As the window shuts, Hicks’ lies are confirmed

By This Is Anfield On · 285 Comments · In Opinion

When Tom Hicks talks, Liverpool fans don’t listen.

They have good reason not to, this is a man who compared the purchase of one of the most historic football club’s in the World to the purchase of cereal brand Weetabix.

So when Hicks said back in January that the summer transfer window would be “big” – few Liverpool fans actually believed it.

Hicks responded to an email from a supporter at the lack of spending in the January window, writing that “The summer window will be big.”

“We know we need more depth on the squad and will address it this summer.”

So as the summer transfer window closed on Tuesday evening with Liverpool recording their fourth consecutive transfer window profit, it provided more evidence for the growing file of Hicks’ lies.

The summer has seen wingers Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera depart for £10m and replaced by two free signings in Joe Cole and Milan Jovanovic.

Midfielder Javier Mascherano left for around £22m (although LFC have asked for Barca not to reveal the actual price) and replaced by Raul Meireles for £11.5m.

With no forward coming in to provide support or cover for Fernando Torres, the problem of squad depth has definitely not been addressed – unless Soto fancies a spell up front. Only David Ngog and Ryan Babel are options for Hodgson.

The summer has also seen Diego Cavalieri, Mikel San Jose and Krisztian Nemeth leave on permanent deals, and first team squad players Alberto Aquilani, Emiliano Insua and Philipp Degen head out on loans.

Replacements, of sort, have been youngster Danny Wilson, 30 year old Christian Poulsen, Middlesbrough keeper Brad Jones and another youngster, Jonjo Shelvey.

In fact, Liverpool’s lack of squad depth is highlighted with the fact they cannot actually name a full 25 man squad, as highlighted here.

The only news Liverpool fans want to hear is that their club has been sold – before Hicks and Gillett continue their destruction. In the meantime, we’re left with an invisible stadium, a squad becoming more mediocre with each transfer window and more lies about ownership, finances and anything else Hicks chooses to comment on.

GET OUT OF OUR CLUB.

  • About the author

    This Is Anfield

    Keep up to date with the latest from This Is Anfield by following us on Twitter, Facebook or via our RSS feed.

    View all articles by This Is Anfield.
    Follow @thisisanfield on Twitter.

  • Follow This Is Anfield


    Liverpool FC news, opinion and features direct to your inbox...

    Or follow us on social media...
← Older Comments
Newer Comments →
  • marctick

    Could someone help me with my concerns:

    If, as is being suggested, Liverpool FC risks becoming the property of the Royal Bank of Scotland on 6th October, will the bank be making decisions on behalf of the club? And, if so, does that mean prospective owners will need to do nothing more than come up with enough money to cover the debt?

    My grave concern is that, if RBS takes over, we may not have anyone acting in the interests of the club and its future health.

  • marctick

    Could someone help me with my concerns:

    If, as is being suggested, Liverpool FC risks becoming the property of the Royal Bank of Scotland on 6th October, will the bank be making decisions on behalf of the club? And, if so, does that mean prospective owners will need to do nothing more than come up with enough money to cover the debt?

    My grave concern is that, if RBS takes over, we may not have anyone acting in the interests of the club and its future health.

  • marctick

    Could someone help me with my concerns:

    If, as is being suggested, Liverpool FC risks becoming the property of the Royal Bank of Scotland on 6th October, will the bank be making decisions on behalf of the club? And, if so, does that mean prospective owners will need to do nothing more than come up with enough money to cover the debt?

    My grave concern is that, if RBS takes over, we may not have anyone acting in the interests of the club and its future health.

  • jyhhowe94

    Great article, its not the first time Hicks and co. have done something like this so I’m not surprised. All I can say now is that I think Roy has done a decent job in the summer. Looking at his signings…

    Jovanovic – a signing that was confirmed when Rafa was still at the helm, he looks decent despite a shaky start, but then again he was a free transfer so even if he doesn’t do well, there losses will be minimal

    Shelvey – another signing that was made by Rafa but this deal is definitely one for the future, great buy in my opinion as he’s one of the best English youngsters around

    Cole – a very shrewd signing indeed, in my opinion he’s a better player than the departed Benayoun, and although he didn’t have the best of league debuts, give him some time to adjust to the system and he can show us what made him so popular at Chelsea. And take note that even if he doesn’t cut out to be a good signing, he was free, so again the losses would be minimal

    Wilson – another signing for the future – a defender with lots of potential so I’m okay with this buy

    Poulsen – not proven in the Premier League but at 30 he is experienced enough to do a decent job, and even though Roy says he isn’t Mascherano’s replacement, I still think he will deploy him in that role. Probably not as ‘glamourous’ as Mascherano, but a decent signing nonetheless given our financial state

    Jones – a keeper signed because of the home grown rule. I hoped that we could have spent the money on other players, but he’s still a decent backup keeper, some may say we should just let Gulacsi be the backup but Jones has more experience having played in the Premier League before. Should Reina get injured (touch wood), I know who I’ll pick

    Meireles – since we shipped off Aquilani to Juve on loan (and I don’t think he will be coming back), Meireles was probable the best that we can get. He was wanted by United as well, so Roy definitely thinks that he can be a great player here. So no complaints with this signing

    Konchesky – underrated in my opinion, he can do a good job at left back and provide competition with Aurelio since Insua has left, and take the pressure off Agger should Aurelio get injured

    So, given the current situation, Roy has probably done the best that he could have done in the market, he tried his best to get a striker but ultimately couldn’t get a deal done. Of course, whether the team plays well is all down to Roy’s tactics and management, but in terms of transfers, that’s the best he could have done given a tight budget. Hicks said that the manager would have more money to spend on summer signings, but looks like Roy had to sell to buy, just like Rafa did, and that ultimately proved why our squad is lacking in depth now. Hicks lied, no doubting that. If he hadn’t, we could have gotten Cole or even Huntelaar or Gomez or whoever else by now.

  • jyhhowe94

    Great article, its not the first time Hicks and co. have done something like this so I’m not surprised. All I can say now is that I think Roy has done a decent job in the summer. Looking at his signings…

    Jovanovic – a signing that was confirmed when Rafa was still at the helm, he looks decent despite a shaky start, but then again he was a free transfer so even if he doesn’t do well, there losses will be minimal

    Shelvey – another signing that was made by Rafa but this deal is definitely one for the future, great buy in my opinion as he’s one of the best English youngsters around

    Cole – a very shrewd signing indeed, in my opinion he’s a better player than the departed Benayoun, and although he didn’t have the best of league debuts, give him some time to adjust to the system and he can show us what made him so popular at Chelsea. And take note that even if he doesn’t cut out to be a good signing, he was free, so again the losses would be minimal

    Wilson – another signing for the future – a defender with lots of potential so I’m okay with this buy

    Poulsen – not proven in the Premier League but at 30 he is experienced enough to do a decent job, and even though Roy says he isn’t Mascherano’s replacement, I still think he will deploy him in that role. Probably not as ‘glamourous’ as Mascherano, but a decent signing nonetheless given our financial state

    Jones – a keeper signed because of the home grown rule. I hoped that we could have spent the money on other players, but he’s still a decent backup keeper, some may say we should just let Gulacsi be the backup but Jones has more experience having played in the Premier League before. Should Reina get injured (touch wood), I know who I’ll pick

    Meireles – since we shipped off Aquilani to Juve on loan (and I don’t think he will be coming back), Meireles was probable the best that we can get. He was wanted by United as well, so Roy definitely thinks that he can be a great player here. So no complaints with this signing

    Konchesky – underrated in my opinion, he can do a good job at left back and provide competition with Aurelio since Insua has left, and take the pressure off Agger should Aurelio get injured

    So, given the current situation, Roy has probably done the best that he could have done in the market, he tried his best to get a striker but ultimately couldn’t get a deal done. Of course, whether the team plays well is all down to Roy’s tactics and management, but in terms of transfers, that’s the best he could have done given a tight budget. Hicks said that the manager would have more money to spend on summer signings, but looks like Roy had to sell to buy, just like Rafa did, and that ultimately proved why our squad is lacking in depth now. Hicks lied, no doubting that. If he hadn’t, we could have gotten Cole or even Huntelaar or Gomez or whoever else by now.

  • lfc4life

    For the past four transfer windows, LFC have not invested in their squad. Instead, they have taken profits from player sales. I truly hate those two SOBs and if I ever see them on a street, I would not hesitate to harrass them! I am glad RBS and the Board are taking steps to get rid of them. The most important thing is to make them leave WITHOUT MAKING A PENNY!

  • lfc4life

    For the past four transfer windows, LFC have not invested in their squad. Instead, they have taken profits from player sales. I truly hate those two SOBs and if I ever see them on a street, I would not hesitate to harrass them! I am glad RBS and the Board are taking steps to get rid of them. The most important thing is to make them leave WITHOUT MAKING A PENNY!

  • lfc4life

    For the past four transfer windows, LFC have not invested in their squad. Instead, they have taken profits from player sales. I truly hate those two SOBs and if I ever see them on a street, I would not hesitate to harrass them! I am glad RBS and the Board are taking steps to get rid of them. The most important thing is to make them leave WITHOUT MAKING A PENNY!

  • rome77

    Martick
    “My grave concern is that, if RBS takes over, we may not have anyone acting in the interests of the club and its future health”
    That made me laugh,thats the situation the clubs been in for 3 years.
    What have you been doing these last 3 years ?

  • rome77

    Martick
    “My grave concern is that, if RBS takes over, we may not have anyone acting in the interests of the club and its future health”
    That made me laugh,thats the situation the clubs been in for 3 years.
    What have you been doing these last 3 years ?

  • marctick

    rome77
    Perhaps you should spend some time developing your comprehension skills. The import of my remarks concerned the parlous future of the club. The current state of LFC was presumed to be a foregone conclusion.

    Your pompous, snide responses are generally unhelpful and do little more than illuminate aspects of a personality you might do better to conceal.

  • marctick

    rome77
    Perhaps you should spend some time developing your comprehension skills. The import of my remarks concerned the parlous future of the club. The current state of LFC was presumed to be a foregone conclusion.

    Your pompous, snide responses are generally unhelpful and do little more than illuminate aspects of a personality you might do better to conceal.

  • marctick

    rome77
    Perhaps you should spend some time developing your comprehension skills. The import of my remarks concerned the parlous future of the club. The current state of LFC was presumed to be a foregone conclusion.

    Your pompous, snide responses are generally unhelpful and do little more than illuminate aspects of a personality you might do better to conceal.

  • rome77

    Nothing snide about stating a fact Martick the club as been in the situation you described since G&H got their grubby hands on the club.
    However for pomp and snide remarks i think this is a fine example …
    “Your pompous, snide responses are generally unhelpful and do little more than illuminate aspects of a personality you might do better to conceal.”
    Moron.

  • rome77

    Nothing snide about stating a fact Martick the club as been in the situation you described since G&H got their grubby hands on the club.
    However for pomp and snide remarks i think this is a fine example …
    “Your pompous, snide responses are generally unhelpful and do little more than illuminate aspects of a personality you might do better to conceal.”
    Moron.

  • PJ3378

    Although I TOTALLY agree that YES we need new owners at the club ASAP. However, what I don’t get is why people are saying our squad is mediocre! Roy has got rid off Rafa’s deadwood and brought in some excellent and experienced pro’s who want to play and fight for our club. Plus, he has promoted some of our younger and taleneted players. The squad we have now is far better than any of Rafa’s teams. I believe we still have money to spend in Jan which will see one or two new arrivals which will improve our squad further. And finally, let’s not forget that there’s about £20m worth of players on loan which will be used for next years transfer market! We are 2/3 players (ST & 1/2 wingers) away from having a top side!

    COME ON THE REDS!!!!!

  • PJ3378

    Although I TOTALLY agree that YES we need new owners at the club ASAP. However, what I don’t get is why people are saying our squad is mediocre! Roy has got rid off Rafa’s deadwood and brought in some excellent and experienced pro’s who want to play and fight for our club. Plus, he has promoted some of our younger and taleneted players. The squad we have now is far better than any of Rafa’s teams. I believe we still have money to spend in Jan which will see one or two new arrivals which will improve our squad further. And finally, let’s not forget that there’s about £20m worth of players on loan which will be used for next years transfer market! We are 2/3 players (ST & 1/2 wingers) away from having a top side!

    COME ON THE REDS!!!!!

  • PJ3378

    Although I TOTALLY agree that YES we need new owners at the club ASAP. However, what I don’t get is why people are saying our squad is mediocre! Roy has got rid off Rafa’s deadwood and brought in some excellent and experienced pro’s who want to play and fight for our club. Plus, he has promoted some of our younger and taleneted players. The squad we have now is far better than any of Rafa’s teams. I believe we still have money to spend in Jan which will see one or two new arrivals which will improve our squad further. And finally, let’s not forget that there’s about £20m worth of players on loan which will be used for next years transfer market! We are 2/3 players (ST & 1/2 wingers) away from having a top side!

    COME ON THE REDS!!!!!

  • The Prick

    Americans play football too, only trouble is it’s “oh, soccer?” to them. Football to them is for soccer moms.What I mean to say here is that if LFC were a baseball club, maybe Tom & Gillet might have turn it around, actually build a stadium and that sort of thing. Since that’s not the case, it’s just another business-for-profit venture to them. What more need I say?

  • The Prick

    Americans play football too, only trouble is it’s “oh, soccer?” to them. Football to them is for soccer moms.What I mean to say here is that if LFC were a baseball club, maybe Tom & Gillet might have turn it around, actually build a stadium and that sort of thing. Since that’s not the case, it’s just another business-for-profit venture to them. What more need I say?

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →