Rafa has REALLY got under Ferguson's skin!

[wiw]

On Pennant - ok, so we missed out on alves. Why buy a second best? People go on about first choice targets being missed and Pennant was obviously a second choice (rate) option so in being a second choice option, we're acknowledging that he isnt who we really wanted. So why buy him? Would we have been better off with nobody and the £7m waiting to be spent on someone else when they're available? I think so.

Regarding Dossena - Insua has been better and was already ours. £8m on Dossena, was flushed down the loo mate.

Because we needed someone on the right who was closer to the quality of the first team? Because Rafa thinks and looks beyond now?

Look the idea is clearly 2 in each position + youth. Insua has been away for tournaments and Aurelio is unreliable injury wise. Then what? Who the **** plays then? Please tell me

[Craig_H]

No worries lads, i'm off to watch Fulham v Mancs.

I'll leave you all here agreeing with each other, nodding and patting each other on the back.

[Mattshark]

Clearly Ferguson already had a successful squad when Rafa came to Liverpool, so only had to tweak it and replace the odd ageing/failing player here or there.

Rafa's spent more in that time, but obviously had more to do in order to develop his squad than Ferguson did. It stands to reason that he had more to do, so needed to spend big. Whether, after all that spending, we have as much to show for it as we should, is another debate.

United’s gross spending since June 2004, when the Spaniard arrived at Anfield, totals £221.95 million compared with £212.6 million by Liverpool. Ferguson’s net spending over that period is £147.90 million compared with Benítez’s £111.39 million.

[Vermilion]

utd down to ten men..fulham pen..

[hamshanks]

"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."

I'd say the opposite was the case, Rafa has bought twice as many youngsters and unproven players (most of which have been a waste of money mind), I actually wish he'd bought more proven quality.

I think he really has started to get at Ferguson, which can only be good news for next year.

[TheStig]

utd down to ten men..fulham pen..

Please let them hold out....

[tsb]

He's cracking up,
He's cracking up,
He's cracking,
Fergies cracking up

All together now!

Even thought it was nothing like it, shall we start spreading the rumour that this was Fergie's "Keegan moment"?

[Liverpool]

Has Fergies rant cost them the title?

[JohnDoe]

Ronaldo and Rooney have totally lost it as well. Rooney behaved like the Liverpool game has never ended.

[Guest]

Has Fergies rant cost them the title?

We'll have to wait and see. There's still a lot to do anyway, reality sets in.

[Liverpool]

We'll have to wait and see. There's still a lot to do anyway, reality sets in.

I was only messing mate.


But good result and were disturbing the mancs there on the rack.

[Dhav]

Ronaldo and Rooney have totally lost it as well. Rooney behaved like the Liverpool game has never ended.

Yep. Ronaldo's a ****ing **** who waltzes around like he owns the pitch and thinks he can get away with murder. That off the ground lunge was a ****ing disgrace and he should have seen red for it, not yellow.

As for Rooney, what a petulant little brat. His first booking was as cynical a foul as you will see and throwing the ball back the way he did was clear and blatant dissent and worthy of a second yellow in anyone's book. Giggs' explanation that he was throwing it back quickly because he was eager to get the game re-started is frankly nonsensical and laughable.

there was clear evidence today that the pressure is getting to Man U

[Jaymo]

Rafa really has got inside Fergie's head.

[Leyton388]

LOL saw this on another forum

United fan posting on redcafe!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Yr-Pp4PFVA

Funny as ****

[rudedog]

there are rumours on man utd sites that there are serious problems in their camp - this is from redcafe

I fear their may be some truth to this, alla Keane and Ruud This news has been a slowburner on some of the United sites, abit like the Keane MUTV interview and the Ruud bust up and whilst accounts vary, the most consistent account is this one.

The rumour is that after the defeat, Fergie was attending to interviews post match and instructed Phelan to give the players a strong dressing down for the result. Phelan immediately called the players to task and particilarly focused on Rooney due to his post game comments, stating that he had given Liverpool needless motivation. The atmosphere got heated and Rooney is rumoured to have retorted:

"You can't talk you bald cnut. We never lost to that lot with Carlos about."

This led to some knowing nods from the foreign lads and a stung Roo is reported to have followed it up by calling Phelan a 'poor man's O'Shea'. The United coaching staff all rounded on Rooney for these comments and Gary Nev as club captain and well known for his commitments to his fellow players tried to back up Rooney and the rest of the lads.

Phelan took this as a lack of loyalty from Gary Nev and made some sarcy comment on his run of injuries. Angered, Gary Nev is rumoured to have given Phelan a 'funny look' retorting with a 'we never lost 4-0 at Anfield on my watch', reminding Phelan that he was the right back last time Liverpool stuck 4 past United. Things got more personal and Phelan accused him of '****ting it' against Vieria.

Apparently Fergie has laid the blame on Rooney for this episode as the instigator and his lack of discipline today is not going to help matters.

http://www.redcafe.net/f6/rooney-bust-up-fergie-240749/

I think calling someone 'a poor mans o'shea' is about as big an insult as you can get in football