08 Mar 2017 10:17:48
Hello ed002. The owners.
Upon reading a few of the posts lately, and finding out about plans to push the owners out again, I have a few questions. Apologies if I sound naive, I usually ask on the field questions rather than the behind the scenes stuff.
Are the owners still committed? Do they have an exit strategy for maybe this year, next year or 5 years? They keep rolling these dice, with the constant spending on transfers, changing a manager (done completely at the wrong time, which is probably one of the things I believed they were completely wrong about, should've been the summer before spending another £100million or so)
The stadium has been improved. Obviously phase 2 is not happening under FSG, and I hate this part, but to be totally honest winning the champions league is very unlikely to happen to us for the foreseeable. Winning the league may be a bit closer, but will they, can they, throw yet another roll of the dice in the summer? Are they happy to stick around for Klopp's prediction of "a title within 3 years? "
The tv revenue is coming in now, the hospitality is in place, the club are on the brink, maybe, of challenging for titles domestically. They will no doubt get some pressure from a fan group this summer. It seems like something is coming to me.
I understand if you simply cannot know, but do you think there is a plan to leave in a certain amount of time? Or is it a case of talking about an offer if it was to come along?

{Ed002's Note - There is no doubt in the owners still being committed but they do have a short-term and medium-term exit strategy. They remain very concerned by image and the company in Hartford that they use to report on perception of the club, staff and players are actively recruiting and are continuing to provide reports. They have changed the management structure and one of the tasks of Michael Edwards is to ensure that any player the club (Klipperty, Scouts etc.) is keen on is a suitable fit for Liverpool in terms of playing and, critically, economics. They are aware of the agression being shown towards them by the fans and the constant threats they have to deal with from the fan base. They won't want to be changing manager again during their tenure but were, to be honest, rather dumb to give Klopp a new contract so quickly. They will back him this summer in another desparate attempt to by the league title. Klopp came in with the promise of the league title without significant spending on the team - it was naive and probably stupid on his behalf to say such things. They will as you suggest get pressured from the Spirity of Shankly this summer - we already know that. But as I have said they are just a bunch of morons in a pub with a Facebook page. In terms of time the owners will be OK whilst the value of the business is growing but their investment dwindles everytime they switch external debt for internal debt - people don't see that their writing off nearly £70M a couple of years ago is a very significant investment in the club.}

1.) 08 Mar 2017
08 Mar 2017 11:40:48
Indeed it was. So they backed Brendan after a promise, and now it seems they will stick with Jurgen. I hope that his contract turns out to be a positive rather than a rash decision.
You mention about perception of the staff, club and players. Would that be fan perception? Or how we look externally? Could fan perception influence the sale of a player, for instance?
Many thanks ed, as always.

{Ed002's Note - It is how everyone, and the club is percieved in the media, on social media, on web sites and forums such as this and Kop Talk and no doubt others, on the Facebook pages around the world and those of the Spirit of Shankley etc..}

2.) 08 Mar 2017
08 Mar 2017 11:44:49
In my opinion the owners need to work on their image with the fans. I always hear "well this lot don't give a toss about us" (language adapted for site) .
I personally don't subscribe to that view, but a large number of local fans do. It bothers me because I can't see how the club can be successful when the fans and owners are not working together.

{Ed002's Note - The owners have been subject to sustained abuse by the fans - quite frankly I wouldn't give a penguin's love trunceon about the fans if I were them.}

3.) 08 Mar 2017
08 Mar 2017 12:52:41
How would they work on their image? Most of us can see what they've done to the club and appreciate them. Even though when they show their 'love' for the club it seems forced, they are businessmen after all. Spirit of Shankly's ultimate aim is to have the club in the hands of supporters, therefore anyone who owns it is in the way. I think that can be quite damaging.
I have no problem with them at all and to know that somebody is combing over post after post of abuse towards players and others is horrible.
Although it is quite funny to think that somewhere, somebody is reading about us all being called glifnards and knuckle draggers.

{Ed002's Note - It is the image of their investment (the club) they care about. The Spirit of Shankly's objective of supporter ownership is naive an stupid - and will never, ever happen. The owners are well aware of them and their threats - but still see them as the group of morons in a pub I mentioned previously.}

4.) 08 Mar 2017
08 Mar 2017 13:26:42
Thanks for your time ed002.

{Ed002's Note - You are welcome Bob.}

5.) 08 Mar 2017
08 Mar 2017 14:05:32
This site gets a bit vicious and bitter at times (usually when we've just lost), but the Spirit of Shankly sound downright nasty 😷.

6.) 08 Mar 2017
08 Mar 2017 18:19:41
Not to mention the new training facility which is being built. Another £50m which is probably coming straight from the owners pockets.

FSG have bent over backwards for this club with the amount of investment they have poured in since buying the club.

As Ed002 says, for FSG to write of £70m which is basically taking their money and throwing it into a fire and watching it burn. They have been nothing but good to the club, yes they have made mistakes. We all do but the vitriol that gets thrown their way shows how pathetic and childish fans can be.

Spirit of Shankly would not have been able to fund the new massive stand. They would not be able to fund transfer windows and they most definitely will not have the money to purchase Liverpool Football Club. Not going to happen today, tomorrow or in their entire existence.

Let's not forget, we go back as far as Moores waiting for a bigger stadium and showed his greed by selling to H and G who promised a new stadium too and they ended up leveraging the club to the banks.

What FSG have done for this club in such a short space of time should see the fans being grateful. They have delivered financially in every aspect since buying the club yet people will still disagree and is why Ed002 repeatedly says he has no interest in discussing money with those who do not understand finances.

7.) 08 Mar 2017
08 Mar 2017 21:22:00
Ron

Can you explain what are the owners supposed to do to please fans. I wouldn't hail them as messiah but they have been terrific and supported whoever in charge at the helm.

I am sorry but the fans has been utter pathetic towards the owners as well.

What should they do to please the local fans?

8.) 08 Mar 2017
08 Mar 2017 21:32:00
Either SOS can put up or they can shut up, really. The Spirit of Shankly people need to go form an investment consortium, stump of the cash needed for the club and frigging make an offer to FSG, one they can't refuse and buy the club outright instead of running their mouths online like self entitled brats. As they say, "Put your money where your mouth is. If you ain't writing the checks, then you got nothing to say".