Eden Hazard

[Chris]

Disagree. We need Clever Buys and Good Management. Dortmund are a great example. Newcastle have shown it this season.

You can still build a very good squad and an excellent 1st Team without Spending big. A good Manager with an good eye for Talent and ability to mould the team together can do that.

Agreed, he's just one football player. Still loads of boss players out there and at far cheaper prices, about time we started finding some.

[Darkon]

I'd love us to build like Dortmund.

I have at this point a lack of trust in both KD and especially the scout to sniff out the savvy buys.

Which was the last English team to win the league without throwing money at star players?

I think this is the only way forward for us atm. Dortmund, Napoli, Lille are some good examples at what can be achieved with a long term vision and build up from the bottom.

We don't have the money to compete with City and Chelsea, and I don't want us to become a club like that in any way. So we need another strategy and that is development and it takes time.

[JHP]

I think this is the only way forward for us atm. Dortmund, Napoli, Lille are some good examples at what can be achieved with a long term vision and build up from the bottom.

We don't have the money to compete with City and Chelsea, and I don't want us to become a club like that in any way. So we need another strategy and that is development and it takes time.

Isn't that what FSG have said is their intention and strategy

[~LFCHistory~]

Yeah but the point is that missing out on star players and being in the top 4 doesnt really go hand in hand. You say we need to be clever with our transfers, as newcastle clearly have - yet even that isnt going to get them into the CL. And it most likely wont for us either.

This is the way it is now - you spend big or you dont compete.

Arsenal have qualified for the CL season after season despite not buying star players and having the lowest net spend of any PL club over the last six years :

http://www.transferleague.co.uk/league-tables/2006-2011.html

Also the fact that Newcastle are even challenging for a CL spot while we are in 8th place despite spending a fortune compared to them kind of disproves the myth that you need to spend a hundreds of millions on star players to get CL qualification.

Buy the right players for sensible prices and you can compete. Simple.

[Craig_H]

You're trying to prove the point, so you use Arsenal, who are the biggest anomaly going?

As for Newcastle - say what you like, but they aint going to be finishing top 4, so that kills the myth.

Aside from the freakish Arsenal anomaly, teams who occupy the top 4 positions are ones who spend the big money.

[Maxiedge]

I think I've mentioned it before but this Hazard guy sounds like he's properly up himself. The best players are generally the ones that keep quiet and go about their business without having to sound off about how much interest they're attracting.

Stay well away

[Craig_H]

I think I've mentioned it before but this Hazard guy sounds like he's properly up himself. The best players are generally the ones that keep quiet and go about their business without having to sound off about how much interest they're attracting.

Stay well away

Really?

[~LFCHistory~]

You're trying to prove the point, so you use Arsenal, who are the biggest anomaly going?

As for Newcastle - say what you like, but they aint going to be finishing top 4, so that kills the myth.

Aside from the freakish Arsenal anomaly, teams who occupy the top 4 positions are ones who spend the big money.

It's only an anomaly in your mind because it disproves your point.

If all you need to achieve success is spend huge amounts of money then wouldn't Chelsea and City be winning the league every season ?? How have Utd managed to win the league season after season against financial heavy weights like Chelsea and City ??

[Craig_H]

No, it's an anomaly because they're the only club who actually prove your viewpoint. The rest go right against it.

My point wasnt about winning the league, it was about being in the top four. And you think Man Utd havent spent big??

Funny you mention Chelsea and City. The former started winning titles around the time that Abramovich put about half a billion quid in - coincidence?

And the latter are on course to win the title for the first time in decades, also around the time that the Sheik put ****loads of cash in. Must also just be a coincidence then, eh?

[Imy]

He's supposedly the best player in France. Check out his assist vs PSG:

[ame="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xqhgui_exceptionnel-coup-du-foulard-d-hazard_sport"]Exceptionnel coup du foulard d'Hazard - Vidéo Dailymotion[/ame]

Can you imagine Stewart Downing even trying to attempt that

[Norbs]

Doesnt piss on this chap though....

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/Academ...333478,00.html

LOLZ

[~LFCHistory~]

No, it's an anomaly because they're the only club who actually prove your viewpoint. The rest go right against it.

My point wasnt about winning the league, it was about being in the top four. And you think Man Utd havent spent big??

Funny you mention Chelsea and City. The former started winning titles around the time that Abramovich put about half a billion quid in - coincidence?

And the latter are on course to win the title for the first time in decades, also around the time that the Sheik put ****loads of cash in. Must also just be a coincidence then, eh?

Arsenal qualifying for the CL would only be an anomaly if it happened once or twice. The fact that it's happened I think 14 seasons in a row would suggest that it isn't an anomaly.

Oh and Utd have spent a fraction of what City and Chelsea over the last 8 seasons but they've managed to win the title I think 5 times over the last 8 years and break our league record.

Could be something to do with the managers Arsenal and Utd have but in your mind that's probably crazy talk.

[Norbs]

He's supposedly the best player in France. Check out his assist vs PSG:

Exceptionnel coup du foulard d'Hazard - Vidéo Dailymotion

Can you imagine Stewart Downing even trying to attempt that

Was it really his assist though, there were two touches between his and the goal

[Craig_H]

Arsenal qualifying for the CL would only be an anomaly if it happened once or twice. The fact that it's happened I think 14 seasons in a row would suggest that it isn't an anomaly.

Oh and Utd have spent a fraction of what City and Chelsea over the last 8 seasons but they've managed to win the title I think 5 times over the last 8 years and break our league record.

Could be something to do with the managers Arsenal and Utd have but in your mind that's probably crazy talk.

It's an anomaly because they are the only club who do it without spending loads. Quite straightforward really.

United have spent buckets. Just because Chelsea and City have spent more, doesnt mean United have done it without big spending. Of course Wenger and Ferguson are excellent managers, but the idea that you can crash into the top four with modest spending, whilst nice, is not backed up by evidence.

Of the teams who have achieved top 4 finishes, the percentage who have done so via big spending is probably around the 80% mark.

You can keep saying teams can get into the top four without big spending if you like. The evidence doesnt back it up like, but by all means keep saying it.

[Craig_H]

United:

De Gea - £18m
Ferdinand - £30m
Jones - £16m
Young - £15m
Carrick - £18m
Anderson - £12m
Nani - £18m
Rooney - £27m
Berbatov - £32m
Valencia - £16m

Over £200m on 10 players.