An Epic Swindle: 44 Months With a Pair of Cowboys

AN EPIC SWINDLE is the inside story of how Liverpool FC came within hours of being re-possessed by the banks after the shambolic 44-month reign of American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. It is the tale of a civil war that dragged Britain’s most successful football club to its knees, through the High Court and almost into administration.

Players Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher tell of their anger at the broken promises, as well as their pain at watching loyal fans in open revolt. Manager, chief executive, board members, leading fans and journalists reveal the turmoil at a revered sporting institution run by two men at war with each other, who trampled Liverpool’s cherished traditions into the gutter.

No story sums up the naked greed at the heart of modern football quite like Hicks’ and Gillett’s attempt to turn a buck at Liverpool. No-one has had as much access to the truth, or tells it with as much passion, wit and insight as Brian Reade.

AN EPIC SWINDLE is the riveting story of how close one of the great football clubs came to financial implosion.

Buy now from Amazon

 

The Daily Antoine: 28th Apr 2011 – Liverpool F.C. News update

A motion calling for Kenny Dalglish’s knighthood has been presented in the House of Commons more…
(Just Do It, he deserves it)

Kenny will  not rush Carroll more…
(Why? So he can be kicked by Nolan?) 

Barney expects Andy Carroll to prove a point against Newcastle more…
(If he plays)

The Red Legend also hails Robinson & Flanagan more…
(YNWA)

Fabio Aurelio hopes to return before the end of the season more…
(That would be awesome)

Raul praises Jay Spearing more…
(YNWA)

Milan are also interested in Aquilani more…
(Excellent, could start a bidding war)

Phil Jones is being linked more…
(Hummm)

And according to Sky Sports we are tracking Joey Barton more…
(Why? So we can bail him out of jail?)

Sahin is another player we are tracking apparently more…
(Hummm)

And TalkSport also link us with Lavezzi more…
(Hummm his name keeps popping up)

Peter Lovenkrands hails Andy Carroll more…
(Lovenkrands, Lowenbrau)

The club has made an anoucement regard the Season Ticket applications more…
(Good luck)

Finally Man City tells their fans to stop chanting about Munich more…
(Can you see Man Utd to tell their fans to stop chanting about Hillsborough & Heysel?) 

On Twitter @empireofthekop

Titbits Part.2

Well, seems a bit too quiet for my tastes so I thought I’d write a few lines to let you in on some considerations and hopefully interesting topics.

To start with there seems to be encouraging news regarding the ‘Pepe Reina dilemma’ with the Spanish shot-stopper claiming that he is “Happy, calm and comfortable” on Merseyside. With regards to a possible move away from Anfield, Reina said “To Manchester? Never!” He did claim that according to him Dalglish is the “perfect man” for the job, but he did not say, at least not clearly, that he will be staying! Having said that, I believe it will be one of the Club’s priorities to ascertain his services for years to come.

People often associate Dirk Kujt with being the hardest working player for the Reds, and that assumption (will explain later…) if not that far off the truth. However, recent statistics show that on average, the player that covers the longest distance is no other than our Raul Meireles with a staggering average of 8.1 miles per game. Yes you read that correctly! And that is referred to all PL teams not just the Reds. Second in that ranking comes another Liverpudlian albeit playing for Newcastle. Yes you guess it, Joey Barton! Another statistic that emerges regards Lucas Leiva, who has the highest number of tackles per game. It’s no surprise than that the Reds have had such a resurgent comeback in recent months!

For the many Liverpool supporters that believe Europa League football is a waste of time, think again! I’ve written time and again that this competition, when CL football is not achievable, carries many positives. It gives a team the chance to rotate players, it enables you to give our youngsters precious European scene experience, it provides commercial kickbacks in gate sales, and it keeps you on the European map. In the end, it’s another potential title to exhibit in the trophy room. To add substance to my theory, Pepe Reina has claimed that he believes securing continental football for 2011-12 would have many benefits.

“Sometimes you hear people talk about the Europa League,” he said. “They say there is no point being in it, but I think the competition has helped our youngsters; Martin Kelly, Jay Spearing, Danny Wilson.

“Maybe they wouldn’t be ready to play in the Premier League now if they hadn’t experienced the minutes in Europe.

“Probably one of the biggest positives of this season is seeing young players like these. Players with big futures get a chance and prove themselves.

Now finally two comments with regards to the up and coming summer transfer window! Damien Comolli has explained how players are shortlisted as possible targets for the Reds. He says that the main aspect taken into consideration are the player’s statistic: number of games played, games missed through injuries, number of tackles, passes, assists, goals ecc, ecc. Then come in the usual parameters of cost of investment and running salary expectations. Comolli is no spring chicken, and in this same role at Spurs he managed to land no other than the likes of Luka Modric and Gareth Bale!

Last Monday I was watching (as a person with particular conflict of interest), the Blackburn vs. Man City game at Ewood Park. I could not help but notice and admire Blackburn’s 19 year old centre back Phil Jones. He was not only solid at the back but on a few occasions he came out with the ball from Blackburn’s area and dibbled his way to Man City’s! It now emerges that Kenny was at Ewood Park Monday to watch the Stg 15 million tagged lad after he has been receive rave reviews for his performances despite Blackburn’s not so successful campaign.

Hope that this made for some interesting reading!

The Daily Antoine: 27th Apr 2011 – Liverpool F.C. News update

Congrats to Paige Williams who won 2 tickets to LFC vs Newcastle more…
(YNWA)

The young Reds crashed to Everton 4-0 more…
:-(

The club almost went bankrupt under Hicks & Gillett more…
(We already know that)

Gerard Houllier is doing better more…
(Excellent news, YNWA) 

Pepe Reina indicates that he will stay at LFC more…
(Excellent news) 

Lucas will fight for his place more…
(Good luck YNWA)

Dirk Kuyt also talks about King Kenny more…
(YNWA)

The company should be announcing the new Warrior deal later this year more…
(I think they are waiting for the 2nd away kit to be released before doing that)

Aldo strongly believes that Kenny will sign the long term contract soon more…
(Agree with Aldo)

The former striker also praises Dirk Kuyt more…
(YNWA)

He also talks on how LFC fans are divided over the Europa League more…
(If we win it I don’t think anyone will complain)

And he praises Tranmere Rovers for surviving more…
(They should be in the EPL not Everton)

Ameobi relishing this Sunday’s encounter more…
(AMEOBI)

Amoo scored for Hull more…
(YNWA)

And Dimitri Payet is the latest player linked with us more…
(Hummm)

On Twitter @empireofthekop

LucasCarraBish

What do you get if you cross Lucas with Carra? That’s right, John Bishop!!

Thanks to F@ces from IrishKop.com

The Daily Antoine: 26th Apr 2011 – Liverpool F.C. News update

Kuyt insists that we can be title challengers after a summer spending spree more…
(Couldn’t agree more)

Kevin Nolan wants to kick Andy Carroll more…
(I am in the mood for dancing)

While Maxi will never forget the Kop ovation more…
(YNWA)

There is no deal yet to keep Kenny at Anfield more…
(I am sure there will be soon)

And now Bayern’s Badstuber is being linked more…
(Not too shabby)

And so is Gael Clichy and Chung-Yong Lee more…
(Bring it on)

Sir Whisky is jealous of our European record more…
(At least he is honest unlike the fans of his club)

And finally Ian Rush is in Korea more…
(Has he become the new ambassador?)

On Twitter @empireofthekop