Topic: The Men in Suits behind the scenes

[Danny Boy]

Might help us granted but I hate this multi club shit and I'd hate if/when we become a part of it.

Don't disagree but evolve or fall behind.

We used to say similar when Man Utd built their megastore etc - thought we were better than that and it cost us for many years

[Knight]

Don't disagree but evolve or fall behind.

We used to say similar when Man Utd built their megastore etc - thought we were better than that and it cost us for many years

This is arguably impinging on competitive integrity though. Shameless capitalism sticks in the throat a little bit but isn’t of the same magnitude.

[Danny Boy]

This is arguably impinging on competitive integrity though. Shameless capitalism sticks in the throat a little bit but isn’t of the same magnitude.

Again - I don't disagree in the slightest - but do we evolve or fall behind?

[lobsterboy]

its horrible, just another nail in the games coffin.

[Hazell]

I expect Edwards finds Klopp a fairly egregious person.

[reddebs]

I'm certain nobody is happy that we're going down this route but it's for the footballing authorities to decide whether it's ethically right or not so until they pull their finger out and legislate, club owners will take advantage.

Yes as fans we can make our feelings known and we know it's possible to effect our own owners decisions but we really have no influence on those in charge of the worldwide game. 

We don't have the money to buy their favour like others!

[Oskar]

If FSG are looking to invest in another European club, I'm curious whether we'd look at opportunities in countries like Austria and Switzerland. Edwards is a fan of the Red Bull model, maybe he'd look at Salzburg as an example and look to leagues that don't attract as much attention, where we could figure out how we want to structure everything and maybe make a mistake or two along the way without the kind of scrutiny that might come with investing in a club in a 'bigger' league. We've obviously benefitted from buying players who've been developed within that model, it could be a way for us to bring in talent from markets like Asia and Africa and develop those players with a view to them eventually playing for Liverpool.

[Garlic Red]

I think we can all mostly agree we aren’t behind the principles of the multi club model, particularly if it’s with a view of farming talent for us at the top of the pile.

However, in the interests of debate, if it were to happen I do agree that Portugal would probably be the best place to look. A natural destination for a lot of Brazilian/South American talent, a great league with a decent record of producing players suited to playing in England and a country that’s become one of the best conveyor belts of talent in the last 20 years or so. If you’re looking to set up in a league, establish an international network of contacts and essentially offer a different path for international prospects, Portugal ticks pretty much all of the boxes.

[Sonofthewind]

Investing in French football would be the most idiotic idea Edwards could come up with. The talent pool in France is very limited. You get the occasional world beaters but the level of football to develop players just isnt that good.

Its got to be a South American club or bust. The best players in the world come from South America.

Eh? Paris along with London and Sao Paulo are basically the three biggest talent pools across world football.

[Sir Capon of Debaser]

I expect Edwards finds Klopp a fairly egregious person.

[Paul1611]

Eh? Paris along with London and Sao Paulo are basically the three biggest talent pools across world football.

Well fuck it let’s buy Chelsea 

[Sonofthewind]

Well fuck it let’s buy Chelsea 

If we're going down that route, Brighton would be cheaper.

[cipher]

Multi-club ownership is so ridiculous.  All the big clubs will eventually have "feeder" clubs around the world which means the teams who can't afford it will fall even further behind, making it harder to compete. 

While we have to do this to stay competitive, I really hope this concept is stopped in the future.

[Fromola]

Might help us granted but I hate this multi club shit and I'd hate if/when we become a part of it.

It is shit but with Brexit it's harder to get non-British players here, we wouldn't be able to get more Bajcetic's for example and then if you want a Caicedo or Fernandez you're paying north of 100 million.

Get a club in Portugal who can be a conduit for South American talent, for example, rather than pay Benfica 100 million for Fernandez or Nunez.

[TepidT2O]

It is shit but with Brexit it's harder to get non-British players here, we wouldn't be able to get more Bajcetic's for example and then if you want a Caicedo or Fernandez you're paying north of 100 million.

Get a club in Portugal who can be a conduit for South American talent, for example, rather than pay Benfica 100 million for Fernandez or Nunez.

Don’t think that’s true any longer.  They’ve  changed the rules.

[RedG13]

It is shit but with Brexit it's harder to get non-British players here, we wouldn't be able to get more Bajcetic's for example and then if you want a Caicedo or Fernandez you're paying north of 100 million.

Get a club in Portugal who can be a conduit for South American talent, for example, rather than pay Benfica 100 million for Fernandez or Nunez.

Cant get them at 16 anymore but it easier to get them at 18. 16 they are normally cheaper though

[newterp]

Cant get them at 16 anymore but it easier to get them at 18. 16 they are normally cheaper though

[killer-heels]

[kop306]

edwards will know what he is doing

i would give him a statue just for the sadio and mo transfers

[Barefoot Doctor]

Ornstein: Liverpool owners FSG working on move for Benfica technical director Pedro Marques as part of new set-up. Would be employed by FSG rather than #LFC & focus on 2nd club operation. Former Man City + highly regarded.

[The Final Third]

Ornstein: Liverpool owners FSG working on move for Benfica technical director Pedro Marques as part of new set-up. Would be employed by FSG rather than #LFC & focus on 2nd club operation. Former Man City + highly regarded.

Liverpool owner FSG working to hire Pedro Marques, Benfica technical director
James Pearce, Simon Hughes, David Ornstein, James Horncastle

Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group (FSG) is working on a move for Benfica technical director Pedro Marques in the latest step to build its new structure after the arrival of Michael Edwards.

FSG last week announced Edwards’ appointment to the CEO of football role, which includes taking overall charge of Liverpool’s sporting set-up.

A key part of his job will be to help acquire and oversee a second club, with the 44-year-old calling it “one of the biggest factors in my decision”. Edwards added: “I believe that to remain competitive, investment and expansion of the current football portfolio is necessary.”

FSG is targeting Marques largely to provide his skills and expertise on such a project. The highly-regarded Portuguese would be employed by the Boston-based company rather than Liverpool.

Marques’ vast experience in this area would be utilised to assist FSG in its search and then subsequent management of another team, which will mainly be used to attract global talent.

He is known to Liverpool from their talks to sign Darwin Nunez from Benfica in 2022 and has ties to former Anfield sporting director Julian Ward.

Marques started out as a youth coach at Sporting Lisbon in 2004 before occupying a first team performance analyst position at Manchester City six years later, when Ward was a City scout.

In 2014, Marques switched to a coaching and analysis lead post for City Football Group (CFG) — the multi-club model that owns or has shares in Manchester City, Girona, Melbourne City and eight other teams around the world.

He then joined Benfica in 2018 to operate as a youth technical director and has generated a strong reputation throughout the industry.

FSG has been embarking upon a restructure of Liverpool since the confirmation in January that manager Jurgen Klopp will leave in the summer.

Ex-Liverpool sporting director Edwards was a key piece in the jigsaw and his previous title — having been vacated by Jorg Schmadtke — is expected to be taken by Bournemouth’s Richard Hughes.

https://theathletic.com/5344269/2024/03/16/pedro-marques-who-liverpool-fsg/

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

A hint that the second club is going to be a Portuguese club, maybe?

[rafathegaffa83]

A hint that the second club is going to be a Portuguese club, maybe?

Thought that myself. Portugal probably a better landing point into Europe for South American talent

[Red Beret]

Maybe Benfica itself? We seem to be on good terms with them.

[Hazell]

A hint that the second club is going to be a Portuguese club, maybe?

Thought that myself. Portugal probably a better landing point into Europe for South American talent

Yeah, makes sense.

[ValiantInstance]

Less visa issues with a Portugeuse club if we're planning on signing South American players.

I'm still not happy with this, it would have to be a segunda division club who have never achieved anything that would be happy becoming our talent pool. And the fans should be able to have a vote on it.

[[new username under construction]]

Buy a club/invest and install Pep as manager?

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

Less visa issues with a Portugeuse club if we're planning on signing South American players.

I'm still not happy with this, it would have to be a segunda division club who have never achieved anything that would be happy becoming our talent pool. And the fans should be able to have a vote on it.

Why Segunda? If you look at the League table, barely any of the clubs outside of Sporting/Benfica/Porto/Braga/Boavista have achieved anything.

[disgraced cake]

Less visa issues with a Portugeuse club if we're planning on signing South American players.

I'm still not happy with this, it would have to be a segunda division club who have never achieved anything that would be happy becoming our talent pool. And the fans should be able to have a vote on it.

Yeah, sums up how I feel about it so hard to be excited about appointments like this Benfica guy.

Agree completely about the type of club/vote for their fans.

[Samie]

Maybe Benfica itself? We seem to be on good terms with them.

Nah, Benfica are way too big and historic club for FSG to buy as a second club.

[rafathegaffa83]

If you look at the ownerships outside of the Big Three (Sporting, Benfica, Porto), there's quite a lot external investment already in the Primeira Liga

Braga - QSI (PSG owners) have a minority stake
Vitoria - V Sports (Villa owners) have a minority stake
Boavista - Gerard Lopez (also owns Bordeaux)
Famalicao - Idan Ofer (also has a minority stake in Atletico Madrid)
Rio Ave - Evangelos Marinakis (also owns Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos)
Casa Pia - Robert Platek (also has a stake in Spezia)
Estoril - David Blitzer (has stakes in Crystal Palace, Alcoron, Beveren, Augsburg, Brondby, ADO Den Haag)

A lot of the teams in Portugal have smaller stadiums, so I'm not sure how FFP comes into this unless you bank on transfer fees being a significant source of income. I seem to remember Boehly was considering a minority stake in Sporting last year. At the time, the owner of Liga Portugal 2 side Belenenses was quoted as saying he thought the idea of Sporting becoming Chelsea's feeder club was offensive. He also suggested his own club wouldn't be part of any multi-club ownership model.

[Passmaster Molby]

Taking a top flight Portuguese club on as a second club and installing Linjders and Matos as the new coaching team would be some incredible 4d chess to ensure they keep top level coaches in the group. Would be a very smart move in creating a football group.

[TepidT2O]

Buy a club/invest and install Pep as manager?

Not a silly idea that.  But I think he’s going to be the next Ajax boss isn’t he?

Portuguese could also mean Brazilian clubs of course…

[Schmidt]

Not a silly idea that.  But I think he’s going to be the next Ajax boss isn’t he?

Portuguese could also mean Brazilian clubs of course…

Didn't Ornstein say that FSG wanted to invest in a European club?

I'm surprised how many other clubs have beat us to the punch, I thought there were a few multi-club set ups but it seems like they're everywhere.

[Samie]

We're looking at a European club first. Brazil after that. 

[Draex]

This has been in the works some time, all looks like it’s just being released to the public now.

[Samie]

We're clearly headfing in the Red Bull direction, which Edwards is a fan of.

This Marques fella was Benfica's techinal director and they have one of the best Academies in Europe.

[MonsLibpool]

We're looking at a European club first. Brazil after that. 

We might attract the next Ronaldo

[red mongoose]

I'm still not happy with this, it would have to be a segunda division club who have never achieved anything that would be happy becoming our talent pool. And the fans should be able to have a vote on it.

If one of these smaller second-division clubs ever produced a top player, they would be poached by a bigger club anyway. We can bemoan the state of that at large in football, but this second club model doesn't have to be a big black stain. The fans of the second club would surely have better football and better players to watch, and they'd have more wins. They'd consistently be competitive. Their best players would consistently leave too, but clubs like Dortmund are already dealing with the same thing. We don't operate like the cheats or have the same concerns with regard to camouflaging our cheating with a second club.

I have been wondering about Toulouse, which Red Bird owns, for a long time. I wonder if FSG would try to work something out with them as well, after Portugal.

[killer-heels]

Maybe Benfica itself? We seem to be on good terms with them.

Hope not. Benfica are a big club with an amazing history. Clubs like that deserve to stand on their own rather than be smaller partner in some group.