John Henry bids for Liverpool FC

[flred]

How long is Henry likely to give Hodgson and Lee, before giving them the boot?

[Maria7]

According to the papers, until Christmas

[SlasherB]

As long as this all goes through, Henry will bring in the right people to run this club right.

If that means Roy is gone, so be it. I did not want Roy in, he is not the right manager for us and not LFC standard. HOWEVER, he is the manager and I will support him, but I think he is out of his depth.

 

The Derby game will tell a lot. Players also need to step up.

[SlasherB]

Liverpool fans may have mixed feelings about exchanging one set of American owners for another after it emerged the Premier League club was about to be sold to the New England Sports Ventures (NESV), owners of baseball's Boston Red Sox.

 

But supporters on both sides of the Atlantic may be interested in a potential link-up between two clubs that are steeped in the history of their respective sports.

 

Like Anfield, Boston's Fenway Park is one of the best-known sports venues in the world, while both cities have a strong expatriate affinity with Ireland.

 

Liverpool's hopes of building a new stadium stalled during the ownership of George Gillett and Tom Hicks, but despite a brief flirtation with a "new Fenway", the Red Sox happily remain at their historic home ballpark - even while many other Major League Baseball teams have moved.

 

Opened in 1912, Fenway is the oldest MLB stadium in use. And while a young Liverpool player's ambition may be scoring in front of the Kop, a prospective young slugger making it through Boston's minor league system will probably have dreamt of hitting a home run over the "Green Monster" - the famous 37ft high left-field wall at Fenway.

 

Liverpool have not won the English league title since 1990 but Boston ended a much longer title drought when they won the World Series in 2004, two years after NESV's takeover.

 

For decades, the so-called "Curse of the Bambino" haunted Red Sox Nation and was immortalised in Boston Globe writer Dan Shaughnessy's book of the same name.

 

The "Bambino" in question was baseball legend Babe Ruth - sold by the Red Sox owners to their bitter rivals, the New York Yankees, in 1920.

 

Having won five World Series titles between 1903 and 1918, the Sox then went 86 years before winning it again, gaining a reputation as loveable losers or nearly men - depending on your point of view.

 

Boston's march to the 2004 title arguably matches Liverpool's "Miracle of Istanbul" Champions League success of 2005 for the manner in which they overcame adversity.

 

Before the season started, legendary horror author Stephen King and fellow novelist Stewart O'Nan decided to chronicle their season in book form but could not have imagined what was to transpire.

 

Finishing second behind the Yankees in the American League East, the Red Sox met them again in the seven-game American League Championship Series.

 

New York won the first three games, threatening a 4-0 sweep, but Boston hit back to win Games 4 and 5 in extra innings, before winning Games 6 and 7 at Yankee Stadium to secure a remarkable comeback triumph.

 

The Red Sox went on to sweep St Louis Cardinals 4-0 in the World Series.

 

King and O'Nan's subsequent book "Faithful" was not alone in marking the end of "the Curse" - as it was also the subject of a film whose title may ring a few unwelcome bells in the heads of Liverpool fans.

 

When Liverpool were pipped to the First Division title by Arsenal in 1989, it was the springboard for Gunners fan Nick Hornby's seminal book "Fever Pitch", which was made into a film in 1997.

 

Several years later, an American remake, also entitled "Fever Pitch", was on the cards, switching baseball for football and the Red Sox title drought for Arsenal's 18-year wait for a league title.

 

It was filmed in 2004, including several scenes shot at Fenway - and Boston's unexpected success reportedly forced the film-makers to rework the ending.

 

It is not uncommon in the United States for individuals or groups to own a range of professional teams across different sports, so it is no surprise that some owners' portfolios stretch across both sides of the Atlantic.

 

Outgoing Reds co-owner Hicks owned the Texas Rangers baseball team from 1998 (succeeding a certain George W Bush) until earlier this year but the UK/US connection is kept up by the likes of the Glazer family (Manchester United and Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Randy Lerner (Aston Villa and Cleveland Browns), who both possess a Premier League football club and an NFL American football franchise.

 

Meanwhile, notable Arsenal shareholder Stan Kroenke owns the St Louis Rams (NFL), Colorado Avalanche (NHL ice hockey), Denver Nuggets (NBA basketball) and Colorado Rapids (Major League Soccer) - so needs a baseball team to complete a "full set".

 

However, Liverpool fans may be encouraged to note that a Sports Illustrated article in 2009 listed Boston's proprietors as the best owners of the 30 MLB clubs - while Hicks' stewardship of the Rangers was ranked as the second worst.

 

How closely Liverpool and Boston may be linked remains to be seen but the common ownership may cause certain rivalries to become even more entrenched.

 

In 2001, the Yankees - Boston's arch rivals - announced a marketing deal with Manchester United. And make no mistake, the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry is as intense as that at any derby game at Anfield or Old Trafford.

 

The Babe Ruth trade may be a distant memory but players rarely move directly between the Red Sox and Yankees - and likewise with United and Liverpool, with Phil Chisnall the last player to do so in 1964.

 

Ace pitcher Roger Clemens starred for Boston for 13 seasons, before being allowed to leave in 1996 as Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette notoriously commented that "The Rocket" was "in the twilight of his career".

 

Clemens moved to Toronto but played in the majors for another 11 years and went on to win more pitching awards and two World Series titles with the Yankees in 1999 and 2000.

 

This led him to be vilified by the unforgiving majority of Red Sox fans, while the fire was further stoked by Boston president Larry Lucchino, who dubbed the Yankees as "the evil empire" in 2002.

 

But like Liverpool, Boston can boast supporters far and wide across the globe, although fans of other Premier League teams will find familiar cause with those followers of other MLB teams who roll their eyes as the Red Sox and Yankees invariably garner more media attention and live television coverage than any other sides.

 

This week, the Red Sox owners took out a full-page advert in the Boston Globe, apologising for the team's failure to reach the play-offs. Could that really happen in Liverpool?

 

After recent humiliating defeats by Northampton and Blackpool, Liverpool's editors may be waiting by their phones.

[italstallianion]

Yes, it would appear so.

On a side note, how about Halladay last night eh?

f*** me, Did we get the wrong pitcher in Lackey??????

 

 

Point taken, but for the record, Roy Halladay was traded whereas John Lackey was a free agent. We didn't have the same opportunity to sign Roy Halladay, so it's not as if there was a direct choice between the two. Granted, Lackey is still looking like a pretty horrid deal regardless of who you compare him to.

[SlasherB]

Point taken' date=' but for the record, Roy Halladay was traded whereas John Lackey was a free agent. We didn't have the same opportunity to sign Roy Halladay, so it's not as if there was a direct choice between the two. Granted, Lackey is still looking like a pretty horrid deal regardless of who you compare him to.[/quote']

 

Well, Let's hope it is the "Settling in" first season for him then.

(I suppose we did not have that much to offer in a trade anyway for Halladay, but I could have thought of a few who I would like to see shipped out.)

 

Bucholtz did us proud this year though. Although Beckett and Dice-K need to turn this year off like a bad TV show and show they are truly the ones to take the Sox forward to dominate.

(The Yanks will no doubt pay more money to not have that happen).

 

Just my arm-chair opinion, although this summer I was more into the World Cup and Liverpool rumors than the Sox.

[Maria7]

As long as this all goes through, Henry will bring in the right people to run this club right.

If that means Roy is gone, so be it. I did not want Roy in, he is not the right manager for us and not LFC standard. HOWEVER, he is the manager and I will support him, but I think he is out of his depth.

 

The Derby game will tell a lot. Players also need to step up.

 

SlasherB

 

Not sure what is happening at the moment, as Hicks is taking this sale to the high court. Its not over yet. Its like a long running soap opera.

 

I never wanted Roy Hodgson in the first place. He is a good and decent man personality wise but he doesn't have that tactical planning acumen and he is not a great motivator for the players, if you get my drift. Personally I wanted Kenny Dalglish and he wanted to come back but the board were not having it. Some Reds wanted Mourinho but now thats unlikely, I heard Martin O' Neil (former manager for Aston Villa and Celtic ) name is being mentioned and Guss Hiddink. I don't know who else is available who is a high calibre Manager for LFC.

 

who do you think should the next Manager ?

 

The derby result wiil give some indication of where we are going.

[BigSox]

SlasherB

 

Not sure what is happening at the moment, as Hicks is taking this sale to the high court. Its not over yet. Its like a long running soap opera.

 

I never wanted Roy Hodgson in the first place. He is a good and decent man personality wise but he doesn't have that tactical planning acumen and he is not a great motivator for the players, if you get my drift. Personally I wanted Kenny Dalglish and he wanted to come back but the board were not having it. Some Reds wanted Mourinho but now thats unlikely, I heard Martin O' Neil (former manager for Aston Villa and Celtic ) name is being mentioned and Guss Hiddink. I don't know who else is available who is a high calibre Manager for LFC.

 

who do you think should the next Manager ?

 

The derby result wiil give some indication of where we are going.

I read an article somewhere that the board did not want to hire Dalglish and then have new owners come in and sack him. They were trying to avoid having themselves called out for putting KK in that position and save themselves some bother. One of the smartest moves made by the board methinks

[SlasherB]

SlasherB

 

Not sure what is happening at the moment, as Hicks is taking this sale to the high court. Its not over yet. Its like a long running soap opera.

 

I never wanted Roy Hodgson in the first place. He is a good and decent man personality wise but he doesn't have that tactical planning acumen and he is not a great motivator for the players, if you get my drift. Personally I wanted Kenny Dalglish and he wanted to come back but the board were not having it. Some Reds wanted Mourinho but now thats unlikely, I heard Martin O' Neil (former manager for Aston Villa and Celtic ) name is being mentioned and Guss Hiddink. I don't know who else is available who is a high calibre Manager for LFC.

 

who do you think should the next Manager ?

 

The derby result will give some indication of where we are going.

 

I actually did not want Kenny back while the club had these two f***-nuts in office.

Really, I grew up watching The King play and then later manage my club, memories of a great. My sporting Idol. To have to deal with those two pricks would have tarnished his reputation no matter what the fans thought. There are a new generation out there.

With new owners........maybe.

 

I do like Hiddink though, he took Chelsea by the balls and is a fantastic coach.

Klinsman, NO WAY, sorry.

Not too sure on who else. But I know, Roy is out of his depth and is not a tactical coach.

We saw that in Utrecht and on Sunday last.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

What in dear god is this.

[italstallianion]

Were you not here yesterday?

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

I was not.

[BigSox]

What in dear god is this.

This Darth Stewie, is what happens at the end of the party when the bar is shut

[italstallianion]

I was not.

 

 

We were invaded by hundreds of (fellow) British redcoats after the owner of the Red Sox was in line to buy Liverpool. Most were/are good posters who were genuinely curious about the Red Sox owners, but there were a few trolls that came on and it was hard (at first) to tell the difference. For most of the day there were over 100 guests viewing this thread.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

We were invaded by hundreds of (fellow) British redcoats after the owner of the Red Sox was in line to buy Liverpool. Most were/are good posters who were genuinely curious about the Red Sox owners' date=' but there were a few trolls that came on and it was hard (at first) to tell the difference. For most of the day there were over 100 guests viewing this thread.[/quote']

LOL

 

Something like this happened at a basketball forum I'm on. A bunch of soccer Celtic fans came to the Boston Celtics subforum and started a mass spam/soccer circlejerk.

[italstallianion]

The best part is, I was hired by the mods to translate what a lot of these guys were saying. I guess being bilingual (English-English and American-English) has its benefits.

[Vlads Quiff]

We were invaded by hundreds of (fellow) British redcoats after the owner of the Red Sox was in line to buy Liverpool. Most were/are good posters who were genuinely curious about the Red Sox owners' date=' but there were a few trolls that came on and it was hard (at first) to tell the difference. For most of the day there were over 100 guests viewing this thread.[/quote']

 

Ahhhh you forgot a key part of it Mr Stallianion - most of the trolls were fierce rivals and lunatics trying to stir it up for Liverpool fans

It has been a bizarre couple of days on your site Jacoby

regards

[Maria7]

I actually did not want Kenny back while the club had these two f***-nuts in office.

Really, I grew up watching The King play and then later manage my club, memories of a great. My sporting Idol. To have to deal with those two pricks would have tarnished his reputation no matter what the fans thought. There are a new generation out there.

With new owners........maybe.

 

I do like Hiddink though, he took Chelsea by the balls and is a fantastic coach.

Klinsman, NO WAY, sorry.

Not too sure on who else. But I know, Roy is out of his depth and is not a tactical coach.

We saw that in Utrecht and on Sunday last.

 

Yes Hiddink would be great choice. I don't mind Martin O' Neil either.

I don't want Klinsmann either, after he was associated with the two muppets ( another phrase we use) behind Benetiz back. Another name Marco Van Basten is a remote possibility.

 

The Utrecht match was torturous to watch, it was like watching paint dry. As fans, we stick with our manager for the time being.

[flred]

Yes Hiddink would be great choice. I don't mind Martin O' Neil either.

I don't want Klinsmann either, after he was associated with the two muppets ( another phrase we use) behind Benetiz back. Another name Marco Van Basten is a remote possibility.

 

The Utrecht match was torturous to watch, it was like watching paint dry. As fans, we stick with our manager for the time being.

 

I'd like the King, he is Mr. Liverpool and would have us playing proper a attacking game, not the dour rubbish Hodgson is serving up, and Rafa left us with. I'd love Keegan too. Granted, we'd never win anything with Kev, but the games would be exciting! I don't see any top manager wanting to touch us to be honest. Our squad is shite, even if our first 11 isn't too bad on their day. Rafa appears to have destroyed the youth system, and padded it with cheap kids from the continent. Maybe some will come good, but they don't get games. I doubt we'll ever know. They'll be gone at some point.

 

At least Woy, as dull as he is, has lifted the players' moral, if not their confidence. I think we'd have lost a number of the better players had he not been shown the door he'd been craving for.

[Redguard]

What in dear god is this.

 

http://thensaturdaycomes.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/alex-ferguson-darth-vader.jpg

 

I hope that you're not him in disguise. Lol.

[si-scouse]

The reason I despise clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United is because they want a magic wand answer to all their financial woe's. Some big benefactor to throw money at the team and buy expensive players from all over the world for their shallow supporters. What planet are they living on? They should be like my club' date=' work hard year after year to improve with limited resources and never over spending. Using their youth system to bring through player after player. That's why Chelsea are the successful and viable club they are today.[/quote']

 

Love this post, so full of s*** its actually funny. You russian joker you haha

[italstallianion]

Go Rovers!!

[BSN07]

42 pages? f***ing hell lol

[italstallianion]

Especially considering that it's been less than 2 full days since this thread started.

[Maria7]

I'd like the King, he is Mr. Liverpool and would have us playing proper a attacking game, not the dour rubbish Hodgson is serving up, and Rafa left us with. I'd love Keegan too. Granted, we'd never win anything with Kev, but the games would be exciting! I don't see any top manager wanting to touch us to be honest. Our squad is shite, even if our first 11 isn't too bad on their day. Rafa appears to have destroyed the youth system, and padded it with cheap kids from the continent. Maybe some will come good, but they don't get games. I doubt we'll ever know. They'll be gone at some point.

 

At least Woy, as dull as he is, has lifted the players' moral, if not their confidence. I think we'd have lost a number of the better players had he not been shown the door he'd been craving for.

 

I always loved Kevin Keegan, I still remember his rant at Ferguson on the radio. He is a great personality but we need to win some silverware.

Its going to take a good 2 seasons really for Liverpool to claw back to the top. I can't see Torres staying next season, unless we start winning and the club has stability. I am also not sure about Gerrard, Mourinho really would like him at Real Madrid, I think he will stay at Anfield as he is a scouser. At the moment with LIverpool, things changing by the hour.

 

I thought (if things were 'normal', we should have been 5-6th end of 2010-2011 season and aim for Champions league and have a top 4 spot in 2011-2012. At present, its unrealistic.

[Redguard]

I always loved Kevin Keegan, I still remember his rant at Ferguson on the radio. He is a great personality but we need to win some silverware.

Its going to take a good 2 seasons really for Liverpool to claw back to the top. I can't see Torres staying next season, unless we start winning and the club has stability. I am also not sure about Gerrard, Mourinho really would like him at Real Madrid, I think he will stay at Anfield as he is a scouser. At the moment with LIverpool, things changing by the hour.

 

I thought (if things were 'normal', we should have been 5-6th end of 2010-2011 season and aim for Champions league and have a top 4 spot in 2011-2012. At present, its unrealistic.

 

KK was a Liverpool great. I remember when Shanks bought him..................

 

KEVIN KEEGAN was sat on a bin the first time he met Bill Shankly. It was May 1971 and the 20-year-old Yorkshireman had been waiting patiently at Anfield to discuss his impending switch from S****horpe to Liverpool.

 

It’s an encounter firmly etched in Keegan’s memory bank because life would never be the same again.

 

“They were doing up the main stand at Anfield so they were using these temporary offices,” Keegan said.

 

“The only place to sit was on a dustbin outside so I sat there talking to my manager at the time, Ron Ashman, while Bill was inside.

 

“After a while Bill came out, shook my hand and beckoned me over to his Capri to take me for my medical down near the docks.

 

“From the moment I met Bill I just gelled with him. I was from mining stock and so was he. I think he saw something in me that reminded him of himself.

 

“He wanted to help me and he did, massively. Apart from my parents, Bill was the most important person in my life.

 

“He brought me to the club, he believed in me and he inspired me. That first meeting with him changed my life forever.”

 

Keegan cost ?35,000 and it proved to be one of the shrewdest pieces of business in English football history.

 

Signed as a midfielder, Shankly soon spotted Keegan’s striking talents and made him believe he belonged at the highest level.

 

“I had only been at the club a couple of weeks when Bill said to me ‘you will play for England son’,” Keegan recalled.

 

“I was a 20-year-old kid who hadn’t even played for Liverpool’s first team. I thought ‘wow’ if he thinks I can they maybe I can.

 

“Bill was a giver. He wanted to make people better.

 

“He always came in full of life and what I loved about him was that he was always honest. You always knew where you stood with him.

 

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

Not only was KK Liverpool Captain but he went on to be England Captain. In fact the back five of England was often Liverpool with KK up front with other Liverpool players.

[Maria7]

Redguard

I feel like crying, those were the days mate.

Bill Shankly is the messiah, whenever, I am at Anfield, I always touch his statue, it so sureal, you feel his presence inside the stadium.

[flred]

That was easy. Keegan it is, sorted! You hear that new owner consortium?

 

I remember the press when Keegan buggered off, we were done for etc. Got this Scottish chap in, whoever that was Just like Rush leaving. Doomed we were. Wow, wasn't that a team and a half! Anyone remember *that* Forest game, and Beardsley's run?

 

EDIT: KK shouldn't sing for us though. That single was cringetastic.

[Redguard]

Redguard

I feel like crying, those were the days mate.

Bill Shankly is the messiah, whenever, I am at Anfield, I always touch his statue, it so sureal, you feel his presence inside the stadium.

 

Hi, Maria. I actually met Shanks and talked to him on just a few occasions. Firstly when I was about 11 then later when I was in my 20's. I met Billy Liddel and got tickets from him -in the 70's. Those were indeed fantastic days.

[Maria7]

Hi' date=' Maria. I actually met Shanks and talked to him on just a few occasions. Firstly when I was about 11 then later when I was in my 20's. I met Billy Liddel and got tickets from him -in the 70's. Those were indeed fantastic days.[/quote']

 

Redguard,

 

You are SO LUCKY.

I always go back to the quotes of Sir Bill Shankly whenever I need inspiration. You don't need to be a soccer fan to understand them, his philosophy can be applied to every day life. He is such an inspirational and charismatic personality.