Tag: John Henry

Liverpool’s owner, FSG, has pulled away from an agreement to buy French club Bordeaux. The reasoning behind the decision has been explained.

Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the owner of Liverpool, has withdrawn from a proposed takeover bid for French club Bordeaux. Looking to transition to a multi-club model, the American group had been in talks with the Ligue 2 side.

However, a press release from Bordeaux has stated that exploratory conversations between FSG and the six-time French champion have concluded. Liverpool’s ownership group will instead look elsewhere to grow its portfolio.

“FC Girondins de Bordeaux and its shareholder have been informed by Fenway Sports Group of its desire not to pursue discussions initiated in recent weeks with a view to purchasing the club,” according to a statement. “This decision is explained in particular by the stadium’s substantial expense in the coming years, as well as the overall economic environment of French football.

“FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Gérard Lopez would like to thank Fenway Sports Group for their interest in the club and its teams, as well as for travelling to meet with its stakeholders. The Club and its shareholders are currently focusing all of their efforts on finalising a funding plan for the 2024/2025 season in preparation for the appeal hearing.”

According to Liverpool.com, while a move to acquire Bordeaux appeared to make sense, the reasons for pulling out of a potential agreement mount up. It will be intriguing to watch where FSG goes next as it seeks to acquire another football team.

The benefits of doing so are obvious, but it must be the proper move to be effective. Michael Edwards and Julian Ward will both be involved once a new team has been formed, with the latter having been part of the discussions in this case.

More news…….

Manager of Uruguay Shares Important Defensive Plan Against Liverpool Star

During this Copa America 2024, Uruguay and Colombia placed first in their respective groups. Although Luis Diaz of Liverpool is a star player, La Celeste manager Marcelo Bielsa is more interested in his teammate James Rodríguez.

After four games, Rodríguez has one goal and five assists, making headlines. But Uruguay’s defensive strategy centres on Diaz, and in a Tuesday media statement, Bielsa said his team cannot afford to allow Diaz room.

Diaz scored a heads-up goal in the 5-0 victory over Panama, and it appears the former Leeds United manager wants his players to stay away from the same mistakes the Central American club made.

“Díaz is going to thrive if we defend with 40 metres behind us,” Bielsa said to the press (via Diario AS). “He enjoys having room behind him, and he will still find ways to score even if we defend directly in front of the goal. In games, you want to create opportunities for yourself while trying to prevent the opposition from attacking. People will always inquire about a backup plan, though, if you are unable to dominate in the opponent’s half.

There isn’t one; all you need to do is carry out plan A to the best of your ability. A compact squad wants to gain control by attacking, but they also need to know how to defend in case they are unable to. Similar to how we attack, Colombia does the same.

When necessary, we defend; after that, we just have to wait and see. Under manager Nestor Lorenzo, Colombia will want to build on their outstanding performance. They have won 27 straight games, and they may either extend this winning streak against Uruguay or end in defeat and miss out on the Copa America final.

Durkan, Joanna Under its current owners, Fenway Sports Group, Anfield has seen a remarkable change. However, because demand for tickets continually outpaces supply, is there any hope of further growth?

Anfield could only hold 45,362 spectators when FSG took over the team in2010. Although there were discussions about moving elsewhere, they ultimately decided to stay at Anfield.

The Anfield Road Stand saw an amazing transformation that increased capacity to 61,000 seats, although the Main Stand was the first to undergo significant renovations, adding 9,000 seats in 2016.

Although it has completely changed Liverpool’s spiritual home from the one FSG inherited, is there still room for growth at the stadium going forward? Pay attention within instead of outside.

Pay attention within instead of outside.

To put it mildly, expanding Anfield further presents challenges.There is nowhere to construct because the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand and the Kop run parallel to residences, a major road, and stores, respectively.

If they were to consider major alterations, which is improbable, it would have a tremendous effect on the neighbourhood that currently surrounds the stadium.

Instead, as an FSG chief previously stated, attention is likely to move to other areas of the current stadium.

“We’ll see what ancillary development might be possible,” FSG CEO Sam Kennedy stated in 2022 at a conference.

Even though Fenway is a residential area, it is also zoned for retail, hospitality, entertainment, and other uses. We must acknowledge and show respect for Anfield’s status as a residential area.

“In the future, you’ll probably see us focusing more inside than outside.”

One such example is the Kop Bar in the Kop, which took the place of the former club store. Another example is the proposed “underground fan zone” in the brand-new Anfield Road Stand.

Improved concourses, additional hospitality lounges, and newly constructed public bike and foot routes are all included in this kind of localised development.

Development can see a decrease in capacity.

The Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand, the oldest in the stadium with the least amount of legroom and supporter amenities, would probably be the next stand to be developed.

A report from 2023 stated that “FSG will look to improve the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand, which has a current capacity of 12,000,” although it is not currently in the works.

“If they do, and no decision has been made yet, then capacity would actually decrease when the bottom tier’s spaces are reconfigured to provide supporters more room.”

The article was written by Alex Miller, a reporter for the Mail on Sunday who has extensive knowledge of stadium-related issues from FSG’s time in office.

While supporters wouldn’t find more seats as a result, the stand would be updated with more contemporary amenities and roomier interior concourses, making it over thirty years old.

Though it would be wonderful to imagine a makeover akin to that of the Main Stand or Anfield Road End, it is simply unfeasible given the completely occupied residences situated right behind the stand on Skerries Road.

Council strategy 

As we’ve already mentioned, there isn’t much room in the local area around the ground, so FSG can’t pursue a large development on the land that is currently there.

They have previously tried it with the renowned home of the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park.

Nonetheless, Liverpool Council is moving forward with more neighbourhood revitalization, including plans for a £4 million project to modernise the stadium’s major thoroughfare.

With “a visually more appealing and healthier public street scene” as a top objective, the goal is to “create a greener and safer experience for residents and visitors.”

The council intends to explore a “new development that is rooted and focused on community inclusion” for the Anfield Square, which is the area across from the club shop on Walton Breck Road (see top picture). Updates are anticipated this summer.

The Anfield Square will not become a hotel. There is still plenty of room for internal and external growth at Anfield, even though major changes like those to the Main Stand and Anfield Road End are unlikely.