The 2nd biggest spenders since the Prem started?

[vantage]

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Our squad was years, no decades behind Arse and the Mancs when Rafa took over and the Chavs had unlimited cash.

Rafa has been slowly but surely trying to improve on a net spend of £20m per year. Give that to Fergie or Jose/Avram and see what they make of it. We are still paying for GH's cock ups in the transfer market in his last years.

After Hyypia and Finnan, he really lost the plot, big time.

[dww]

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Our squad was years, no decades behind Arse and the Mancs when Rafa took over and the Chavs had unlimited cash.

Rafa has been slowly but surely trying to improve on a net spend of £20m per year. Give that to Fergie or Jose/Avram and see what they make of it. We are still paying for GH's cock ups in the transfer market in his last years.

After Hyypia and Finnan, he really lost the plot, big time.

I'm not sure that is fair. I think we were around 5 years behind. It's not a linear progression. Since Rafa came in Wenger has build what is in most respects an entirely new team. Obviously that is easier with a reputation for developing young players as the best young talent will be more willing to come to your club, however Rafa had a great reputation in Spain a market largely untapped when he arrived.

I think Rafa should be given another year to show he is developing the team. An important part of what he has done is to improve the reserve and youth teams which had become moribund under Houllier. I don't think we should expect a linear progression of the team and the fact that Alonso who was key to previous seasons way of playing has been out injured, out of form and out of favour this season means that we have seemingly gone backwards - however for me it is possible that we are simply lacking the right on pitch leadership to exploit the improvements we have made in the squad.

The more I think about it the more I think that Rafa will get rid of Alonso this summer and attempt to bring in a more mobile midfielder and hopefully another figure capable of knitting the team together.