This week has been a lonely one for Liverpool fans. Watching Tottenham play Real Madrid and Manchester United and Chelsea go head-to-head was a difficult thing to do as a Red. Well, watching Tottenham get mauled by Madrid was a particularly easy thing to do and for that I have to say ‘well done, agent Crouchie’ but it was tough knowing that United and Chelsea were fighting it out in a two-legged tie in the Champions League; for Liverpool that’s familiar territory, it almost feels like a yearly endeavour but one which has been sorely missed this year. And for that reason, we have to make sure that next year, we’re at least competing for a Champions League place.
There’s nothing to stop us from finishing 4th this season, other than our unhealthy desire to lose to sides in the bottom 5 but it is certainly still mathematically possible. However, it is highly unlikely and finishing in the top 4 next season is a more likely (and much more realistic) target.
With that in mind, news today that LeBron James has become a minor shareholder in the Reds, combined with the news that Liverpool have planned a far-eastern tour, is something that should uplift Liverpool fans in the meantime. I’m sure a lot of Reds will roll their eyes at the prospect of Liverpool flying half-way around the world for a fortnight during pre-season (again) but it really is a further sign that the club is still trying to push itself as a global brand.
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Those words are not very popular amongst a lot of our fans but they’re words that we’ll have to get used to as we are a brand and we need to start being run like a business, and a successful one. This is exactly what the owners are attempting to do. Likewise with NBA star James: raising our profile in the States by association with the biggest basketball star in the world can only be a good thing. They realise that, in the absence of the highly lucrative Champions League revenue, they need to continue to work hard raising our profile and looking for avenues in which LFC’s huge global following can be exploited.
If we miss out on the Champions League – and even Europa League – football this season, I think we can rest assured that we are in the right hands to see to the continuing success of Liverpool Football Club off the field.
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What utter garage. The only decisions that matter to proper Reds fans is KK getting full time job and LFC signing 4 or 5 world class players so we can get back to challaging for FIRST place again. End of.
That a rather short sighted thing to say. The article is a good one and raises valid points. A proper Liverpool fan welcomes anything that is to the benefit of our club, including our business dealings outside of Football.
Wev been going on these tours since the 80’s and all they achieve is a few extra shirt sales and keep some far away fans happy. Die hard Liverpool fans from
The city care f all about summer tours cos we seen it all before. We need to see the new owners sending big in the summer to bring in 5 world class players otherwise it’s mid table obscurity again. Wake up and get real. YNWA
how ignorant are you??? where do u think the money is gonna come from to buy the players, especially after the uefa financial fair play rule kicks in??? we need to generate more revenue before spending on players and this is a great way to increase revenue…
We are no longer in the 80’s grandpa. If Liverpool is not going to act more commercially, all that we have left in a few years time will be history.
We need a new stadium, sell the name and extend the Liverpool brand overseas. Money is what makes the world go round. And at the moment Liverpool is way behind on United and sort a like.
Tossa
Spot on.
I am from the east, not ‘far east’ but India is east enough. And a lot of true LFC fans over there do not quite realize what passion Liverpool invokes among supporters here, and somehow they all stick with the club, not like others who swing with the swinging pendulum of success. They have stuck with the club through thick and thin. And in case you do not notice “East” is where the business is happening, China, India and the like. So a “few” more shirt sales are actually not that “few” anymore, they help to make the club a global brand, and brand = revenue, any business school will tell you that.
We are lagging behind United and Chelsea in this respect, we can be huge here. Lets not overlook the business aspect of the ownership, that is strictly why NESV is here, and lets hope they do good business, because that only helps the club at the end of the day.
i agree, i too am from india and as a die-hard liverpool supporter from india, i can safely say that liverpool is a big name with or without lebron james..
in asia, liverpool is one of the biggest football clubs as far as brand value is concerned, our only threat being the scum from manchester.. liverpool is a bigger name in asia(except china) than lebron james..
having said that, i think this deal will benefit both the parties involved and i think this deal will help to raise liverpool’s profile in america more than in asia..
What isn’t noted is how LeBron is actually regarded as a god in the far east as well. Standard Chartered came up with a stupid suggestion that we sign an asian player just to sell shirts. I think this deal may have been done with that in mind, because LeBron is massively loved in the far east where basketball is a major sport, more so than football.
Dont worry, we will sign a chinese or japanse player. Standard has an influence on these kind of deals and might even give some money to pay for the player. Standard want exposure and thats the way to do it.
I don’t know where some people get their idea’s from! To start with LFC are big in the Far East! I have been to a few countries there,(Hong Kong/Singapore/Malaysia/Indonesia/Japan/Thailand) etc; and I can assure people that the ‘REDS’ are very well supported there! In my opinion NESV are using LFC,to upgrade Lebro James’s profile in order to derive more profits to pass on to their ‘RED SOCKS’ etc: Gillet & Hicks were taking Liverpools profits and using them in the same way! MAKE NO MISTAKE-THESE PEOPLE ARE THERE TO MAKE MONEY FOR THEMSELVES!!!
Liverpool FC need a new stadium and it looks like NESV are looking for a cheap way to improve numbers!A refurbishment will probably cost more in the long term than the cost of a new,(magnicifent) stadium in ‘STANLEY PARK’. LFC also need to bring in top players(the owners need to spend the money!),and they also need to bring back RAFA BENITEZ.Had he had the right financial backing,(instead of having to skimp)then LFC would be well on the way to success again!
4-3-2-1
……………..reina……………..
…..skertel…..agger…….enrique…
…………….cahill……………..
johnson………gerrard……..coentrao
……..honda…………suarez……..
…………….caroll……………..
periority sub – meireles for honda
4-4-2
……………..reina………………
kelly…..cara………cahill….enrique
johnson…meireles….gerrard…coentrao
…………..caroll..suarez…………
periority sub – honda for meireles
3-5-2
……………..reina………………
….cara………cahill……enrique….
………………lucas……………..
johnson…..honda…..gerrard…coentrao
…………..kyut….suarez…………
periority sub – caroll for kyut
what formation we will play????
you’re a douche