Apr 19 2008 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

THOSE who studied GCSE history may be aware of President Frankli n D Roosevelt’s fireside chats.

A staple in American homes from 1933-45, Roosevelt would conduct radio interviews in a homely setting to give the impression that although he was a politician he was also a human being and a family man who could be trusted to do right thing by the public even during the most testing of times.

On Thursday, Tom Hicks tried to reawaken the spirit of FDR when he did his very own fireside chat for the benefit of Liverpool’s long suffering fans.

It needs only a glance at the myriad of Reds related forums and websites to discover that Hicks’ efforts failed – and miserably at that.

From the stage managed props – including an LFC cup which was so untouched it looked like it had been delivered from the club shop that very day – to the Liverpool gear that Hicks donned in every shot, the whole set up could not have been more forced had Hicks had the cast of Carousel singing You’ll Never Walk Alone in the background.

There was even a pot shot at Everton from the star of the show just to make sure no-one was left in any doubt that the gallery was being played to with all the gusto of a politician wanting to prove he really is a nice family man after all, just days after being caught in a compromising position on Hampstead Heath.

“My family loves Liverpool,” said Hicks, in front of a couple of teenagers who tried but failed not to look incredibly bored as they watched daddy’s UK franchise beating Rovers of Blackburn on a TV so big it made the Anfield pitch look lifesize.

If this was a charm offensive then it seems hardly anyone was charmed but almost everyone was offended.

Trying too hard is never going to be an impressive sight and whoever was the brains behind this misguided operation missed the mark by quite some distance.

And it no doubt left DIC – whom Hicks derided as “masters of spin” – rubbing their hands in glee at the biggest own goal since Djimi Traore’s muddled dancing feet knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup.

If Hicks really wants to win the Liverpool fans over he could start by acting like someone who has the best interests of the club at heart because that is something which has been conspicuous only by its absence ever since he took ownership of the club alongside George Gillett.

Pledges which he made on his opening day in control have not been kept and the Texan has washed more dirty linen in public than anyone in his position should ever do.

That is why the majority of Liverpool’s fans are still of the opinion that it is Hicks and not Rick Parry who is the biggest problem at the club, even though many of them feel that time should be called on the chief executive’s time at the club also.

And seeing as Hicks is so taken by the influence of FDR, maybe he should consider one of the wartime president’s most telling quotes.

“Confidence,” he opined, “thrives on honesty, on honour, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance. Without them it cannot live.”

There is precious little confidence in Hicks at Anfield at the moment. The time has come for him to ask himself why – not blame others.

We know he’s got an editor to please and we know he’s being paid to write the type of stories that fit in with the front pages of the paper but can he not concentrate on getting Hicks out without doing this to Rafa and the players?

Sounds like Rafa is going with Hicks now because there is no other choice if he wants a job and he was in with Hicks when he started attacking Parry.

Sound like the players aren’t with and so some of them are going to leave.

Sounds like we have to choose rafa and hicks or lose rafa but keep players.

Rob Beesley could have written that by Bascombe and with us getting ready to play chelsea in two days how can it help us? Beesley must be dancing a jig because a supposed Liverpool fan has done his dirty work for him.

He even says about bad timing in there himself then puts this out. He’s sounding bitter.

There’s a lot of speculation at the moment that Gillett will sell his 50% to DIC in the next few weeks. Is everyone forgetting the Hicks – DIC negotiation a few months ago? That would have left Hicks with a 51% majority and if I remember rightly it was Hicks who called the negotiations off. Now the favoured view is that Gillett will sell 50% to DIC soon. If that’s the case, why did DIC enter negotiations for only 49%? Furthermore, if Hicks is under so much threat, why did he call those negotiations off? It makes no sense to me. I wonder if this latest round of conjecture is simply a pipe-dream on the part of those who cannot accept the fact that Hicks may get sole control of the club, whether we like it or not.

If he can’t grow the Rangers what chance has he of growing Liverpool?? Because there are plently of owners who have taken a non performing ‘franchise’ and made them great. Hicks doesn’t have the ability which you have confirmed in numberous posts. Thanks for highlighting that to us.

I point you to the most under performing franchise in American history and what happened when it was taken over by people with ability – The New England Patriots.

http://blogs.notw.co.uk/sport/2008/04/hicks-questions.html

“Prior to Glazer ownership, the Buccaneers were perennial losers, maligned by others as the Yuccaneers and other derogatory names. The hiring of qualified football coaches and office staff quickly turned around the franchise and in a short few years the team was a playoff contender. In the 1999 season the team, then coached by Tony Dungy, was defeated in the NFC championship game by the heavily favored St. Louis Rams by a score of 11-6 in a game in which the Bucs and their defensive-minded scheme nearly pulled a major upset. In the 2002 season, the first season with new coach Jon Gruden, the Buccaneers defeated the Oakland Raiders for their first Super Bowl victory. Gruden had coached the Raiders the previous season.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Glazer

Jim – are you seriously trying to group LFC in the same category as Tussauds?

John – please do make the occasional posts – whatever others say, your input is missed.

I promised a brief return to this forum and therefore bid everyone all the best.
YNWA.