ECHO Comment: "Fears of Witch-hunt Against Liverpool FC" part 3

[DanB90]

Null and void is the only logical decision the people on charge can make. I say that not because Liverpool are on the verge of winning the league either.
Think about it, any other scenario apart from null and void would open up so many avenues of legal challenge. Null and void due to a global pandemic shuts down any avenue of legal challenge. Could you envisage any team trying to sue the FA in the sure knowledge that any claim will be kicked into touch at the very first opportunity as it’s an act of God of which nobody can be held responsible.

Yeah, but warrabout the integrity!!!?

 

[royalblue66]

Every Merseyside family that experiences tragedy, murder, or terminal illness.

The Echo reporter meets them, and begins, 'Did they support Liverpool then?'

True dat.

 

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Meanwhile at the bastion of truth paper

There absolutely needs to be an official boycott of that rag by fans and a banning of their "sports writers" by the club.

 

[Saint Domingo]

Yes I mean it strikes me as an organisation that can't acknowledge they have done wrong.

Forget what their fans say, this will have been driven by corporate pressure. They have enormous sponsorships, and even a 10% hit on those would render the money they get from the government irrelevant. They just need the story to go away, as it flies in the face of the very effective marketing campaign they have done. Trying to insinuate sabotage is quite dangerous thing to do and keeps the issue alive. The old fashioned "we messed up, we've learnt from it, look at the good we do" position is much better.

Interesting though, that FSG have also stated that the money will have to be made up in other ways. What hits me from this, is that the big numbers they are posting tell rather an illusionary story about the general health of the club. I have said for some time, with the spiralling costs and essentially blowing out manchester City in a spending (on wages) arms race leads them very exposed if anything were to happen. It's speculation, but I do wonder if they moved onto the furlough scheme so early, as cashflow is already presenting a problem?

The other factor is, at no point are FSG saying they will make good the salaries. They are not going to step in to save them. If they are not going to step in to save them at a couple of million a year, what happens if big sponsorships start to be lost, or downgraded? You do wonder what the "other ways" to pay this money will be (and I would suggest they will try to sell an asset). I also wonder if their portfolio in America is going to come under real pressure given how the virus is affecting the US stock exchange and with the erratic USA president governing it. Most sports investments and worth ar paper money at the best of times, and they could quite quickly find themselves in trouble.

Given Mane is soon to turn 28, as is Salah, Firmino will be 29, and the head of Germany football has said he expects the transfer market to "collapse". It will not be a good summer to have to rely on sale(s) to have to help cover big wage commitment you have made.

In truth, I think FSG may try to play the long game with this, but if they are hit hard, that may not be an option. I have mentioned Leeds united and I know people go "oh they'll be bought out". Well I can assure you, nobody is throwing money into football in it's current phase. I'd also say, they will have ensured they worded the contracts in a way to ensure they get their money back first. They will not allow Liverpool to escape the impending bankrupcy by shifting it onto them as they did H & G if it comes to that point.

So yes, there's a lot to run in this story.

I don’t think 28 and 29 would suggest they’re on the decline (especially as Jurgen’s special juice has Milner outsprinting all of them at 35. A few might need to be replaced like Milner and Lallana and it’s true that apart from TAA they don’t have any young prospects in that first team but it’s not an ageing squad by any stretch sadly.

 

[Kenshin]

Meanwhile at the bastion of truth paper

Wow.

Literally trying to drag our name through the dirt to deflect it from that shower of you know what .

That's low even for their standards.

Also it kinda ties into the narrative that they just can't help talking about us, even when we have nothing to do with it.

 

[Kenshin]

I don’t think 28 and 29 would suggest they’re on the decline (especially as Jurgen’s special juice has Milner outsprinting all of them at 35. A few might need to be replaced like Milner and Lallana and it’s true that apart from TAA they don’t have any young prospects in that first team but it’s not an ageing squad by any stretch sadly.

They do have one tactic though. That works due to the quality on the pitch.

The same team won't keep doing the same high performance year on year without a drop. That's why teams sign players to keep it fresh. Unless they start replacing that team bit by bit they will hit a brick wall

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

Every Merseyside family that experiences tragedy, murder, or terminal illness.

The Echo reporter meets them, and begins, 'Did they support Liverpool then?'

And the article is the accompanying piece that goes right next to the headline article "twenty thing's that only scouse Grandma's cook!"

 

[davek]

Meanwhile at the bastion of truth paper

There absolutely needs to be an official boycott of that rag by fans and a banning of their "sports writers" by the club.

Wow.

Literally trying to drag our name through the dirt to deflect it from that shower of you know what .

That's low even for their standards.

Also it kinda ties into the narrative that they just can't help talking about us, even when we have nothing to do with it.

It's why in August last year I started the #NoPlatformTheEcho campaign.

 

[shagpuss]

I don't think people realise how strong Leeds look circa 2002. Massive spenders, CL semi finalists, title challenges. Within 12 months they were in the start of a death spiral.

The Leeds scenario for them is at the extreme end. I don't think they get there. They could easily end up where they were at with H & G though. American owners, potentially in negative equity with their broad holdings, sourcing the main part of liquidity outside the US to keep their portfolio alive. Unlike H & G more legal protection, more savvy and ultimately far less people wanting to invest in football meaning that that same sort of austerity doesn't go on for 1 or 2 years but 5+ years.

Ultimately it was the last financial crash that facilitated Liverpool going from Big spenders, with a massive ground on Stanley Park, to Roy Hodgson and administration (while sitting in the bottom 3). Had FSG not emerged then, they'd have got relegated over the next 18 months.

This is a similar risk for Arsenal and United in different ways too. Liverpool though have a huge wage cost to pay, players on massive contracts on the assumption their nerds will make them money on those players. If values collapse, and nobody can pay their wages, never mind the stupid fees they want, there is a huge pinch point.

I have warned about this for some time as well. In truth the way they were going, the pinch point didn't need to be anywhere near as severe as this to cause problems. They were gambling massively with the wage bill they had, and the incentivised sponsorships. Thats about to go pop.

How likely is it we're looking at FSG being overexposed and doing a Hicks & Gillette to the RS? Is it just a best case scenario or are they genuinely in big trouble? Obviously the absolute best case scenario is they do a Leeds and get relegated.

 

[Diogenes the Cynic]

It's why in August last year I started the #NoPlatformTheEcho campaign.

I backed it then and I back it now.

It's been an absolute disgrace for years with a complete lack of blowback.

Time to hit them where it hurts, in the wallet. And possibly the testicles if opportunity arises.

 

[davek]

PETER MOORE'S FULL LETTER

Dear Liverpool supporters,
First and foremost on behalf of our ownership, Fenway Sports Group, we would like to emphasise the thoughts and concerns of everyone are with those suffering from the dreadful COVID-19 pandemic and the families of those affected.
We would also recognise and pay tribute to the heroism of the incredible health service and key workers locally, nationally and internationally. All other worries should be placed in that context first.
Allowing for perspective in these unprecedented and harrowing times, it is important to address an issue we, as an organisation, have been involved in since the weekend.
We have consulted with a range of key stakeholders as part of a process aimed at achieving the best possible outcome for all concerned. A range of possible scenarios were considered, including but not restricted to: applying to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme which pays 80% of salary and guaranteeing the 20% payment; applying to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme with a guarantee to reimburse monies received at a later date and, thirdly, finding an alternative means to cover our furlough costs.
It is as a direct result of this extensive consultation and our own internal deliberations at various levels throughout the Club that we have opted to find alternative means despite our eligibility to apply for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
We believe we came to the wrong conclusion last week to announce that we intended to apply to the Coronavirus Retention Scheme and furlough staff due to the suspension of the Premier League football calendar, and are truly sorry for that.
Our intentions were, and still are, to ensure the entire workforce is given as much protection as possible from redundancy and/or loss of earnings during this unprecedented period.
We are therefore committed to finding alternative ways to operate while there are no football matches being played that ensures we are not applying for the government relief scheme.
We would like to acknowledge the great army of staff and casual workers who work tirelessly to ensure Liverpool is a club that operates to the highest of standards.
But in the spirit of transparency we must also be clear, despite the fact we were in a healthy position prior to this crisis, our revenues have been shut off yet our outgoings remain. And like almost every sector of society, there is great uncertainty and concern over our present and future.
Like any responsible employer concerned for its workers in the current situation, the Club continues to prepare for a range of different scenarios, around when football can return to operating as it did before the pandemic. These scenarios range from best case to worst and everything in between.
It is an unavoidable truth that several of these scenarios involve a massive downturn in revenue, with correspondingly unprecedented operating losses. Having these vital financial resources so profoundly impacted would obviously negatively affect our ability to operate as we previously have.
We are engaged in the process of exploring all avenues within our scope to limit the inevitable damage. We thank the many amazing people in our club, at all levels, who are committed to helping us do just that, despite the complexity and unpredictability in the world and our industry.
We would also like to take the opportunity to thank those who have engaged with us in a productive fashion, none more so than our supporters, their representatives, particularly Spirit of Shankly, the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, local MPs Dan Carden and Ian Byrne and many other individuals who we have had much valued dialogue with.
Stay Safe.
Peter Moore
Chief Executive Officer

In short....

 

[LEONARD]

They say you should judge someone, by the company they keep.

 

[Saint Domingo]

They do have one tactic though. That works due to the quality on the pitch.

The same team won't keep doing the same high performance year on year without a drop. That's why teams sign players to keep it fresh. Unless they start replacing that team bit by bit they will hit a brick wall

This team seems to have defied conventional football wisdom and no one will ever convince me they haven’t doped to do it. Their football like you said is one tactic kick and rush yet a core of about 14 players (some of them who are nowhere near ‘world class’ ie Milner Henderson Wijnaldum Lovren Oxlade Chamberlain, Origi) have played every game virtually without injury for two seasons now without any discernible dip in performance at any point (Watford game aside). On paper you’d look at that team and think they’re don’t have a 20 goal a season striker in the middle, they don’t have goals from midfield, and they don’t have any decent cover for any defensive position beyond the first choice back 5, maybe they’ll be about third or fourth (which is what they were). Instead they’ve absolutely battered everyone home and away for 2 years almost not losing a single game in the period. No fatigue in Europe despite making the final twice, Van Dijk Robertson TAA never miss a single game, Wijnaldum was a injured basket case for Newcastle who didn’t turn up away from home, now never misses a game, the front three never miss a game. So City who have a squad with world class players in every position and at cover, who rotate all the time, play a less frenetic style of football, and also have more than one tactic, and a far better manager, are being matched and this season outstripped by a team that shouldn’t be anywhere near them because City like every other football team get injuries to key players and have dips in form but at who against a team that do not get long term injuries to key players and haven’t had a dip in form in 2 years (only conveniently timed dips for league cup or face cup games they don’t care about)

So no I wouldn’t be surprised if Klopp put out exactly the same 11 next season and they went and won 38 games without rotating once and made the final of the CL because he’s a doping cheat backed up by a club with no morals who will hack opposition scouting, insist on chief executive and referee appointment,and undoubtedly matchfix through their use of VAR as seen this season.

 

[davek]

I backed it then and I back it now.

It's been an absolute disgrace for years with a complete lack of blowback.

Time to hit them where it hurts, in the wallet. And possibly the testicles if opportunity arises.

I dont think many Evertonians fully appreciate what the Echo's role is with Everton FC. Some still think their biggest crime is to show bias toward another football club over their coverage. It's not. The role of the Echo is to systematically destroy Everton as an entity. The Echo are a creature of the Liverpool City Region business community. That lot know that Liverpool FC are massive drivers for the local economy. They also know as business people that you let an organisation like that expand as much as possible so they become REGIONALLY DOMINANT. That's all about smashing the two Manchester clubs, yes, but it's also about allowing Liverpool the whole of the Merseysdie region + its hinterland to expand into. They know Everton aren't about to do what City did up the M62 and become an economic powerhouse that could work with United to add status to that conurbation, so they have one other option: destroy Everton and allow Liverpool to expand into their fanbase...something over time that's been happening.

 

[Kurt.]

The spirit of Tommy Smith lives on
Up the Nation Socialists

That can’t be real