Michael Owen admits he is not ' particularly surprised' by how former club Liverpool have struggled over the past 18 months.
Liverpool finished runners-up to Owen's current club Manchester United in the 2008/09 season before trailing in seventh under Rafa Benitez last term. This season has been even worse for the Reds, who currently sit 12th in the Premier League and sacked Roy Hodgson over the weekend after just six months as manager. However, having remained close to former teammates Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, Owen is not shocked to see Liverpool toiling in mid-table.
"I am not particularly surprised," Owen, who appeared as a substitute in the FA Cup win over his old club on Sunday, told United Review .
"I would say their position reflects where they are right now. "They are in the middle of a transitional period and off the pitch they have had a change of ownership.
"They are also very reliant on a couple of star players and if they are out injured, they have tended to struggle.
And, even if he opts not to share the information he has been given, it is evident things have been going badly wrong behind the scenes.
Owen, who left Liverpool for Real Madrid in 2004, added: "I don't think they would ever forgive me if I said what they had told me."
Showing posts with label Liverpool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Liverpool. Show all posts
Monday, January 10, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
| Rumour | Real Madrid want Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard.
Real Madrid are believed to be interested in acquiring the services of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard by making a £20 million move for the Reds' skipper.
According to The Mirror, the Spanish heavyweights believe that the midfielder is losing patience with the club's inability to remain as competitive as they used to be.
The 30-year-old had previously came close to leaving the Merseyside club after the exit of Gerard Houllier back in 2004, but went back on his decision to remain with the Reds at the time.
It has been reported that striker Fernando Torres and goalkeeper Pepe Reina could also make a move away from the club, despite Roy Hodgson having already been fired.
Gerrard's current contract with Liverpool runs through until 2013.
According to The Mirror, the Spanish heavyweights believe that the midfielder is losing patience with the club's inability to remain as competitive as they used to be.
The 30-year-old had previously came close to leaving the Merseyside club after the exit of Gerard Houllier back in 2004, but went back on his decision to remain with the Reds at the time.
It has been reported that striker Fernando Torres and goalkeeper Pepe Reina could also make a move away from the club, despite Roy Hodgson having already been fired.
Gerrard's current contract with Liverpool runs through until 2013.
Kenny Dalglish: I'm at Liverpool to stay.
Kenny Dalglish returns to manage Liverpool today determined to stay on for the long haul.
Dalglish, who has cut short a holiday to answer the club’s SOS in the aftermath of Roy Hodgson’s sacking, wants to remove the 'caretaker’ tag as quickly as possible. The 59- year-old Scot aims to make owners John W Henry and Tom Werner rethink their plans to look for a high profile manager by the summer.
By then an eager Dalglish, who was upset last summer in being overlooked as Rafa Benitez’s successor in favour of Fulham’s Hodgson, wants to have nailed the job on a permanent basis.
Dalglish, who resigned as Liverpool manager in February 1991 through stress has long hankered for a return to the position. He has admitted being hurt by a number of rejections over the years – especially last June when he put himself forward to replace Benitez.
A Dalglish confidant said: “Kenny is raring to go but he has no intention of keeping the seat warm for someone else. Ideally he would like a four-year contract as soon as possible, giving him the time to rebuild the club to its former greatness.
“He knows what is needed and wants the time to put everything into motion. Dalglish flew home yesterday from the Middle East after abandoning a holiday cruise. He has been given the job until the end of the season after Hodgson, who has only been in charge for six months, agreed a severance package on Friday.
Yesterday he returned to say his farewell to the players before first team coach Sammy Lee took the final training session ahead of today’s FA Cup tie at Manchester United.
Dalglish, who was due to arrive at the team hotel late last night, is expected to change the coaching set-up. There may be a key role for defender Jamie Carragher, who has been highly critical of some players. There could also be a place for Dalglish’s former striking partner Ian Rush, another Kop legend, as the Scot looks to rebuild a boot room mentality.
Co-owner Henry, who initially wanted Hodgson to see the job through to the summer, said: “We are delighted Kenny Dalglish has agreed to step in for the remainder of the season. Kenny was not just a legendary footballer he was the third of our three most successful manager- three giants. "
Dalglish, who has cut short a holiday to answer the club’s SOS in the aftermath of Roy Hodgson’s sacking, wants to remove the 'caretaker’ tag as quickly as possible. The 59- year-old Scot aims to make owners John W Henry and Tom Werner rethink their plans to look for a high profile manager by the summer.
By then an eager Dalglish, who was upset last summer in being overlooked as Rafa Benitez’s successor in favour of Fulham’s Hodgson, wants to have nailed the job on a permanent basis.
Dalglish, who resigned as Liverpool manager in February 1991 through stress has long hankered for a return to the position. He has admitted being hurt by a number of rejections over the years – especially last June when he put himself forward to replace Benitez.
A Dalglish confidant said: “Kenny is raring to go but he has no intention of keeping the seat warm for someone else. Ideally he would like a four-year contract as soon as possible, giving him the time to rebuild the club to its former greatness.
“He knows what is needed and wants the time to put everything into motion. Dalglish flew home yesterday from the Middle East after abandoning a holiday cruise. He has been given the job until the end of the season after Hodgson, who has only been in charge for six months, agreed a severance package on Friday.
Yesterday he returned to say his farewell to the players before first team coach Sammy Lee took the final training session ahead of today’s FA Cup tie at Manchester United.
Dalglish, who was due to arrive at the team hotel late last night, is expected to change the coaching set-up. There may be a key role for defender Jamie Carragher, who has been highly critical of some players. There could also be a place for Dalglish’s former striking partner Ian Rush, another Kop legend, as the Scot looks to rebuild a boot room mentality.
Co-owner Henry, who initially wanted Hodgson to see the job through to the summer, said: “We are delighted Kenny Dalglish has agreed to step in for the remainder of the season. Kenny was not just a legendary footballer he was the third of our three most successful manager- three giants. "
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Hicks scuppers two 'perfect fit' offers for Liverpool.
Tom Hicks has allegedly scuppered at least two 'perfect fit' offers for Liverpool, because of his unreasonable asking price.
Sources at Barclays Capital, who have been charged with selling the Anfield club, have revealed their private frustration at the American owner's unyielding stance in negotiations.
An insider revealed to the Mirror that they have found "exciting investors" they believe have the money and standing to buy the club and take them forward, despite the massive debts run up by Hicks and Gillett. One of the offers has come from the Middle East, and another is a consortium led by a prominent American businessman.
But, so far, the staggering valuation of almost £800million placed on Liverpool by their Texan co-owner has proved an insurmountable stumbling block, because potential buyers are refusing to pay his price.
A source working on the sale of the Merseyside club for BarCap revealed privately: "We have found more than one really good fit investors, who have the wealth not to worry about a few hundred million quid.
"But they will not be held to ransom, because they know the asking price is unreasonable, and they simply don't want to be taken for a ride, no matter how rich they are."
There is a growing fear amongst those close to the deal that Hicks' business empire has been suffering in the global economic crisis, and that is motivating his hard-line stance over a price.
But it is claimed that BarCap are losing patience with the valuation, even though they accept that the sales document put together by the club makes impressive reading.
A source for the investment firm suggested that the figures 'add up', even before a new stadium is being built, but that has persuaded Hicks to hold out for more money.
His partner, George Gillett, is willing to accept a more reasonable offer to enable him to get out of the club, and escape the angry campaign against them from disenchanted supporters.
Hicks though, remains the massive obstacle to the deal, and that could persuade the club's lenders the Royal Bank of Scotland, to step in and take action.
The RBS have given an undertaking to extend their current loan of £237million to the Americans for another 12 months.
But worried by reports from BarCap about the difficulty in finding the right price to tempt a buyer, the bank are considering making an ultimatum to Hicks and Gillett.
The RBS are increasingly frustrated at the process, and sources close to the deal are suggesting there is a chance they will offer the Americans an ultimatum of finding a buyer "within months", or they will pull the plug on the loans.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)