Liverpool is screwed!

[Octavian]

For a team that relies quite a lot on Champions League dollars, they're pretty much NOT going through. Rafa is DONE there, Torres can't even stay on the pitch for more than 4 games in a row, they have zero depth on their bench and the league was lost early on.

To all the people that say the owners haven't ponied up the money for Rafa, that's garbage... he's brought in tons of players that haven't panned out.

But now in the off season, they need to retool a number of things... what are they to do now with what will be a shortfall in cash from the debacle in the CL?

[fingercuffs]

It's a shame really, I don't mind Liverpool - probably because the guys I know who are supporters are good guys.

I feel bad for them.

[bgwdivemaster]

Liverpool 2009 Transfer Spending

In

Glen Johnson £17 M
Chris Mavinga £1 M
Alberto Aquilani £18 M
Sotiris Kyrgiakos £1.5 M

Total = £37.5M

Out

Robbie Keane £14 M
Jack Hobbs £0.5 M
Sebastian Leto £3M
Paul Anderson £0.5M
Alvaro Arbeloa £3.5M
Xabi Alonso £30M

Total = £51.5 Million

Net transfer spending 2009 = -£14 MILLION

Over the course of the last two transfer windows Rafa Benitez has not only been given no new money to fund transfers but the clubs owners have pocketed £14M.

Based on last season's LFC accounts we estimate that so far in the first 8 months of the year, Liverpool have paid around £27 Million in interest payments to the banks (including RBS).

I'm not sure of any club who has ever gone on to success by asset-stripping a football club.

These figures do not even include the prize money earned for the club by Rafa for finishing second or the £20+ Million earned by qualifying for the Champions League.

How can you say the owners have ponied up the money? They have given Rafa next to nothing. They use LFC's money to pay for all of their first class travel expenses. They promised us a new stadium (bigger = would bring more money into the club) and lied about that. The owners are a bunch of wankers bleeding my club dry.

But yes, my club is in Dire Straits. We are all aware.

Looking at the prospect of now entering the Europa League vs. the Champions League is not something I am looking forward to.

I know your intention was not necessarily to rub salt in the wound, but as posted on the main English Premier League thread LFC is in major major trouble.

[thedirtybadger]

Whilst i agree that Benitez hasn't been given the funds that he's required, the money that has been spent has been spent poorly. The general quality of player that has come in has been shocking, i'm talking about Kyrgiakos (sp), Dossena, Riera and the vast majority of the Spanish Mafia at the club.

As a result, the results of the club are largely dependant on two players, Gerrard and Torres, both of whom are injured. Carragher now looks to be a few yards of the pace, and we have no other goalscorers. The occasional emergence of Benayoun isn't good enough.

I'm a huge, lifelong liverpool fan. And on the whole i like Benitez. But i feel that the cheap goals we lose, and the poor standard of play against mid to bottom table teams are his fault. Zonal marking didn't work in his first season, its not working now, especially with the loss of Sami Hyppia. We ship goals at set pieces, thats why we can have 69% possession at Fulham and lose 3-1.

Maybe it is time to get rid of Benitez. But i think Hicks should go first.

[brennan.jamesp]

man utd pay more interest and arsene wenger uses less money and both clubs are above liverpool, they are just not as lucky as they were last year, poor scousers

[YeahBee]

Originally Posted by brennan.jamesp

man utd pay more interest and arsene wenger uses less money and both clubs are above liverpool, they are just not as lucky as they were last year, poor scousers

uses less is a euphomism. I am pretty sure Arsenal has earned more money in the transfers then spent

[Octavian]

Originally Posted by YeahBee

uses less is a euphomism. I am pretty sure Arsenal has earned more money in the transfers then spent

Yeah.. that's good management and talent evaluation. Wenger is also a superb skills coach and knows how to craft a team to play a certain way (like Barcelona).

Liverpool is in massive debt... that's not Rafa's fault but over the entire course of his time there, it's not like he's had no money to work with - that's just silly. One years transfer window, during the worst global recession in 70 years, is not enough to say he's been given sticks to fight against an army.

[skarface]

you guys think they're going to sack benitez?

[JordanLUFC]

Can't wait. Hope the bindipping twats go out of business

[Octavian]

Originally Posted by skarface

you guys think they're going to sack benitez?

well word is his contract is guaranteed so if they do, they have to eat a portion of it... for a cash strapped club that's missing dollars in the CL this year, you gotta believe they don't want to