Tom Hughes
Player Valuation: £10m
U
Liverpool's biggest mistake was not planning to fully utilise the corners properly. If they had simply continued the mainstand around into the Anfield Rd, they would now be at approx 66k and on course to deliver 75k+ seats over another phase or two (if the transport issues can be resolved). They looked at building afresh on the Park, but that, and the funding model of their then owners was scuppered by the credit-crunch, forcing them to sell up to avoid administration (not massively dissimilar to Moshiri). Their current owners were far more pragmatic and simply wanted to get to 60k+ with as quick a ROI as possible, and they did what Gillette/Hicks insisted was not viable. Yes, there have been hiccups with the Anfield Rd stand and there is little unity with the rest of the ground overall. However, they'll point to a bigger capacity, more corporate and far higher matchday income, all at a fraction of our outlay..... and all while still challenging at the top.
In the 70s, their response to our £1m triple-decker mainstand was to simply add approx 20 rows to the back of their 1906 Leitch mainstand, with a new roof. Quite a few thought it was neat and tidy but lacked ambition at the time, but it didn't cripple them financially, and it didn't stop them going on to dominate football throughout the following decade. I can only assume that they'll be hoping for a similar medium to long term outcome now. That, and our obvious recent parlous financial state is why there is little to none of the oft-mentioned angst, envy or vitreol towards BMD on their forums or in the local press.
Liverpool's biggest mistake was not planning to fully utilise the corners properly. If they had simply continued the mainstand around into the Anfield Rd, they would now be at approx 66k and on course to deliver 75k+ seats over another phase or two (if the transport issues can be resolved). They looked at building afresh on the Park, but that, and the funding model of their then owners was scuppered by the credit-crunch, forcing them to sell up to avoid administration (not massively dissimilar to Moshiri). Their current owners were far more pragmatic and simply wanted to get to 60k+ with as quick a ROI as possible, and they did what Gillette/Hicks insisted was not viable. Yes, there have been hiccups with the Anfield Rd stand and there is little unity with the rest of the ground overall. However, they'll point to a bigger capacity, more corporate and far higher matchday income, all at a fraction of our outlay..... and all while still challenging at the top.
In the 70s, their response to our £1m triple-decker mainstand was to simply add approx 20 rows to the back of their 1906 Leitch mainstand, with a new roof. Quite a few thought it was neat and tidy but lacked ambition at the time, but it didn't cripple them financially, and it didn't stop them going on to dominate football throughout the following decade. I can only assume that they'll be hoping for a similar medium to long term outcome now. That, and our obvious recent parlous financial state is why there is little to none of the oft-mentioned angst, envy or vitreol towards BMD on their forums or in the local press.
