Ferguson predicts Benitez spree

Sir Alex Ferguson expects Rafa Benitez to spend big in the transfer market after signing a new deal at Liverpool.

Manchester United boss Ferguson said of his rival: "I think you will see Rafa producing an absolute spending spree, now he has signed a new contract.

"There's talk about a recession but I don't think there will be one at Liverpool this year."

After protracted negotiations, Benitez agreed a new deal earlier this week which ties him to Liverpool until 2014.

Ferguson also disputed the Spaniard's recent claim that United have massively outspent Liverpool on transfers in recent years.

He said United's own figures showed Liverpool had spent £24m more in overall terms.

"He's well ahead of us in spending in the last five years," Ferguson claimed.

In terms of net spending - taking into account income from sales - the clubs are much the same.

Liverpool's net spending over five years on players is £82.5m and United's has been £85.5m. Meanwhile, Chelsea spent £154.8m net on players during that time and Arsenal just £3.4m.

Ferguson claimed his philosophy included developing young players as well as signing stars, while Benitez was more focused on bringing in established players.

He added: "We have signed 18 players in the last five years and eight of those have been young players.

"There's a balance, it's about doing the thing correctly. We like to try to develop young players and we will always do that. That's the nature of the club.

"Other clubs are maybe different and obviously Rafa has a different philosophy from mine.

"But that's the great thing about football - everyone has a different way of doing things."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7956396.stm

"The most amazing fact was that they have used 60 players in reserves matches and have 50 players in their reserves squad."

The HuddFather wrote:I think Fergie needs to realise that he's not dealing with an emotional guy like Keegan, or an extra sensisitive brat like Wenger. Mourinho took the mind games to another level, whilst Benitez doesn't get flustered in truth, he's a nerd with a laptop who does things robotically - even "Rafa's Rant" should be noted for it's lack of emotive energy.

I genuinely think Liverpool's year is next year

kas wrote:He also said this:

"The most amazing fact was that they have used 60 players in reserves matches and have 50 players in their reserves squad."

That's pretty shocking, but not surprising considering the amount of 15-18 year olds he's been snapping up from all over Europe in the past 2/3 seasons. Anyone know if that's true, and if not, what the exact number is?

Glenn Wright-Phillips wrote:
Meanwhile, Chelsea spent £154.8m net on players during that time and Arsenal just £3.4m

The HuddFather wrote:I think Fergie needs to realise that he's not dealing with an emotional guy like Keegan, or an extra sensisitive brat like Wenger. Mourinho took the mind games to another level, whilst Benitez doesn't get flustered in truth, he's a nerd with a laptop who does things robotically - even "Rafa's Rant" should be noted for it's lack of emotive energy.

I genuinely think Liverpool's year is next year

The HuddFather wrote:

Am I replacing Adebayor? Are Shaz & Agooner-like fans going to abuse me from the souless stands because I can't do the 100m in under 10 secs, I don't pull my socks over my knees and go around on my tiptoes, I don't stick out my bottom lip and shrug, and I can attack the box from the left AND right?#

Think about it.

GR wrote:

The HuddFather wrote:I think Fergie needs to realise that he's not dealing with an emotional guy like Keegan, or an extra sensisitive brat like Wenger. Mourinho took the mind games to another level, whilst Benitez doesn't get flustered in truth, he's a nerd with a laptop who does things robotically - even "Rafa's Rant" should be noted for it's lack of emotive energy.

I genuinely think Liverpool's year is next year

RAFA HITS BACK AT FERGIE
Posted 22/03/09 13:15

Rafa Benitez has hit back at Alex Ferguson's claim that Liverpool have spent more than Manchester United in the last few years.

Ferguson, himself replying to claims made by Benitez about the relative spending power of the two clubs, said on Friday that Liverpool had spend around £24million more than United since Benitez took over five years ago.

Now, Benitez has returned to a similar refrain to hit back at his rival. The Sunday Mirror quotes him as saying:

"If he says that we have spent more than United then I say look at the facts

"Which club has consistently broken the transfer record over the last 15 years? It is United."

Benitez went on to say that it makes little difference to him who is in charge at United:

"For me, it does not matter whether Alex Ferguson is the manager of Manchester United or not.

"It will always be difficult to beat United simply because they are the club with the big money.

"Would it be easier for me without Ferguson? I don't think anything will change in my job whether he is at United or not.

"It is hard to beat United now - and it will be hard to beat them without Alex Ferguson."

Benitez also said that he has already started to look at possible transfer targets for the summer, but a budget has not yet been set.

"We haven't agreed a transfer budget yet. I have spoken to the owners and commercial director, but nothing has been agreed and there is no deadline.

"But clearly it is always important to have more money to spend on players. It is the same for every manager - we always want more.

"It may depend on how well we do in the Premier League and Champions League, but I am already looking towards targets. We cannot do any business now but, for me, it is important to be ready for when we can go into the market.

"For some players it is important to know what the future of the manager will be. I hope now I have signed for five more years it will help to bring players to the club."

Glenn Wright-Phillips wrote:great article, this part in particular sums up the point I was trying to make that Batman and co failed to grasp:

How did Ferguson overtake Liverpool? The situation was very similar to that now, even if it was a long time ago now.

Remember, both Ferguson and Benítez arrived aged 44, and inherited squads that had averaged 4th over the previous four seasons, and finished 4th the season before they arrived. All the fours, then!

Each had a massive burden of expectation, brought about by a desperately long wait for the title. Alex Ferguson's average league position in his first five seasons at United was 8.6 (11th, 2nd, 11th, 13th, and 6th). Benítez's, if Liverpool finish only 3rd this season, will be 3.6.

But Ferguson faced in Liverpool in the '80s an established team with a top-class manager. He couldn't get close to Dalglish during their time in the respective dugouts.

Ferguson spent more money between 1986 and February 1991 (£12.8m gross, £9.87m net) than Dalglish managed in his six seasons (£12.5m gross, but only £5.77m net), but got nowhere near to toppling the Reds in that time.

So United's net spend was virtually twice that of Liverpool, and yet Ferguson still didn't trouble Dalglish.

Super Madrid wrote:

Glenn Wright-Phillips wrote:great article, this part in particular sums up the point I was trying to make that Batman and co failed to grasp:

How did Ferguson overtake Liverpool? The situation was very similar to that now, even if it was a long time ago now.

Remember, both Ferguson and Benítez arrived aged 44, and inherited squads that had averaged 4th over the previous four seasons, and finished 4th the season before they arrived. All the fours, then!

Each had a massive burden of expectation, brought about by a desperately long wait for the title. Alex Ferguson's average league position in his first five seasons at United was 8.6 (11th, 2nd, 11th, 13th, and 6th). Benítez's, if Liverpool finish only 3rd this season, will be 3.6.

But Ferguson faced in Liverpool in the '80s an established team with a top-class manager. He couldn't get close to Dalglish during their time in the respective dugouts.

Ferguson spent more money between 1986 and February 1991 (£12.8m gross, £9.87m net) than Dalglish managed in his six seasons (£12.5m gross, but only £5.77m net), but got nowhere near to toppling the Reds in that time.

So United's net spend was virtually twice that of Liverpool, and yet Ferguson still didn't trouble Dalglish.

Interesting stuff there. I always thought Ferguson took over when Man Utd were nothing in the league and he built them up with no money.

Glenn Wright-Phillips wrote:he built them up from nothing Lrd didn't he

Which Manchester United manager was it that constantly broke the British transfer record in the mid/late 80's and had nothing to show for it?

L-r d wrote:

Glenn Wright-Phillips wrote:he built them up from nothing Lrd didn't he

Which Manchester United manager was it that constantly broke the British transfer record in the mid/late 80's and had nothing to show for it?

What had Man Utd won in the 80's?

Glenn Wright-Phillips wrote:

L-r d wrote:

Glenn Wright-Phillips wrote:he built them up from nothing Lrd didn't he

Which Manchester United manager was it that constantly broke the British transfer record in the mid/late 80's and had nothing to show for it?

What had Man Utd won in the 80's?

7 league titles, 6 FA Cups and a European Cup.

You're probably thinking of Charlton.

Glenn Wright-Phillips wrote:

How did Ferguson overtake Liverpool? The situation was very similar to that now, even if it was a long time ago now.

Remember, both Ferguson and Benítez arrived aged 44, and inherited squads that had averaged 4th over the previous four seasons, and finished 4th the season before they arrived. All the fours, then!

Parks lives wrote:

Glenn Wright-Phillips wrote:

How did Ferguson overtake Liverpool? The situation was very similar to that now, even if it was a long time ago now.

Remember, both Ferguson and Benítez arrived aged 44, and inherited squads that had averaged 4th over the previous four seasons, and finished 4th the season before they arrived. All the fours, then!

It's not the same at all. 4th back then didn't automatically mean Champions league football like it does now and come with all the financial revenue stream it does today.

I'm not going to even read Tomkins article, you only have to look at the title and his picture to realise what a berk the guy is. Plus I'm sure you'd all wet yourself if we got a MUTV journalist's point of view to back up our arguments that Rafa was an ordinary manager.

The money card Rafa uses will always be ridiculous, because he spends as well as anyone. Even if you were to nitpick and prove he was the 3rd biggest spender in his time. The fact he's never came above 3rd should prove his use of his squad hasn't been that exceptional.