Topic: The Liverpool PR Machine - Don't let the b*stards grind you down!

[redmen77]

The last few days have certainly felt like we are being caught up in a perfectly orchestrated PR campaign, almost like that of a political party entering the final countdown to a general election. Martin Broughton as the chairman in typical right wing fashion made the cabin crew enemies of the public by blamning them for having their rights and privilages removed and the public in general bought it. The current government have done the same by blaming civil servants for receiving cast ironed pensions as though they made it all for themselves. Forget the fact that for many years their pay was kept low.

Anyway I digress. As the various fans and fans groups activities have started to make some impression and the growth in membership of SOS and the fantastic efforts of others (most notabley Royhendo, Johhny J and Fat Scouser) in increasing the awareness of our current situation, LFC have begun what looks like a charm offensive to deflect against the real issues affecting our club today, the debt and our owners.

Having earlier been told by our chairman that a mid-July first round bids would be expected, they deflect attention by announcing the signing of Joe Cole and maintain the charm offensive by announcing our captain was staying and an up and coming player from Rangers had also signed. Hidden amongst all the good news was a story of a 15% increase in ticket costs, knowing only too well that the outrage would be lost amongst the euphoria.

To balance the books of our "free signing" we then start to sell the fringe squad and start to make noises that even some of our more promising youngsters are available for sale.

The net effect and no doubt what they set out to achieve is that it creates divisions between the fans and creates infighting and cries of militancy amongst our own, feeding you shite when all looks rosy. My point for this thread is that we must all guard against the PR machine thats at work here and rather than divide opinion, continue to educate, let people have their views, say when they are happy and when they are not and continue to state the facts.

I was somewhat heartened by Roys latest interview which recognised that the supporters wouldn't be happy until the ownership situation was resolved  and I want to believe it was his psychology to improve morale amongst both fans and players and I hope it was his feelings but I can't help but think all of the last few days is all too measured and crafted and a game being played out in front of us.

Don't bite, stick together, be objective and educate.

[JackWard33]

You are massively massively over rating the intelligence and competence of those involved

[redmen77]

You are massively massively over rating the intelligence and competence of those involved

You only need to employ a half decent PR company to build the tactics that are being displayed. They will be orchestrating on behalf of the club.

[Chris Co Down]

The inside sports pages of the Daily Mail on Wednesday were like something from the club magazine.  Cringeworthy in the extreme.  The propaganda machine is in full flow.

[generic_name]

You are massively massively over rating the intelligence and competence of those involved

These people are incompetent and inexperienced from a football point of view, but from a buisiness/PR point of view they are far, far from it.

[Walk on, walk on]

Bloody word.

[redmen77]

Bloody word.

Eh?

[spanishscouse]

You are massively massively over rating the intelligence and competence of those involved

Just because they are total twats and are killing our club doesnīt  mean that they are not intelligent.

Adolf Hitler is probably the evilest bastard ever, but few would argue that he wasnīt intelligent

[JIM FIXX]

I can't really disagree with anything you've said there Redmen77 (though I haven't heard Roy's last interview). I think a lot of our fans and supporters would do well to understand that we're no more than customers and consumers to these people. Those who find positives in the actions of the club over the last few months, are just witnessing a brands image trying to be repaired.

[Promised to never post on RAWK again]

There is no such thing as Liverpool's PR machine ... Purslow and Broughton are doing an awesome job, and we will be challenging for the PL title in the upcoming season ...

[Walk on, walk on]

Eh?

I meant damn bloody well said. Everything that has been going on the past few days brings a real feel-good factor. But, even amidst all this PR blitz, beneath lies a empty shell, leaving to real problems of the club unaddressed in anyway.

Like I said in the Joe Cole thread, people are getting upbeat about getting a fucking fine piece of furniture for free while their house are burning down.

[Walk on, walk on]

There is no such thing as Liverpool's PR machine ... Purslow and Broughton are doing an awesome job, and we will be challenging for the PL title in the upcoming season ...

Quote me now, we're going to win the Europa, CL and the Super Cup. Plus the La Liga and the Bundesliga as well as the Serie A. Don't you know, we signed Joe Cole.

[xerxes1]

Few of us would recognise a "Liverpool PR Machine".

We are still a football club.On the field there will be ups, and downs.As fans we are in conflict, although we want the team to do well ,we understand that the more succesful we are, the greater the liklihood that G&H will hang around that little bit longer.

In truth much of this has gone beyond G&H anyway.Whoever is in charge, it will be Ģ43 to sit on the Kop to watch us play Spurs. Our support is now being divided betwen those who can afford season tickets, and those who can only afford to go to the odd game. The ordinary fan going match by match is becoming an endangered species.

Some yearn for the CL, but how many can afford Ģ500 midweek trips? At the same time some within the club sneer at the League cup and the prospect of games at Preston and Macclesfield.

So no, I don't fear a PR machine which barely exists.The idea that the free signing of a player that Chelsea have released represents some sort of publicity coup is beyond me.

[Jin]

So the "charm offensive" is basically: 1) Signing a few players (Joe Cole and Danny Wilson) 2) Gerrard committing to the club 3) Offloading deadwood ?

Just looks like a football club doing football club type things to me.

I'm not surprised they broke news regarding the price hike in tickets on the same day as Joe Cole signing. If you were to announce unpopular news, you'd probably use such an occasion to do it, not saying its right though. Apart from that, I don't really see anything devious in whats gone on

 

[Walk on, walk on]

The idea that the free signing of a player that Chelsea have released represents some sort of publicity coup is beyond me.

It certainly doesn't escape you. But you'd need to consider the 'fans' in general who considers the release of Rafa and the signing of Joe Cole as a sign that things are turning for the better.

[wzh999]

So the "charm offensive" is basically: 1) Signing a few players (Joe Cole and Danny Wilson) 2) Gerrard committing to the club 3) Offloading deadwood ?

Just looks like a football club doing football club type things to me.

I'm not surprised they broke news regarding the price hike in tickets on the same day as Joe Cole signing. If you were to announce unpopular news, you'd probably use such an occasion to do it, not saying its right though. Apart from that, I don't really see anything devious in whats gone on

 

The reason you dont see what is going on is because it has been going on for a long time and you have to be blind to say that we are running like a normal football club.

[Redshadow]

There is no such thing as Liverpool's PR machine ... Purslow and Broughton are doing an awesome job, and we will be challenging for the PL title in the upcoming season ...

Borat, can you even match this

[Jin]

The reason you dont see what is going on is because it has been going on for a long time and you have to be blind to say that we are running like a normal football club.

Or maybe I don't subscribe to the idea that everything about the club has to grind to a halt because of the ownership issue. Honestly, when it really comes down to it, what do you expect the club to do while we wait for new owners? A press conference every week saying , we're fucked?

Life has to go on mate, just as the club has to. There's a lot of things wrong with the club at the moment, and things are far from normal. But you can't rubbish everything the club does, especially when its going about its business

[alvaro]

Everything is PR nowadays, not only Liverpool. Anyway I think the owners have so little prestige left that I doubt anybody  actually thinks the club is not in serious trouble.

[Golden_Child]

I was texting a mate earlier saying that it seems like we are being softened up for some shit news.

The most sickening thing is that the clueless idiots who just watch sky sports all day are all over the internet saying stuff like "purslow's doing a good job" and "we really can win the league this year". I would say in that respect the clubs PR campaign is doing very well so far by reeling in the masses of idiots that it's designed for. Makes the more clued up/suspicious of us on here an easier target for the media to portray as a paranoid militant minority.

The whole board are shitheads

[Criztian]

I think announcing the price increase on the same day of the Joe Cole signing was fairly sleazy, but it seems like we're arguing that the only reason the club announced the signing of Joe Cole is to deflect attention of the ownership issues the club is having. While I'm not sure what exactly we're expecting? For the club to not announce the signing of Joe Cole? Or for the club to just not sign Joe Cole at all?

I see the problems with the club, the ownership issues and offloading players. But I don't think announcing the signing Joe Cole was a cover up... it was just big news.

[i_wun_bite]

I think announcing the price increase on the same day of the Joe Cole signing was fairly sleazy, but it seems like we're arguing that the only reason the club announced the signing of Joe Cole is to deflect attention of the ownership issues the club is having. While I'm not sure what exactly we're expecting? For the club to not announce the signing of Joe Cole? Or for the club to just not sign Joe Cole at all?

not about the announcement of signing or whether should be sign cole but more about way they waited till the signing of joe cole before announcing price hikes. I'm pretty sure they have already decided on the price hikes. but they had to time the announcement at the right moment to fly under the radar of fans.

[Redshadow]

Or maybe I don't subscribe to the idea that everything about the club has to grind to a halt because of the ownership issue. Honestly, when it really comes down to it, what do you expect the club to do while we wait for new owners? A press conference every week saying , we're fucked?

Life has to go on mate, just as the club has to. There's a lot of things wrong with the club at the moment, and things are far from normal. But you can't rubbish everything the club does, especially when its going about its business

I guess, this is what this thread is all about? That despite the "good news", we should not forget what Broughton and Cecil are capable of doing and that they have not done the things that they are supposed to do, which is to find the new owners.
As life has to go, agree, but then again, don't t we have people to do so? Like has been said, if Roy is powerless in preventing the club selling the only senior left back, the only left back without being sure of the replacement, what does it say about the state of the club?
Supporting the club? Yes! Kicking out the the cancers? Definitely

[Criztian]

not about the announcement of signing or whether should be sign cole but more about way they waited till the signing of joe cole before announcing price hikes. I'm pretty sure they have already decided on the price hikes. but they had to time the announcement at the right moment to fly under the radar of fans.

oh yeah, I agree and said that I thought that it was rather sleezy.

But see redmen77 seems to be insinuating that they announced the signing of Joe Cole to cover up the price hikes. When the more logical occurrence was that they announced the price hikes at the time of the Joe Cole signing to cover up the price hikes.

It may sound similar, but it changes who we are going to be angry at, and it's important to be angry at the right people. In this case be angry at the people who announced and decided to announce the price hike on the day of the Joe Cole signing, rather then calling the people who announced the Joe Cole signing PR hacks. Where as redmen77 seems to be suggesting that we should be angry at the latter.

[Jin]

I guess, this is what this thread is all about? That despite the "good news", we should not forget what Broughton and Cecil are capable of doing and that they have not done the things that they are supposed to do, which is to find the new owners.
As life has to go, agree, but then again, don't t we have people to do so? Like has been said, if Roy is powerless in preventing the club selling the only senior left back, the only left back without being sure of the replacement, what does it say about the state of the club?
Supporting the club? Yes! Kicking out the the cancers? Definitely

Call me naive, but I seriously don't think that we'd sell a player Roy really wanted to keep. I know Roy was quoted as saying talks between Fiorentina and Liverpool over Insua were really advanced before he had got here, but I think we wouldn't be selling him if Roy wanted to keep him.

[Andy @ Allerton]

Good OP redman77.

It's quite depressing how utterly clueless some of our fans are. All they 'know' about the club is what they read in the papers and see on the telly.

It's difficult to have a battle of wits with them. Because they came unarmed.

[GBF]

Having earlier been told by our chairman that a mid-July first round bids would be expected, they deflect attention by announcing the signing of Joe Cole and maintain the charm offensive by announcing our captain was staying and an up and coming player from Rangers had also signed.

To be fair he did say during that interview on .tv that everything will be kept behind close doors until a deal has been agreed

[mccred]

Cant believe people think there was no P.R. involved in announcing a 15% hike in ticket prices, on the same day Joe Cole signed?
What, it was just a coincidence, they decided to do it on the same day?

[Lizapool]

There is no such thing as Liverpool's PR machine ... Purslow and Broughton are doing an awesome job, and we will be challenging for the PL title in the upcoming season ...

You are being sarcastic aren't you?

[nico 8]

The hypocrisy and blindness of a big portion of our fan base astounds me.The expectation and demand of certain sections of our fan base as well as the media was that Benitez was to deliver the Premier League in view of our 2nd place finish in 2009.Rafa was hounded out as being not good enough.With our new manager in place-the goalposts have moved and it is now understood that a top 4 finish will be a good achievement.Why and who has decided to lower that expectation.Benitez kept pointing out that money was needed for any title challenge ie:we needed to build on what we had and not sell first and then buy.This way we were either treading water or going backwards.To maintain a title challenge,you need the quality of a Torres and not do as Lawrenson has suggested-flog him for x3  GBP 20m players.You need to build on Torres not replace him.Now there is a feel good factor after a few free purchases and yet the board continues to asset strip thereby easing the pressure on the Yanks for a little bit longer.This allows more breathing space for them to achieve a selling price they clearly do not deserve.As much as  Roy Hodgson may seem as a nice bloke,he still has to prove to me his credentials as a top 4 manager.He has a good squad and will get the best out of them.His test will be in the big games against the big teams.It would appear to me(from what  both he and Cole have been saying) that he has little say in the buying and selling of players.If that is the case-he is the wrong manager for the club at this point in time.On field issues aside,we needed a manager to look after the interests of the club.Someone who is able to question the conduct of the board.Who is applying pressure on Purslow and Broughton and checking whether they are performing in terms of their remit?I can understand fans are fed up with all the "doom and gloom" and need to hear "good news"-BUT when did buying players on the free and keeping our best players amount to "good news".Our demands,as unrealistic as they are in the present financial climate,should be the purchase of players of the calibre of Torres/Gerrard.So while that is not possible for obvious reasons-why are fans happy to go along with this happy feeling for now.We need to continue with the pressure on the Board and the owners.We have a good enough squad to break into the top 4(barring injuries etc).HOWEVER-since when has this target become good enough.?There can be no feel good factor whilst the assets are being stripped(cash flowing out) and interest(club's debt to the owners and bank) continues to mount.

[Lizapool]

Call me naive, but I seriously don't think that we'd sell a player Roy really wanted to keep. I know Roy was quoted as saying talks between Fiorentina and Liverpool over Insua were really advanced before he had got here, but I think we wouldn't be selling him if Roy wanted to keep him.

I'm not so sure - don;t think he has that much of a say

[Lizapool]

The hypocrisy and blindness of a big portion of our fan base astounds me.The expectation and demand of certain sections of our fan base as well as the media was that Benitez was to deliver the Premier League in view of our 2nd place finish in 2009.Rafa was hounded out as being not good enough.With our new manager in place-the goalposts have moved and it is now understood that a top 4 finish will be a good achievement.Why and who has decided to lower that expectation.Benitez kept pointing out that money was needed for any title challenge ie:we needed to build on what we had and not sell first and then buy.This way we were either treading water or going backwards.To maintain a title challenge,you need the quality of a Torres and not do as Lawrenson has suggested-flog him for x3  GBP 20m players.You need to build on Torres not replace him.Now there is a feel good factor after a few free purchases and yet the board continues to asset strip thereby easing the pressure on the Yanks for a little bit longer.This allows more breathing space for them to achieve a selling price they clearly do not deserve.As much as  Roy Hodgson may seem as a nice bloke,he still has to prove to me his credentials as a top 4 manager.He has a good squad and will get the best out of them.His test will be in the big games against the big teams.It would appear to me(from what  both he and Cole have been saying) that he has little say in the buying and selling of players.If that is the case-he is the wrong manager for the club at this point in time.On field issues aside,we needed a manager to look after the interests of the club.Someone who is able to question the conduct of the board.Who is applying pressure on Purslow and Broughton and checking whether they are performing in terms of their remit?I can understand fans are fed up with all the "doom and gloom" and need to hear "good news"-BUT when did buying players on the free and keeping our best players amount to "good news".Our demands,as unrealistic as they are in the present financial climate,should be the purchase of players of the calibre of Torres/Gerrard.So while that is not possible for obvious reasons-why are fans happy to go along with this happy feeling for now.We need to continue with the pressure on the Board and the owners.We have a good enough squad to break into the top 4(barring injuries etc).HOWEVER-since when has this target become good enough.?There can be no feel good factor whilst the assets are being stripped(cash flowing out) and interest(club's debt to the owners and bank) continues to mount.

spot on

[MichaelO]

You are being sarcastic aren't you?

I think he is mate

My gooner mate is laughing his ass off last time I had a chat with him..... He simply cant understand why we're over the moon signing a Chelsea reject. Yeah he's a good player but he isnt gonna win us the league as some of OUR knowledgeable fans are suggesting. I sometimes despair if we ever can win the fight against the owners, MB and CP, when most of our supporters don't give a shit what's going on in our club.

The hypocrisy and blindness of a big portion of our fan base astounds me.The expectation and demand of certain sections of our fan base as well as the media was that Benitez was to deliver the Premier League in view of our 2nd place finish in 2009.Rafa was hounded out as being not good enough.With our new manager in place-the goalposts have moved and it is now understood that a top 4 finish will be a good achievement.Why and who has decided to lower that expectation.Benitez kept pointing out that money was needed for any title challenge ie:we needed to build on what we had and not sell first and then buy.This way we were either treading water or going backwards.To maintain a title challenge,you need the quality of a Torres and not do as Lawrenson has suggested-flog him for x3  GBP 20m players.You need to build on Torres not replace him.Now there is a feel good factor after a few free purchases and yet the board continues to asset strip thereby easing the pressure on the Yanks for a little bit longer.This allows more breathing space for them to achieve a selling price they clearly do not deserve.As much as  Roy Hodgson may seem as a nice bloke,he still has to prove to me his credentials as a top 4 manager.He has a good squad and will get the best out of them.His test will be in the big games against the big teams.It would appear to me(from what  both he and Cole have been saying) that he has little say in the buying and selling of players.If that is the case-he is the wrong manager for the club at this point in time.On field issues aside,we needed a manager to look after the interests of the club.Someone who is able to question the conduct of the board.Who is applying pressure on Purslow and Broughton and checking whether they are performing in terms of their remit?I can understand fans are fed up with all the "doom and gloom" and need to hear "good news"-BUT when did buying players on the free and keeping our best players amount to "good news".Our demands,as unrealistic as they are in the present financial climate,should be the purchase of players of the calibre of Torres/Gerrard.So while that is not possible for obvious reasons-why are fans happy to go along with this happy feeling for now.We need to continue with the pressure on the Board and the owners.We have a good enough squad to break into the top 4(barring injuries etc).HOWEVER-since when has this target become good enough.?There can be no feel good factor whilst the assets are being stripped(cash flowing out) and interest(club's debt to the owners and bank) continues to mount.

Spot on! Well said!

[Groundskeeper Willie]

Theyīre not fucking fooling me.

Glad Roy has signed a few quality players, but thatīs what a football club does so Iīm not doing cartwheels of joy.

The only thing that woul make me do that would be getting rid of Idiots # 1 and 2,  Marquis de Sada and Boughtman.

[exile kopite]

I can say that not every supportar can or wants to get "to involved" in all the shit that is going on. They might have more "important" stuff in thier lifes then puke on cecil and H&G everytime possible.

For many of them, the majority i would say, Following LFC is something you do cus you love football, not politics. Are they less worth as a supporter? On many persons on this forum and others, it seams like that.

One example is my littlebrother. He is 20y old, he loves to play football in our sunday league team, he loves liverpool and follow what happens, he watches most games at home and he understands the problems with the current owners and hopes for a sollution.

But thats more or less what it is. And in fact, i think he is more aware then any "mainstream supporter" that likes Gerrard and Torres, follow the games and buy a shirt everytime there is a new one.


For myself, all i can say is that i think its kinda cynical. What many does is that they goes fucking mental on people that cheers for new quality signings and hopes for a more light future.
Comments like "Sign Cole wont get H&G out" and "This is a no-brainer signing, Cecil is a tard".

To me, it looks like many feels the hate is so much more important then acctualy supporting the team. Not attend to games? Not even see them on the TV? Wtf? Supporting the team should always be the most important thing, whoever that owns the club.

[Groundskeeper Willie]

I can say that not every supportar can or wants to get "to involved" in all the shit that is going on. They might have more "important" stuff in thier lifes then puke on cecil and H&G everytime possible.

For many of them, the majority i would say, Following LFC is something you do cus you love football, not politics. Are they less worth as a supporter? On many persons on this forum and others, it seams like that.

One example is my littlebrother. He is 20y old, he loves to play football in our sunday league team, he loves liverpool and follow what happens, he watches most games at home and he understands the problems with the current owners and hopes for a sollution.
But thats more or less what it is. And in fact, i think he is more aware then any "mainstream supporter" that likes Gerrard and Torres, follow the games and buy a shirt everytime there is a new one.


For myself, all i can say is that i think its kinda cynical. What many does is that they goes fucking mental on people that cheers for new quality signings and hopes for a more light future.
Comments like "Sign Cole wont get H&G out" and "This is a no-brainer signing, Cecil is a tard".

To me, it looks like many feels the hate is so much more important then acctualy supporting the team. Not attend to games? Not even see them on the TV? Wtf? Supporting the team should always be the most important thing, whoever that owns the club.

The bold part is what is "wrong" with many fans. Hoping isnīt going to get us anywhere, not in this, not in life. You have to take action. If you want to achieve a goal itīs your actions that takes you there. If you truly love something then you are willing to fight for it.

[exile kopite]

The bold part is what is "wrong" with many fans. Hoping isnīt going to get us anywhere, not in this, not in life. You have to take action. If you want to achieve a goal itīs your actions that takes you there. If you truly love something then you are willing to fight for it.

Well, for what i know, you, me and others is carrying his weight. And for what i know, the whole idea with the socialism is that we should help eachother? So just do what you can should be enough and would not justify any hate on individuals that dont have time etc.

I am so tierd of all the hate. They persons that is hated derserves it, but letting it out over other supporters, the squad ( "Hey i hate the owners so i refuse to cheer at you and help you achive vitory" ) etc. is plain stupid.

[MerseysideRedsFan]

The hypocrisy and blindness of a big portion of our fan base astounds me.The expectation and demand of certain sections of our fan base as well as the media was that Benitez was to deliver the Premier League in view of our 2nd place finish in 2009.Rafa was hounded out as being not good enough.With our new manager in place-the goalposts have moved and it is now understood that a top 4 finish will be a good achievement.Why and who has decided to lower that expectation.Benitez kept pointing out that money was needed for any title challenge ie:we needed to build on what we had and not sell first and then buy.This way we were either treading water or going backwards.To maintain a title challenge,you need the quality of a Torres and not do as Lawrenson has suggested-flog him for x3  GBP 20m players.You need to build on Torres not replace him.Now there is a feel good factor after a few free purchases and yet the board continues to asset strip thereby easing the pressure on the Yanks for a little bit longer.This allows more breathing space for them to achieve a selling price they clearly do not deserve.As much as  Roy Hodgson may seem as a nice bloke,he still has to prove to me his credentials as a top 4 manager.He has a good squad and will get the best out of them.His test will be in the big games against the big teams.It would appear to me(from what  both he and Cole have been saying) that he has little say in the buying and selling of players.If that is the case-he is the wrong manager for the club at this point in time.On field issues aside,we needed a manager to look after the interests of the club.Someone who is able to question the conduct of the board.Who is applying pressure on Purslow and Broughton and checking whether they are performing in terms of their remit?I can understand fans are fed up with all the "doom and gloom" and need to hear "good news"-BUT when did buying players on the free and keeping our best players amount to "good news".Our demands,as unrealistic as they are in the present financial climate,should be the purchase of players of the calibre of Torres/Gerrard.So while that is not possible for obvious reasons-why are fans happy to go along with this happy feeling for now.We need to continue with the pressure on the Board and the owners.We have a good enough squad to break into the top 4(barring injuries etc).HOWEVER-since when has this target become good enough.?There can be no feel good factor whilst the assets are being stripped(cash flowing out) and interest(club's debt to the owners and bank) continues to mount.

Sorry FS, but this has to be the best post after quite a long time. Well said nico.

[exile kopite]

Okey i found something important here.

"To maintain a title challenge,you need the quality of a Torres and not do as Lawrenson has suggested-flog him for x3  GBP 20m players.You need to build on Torres not replace him."'

You can't build anything on something that breaks over and over.

x3 Ģ20 Mill players that can play 50 games each season would benefit the squad more in the run then Torres can with his around 30.

Torres can take us to the important games or he can win them for us. But he can't do  both and we have seen that now.

[redmen77]

Few of us would recognise a "Liverpool PR Machine".

So no, I don't fear a PR machine which barely exists.The idea that the free signing of a player that Chelsea have released represents some sort of publicity coup is beyond me.

I'm not suggesting the signing of Joe Cole or Gerrard staying is a PR stunt, more that the timing and the language being used is part of the PR machine. Like governments store up bad news stories and bury them when good news stories abound, it increasingly looks like LFC are doing the same.

I accept that players have always been advised/coached or have the nouse to say the right thing to engender support from the fans but when you look at how much activity went on surrounding the JC signing including pictures of his medical you can see the PR machine is in full flow.

oh yeah, I agree and said that I thought that it was rather sleezy.

But see redmen77 seems to be insinuating that they announced the signing of Joe Cole to cover up the price hikes. When the more logical occurrence was that they announced the price hikes at the time of the Joe Cole signing to cover up the price hikes.

It may sound similar, but it changes who we are going to be angry at, and it's important to be angry at the right people. In this case be angry at the people who announced and decided to announce the price hike on the day of the Joe Cole signing, rather then calling the people who announced the Joe Cole signing PR hacks. Where as redmen77 seems to be suggesting that we should be angry at the latter.

Like I said, its a timing issue, you store up the bad news until you can see a good news story coming, which works on both your scenarios.

The point of this post was to try to close any divisions between supporters by accepting that you are actually allowed to punch the air with delight if we sign a player or if Gerrard/Torres et al say they are staying to fight for the club. I was merely trying to  make the point that whilst this is going on, the club is still teetering dangerously and that sticking together and not getting caried away by it all is the only way.