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Liverpool takeover: Moores has done it all wrong

The Anfield chairman has always had the club's best interests at heart. So why did he shove the ideal candidates aside and start dealing with the man from over the pond?

by Ejaz Khan on 02 February 2007

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Momo Sissoko: selection headache (gettyimages.com)

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As Lucas Neill realises that it was the devil who whispered into his ear to join relegation-bound West Ham instead of playing in the Champions League with Liverpool, he’s not the only one making wrong decisions.

David Moores has always been a team player, with the club's best interests at heart. Until now, that is. DIC were the ideal candidates, keeping Liverpool’s best interests at heart. Their CEO Sameer al Ansari is a huge Liverpool fan, supporting the team for over 30 years, something that went down well with the Kop faithful as they took to the idea of the Dubai-based company taking the reins.

Then, with all official announcements imminent, in steps George Gillet with a better offer (better mostly for Moores). It must be mentioned that DIC were treated rather contemptuously after Gillet’s improved offer hit the table. DIC were not kept in the loop since the Gillet return bid, and were basically shoved aside.

The question is why would Moores seek to hand Liverpool over to someone who knows nothing of the traditions and history of this great club, who plans to finance his takeover by adding to Liverpool's debt? On the other hand he has DIC, wanting to take Liverpool to higher level, erasing their debt, building their stadium and sustaining their need to continously improve the squad.

The main thing at the moment is that the players and manager don't lose focus and continue to rake up good results to keep the pressure on the top two. Liverpool are the Premiership's in-form team and with Rafa Benitez fielding three strikers it makes for exciting football.

The return of Momo Sissoko will no doubt boost Rafa’s options and give him a selection headache ahead of the Mersey derby on Saturday. The defence is solid, the midfield back to their machine-like best, and the strikers keep the net bulging on a regular basis. Like a Parker Pen, they are clicking superbly.

Chelsea will be getting worried as Liverpool inch closer with each game and Jose Mourinho will be eating his words, sooner than he thinks. The Roman Empire is collapsing, point by point.

Are you disappointed that DIC are out of the bidding for Liverpool? Let Sportingo have your views.

Comments (12)

by dannypool on February 02, 2007

we are never going to win the premiership with this american failure. I lost all my faith in Moores.

by Paulo on February 02, 2007

As Ejaz says - "David Moores has always been a team player, with the club's best interests at heart". Why start doubting him now? I think that Ejaz is disppointed that Liverpool might end up in American, rather than Arabic hands. Probably also why he's looking forward to Momo Sissoko coming back (have we missed him? Can he pass the ball?). Ejaz probably also wishes that we weren't sponsored by Carlsberg, whereas I happen to like beer.

by Claude-Alexander on February 02, 2007

Spot on Paulo! Personally I had my doubts about DIC taking over at our club. I have a few friends of Arab origin and though we are friends I have to admit that most of them are oversensitive and find it very hard to adapt to Western European life-style and mentality. I am not a friend of US American policy and have problems with their mentality, but honestly think they are closer to Europeans than Arabs are which can only be the better for our club.

by Ejaz Khan on February 02, 2007

Football should have no racial divides,bottom line.And thats what you guys are bringing it down to. As for your " Why start doubting him now?" bit on Moores..err, maybe the fact that he is walking away after the takeover would have something to do with it (Self interest? Remember the main thing that Stevie G was excited after meeting the DIC people, and didn't hide his feelings. Now i'm sure you don't like Stevie G anymore too,right ?

by delaney on February 02, 2007

please be patient,david moores will do right by liverpool,he is an honourable man & he is a liverpool supporter,he has to let go of his pride & joy & he will only have the best interest of the club in mind,please wait & see what happens before judging it will all come out in the end YNWA

by Paulo on February 02, 2007

Ejaz, my point is that without knowing all the details of the Gillette bid, how can you possibly say that David Moores is making a mistake? As I said, my guess is that you have more sympathy for DIC than an American, so in fact I believe it's you who's introduced the 'racial divide' as you can have no rational reason to criticize Moores without knowing all the details...

by Ejaz Khan on February 02, 2007

Gilette Jnr has a multi million Dollar bankruptcy to his name and just to add some insight into the man who's going to be taking over Liverpool here's it in his own words ,taken from the Independent Published: 02 February 2007 http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/premiership/ar ticle2208200.ece... "He also admitted he sometimes moved too fast in business, and bought too much. "I've lived my dreams, but then I blow them up." " Reassuring for you maybe, but I'm not convinced... Yet ! Take care all ...

by redthruandthru on February 02, 2007

moores had and still has a duty, to all shareholders to get the best deal for them and the club. gillet came with an imkproved offer and he had no choice but to consider it. when dic heared of this they slapped a 12 hour take it or leave it provisio on their bid. rightly , moores refused to be bullied by the arabs and sent them packing. dic would also have seeked loans to finance their takeover and build the ground. fact.

by Paulo on February 02, 2007

I read that too. I think what's more important is that Gillette is going 50:50 with Thomas Hicks, one of the richest men in America, who owns both the Texas Rangers baseball team & the Dallas Stars ice hockeys teams. He has a track record of splashing huge sums of cash on his sports teams... In Moores we trust - YNWA!

by Claude-Alexander on February 02, 2007

Ejaz, you surely read my comment but I get the impresson that you didn't get what I tried to express (that I simply had a strange feeling about DIC). It got nothing to do with race, mate, it got something to do with mentality (as I have said in my original comment). As I wrote I have a few Arab friends and now would like to repeat this for you so you understand that I have no problems about someones race: I HAVE ARAB FRIENDS, TOO! Actually I do not understand why you have to somehow offend Paulo and myself by making silly things out of our names. This does not put you in a positiv light. It would be great, could you tolerate that it might appear that some people happen to have a different opinion than yours. Or is it that you have a problem with our race (whichever that may be)? Just a question.

by DownUnder on February 03, 2007

by Sherief Razzaque on January 11, 2008

And the ball appears to be rolling downhill. As for redthruandthru, DIC has captive funding from Dubai Holdings, with the stated aim of investing the excess cash-flow from Dubai Holdings in international investments, roughly 7billion pounds. Ansari stated in many interviews with the press that they were not interested in borrowing, because they were flush with cash. For the moment, it seems Moores and Parry backed the wrong horse, for the sake of 8 million pounds extra. Sadly, that is a drop in the ocean compared to our current funding issues. I hope some press correspondent takes the opportunity to ask Moores what his thoughts are, and then does the same for DIC. From a business standpoint, we'd definitely have gained more, in terms of the bigger picture, from DIC than G&T, but then, Liverpool always seemed a poorly managed business, albeit a fantastic and legendary football club.