RTK - Yankees Go Home

[Maldini]

They haven't posted it on here for some reason so I thought I'd post it. Can we please keep the anti-RTK stuff out of this thread.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The events of the past few days have proved what, deep down, we've known for a long time. These two jerry builders are not fit to be associated with our club. Whatever we might have thought about their motives, their personas, their politics, we allowed ourselves to believe that they had a gut sense of Liverpool's special ness, and a good sense of what is the minimum acceptable requirement here in terms of honour and tradition. In short, they gave a good impression of understanding, and cherishing The Liverpool Way.

 

They said they would build a stadium fit for the world's most legendary football club.

 

They said they would never contemplate securitising their loans against the club.

 

They said they'd back our manager.

 

They lied.

 

We know this now

 

We know it for an absolute fact.

 

Our club is in the hands of disreputable men, men who, if they want success for Liverpool, want it solely in order to fatten up the calf for sale.

 

The current situation is unworkable. Rafael Benitez, with his ingrained sense of honour, dignity and morality, has been publicly humiliated by Hicks and Gillett (and while Hicks is far and away the baddie of the piece, let's not underestimate the smiling, twinkling George's complicity in all this any more than he has underestimated our intelligence, our nous, and our own ingrained ability to rat out a wrong 'un when they wheedle their way in.) Rafa would have walked away by now but for one small thing the Americans will never 'get'. He loves it here. He loves the club, loves the fans, loves the city, and loves The Liverpool Way. More than anybody at the club, he is desperate to deliver for us that which we long for so badly.

 

They will sack him in the summer. They have left themselves with no other option. If Hicks had come out on Sunday and said:

 

"Fair do's Rafa, we were itchy on the trigger, you weren't conforming to the chart flow on our business plan, we wanted you out... but we realise now we got it wrong. Go buy Drenthe, Daniel Alves and Sergio Aguero, and while you're at it, tie up Mascherano long term and here's a new 5 year contract..."

 

You'd possibly have given them a stay of execution. But he didn't. He gave the manager (and thus the fans, the club, the players) a vote of no confidence in front of, and to the delight of, the world's slavering media. He'll have to sack Rafa in the summer, just to keep face. Unless...

 

Unless he's not there. And he's not too far from doing one, you know. This whole madcap scheme that George has dragged him into is far, far madder, far more expensive, and far less fun than he'd thought it'd be. He thought it was going to be like planting money seeds and picking dollar bills off the tree in a few years time. He thought Liverpool fans were going to be like Dallas Cowboys supporters, if a little louder - but nonetheless grateful for his patronage, and a little bit cowed by his enormous wealth. What he's found here is that it's difficult, it's cold, it's expensive - and the fans care a little too much about their team. They care so much that they answer back to the owners.

 

That's what we have to do, comrades - answer back, loud and clear. We know the arguments, we know we're not Geordies, we know there's something very un-Liverpool about all this marching and protesting. But there's something very, very Scouse about the refusal to lie down and toe the party line, the refusal to swallow corporate s**** and the willingness to strike and fight back if we need to right a wrong.

 

Our immediate target needs to be Foster Gillett. In the way that these flinty oligarchs always send their disappointing offspring away to the furthest, most hostile outposts of their empire to try and toughen them up, Foster has drawn the Liverpool straw. He's only pretending to live here. He spends his time in London, comes up for the Monday meeting, pads around Melwood then vapourises. He doesn't really want to be here. A sustained period of invective targeted at Foster on Monday night will unsettle him further. He'll be straight on the phone to his Dad saying:

 

"Look what that idiot partner of yours has subjected me to. I'm out of here."

 

No matter how rich the magnates or how close their partnership, filial loyalty and the need for a father to protect his offspring will come ahead of everything. The splinters we're hearing about in Hicks and Gillett's relationship will become a chasm, with the effect of accelerating their exit strategy.

 

Be under no illusions. If DIC come in, they'll want to run it as a business, too. Whoever comes in next - and we could be bracing ourselves for a future where ownership changes hands every 5 or 10 years - will never have Liverpool's traditions running through them like we do. But there's a minimum acceptable standard in ownership too, and Hicks and Gillett have fallen badly short. It gives me no joy to recommend it, but we have to drive them out - starting with Foster on Monday night.

 

These are critical times for Liverpool F.C. If Hicks stays, Rafa goes - it's that simple. And if Rafa goes, the empire he's building crumbles - no-one would even bet against Carra and Stevie Gerrard walking out on the shell that used to be LFC. All and any other reservations and complaints we've got about ticket allocations, ground moves, and horrid purple ties have to be put to one side. Any feeling about Rafa's rotation and tactics. All to one side. This is Us against Them. The Liverpool Way against The American Way. We've got run the b******s, end of story. Monday night, let them know. Yankees, Yankees f*** off home..."

 

THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT RAFA

THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT FANS

LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB

IS IN THE WRONG HANDS

 

Please use this thread for ideas for next Monday night. Catchy ditties that can be aired by all. Get the message acoss vocally to young Foster in the stands and his guardians back across the Atlantic. Post anything you've got below – and we'll sweep through the best of them over the weekend and get them back up, ready for everyone to air on Monday night. Tuesday night against Luton was just the start. We need to flush this cancer out of our club. We can all play out part. Fighting for The Liverpool Way. We want our club back.

We'll fight for the boys in red,

We'll fight the fight for Liverpool,

The team that Shankly bred….

[Knox_Harrington]

Excellent stuff.

[mathewbet1]

Following taken from the Liverpool Way, good post spread the word.....................................

http://www.liverpoolway.co.uk/forum/ff-foo...es-go-home.html

 

 

 

RTK - YANKEE'S GO HOME The events of the past few days have proved what, deep down, we've known for a long time. These two jerry builders are not fit to be associated with our club. Whatever we might have thought about their motives, their personas, their politics, we allowed ourselves to believe that they had a gut sense of Liverpool's special ness, and a good sense of what is the minimum acceptable requirement here in terms of honour and tradition. In short, they gave a good impression of understanding, and cherishing The Liverpool Way.

 

They said they would build a stadium fit for the world's most legendary football club.

 

They said they would never contemplate securitising their loans against the club.

 

They said they'd back our manager.

 

They lied.

 

We know this now

 

We know it for an absolute fact.

 

Our club is in the hands of disreputable men, men who, if they want success for Liverpool, want it solely in order to fatten up the calf for sale.

 

The current situation is unworkable. Rafael Benitez, with his ingrained sense of honour, dignity and morality, has been publicly humiliated by Hicks and Gillett (and while Hicks is far and away the baddie of the piece, let's not underestimate the smiling, twinkling George's complicity in all this any more than he has underestimated our intelligence, our nous, and our own ingrained ability to rat out a wrong 'un when they wheedle their way in.) Rafa would have walked away by now but for one small thing the Americans will never 'get'. He loves it here. He loves the club, loves the fans, loves the city, and loves The Liverpool Way. More than anybody at the club, he is desperate to deliver for us that which we long for so badly.

 

They will sack him in the summer. They have left themselves with no other option. If Hicks had come out on Sunday and said:

 

"Fair do's Rafa, we were itchy on the trigger, you weren't conforming to the chart flow on our business plan, we wanted you out... but we realise now we got it wrong. Go buy Drenthe, Daniel Alves and Sergio Aguero, and while you're at it, tie up Mascherano long term and here's a new 5 year contract..."

 

You'd possibly have given them a stay of execution. But he didn't. He gave the manager (and thus the fans, the club, the players) a vote of no confidence in front of, and to the delight of, the world's slavering media. He'll have to sack Rafa in the summer, just to keep face. Unless...

 

Unless he's not there. And he's not too far from doing one, you know. This whole madcap scheme that George has dragged him into is far, far madder, far more expensive, and far less fun than he'd thought it'd be. He thought it was going to be like planting money seeds and picking dollar bills off the tree in a few years time. He thought Liverpool fans were going to be like Dallas Cowboys supporters, if a little louder - but nonetheless grateful for his patronage, and a little bit cowed by his enormous wealth. What he's found here is that it's difficult, it's cold, it's expensive - and the fans care a little too much about their team. They care so much that they answer back to the owners.

 

That's what we have to do, comrades - answer back, loud and clear. We know the arguments, we know we're not Geordies, we know there's something very un-Liverpool about all this marching and protesting. But there's something very, very Scouse about the refusal to lie down and toe the party line, the refusal to swallow corporate s**** and the willingness to strike and fight back if we need to right a wrong.

 

Our immediate target needs to be Foster Gillett. In the way that these flinty oligarchs always send their disappointing offspring away to the furthest, most hostile outposts of their empire to try and toughen them up, Foster has drawn the Liverpool straw. He's only pretending to live here. He spends his time in London, comes up for the Monday meeting, pads around Melwood then vapourises. He doesn't really want to be here. A sustained period of invective targeted at Foster on Monday night will unsettle him further. He'll be straight on the phone to his Dad saying:

 

"Look what that idiot partner of yours has subjected me to. I'm out of here."

 

No matter how rich the magnates or how close their partnership, filial loyalty and the need for a father to protect his offspring will come ahead of everything. The splinters we're hearing about in Hicks and Gillett's relationship will become a chasm, with the effect of accelerating their exit strategy.

 

Be under no illusions. If DIC come in, they'll want to run it as a business, too. Whoever comes in next - and we could be bracing ourselves for a future where ownership changes hands every 5 or 10 years - will never have Liverpool's traditions running through them like we do. But there's a minimum acceptable standard in ownership too, and Hicks and Gillett have fallen badly short. It gives me no joy to recommend it, but we have to drive them out - starting with Foster on Monday night.

 

These are critical times for Liverpool F.C. If Hicks stays, Rafa goes - it's that simple. And if Rafa goes, the empire he's building crumbles - no-one would even bet against Carra and Stevie Gerrard walking out on the shell that used to be LFC. All and any other reservations and complaints we've got about ticket allocations, ground moves, and horrid purple ties have to be put to one side. Any feeling about Rafa's rotation and tactics. All to one side. This is Us against Them. The Liverpool Way against The American Way. We've got run the b******s, end of story. Monday night, let them know. Yankees, Yankees f*** off home..."

 

THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT RAFA

THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT FANS

LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB

IS IN THE WRONG HANDS

 

Please use this thread for ideas for next Monday night. Catchy ditties that can be aired by all. Get the message acoss vocally to young Foster in the stands and his guardians back across the Atlantic. Post anything you've got below – and we'll sweep through the best of them over the weekend and get them back up, ready for everyone to air on Monday night. Tuesday night against Luton was just the start. We need to flush this cancer out of our club. We can all play out part. Fighting for The Liverpool Way. We want our club back.

[Guest keygone]

Excellent stuff.

 

 

Apart from the anti-American stuff. It should be focussed purely on the way the owners have conducted themselves, not on their nationality.

 

Agree with the general sentiments though.

[Reds4Life]

"You'll Never Walk Alone" - So George and Tom you can walk together....

[DonRafa]

'f*** off g*******s'

 

That should do it

[mathewbet1]

It's spot on. If we stand and watch our club get fuc*ked over by these pair of classless rednecks well be as guilty as them.

 

OK theres only so much we can do, but we can make our feeling felt LOUD and CLEAR. Make it as uncomfertable for them and Rick as possible. They have embaressed our great football club and poured scorn on years of tradition and pride. They need to be shown for the freuds they are.

 

Sustained chantting ala 'justice for the 96' is required. It will need a bit of organisation - flyers before the game so that any one not on the forums can get ready for it. We need a message the SKY cameras can not ignore.

 

The more banners the better as mentioned.

[mathewbet1]

Mods - this is a duplicate thread can you merge with maldinis post . cheers.

[Reds4Life]

As on the other thread relating to this...

 

A 30 foot banner with...

 

"You'll Never Walk Alone" - So George and Tom you can walk together....

[meepins]

Apart from the anti-American stuff. It should be focussed purely on the way the owners have conducted themselves, not on their nationality.

 

Agree with the general sentiments though.

Keeping it strictly against the individuals involved and not the general yankees or americans and the gobsh*tery that goes with that, is the way to go.

Edited January 18, 2008 by meepins

[Guest keygone]

Perhaps. Remember, Bob Kraft may be watching...

Edited January 18, 2008 by keygone

[Earl Hafler]

Apart from the anti-American stuff. It should be focussed purely on the way the owners have conducted themselves, not on their nationality.

 

Agree with the general sentiments though.

 

 

Totally agree. It's not about where there from. It's about who they are.

[RafaShanks]

Keeping it strictly against the individuals involved and not the general yankees or americans and the gobsh*tery that goes with that, is the way to go.

 

Is right, even if their nationality doesn't help matters.

[meepins]

Well regardless if Kraft is watching, it's bloody stupid and detracts from the real issue.

 

SOS

Piteh embed video doesn't work

Edited January 18, 2008 by meepins

[Nebraska Red]

whilst I can understand the sentiment and the rising dislike of the new owners, does anybody really think that 90 minutes of anti Hicks/Gillett chanting/singing and a few banners will have any effect on these guys?

 

they are 5,000 miles away from Anfield and their interest is the bottom line and how much profit is to be made from their involvement with the club.

 

what is interesting is the possible buy out of Hicks by Gillett and DIC. The following is from the Guardian.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/...=rss&feed=5

 

Liverpool ponder move to buy out Hicks

 

 

Gillett considers a future without his co-owner

 

Americans fall out over plans for re-financing

 

Andy Hunter

Friday January 18, 2008

The Guardian

 

 

Liverpool's co-owner George Gillett will spend the next few days deciding whether to support a plan to buy out his partner Tom Hicks or throw his weight behind a refinancing package that would strengthen Hicks's hold on the club.

Gillett and his co-chairman Hicks have almost finalised terms on a £350m loan that would allow them to repay money borrowed for their £218.9m takeover, repay loans acquired to sign players last summer and commence work on their revised plans for a new stadium. The deal, with the Royal Bank of Scotland and US investment firm Wachovia, could be completed early next week providing the two Americans sign the terms on offer.

 

After a period of instability unprecedented in Liverpool's recent history, Gillett is understood to have grave misgivings over his continued involvement with Hicks, the man he brought on board to secure the takeover last February but who has proved far from the silent partner he originally envisaged. A fresh dilemma for Gillett is that Dubai International Capital, the investment arm of the Dubai government, is now prepared to provide him with the financial backing to make an offer for Hicks's 50% stake in Liverpool.

DIC lost out in the pursuit of the former chairman David Moores' majority shareholding last February when its failure to meet agreed deadlines for the takeover enabled the Americans to succeed with a late and more lucrative bid. Though it withdrew acrimoniously from negotiations DIC has maintained its interest and, having baulked at a £150m asking price for a 15% stake last October, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum's investment company now hopes to capitalise on the disunity in the hierarchy.

 

DIC is willing to join forces with Gillett in an attempt to persuade Hicks to sell his interest in Liverpool for a substantial profit. A source confirmed yesterday that a deal has been drawn up in principle and will be presented to the Americans before they put their signatures to the £350m loan. "It is a very delicate situation but DIC has reignited its interest," said the source. "The terms of the offer, which will be made to Tom Hicks, have been agreed and DIC are hopeful they will be finally be able to invest in Liverpool."

 

Major obstacles remain in the way of DIC gaining a financial interest in Liverpool, however, not least Hicks's insistence that he has no intention of selling up. There is also doubt over Gillett's determination to attempt to oust his business partner by agreeing terms with DIC. Gillett and Hicks both have an option to purchase the other's stake in Liverpool, although the former would require backing from Dubai to achieve that goal.

 

Hicks, owner of the Texas Rangers baseball franchise and the Dallas Stars ice hockey team, created further problems for the American regime this week with the revelation that both he and Gillett, owner of the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey franchise, had approached Jürgen Klinsmann last November as "an insurance policy" against the possible departure of the Liverpool manager, Rafael Benítez.

 

What was an attempt by the Texan to draw a line under the uncertainty surrounding the future of Benítez has proved hugely embarrassing for Gillett, who is disturbed by the furious reaction among Liverpool supporters it provoked, but it is how much of the £350m loan should be placed on to the club's books that is the fundamental problem.

 

Both Moores, who became honorary life president of Liverpool under the terms of the takeover, and the chief executive, Rick Parry, have blocked attempts to load all of the debt on to the club amid concerns at annual interest payments of £30m. Under the terms of the loan it is anticipated half will be burdened on the club and the rest secured against Kop Holdings, Gillett and Hicks's parent company, although that still represents a U-turn on their promise to use their own funds and not to adopt the Glazers' handling of Manchester United. The Americans will still require a further £300m loan at a later date to complete work on a proposed new stadium.

 

Gillett could exert pressure on Hicks to sell next week by refusing to commit to the refinancing package. Should Gillett agree to the loan, and sources yesterday insisted that he remains undecided, then Hicks - the driving force behind the stadium and the biggest threat to Benítez - will be empowered in his plans to bring the development to fruition in 2011 when he can demand a higher price for his stake.

 

Maybe it might be an idea to hold off on a stadium wide protest until a decision is made regarding the refinace deals.

[Red_Rob]

Anyone know where we can get an effigy?

[DonRafa]

whilst I can understand the sentiment and the rising dislike of the new owners, does anybody really think that 90 minutes of anti Hicks/Gillett chanting/singing and a few banners will have any effect on these guys?

 

they are 5,000 miles away from Anfield and their interest is the bottom line and how much profit is to be made from their involvement with the club.

 

what is interesting is the possible buy out of Hicks by Gillett and DIC. The following is from the Guardian.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/...=rss&feed=5

 

Liverpool ponder move to buy out Hicks

Gillett considers a future without his co-owner

 

Americans fall out over plans for re-financing

 

Andy Hunter

Friday January 18, 2008

The Guardian

Liverpool's co-owner George Gillett will spend the next few days deciding whether to support a plan to buy out his partner Tom Hicks or throw his weight behind a refinancing package that would strengthen Hicks's hold on the club.

Gillett and his co-chairman Hicks have almost finalised terms on a £350m loan that would allow them to repay money borrowed for their £218.9m takeover, repay loans acquired to sign players last summer and commence work on their revised plans for a new stadium. The deal, with the Royal Bank of Scotland and US investment firm Wachovia, could be completed early next week providing the two Americans sign the terms on offer.

 

After a period of instability unprecedented in Liverpool's recent history, Gillett is understood to have grave misgivings over his continued involvement with Hicks, the man he brought on board to secure the takeover last February but who has proved far from the silent partner he originally envisaged. A fresh dilemma for Gillett is that Dubai International Capital, the investment arm of the Dubai government, is now prepared to provide him with the financial backing to make an offer for Hicks's 50% stake in Liverpool.

DIC lost out in the pursuit of the former chairman David Moores' majority shareholding last February when its failure to meet agreed deadlines for the takeover enabled the Americans to succeed with a late and more lucrative bid. Though it withdrew acrimoniously from negotiations DIC has maintained its interest and, having baulked at a £150m asking price for a 15% stake last October, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum's investment company now hopes to capitalise on the disunity in the hierarchy.

 

DIC is willing to join forces with Gillett in an attempt to persuade Hicks to sell his interest in Liverpool for a substantial profit. A source confirmed yesterday that a deal has been drawn up in principle and will be presented to the Americans before they put their signatures to the £350m loan. "It is a very delicate situation but DIC has reignited its interest," said the source. "The terms of the offer, which will be made to Tom Hicks, have been agreed and DIC are hopeful they will be finally be able to invest in Liverpool."

 

Major obstacles remain in the way of DIC gaining a financial interest in Liverpool, however, not least Hicks's insistence that he has no intention of selling up. There is also doubt over Gillett's determination to attempt to oust his business partner by agreeing terms with DIC. Gillett and Hicks both have an option to purchase the other's stake in Liverpool, although the former would require backing from Dubai to achieve that goal.

 

Hicks, owner of the Texas Rangers baseball franchise and the Dallas Stars ice hockey team, created further problems for the American regime this week with the revelation that both he and Gillett, owner of the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey franchise, had approached Jürgen Klinsmann last November as "an insurance policy" against the possible departure of the Liverpool manager, Rafael Benítez.

 

What was an attempt by the Texan to draw a line under the uncertainty surrounding the future of Benítez has proved hugely embarrassing for Gillett, who is disturbed by the furious reaction among Liverpool supporters it provoked, but it is how much of the £350m loan should be placed on to the club's books that is the fundamental problem.

 

Both Moores, who became honorary life president of Liverpool under the terms of the takeover, and the chief executive, Rick Parry, have blocked attempts to load all of the debt on to the club amid concerns at annual interest payments of £30m. Under the terms of the loan it is anticipated half will be burdened on the club and the rest secured against Kop Holdings, Gillett and Hicks's parent company, although that still represents a U-turn on their promise to use their own funds and not to adopt the Glazers' handling of Manchester United. The Americans will still require a further £300m loan at a later date to complete work on a proposed new stadium.

 

Gillett could exert pressure on Hicks to sell next week by refusing to commit to the refinancing package. Should Gillett agree to the loan, and sources yesterday insisted that he remains undecided, then Hicks - the driving force behind the stadium and the biggest threat to Benítez - will be empowered in his plans to bring the development to fruition in 2011 when he can demand a higher price for his stake.

 

Maybe it might be an idea to hold off on a stadium wide protest until a decision is made regarding the refinace deals.

 

 

What? I'd say the complete opposite. Now is the time to crank up protests against Hicks - lets get wavering Geeorge to waver some more.

[fyds]

Keeping it strictly against the individuals involved and not the general yankees or americans and the gobsh*tery that goes with that, is the way to go.

Correct.

 

Let's be focused - given the reports in the Guardian and Independent, let's make it anti-Hicks - George is bound to get the message as well as Hicks.

Edited January 18, 2008 by fyds

[Ginu]

New York Red, are you interested in bombarding Fox Sports Radio in the US to inform them of what Hicks, the owner of the Texas Rangers, is doing across the Atlantic? We need to raise awareness where it strikes home the hardest. I'm sure many in the States would be interested in hearing that he went to Klinsmann while Rafa was still manager. I'm in Canada but I'm able to contact FSR as well. Email me please. shei_omar at yahoo dot com.

Edited January 18, 2008 by Ginu

[Frosty Jack]

A banner: "We're all about the DIC"

[Redkop]

Correct.

 

Let's be focused - given the reports in the Guardian and Independent, let's make it anti-Hicks - George is bound to get the message as well as Hicks.

 

I agree.

 

At this stage of the equation, all our 'hatred' should be directed at Hicks only. There's no point in antagonising George if he is going to remain a co-owner if DIC manage to buy out Hicks.

 

We need George on our side.

[Falconhoof]

George isn't on our side so f*** him, he hasn't got any right to own this club. Him and Parry brought Hicks into the club and they thought it was OK to offer Rafa's job to Klinsmann.

If there's any protests it should be against Gillet and Hicks, not to let Parry off the hook but he'll get his p45 if and when we get new owners.

[Magic8Ball]

we need a russian billionaire who has been a life long liverpool fan ---- it's the only way

[scoose]

I was willing to sit back and wait to see what they were like over the rest of the season but the f***en klinsman thing has done it for me. The sooner they f*** off the better. At least the arabs have some integrity. I realise they would run it as a business but at least they have some sporting ambition if you look at godolfin.

[cymrococh]

Yankees Go Home is f*cking terrible.

 

It's got nothing to do with where they're from or sending anyone home.