposed to what Wayne and Snorky (sometimes) were posting probably back in November if memory serves me right re Rafa. Over the last few months, I've come to accept what they were saying a little more, although I think the atmosphere around the whole club caused by the ownership has had a massive influence. There's something not f***ing right that's for sure. Every single post on the board tonight boils down to whether you think Rafa is/can build a dynasty, and whether given the results in the last 12 months, you believe he can. I'd add that I think the whole Pako situation is a consideration in this too. I also think that some of our players who were shakey in terms of commitment have unsurprisingly become more shakey under the circumstances, and aren't helping, noticeably on, but also off the field. I also think Rafa hasn't been himself post Pako, and under the strain of what has been going on behind (and not so behind) the scenes.. If you don't think he's up to it, that fine. But for f***s sake lets be men about it. Say your piece then shut he f*** up . Bleating endlessly about it is a bore. Personally I still want to give him the benefit, after all that's happened. I'm not going to fight you over it. Its what I think. I think we as supporters, and even if the players are unsure, given what he has done for us this season should get behind the man. I think this season is probably the weirdest and darkest in our history. It doesn't compare with Souness, Evans or Houllier. Its totally f***ing different. But even if you disagree with me, trust me, i'm f***ing hating it as much as you are.

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Went home at half time, 25/5/05.

I hope they don't turn up on Sun. They'll get the s*** kicked out of them. Maybe I hope they do, Hicks especially.

If that's the case we're f***ed then. Or something has to give.

I guess the question is can he pull it back round then. And whether the players are willing to let him. I can't help but feel the Milan games are crucial. A reminder of what is great about Rafa might be key. If things are as bad as they appear I'd hope SG and Carra would have a good talk to him. Approach and ask what they could do, not just on the pitch but off it. I really believe we need him as a lynch pin of long term stability, certainly for the next season. And I realise that it might be difficult, given Rafa's character and approachability.

Out of interest do you mean post Pako, or from before then? Was Pako the barrier to Rafa's techical to the point of being inhuman tactical and statistical approach?

Exactly. And with Carra as captain, or Xabi when his form improves..