Liverpool agree sale in principle

Posted on October 6, 2010 by SoccerCapper

The board of directors at Liverpool (Evens – Premier League Top 6 finish) has agreed the sale of the club in principle, subject to the approval of the Premier League, to New England Sports Ventures.

The potential takeover is also subject to the resolution of a legal dispute between the two owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, who did their best on Tuesday night to avert the sale and regain control at Anfield.

Two “excellent” bids were received last night but the US owners tried to block the sale by replacing managing director Christian Purslow and commercial director Ian Ayre with Mack Hicks and Lori Kay McCutcheon.

Hicks and Gillett argued that the English directors were not acting in the best interests of the club by saying the NESV bid, and another from Asia, “dramatically undervalued the club”.

Purslow, Ayre and chairman Martin Broughton are taking legal action over their possible exits and are trying to force through a sale.

Broughton told the club’s website: “I am delighted that we have been able to successfully conclude the sale process which has been thorough and extensive.

“The board decided to accept NESV’s proposal on the basis that it best met the criteria we set out originally for a suitable new owner. NESV’s philosophy is all about winning and they have fully demonstrated that at the Red Sox.

“We’ve met them in Boston, London and Liverpool over several weeks and I am immensely impressed with what they have achieved and with their vision for Liverpool Football Club.

“By removing the burden of acquisition debt, this offer allows us to focus on investment in the team. I am only disappointed that the owners (Tom Hicks and George Gillett) have tried everything to prevent the deal from happening and that we need to go through legal proceedings in order to complete the sale.”

NESV are partly owned by futures and foreign exchange trading advisor John W. Henry, who has an estimated fortune of £540m, and own a number of sporting companies, including the Boston Red Sox, New England Sports Network, Fenway Sports Group and Rousch Fenway Racing.

Liverpool’s off-field problems have had a huge effect on matters on the pitch with the Reds (11/1 to be relegated) enduring their worst start to a season since 1953-54, when they were relegated.

Roy Hodgson’s men have won just once this season in the Premier League – a 1-0 victory over West Brom at Anfield – and have slipped to 18th place in the table, while they were also dumped out of the Carling Cup by League Two minnows Northampton.

Liverpool (10/1 – Europa League outright betting) do top Group K in the Europa League after a win and a draw in their first two matches but will be looking for a dramatic turnaround of their domestic form to try and ensure of qualification for next year’s European competitions.

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Style over substance for Fabregas

Posted on October 6, 2010 by SoccerCapper

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has revealed that the style of play is at the forefront of the Spain (7/2 favourites to win Euro 2012) national side’s philosophy and that the team would be jeered by the fans if they played like England (9/1).

Spain’s technique and free-flowing style has been lauded for some time and it has now been rewarded with the Red Fury winning both Euro 2008 and the World Cup in South Africa earlier this year.

Fabregas, who set up the World Cup-winning goal for Andres Iniesta against Netherlands, admitted that the style of play is more important than the result and that they have no intention of changing their methods any time soon.

Fabregas told the Daily Telegraph: “The way we play is the most important. It’s about how you do it. You will never play the ball longer or do some things you are not used to.

“We want to win playing football. If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen but we want to be the best this way. We did it last summer and we want to keep doing it.”

The Gunners ace also had a dig at England and insisted La Roja will never resort to a long-ball game.

“Here in England it is passion and the fans love it when there are hard tackles and you play long balls and counter-attack,” Fabregas added.

“If you do that in Spain they will boo you.

“They are used to another kind of football. Here [in England] if you play good football, good football, good football and you don’t win then they can boo you for the opposite. You have to believe in your style and go for it.”

Spain (1/10 to win Group I) cruised to a 4-0 win at Liechtenstein in their opening match of their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign and now face a double-header to try and climb to the top of the standings.

First up on Friday is a clash with Lithuania, who currently have four points from two games but lie second on goals scored, and the defending champions are 1/16 favourites to maintain their 100 per cent record, with the visitors priced at a massive 20/1 and the draw at 7/1.

Vicente del Bosque’s men then travel to current table-toppers Scotland (11/2 to qualify) next Tuesday before resuming action next March with games against Czech Republic and Lithuania.

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Hughes eyes famous victory

Posted on October 6, 2010 by SoccerCapper

Fulham’s Aaron Hughes believes Northern Ireland are capable of recording another famous win at Windsor Park when they welcome Italy (8/13 Italy – 90 minutes) in Belfast on Friday.

Nigel Worthington’s side got their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign off to a flying start with a 1-0 victory in Slovenia and will be looking to make it two out of two when they face the Azzurri.

Northern Ireland have been placed in a tough group and will have to get the better of Italy, Serbia, Estonia, Slovenia and the Faroe Islands if they are to reach their first major competition since the 1982 World Cup.

Their last qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup ended in failure as they finished fourth of six, seven points behind eventual group winners Slovakia.

While it is unlikely Northern Ireland (8/1 to qualify for Euro 2012) will do any better in their bid to reach Ukraine and Poland in two years’ time they will hope for some more famous nights at Windsor Park along the way.

In the past Northern Ireland have caused some big upsets at their famous old ground, beating Spain and England recently.

Despite Italy’s recent fall from grace a victory over the four-time world champions would represent a massive achievement for Worthington’s men.

Italy currently top Group C having won their first two matches against Estonia and the Faroe Islands.

However, it will arguably be their biggest test when they face Northern Ireland at Windsor Park on Friday night.

Hughes believes he and his compatriots have every chance of causing an upset against Italy, although the Fulham defender says they can’t underestimate the Azzurri despite their recent performances.

“At home over the last few years we’ve had some really good results,” Hughes told Fulham’s official website.

“The England and Spain games will be talked about for years and we beat a lot of good teams that were ranked higher than us at home.

“Our home form is strong and we should go into the game with plenty of confidence, but it would be extremely dangerous to go into the match thinking Italy aren’t what they used to be because the team is full of quality players.”

Northern Ireland (16/1 Group C outright) follow Friday’s game against Italy (4/9) with a trip to Toftir to face Faroe Islands (5000/1) four days later.

Worthington will have to do with Pat McCourt for both matches as the Celtic winger is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Rangers’ Andrew Little has been called up instead of Adam Barton after he withdrew while Niall McGinn is back after missing the game with Slovenia.

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Hodgson reacts to Blackpool shock

Posted on October 5, 2010 by SoccerCapper

Liverpool are 18/1 to be playing Championship football next season and boss Roy Hodgson admits the Reds are in a Premier League relegation battle.

Hodgson watched on as his side slumped to an embarrassing Anfield defeat to new boys Blackpool on Sunday, to leave them in the bottom three on goal difference.

Liverpool have won just once in the league so far this season, with seven games gone, and they are already a massive 12 points behind leaders Chelsea (Liverpool 7/1 – Top Four Finish).

But by the same token, Hodgson’s men are just three points behind his former club Fulham, who sit in mid-table, but the ex-Inter Milan chief is refusing to take anything for granted as fans await an upturn in fortunes.

He said: “It’s seven games gone and there are 31 left, which is an awful lot of games, but the fact is that when you are in the relegation zone you are in a relegation battle.”

Hodgson now has two weeks to stew over his side’s travails as the international break for Euro 2012 qualifiers means Liverpool are not in action until Sunday October 17.

The Reds’ next Premier League game is the small matter of a trip to Goodison Park to face city rivals Everton.

The Blues have also endured a slow start to their campaign, but did sign off before the break with a morale-boosting 2-0 win at Birmingham.

Interestingly, Everton are still searching for their first home win in the league this term while Liverpool have not won away.

Goodison captain Phil Neville admits the shame of starting last weekend at the bottom of the table played a part in the Birmingham victory.

“We were bottom of the league and it was the kick up the backside we needed,” said the former England international.

“We’ve also let the fans down. They have been deflated these last couple of weeks and we have as well.

“I think they saw us get our just rewards at Birmingham for the effort we put in. The pleasing thing is we’ve not lost that self-belief.”

Neville added: “Sometimes when you have bad defeats, you can revert back to safety first and playing with fear. I don’t think we’ve done that and everybody needs applauding for that.”

Everton can be backed at 12/1 to finish in the top four of the Premier League.