Can you elaborate on that at all? Excuse my obvious naivety but I thought the agreements in place ran until this January, 6 month extension available, then they would have to refinance in what we hear in the press are repeated 18 month periods. Where does this 2011 and 2037 business come into it? Is it the period in time where interest payments alone cannot solely be met and the loan must be paid back in full?

Assuming RBS have got the money to lend out, that they don’t need it back because of a lack of funds on their own part, then lending it to “us” isn’t a bad option. If the payments are made, they get to make some money from what they’ve lent out, which speaking simplistically is how banks make their money of course. They’ve also got guarantees behind the loan, which cover them if any payments aren’t made.

Even allowing for good and bad years, LFC’s day-to-day business is fairly steady, and the club are also making efforts to improve on the commercial front. Despite the credit crunch, it’s still a pretty safe place to lend money to. Relatively speaking at least.

Building a new stadium is different of course, and so RBS and others are said to have imposed terms that H&G either wouldn’t or couldn’t agree to.

In terms of Wachovia, I think they only agreed to lend money to the owners as part of a “Master Swap Agreement”, which runs until January 2011. There’s another agreement, or option, which runs until 2037 and is 75% RBS and 25% Wachovia.

Obviously we’re all guessing when we say what the banks will or won’t do – I doubt even the banks know how their strategies might change in the coming months.

I don’t think picking the world’s best players for each position would necessarily give you the world’s best team. It’s all about balance and understanding. Not just pure skill.

And yes, this morning’s comments in the Mirror about Rafa’s contract do concern me. Perhaps Jim (here) or Skippy (on the Forum) can do a bit of digging. I am as confident as I can be that if Juventus or RM came sniffing he’d stay with us. It’s not just a case of Rafa loving the club. His family are settled here and his wife and kids would probably give him a hard time if he even suggested leaving England!

It’s true that Aurelio gave the ball away quite alot and Arbeola made a bit of a mess with the first goal but to say they’re not good enough is a bit much at the moment.

Ok our closest rivals have spent bundles of cash more than us in that position – at least Chelsea have – but I’ve seen Cole, Sagna even Evra mess-up in recent times.

Arbeola has looked a little hesitant on one or two occasions but he’s been terrific more times than not and we shouldn’t forget his inch perfect cross for Torres’ first goal.

I’ll take aurelio and dossena, though he’s still off the pace a little, over Riise – who sadly got a little too predicatable running only in straight – albeit powerful lines.

Give the guys a chance. They’re all we got – with a couple of reserves to help out. And let’s see how they grow into the team……after all it wasn’t too long ago that we applauded the link play between Aurelio and Riera against Man Utd and Arbeola man-marking messi when he first arrived(and now he’s started to create chances too!!)

I think what we want to start focussing on is when’s Rafa getting his new contract and how long will it be before Xabi scores from 40 yards again – he’s trying hard enough!

I agree with you on the full backs, but if we were talking having a pick of any players in the world, you would probably replace Keane too, you would also buy someone better than Kuyt. Riera looks quality, but is he the best left midfielder in the world, etc, etc.

“I’d love the Sheikh to takeover and go, “pick any 5 players you want this year”, but it aint gonna happen.”

Does the 5 player bit need to happen? What five players in the first team would you want to replace? At a pinch I can only think of 2 positions where the current player could be improved. Both full backs – Arbeloa and Dossena. I think the rest of the first team and a few who get rotated are great.

The secret about stability is not making wholesale changes each season. That just takes longer for the players to gel. Add just one or two quality signings each season and you’ve got it cracked. Look 30 miles to the east and you see what I mean. Can’t bring myself to name them!

If I was a gambing man I would avoid the stock market with one exception. Invest in tea towels! It’s the future!

ttnbd on RAWK:

“In the current market conditions the Shiekh, if he were to buy the club, MAY loan the money to the club to build the stadium, or buy some players. But I would fully expect him to get the club to refinance once the credit markets were to reopen.”

http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=228251.msg4881735#msg4881735

I find it highly unlikely that he will pay cash for both the club and the stadium. I hope I am wrong – this is my guess afterall. The problem is that IF he sees LFC as a fantastic way to promote Dubai – worth spending and losing hundreds of millions for, then why hasn’t he up’d the offer and got us now? If he has all the money in the world that a bit more doesn’t make any difference, why the protraction? The actions we see and the prediction given contradict each other greatly.

I thin it is more likely the purchase of the club will be made with cash and the stadium via loan, once again my guess, no less or more valid than yours. The only point I want to highlight is that we need to take things on the evidence we are given, surely the bullshit of G&H has taught us that much?

Yeah I do agree about that. I think we have to be realistic and if we are we won’t be disappointed. I’d love the Sheikh to takeover and go, “pick any 5 players you want this year”, but it aint gonna happen.
The picture you paint benefits us in the way we originally sought, and I would be content with that.