Topic: The John W Henry Interview - Part Two

[weebroalan]

How much does it come from sponsorship? We have our biggest deal ever with Standard Chartered worth £80m over four years, that's £20m a year. By City and Chelsea standards, this can go toward the purchase of one decent (not an excellent) player a year. Or it will pay the salaries of two top players a year (£200k/week). What about the rest of the team? How many good players will be willing to 'carry the piano' for less than £100k/week?

My understanding is that you can generate as much revenue as you like from sponsorship and so artificially inflate your revenues so you can get away with paying higher wages without breaking the fair play rules. My understanding may be incorrect though!

[Rednyte]

great read - thanks

[farawayred]

My understanding is that you can generate as much revenue as you like from sponsorship and so artificially inflate your revenues so you can get away with paying higher wages without breaking the fair play rules. My understanding may be incorrect though!

No, no, what you're saying is fair enough. My point was that no team will be able to, say, double, triple or quadruple its sponsorship revenue. So, there will be a self-regulating cap on the salaries a club can pay and players it can buy. I think what's ruining the modern game is one  player in the team to play for £200k/week and another for £20k/week in the same team, in the same games.

[weebroalan]

No, no, what you're saying is fair enough. My point was that no team will be able to, say, double, triple or quadruple its sponsorship revenue. So, there will be a self-regulating cap on the salaries a club can pay and players it can buy. I think what's ruining the modern game is one  player in the team to play for £200k/week and another for £20k/week in the same team, in the same games.

My fear is that as good as these rules are in principle - the billionaires will find a way around them and so continue the problems we have at the minute.

[Ycuzz]

Just got around to read this.

- Thank you to all Reds involved in this. Class effort and not something to be forgotten. Drinks are on me.

- Mr. John W. Henry. Thank you for taking your time in doing this. It means alot, it really does. And more importantly, your answers calms a troubled Red.

[Juanyboy]

That's just made my week, cheers!!!

Seriously though what I admire about them the most is they admit they have a lot to learn, he openly admits to not knowing too much about football, but they will put people in place that do.

They're here for the long term, isn't that what we wanted when we fought H & G for so long, a long term owner who would build solid foundations and have us standing on our own 2 feet.

they say that the best managers or directors of a firm are the ones who say 'I dont know.....please explain....' because there is an obvious thirst for knowledge, humility and a down to earth persona, which for a director or manager shows that a) they don't kid themselves, b) they say it the way it is and c) they can identify with whoever they meet or work with

Thanks for the answers VDM, NESV keep proving what I already think about them.

Good things come to those who wait...

[rafa4sure]

They don't fully understand football yet. They have Comolli in now and he was keen to keep stressing this. Comolli will be their eyes and ears on the manager I think.

They removed the manager at Boston pretty soon after taking over so they are not averse to the idea. My guess is they need to feel they make the right decision as sacking him will be expensive.

Appreciate the response. I hear what you're saying, I really do. Let me say this though. So, Comolli is the man to advise NESV on Roy? Well, I've just watched the Comolli interview, and the same story, Comolli is saying how happy he is with Roy, how Roy is a highly respected coach, and that they share the same vision etc. They agree on everything I think he said. Everyone quoted at the club believes in Roy. Is this a lie, good PR, or their honest opinion? Watching the chat with Comolli, I really wasn't impressed. His answers were vague. His English is not brilliant so this could well be an obstacle. However, I am none the wiser about NESV's long term strategy, other than they believe in youth, statistics, and "supporting" each other. All very woolly. I know, I know "give them time FFS!! They've only been there X weeks!"

But I don't get how 90-95% of people on this forum are basically foaming at the mouth with Roy, yet we are singing John Henry's praises for taking out 30 minutes of his day to answer important questions about your club! I am grateful to John, Tom and NESV in ridding us of H&G but still, let's not forget that they are the privileged ones here in owing LFC (I'm not suggesting that they've acted poorly in this regard I should add). John Henry is calling the majority of RAWK wrong for blaming Roy Hodgson for Liverpool's poor performances. That's fine, that's his opinion and I don't begrudge him it. He may even be right. But how can people be so "Roy is shit, C*nt, get rid" etc and then just shrug your shoulders and accept it when one of the owners tells you that you're flat out wrong? I don't get it. NESV might not understand football yet, but they're not mincing their words here. Support Roy, support the team. You don't agree? Well then you're not on aboard with our philosophy. That's what I'm hearing.

Saying all that, I am keeping an open mind. First impressions were good, hmmm I'm not so sure I like what I'm hearing now. They said that they will make mistakes. Well, I think they have already made a couple. I know I will be blasted for not having patience, and if I took more time I could word this a lot better. This isn't an anti-NESV/Henry/Werner/Comolli rant, far from it, I'm just a bit concerned.

I do think NESV's intentions are good. I believe them when they say that their intentions are to create a winning team. And I'm not averse to their thinking, with their Director of Football setup for example. I just think they've got the wrong people in those positions.

[kopblooded]

Appreciate the response. I hear what you're saying, I really do. Let me say this though. So, Comolli is the man to advise NESV on Roy? Well, I've just watched the Comolli interview, and the same story, Comolli is saying how happy he is with Roy, how Roy is a highly respected coach, and that they share the same vision etc. They agree on everything I think he said. Everyone quoted at the club believes in Roy. Is this a lie, good PR, or their honest opinion? Watching the chat with Comolli, I really wasn't impressed. His answers were vague. His English is not brilliant so this could well be an obstacle. However, I am none the wiser about NESV's long term strategy, other than they believe in youth, statistics, and "supporting" each other. All very woolly. I know, I know "give them time FFS!! They've only been there X weeks!"

But I don't get how 90-95% of people on this forum are basically foaming at the mouth with Roy, yet we are singing John Henry's praises for taking out 30 minutes of his day to answer important questions about your club! I am grateful to John, Tom and NESV in ridding us of H&G but still, let's not forget that they are the privileged ones here in owing LFC (I'm not suggesting that they've acted poorly in this regard I should add). John Henry is calling the majority of RAWK wrong for blaming Roy Hodgson for Liverpool's poor performances. That's fine, that's his opinion and I don't begrudge him it. He may even be right. But how can people be so "Roy is shit, C*nt, get rid" etc and then just shrug your shoulders and accept it when one of the owners tells you that you're flat out wrong? I don't get it. NESV might not understand football yet, but they're not mincing their words here. Support Roy, support the team. You don't agree? Well then you're not on aboard with our philosophy. That's what I'm hearing.

Saying all that, I am keeping an open mind. First impressions were good, hmmm I'm not so sure I like what I'm hearing now. They said that they will make mistakes. Well, I think they have already made a couple. I know I will be blasted for not having patience, and if I took more time I could word this a lot better. This isn't an anti-NESV/Henry/Werner/Comolli rant, far from it, I'm just a bit concerned.

I do think NESV's intentions are good. I believe them when they say that their intentions are to create a winning team. And I'm not averse to their thinking, with their Director of Football setup for example. I just think they've got the wrong people in those positions.

We d all be naive to believe that JWH will come out in the open and say.. " YEs RAWKites you are right... Roy Out ! He cannot publicly state that he doesnt think Roy's the man for the job. I am sure he understands that CL football is important for the club, but he also understands that he has to make some fundamental changes in the club.

My opinion, I am happy that he s taking steps to engage with the fans, a lot of whom are at RAWK Pro-Rafa, Anti-Rafa, Pro-Roy ( are there any now   ) or anti-Roy.  And i think we will see Liverpool players pick the League trophy under this ownership... Maybe not in Stevie s  hands ( the lad deserves it, hell even Carra does) , but we will !

[redforlife]

I know this may be naive of me, but I like how Mr Henry comes across, and dare I say I think I trust him.

And thanks for all the efforts in opening the lines of communications.

[Raoul Duke]

John Henry is calling the majority of RAWK wrong for blaming Roy Hodgson for Liverpool's poor performances. That's fine, that's his opinion and I don't begrudge him it. He may even be right. But how can people be so "Roy is shit, C*nt, get rid" etc and then just shrug your shoulders and accept it when one of the owners tells you that you're flat out wrong? I don't get it.

It's the dreaded vote of confidence. Chairmen and directors will always publicly back a manager, even if they plan to sack them next week. It's meaningless.

[Red_Isle_Chap]

A huge thank you to all involved in the questions, getting them to Henry and a huge thank you to him for answering them in what must be an insanely busy time trying to sort out the shite that was left after the sale.

Some very encouraging  answers, especially about the youth setup. I don't want to sit and dissect every last word of what they say at the moment because they are so new to the sport all the responses are understandably guarded. The need to be seen to be saying and doing the right thing and to avoid looking like they've come in, wielding a machete  to clear out all the dead wood from the last regime.

It'll be interesting to see what the same people are saying a year into their tenure to be honest. I know everyone's concerned about the current management situation, but i'm hoping that they will sort things out and give us long term stability. From that we can go on to reclaiming our rightful place at the top of the pile, but it might just take a bit of time.

[rafa4sure]

It's the dreaded vote of confidence. Chairmen and directors will always publicly back a manager, even if they plan to sack them next week. It's meaningless.

Personally I'd like to believe you. I'm not sure it was neccessary for him to write those things in the email though. He didn't need to bring the issue up. If he was asked about this in a interview, I could understand him feeling pressurised into giving a response like this.

Anyway, I'm gonna leave this alone now.

[gandt]

he says the right things, but if Roy remains in charge beyond Christmas, all the talk we be for nothing.

[JCM]

If Roy Hodgson is still in charge of a £300 million pound football club by Christmas, the owners should be sanctioned by the mental health authorities

[Boitol]

Therefore what is to stop Chelsea and Man City owners striking up a sponsorship deal with their owners companies where they put in whatever 'sponsorship revenues' are required to keep the players wages below the stipulated percentage.

They can't thats money laundering and illegal.

[Gifted Right Foot]

great interview.  thanks to all involved

[Seebab]

Great stuff...

Am I being silly by asking where's part one?

Here buddy
http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=265701.msg7627744#msg7627744

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

Hey, the Fail may be a bunch of reactionary Tory gobshites but at least they credit the story, where does that leave Richie Buxton in the grand packing order of life?

[Terrys chocolate orange]

Hey, the Fail may be a bunch of reactionary Tory gobshites but at least they credit the story, where does that leave Richie Word Thief in the grand packing order of life?

Here as well. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/nov/15/liverpool-john-w-henry

[Baz Smythe]

Does anyone know if Nesv were so behind the manager when they took over the Red Sox?

Were they acting and saying nice things about him before they let him go or did they just keep quiet about it and then just sacked him? 

[farawayred]

I like the sound of this, to be honest. Should we expect him to say that he's gonna splash the cash, then everyone would try to skin us? I'd rather him lower the expectations and buy 1-2 really good (not excellent) players that are worth it. The only bad news is that Roy will probably be here a wee bit longer...

[At the Xmas works do asking someone to give them one]

I’ve been to the academy three times and I’ve met with Jose Segura and Rodolfo Borrell.  They are key people for the future of Liverpool.  They know their work is now a major priority for us.  I’ve made a personal commitment to them.  We intend to give them the resources to build LFC for the future.

This was one of the most heartening responses That Mr. Henry gave. It will involve considerable investment in time and resources on the part of UKSV and won't bring immediate returns, but is a clear indication of them thinking and planning in the long term. Sure, it won't make headlines like the purchase of Robinho but I'm sure we can all be excited that we're trying to develop a production line of future stars, instead of buying one off the shelf in the January window.

These players all want the same things.  They want to win.  It’s up to us to build a winner going forward.  It’s up to them to determine to win now.  We saw a certain team on the field against Chelsea last week that showed what they can do.

I don't know if this is a case of seeing what I want to see, but this was key. We're forgetting in the midst of our Royangst  that the players have been given an excuse for underperformance for a few years now. Henry seems to be demanding a shift in attitude from the playing staff to winners. The number of times he mentions that everyone must be on the same page is also good news.

So the players – all eleven each week – have to be on the same page every match and have to live up to the history and respect this club has engendered – no matter what.

Which is great news. Because what is true for the players, is also true for the manager.



*Panic circuits disengage*

[myrlas]

Since the media now digs into this story and use the quotes;

When were the quotes made? In the last few days?

[SmithdownAndy]

Since the media now digs into this story and use the quotes;

When were the quotes made? In the last few days?

We were sent the replies late Sunday night.

[Once in Royal Craigy DS]

They can't thats money laundering and illegal.

No it's not. Money laundering is totally different to them agreeing that one business they own can enter into a sponsorship deal with another.

[myrlas]

We were sent the replies late Sunday night.

Alright. Cheers.

In my opinion that puts some of the quotes into the right perspective.

[weebroalan]

No it's not. Money laundering is totally different to them agreeing that one business they own can enter into a sponsorship deal with another.

Money laundering is the process of disgusising the proceeds of crime and introducing it back into the banking system unnoticed.

I don't think there is anything in the rules to prohibit an owner's company sponsoring the football club he owns.

[xerxes1]

When read in conjunction with the Comolli interview its is clear that the structural change which has been required at the club for  20 years is coming down the track.

[Kopout]

Alright. Cheers.

In my opinion that puts some of the quotes into the right perspective.

Is this after chelsea match?

[Caffeine]

Not sure if it's been mentioned but you ask for a link back from any other sites using this.

Well F365 are using it and aren't linking back- http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6510728,00.html

------------

Thanks for the interview, very inciteful. I really like this guy's philosophy and hope his actions emulate his words.

[DMace]

The metro aren't linking back your quotes

http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/847373-pepe-reina-and-steven-gerrard-queried-liverpool-future-henry

[brunny]

Looks like sky have used the story without linking back or even mentioning RAWK.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_6510701,00.html

Just took others work and sold it as there own. I am so surprised.

Great work by all concerned, and a very interesting incite into our new owner.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

I think we've got round to the really lazy no mark journos now.  These lot are just nicking it from this mornings papers.  Nice to be the LFC meme for the day though

[planet-terror]

As ever,great work by all involved.many thanks

[RayPhilAlan]

Personally I'd like to believe you. I'm not sure it was neccessary for him to write those things in the email though. He didn't need to bring the issue up.

If he hadn't brought the issue up, there would have been huge tabloid headlines trumpeting the omission.

[Crimson_Tank]

As one insightful player told me, “The spirit of the side needs to be there like a family – as one.”

this must have been Pepe,

well done sir, these answers have given us hope

[Ambrosia]

is there a danger that NESV will be a Randy Lerner type takeover?  Keeping the club on a sound financial footing but not really putting the capital in to really trouble the big clubs?

That's exactly what it is. Highly unlikely that NESV will be putting any of their personal wealth into the club like the City/Chelsea owner(s).

[Mascherrardorres]

“The spirit of the side needs to be there like a family – as one.”

I can think of a few players who could have said that. Unfortunately, it's only a few out of the whole team.

[1918]

Does anyone know if Nesv were so behind the manager when they took over the Red Sox?

Were they acting and saying nice things about him before they let him go or did they just keep quiet about it and then just sacked him?

Much has been made of some of the similarities between the Red Sox at the time Henry bought them and Liverpool at the time Henry bought them (stadium, etc.). The manager is one more example. As a lifelong Red Sox fan, the single greatest mistake management made under Henry was letting Grady Little (the manager in charge when Henry took over) stay in his position. It cost them a World Series appearance (not hyperbole, Little was directly culpable for the team's loss in game seven of the 2003 ALCS). I would be very surprised if they kept Roy. He does not seem to fit the club's philosophy going forward. *

*I've lurked here since NESV purchased the club. This is a great forum, I am grateful for it. Lifelong Red Sox fan, who had been looking for an EPL team to support after the World Cup. This was one topic I figured I could contribute on.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

Much has been made of some of the similarities between the Red Sox at the time Henry bought them and Liverpool at the time Henry bought them (stadium, etc.). The manager is one more example. As a lifelong Red Sox fan, the single greatest mistake management made under Henry was letting Grady Little (the manager in charge when Henry took over) stay in his position. It cost them a World Series appearance (not hyperbole, Little was directly culpable for the team's loss in game seven of the 2003 ALCS). I would be very surprised if they kept Roy. He does not seem to fit the club's philosophy going forward. *

*I've lurked here since NESV purchased the club. This is a great forum, I am grateful for it. Lifelong Red Sox fan, who had been looking for an EPL team to support after the World Cup. This was one topic I figured I could contribute on.

Welcome to RAWK mate.  We like your "lurk until I have something interesting to say" approach.