Do we expect too much??

[BFG]

I'm taking it from Man Utd fans and those i've discussed it with have all (independently of each other) stated that the permanent signing isnt done, nor committed to.

Well that's all the proof I need mate. I bow down to your independent discussions with Man Poo supporters, after all what's that compared to basic business principles?*

PS - I'm joking before you ban yourself again.

[Craig_H]

Not gonna ban myself, just chuckle at you running out of valid arguments

You seem to be in a minority of one, when it comes to that viewpoint on Tevez.

[rage]

If only Man Utd's board had been so impatient with Ferguson eh?

Rafa's doing just fine and the with the finals and trophies we've had since he's been here we should be very grateful indeed.

i didn't say win the league i said compete!!

you guys carry on accepting your lot in life, thats fine. i have higher standards. out of the title race by xmas, yippee

[rage]

We've heavily invested in ultimately the wrong mans vision on one occasion (Houllier), while we failed to provide the funds to perhaps the right man (Evans), which then leaves us with a club of mediocre players on huge contracts which Benitez inherits - he's now had 4 years and vastly overhauled the squad.

Only this past season have we been able to say squad for squad we are there or there abouts with United.

What will be telling is this coming summer (discounting the **** off the field) does the management conclude the squad is strong and buy 1/2 first teamers (like United have done in the past) or do we again buy 5/6 squadies (which is generally what we've done in the past) If it's the latter then I worry about Rafa's future.

thank you, far better put than I ever could do.

[BFG]

Not gonna ban myself, just chuckle at you running out of valid arguments

You seem to be in a minority of one, when it comes to that viewpoint on Tevez.

And you're in a majority of two. You must be proud.

I may be wrong but I just think that Kia runs a tight ship and I don't see any reason why he would let Utd have him on loan ahead of a cash suitor unless there was a compulsory purchase agreement that runs alongside the loan agreement.

That in turn also means you must be wrong which in the grand scheme of things doesn't seem to be an anomaly.

[Craig_H]

You are indeed mistaken mate.

[MindGuerrillas]

Look at what Utd bought:

Nani £17mil?
Anderson £17mil?
Caco loves Tevez' willy - £35mil eventually?

How much did they have to recoupe through player sales?

You missed off Hargreaves. That's about another £20m.

Their sales were:
Gabriel Heinze (Real Madrid, £8.4m), Alan Smith (Newcastle United, £6m), Giussepe Rosski (Villarreal, undisclosed), Kieran Richardson (Sunderland, £5.5m)

Total of about £20m. This also shows how much they get in for their unwanted players compared to us. £6m for Smith and £5.5m for Richardson!!! Will we get anything near that when we offload a non-goalscoring striker and a nobody?

[BFG]

You missed off Hargreaves. That's about another £20m.

Their sales were:
Gabriel Heinze (Real Madrid, £8.4m), Alan Smith (Newcastle United, £6m), Giussepe Rosski (Villarreal, undisclosed), Kieran Richardson (Sunderland, £5.5m)

Total of about £20m. This also shows how much they get in for their unwanted players compared to us. £6m for Smith and £5.5m for Richardson!!! Will we get anything near that when we offload a non-goalscoring striker and a nobody?

Shows what a good CEO can do for you eh.

[Rishi73]

Thank god DJS isn't our manager otherwise the only players we'd have at the club are 16 world class players who'd be burnt out about March...hmmm Arsenal anyone? The fact is Rafa needed to build a squad before completing his 1st team. You can't expect to challenge for the league or cups with a small squad. I think Rafa has done this now and is now able to buy world class players to add to the squad. Now this is where I share the same opinion with DJS, the majority of our signings from now on should be world class additions to help us challenge for the title, I don't think we need anymore squad players NOW but we did need them in previous seasons.

[BFG]

Thank god DJS isn't our manager otherwise the only players we'd have at the club are 16 world class players who'd be burnt out about March...hmmm Arsenal anyone? The fact is Rafa needed to build a squad before completing his 1st team. You can't expect to challenge for the league or cups with a small squad. I think Rafa has done this now and is now able to buy world class players to add to the squad. Now this is where I share the same opinion with DJS, the majority of our signings from now on should be world class additions to help us challenge for the title, I don't think we need anymore squad players NOW but we did need them in previous seasons.

I agree with that too. Maybe one or two squad players to replace any that leave but we should be looking for players to improve the first team now that Rafa has decent strength in depth.

[Rich]

Thank god DJS isn't our manager otherwise the only players we'd have at the club are 16 world class players who'd be burnt out about March...hmmm Arsenal anyone? The fact is Rafa needed to build a squad before completing his 1st team. You can't expect to challenge for the league or cups with a small squad. I think Rafa has done this now and is now able to buy world class players to add to the squad. Now this is where I share the same opinion with DJS, the majority of our signings from now on should be world class additions to help us challenge for the title, I don't think we need anymore squad players NOW but we did need them in previous seasons.

I think thats spot on. We have the squad; now we need the odd class player to provide that something 'extra'

[Craig_H]

Thank god DJS isn't our manager otherwise the only players we'd have at the club are 16 world class players who'd be burnt out about March...hmmm Arsenal anyone? The fact is Rafa needed to build a squad before completing his 1st team. You can't expect to challenge for the league or cups with a small squad. I think Rafa has done this now and is now able to buy world class players to add to the squad. Now this is where I share the same opinion with DJS, the majority of our signings from now on should be world class additions to help us challenge for the title, I don't think we need anymore squad players NOW but we did need them in previous seasons.

I have no problem with having squad players. But i dont see the point in selling 6 average squad players for a total of £10m and buying another six average squad players for £30m.

[Guest]

DJS slowly back to his best.

[Craig_H]

DJS slowly back to his best.

What's the problem fredo? What do you disagree with about my previous post? It's a no brainer than selling 5 average players for £10m and then buying another 5 to replace them for £30m is absurd.

[einar]

What's the problem fredo? What do you disagree with about my previous post? It's a no brainer than selling 5 average players for £10m and then buying another 5 to replace them for £30m is absurd.

Names?