Tom Hicks Talks

[BrianF80]

Not when Rafa spends all summer complaining about being skint.

We started the summer looking at attacking players such as Tevez and Silva and ended up buying no-one. The transfer budget was taken away from Rafa, that much is obvious.

He's spent his whole tenure complaining we're skint!

[Neil Young]

This is all going splendidly.

[Guest]

This is all going splendidly.

I can sense some entertainment coming our way very soon.

[MrMichael]

So basically according to you and others nothing, absolutely nothing anyone ever says is true.

Actually, the debate about the nature of absolute truth is a rather complex one. Personally, although I have some sympathy with the postmodern view that there are no absolutes, that what you believe to be true is formed by your political and cultural ideologies etc, however ultimately, for productive discourse on an internet football forum at least, we have to accept that things can be said to be true if the balance of probability is massively in their favour.

In other words, Fredo's just being an arse.

There's the truth then there's the truth.

The truth? The TRUTH? YOU CAN'T HANDLE... etc

[Guest]

[Scratch]

He's spent his whole tenure complaining we're skint!

Apparantly he's never said this.

[The Birdman]

Rubbish.

United wanted Benezma but they didn't value him at 42mil, the market is crazy so they signed Owen.

Owen himself stated that Fergie told him he would only be signed if United didn't sign Benezma.

If the price was right United would have bid for Benezma the money was there they just didn't think he was worth what was being quoted.

There is 42mil difference between Owen and Benezma, if you think Man U have 80 mill to spend on transfers and not a penny of that will go to paying off debt and interest accrued then you are bonkers.

Have you got the interview with Owen where he said that because I didn't see it?

Man U may have turned their back on Benezma over a few million, but that doesn't usually stop them seeing as they paid 7 mill more for Ronaldo at the time.

My point is Man U signed Owen because he was free not because he was their 2nd choice target after Benezma.

[BrianF80]

Apparantly he's never said this.

Transcontinental mass delusions are becoming all the more common apparently!

[Pacman]

There is 42mil difference between Owen and Benezma, if you think Man U have 80 mill to spend on transfers and not a penny of that will go to paying off debt and interest accrued then you are bonkers.

Have you got the interview with Owen where he said that because I didn't see it?

Man U may have turned their back on Benezma over a few million, but that doesn't usually stop them seeing as they paid 7 mill more for Ronaldo at the time.

My point is Man U signed Owen because he was free not because he was their 2nd choice target after Benezma.

Michael Owen revealed yesterday that Sir Alex Ferguson only moved to sign him on Wednesday afternoon as the Manchester United manager realised Karim Benzema was joining Real Madrid.


As Owen completed his shock free transfer to United, it emerged Ferguson turned to the player once the scale of Madrid's dominance in the market became apparent.

Owen said that he was called personally by Ferguson on Wednesday and asked to have breakfast with him on Thursday morning when he was invited to sign a two-year deal. Owen said: “I had just begun to talk to other clubs when out of the blue Sir Alex phoned me on Wednesday afternoon, invited me to have breakfast with him next morning during which he told me that he wanted to sign me.

“ I agreed without a moment's thought. This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I intend to seize it with both hands.”

It is understood United's interest was sparked around 12 June when Owen's representatives Wasserman Group (WMG) sent out a brochure on behalf of their out-of-contract client. At the time, the 32-page document was widely regarded as an embarrassment within football but it evidently proved food for thought for one manager in particular.

However, then Ferguson still believed that having just accepted an offer from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo, he was in a strong position to sign the former Lyons striker Benzema.

But with the news on Wednesday that Benzema was also signing for Madrid — and with Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez already gone — Ferguson decided it would be prudent to sign Owen immediately or risk starting the season with severely depleted resources.

The Owen camp were always confident that their erstwhile star client, previously on £108,000 a week at Newcastle, would not be playing at Hull City or Stoke City next season. However, even they were surprised when the first positive response from United was relayed back to them.

The player yesterday drove to United's Carrington training base first and then went to the BUPA hospital in Whalley Range in Manchester for further tests. He left there around 5pm and headed back to Carrington.

Owen said: “I am now looking forward to being a Manchester United player and I am fortunate that I already know so many of the players here. I missed pre-season last year and am pleased that I will be starting at Carrington from day one. I want to thank Sir Alex for the faith he has shown in me and I give him my assurance that I will repay him with my goals and performances.”

Ferguson has been eclipsed by Madrid in the transfer market this summer, a summer in which the pool of international talent has been extremely limited. Milan's Kaka and Benzema have both joined Madrid and while United and Chelsea still hold out a frail hope of signing Franck Ribery, the Frenchman has made it clear he wants to move to Madrid above anyone else.

Ferguson said: “Michael is a world class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level and that has never been in question,” said the United boss. “Coming to Manchester United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish.”

Ferguson considered a move for Owen two summers ago when the player still had two years left to run on his contract and a clause in his Newcastle deal meant he was available for £9m. In the end he agreed a loan deal for Tevez that summer.

But with his options looking distinctly limited this time around, Ferguson has gambled on signing a player who he first tried to bring to United when Owen was 16 years old and considering his options before signing for Liverpool.

Just one article I found.

But it was in a newspaper so it can't be true.

[Vermilion]

Bezema just choose Madrid, regardless to the spin Fergie put on it after. imo.

As for Rafa's promised cash for players, it likely went to the RBS, after they insisted on the debt being lowered as part of the re-financing. This in turn meant we missed out on a great chance to move on after last season and win this ****in league, best chance in a long time missed, especially in light of other teams lack of spending.

Could H&G have found the cash for RBS elsewhere, well who knows, it's passed us by now.

[The Birdman]

Just one article I found.

But it was in a newspaper so it can't be true.

Topman you were spot on with that, I didn't doubt it just said I hadn't seen it, but it's the paper that 'understands' Fergie moved for him because of Benezma not Owen or Fergie quoted as saying it so again you are right it must be lies.

[Pacman]

Topman you were spot on with that, I didn't doubt it just said I hadn't seen it, but it's the paper that 'understands' Fergie moved for him because of Benezma not Owen or Fergie quoted as saying it so again you are right it must be lies.

It does state Michael Owen reveled that Fergie went for him after Benezma went to Madrid but there aren't any quotes from Owen however I have read quotes from Owen regarding this I just can't find the article at the min.

[Le Chef]

In other words.

42 million Euros is to much but has it been 35 million Euros then deal on.

But I bet you'll have an answer for this hey???

From what I heard Lyon and Man utd had agreed a fee. Benzema chose Madrid ahead of them

[Pacman]

From what I heard Lyon and Man utd had agreed a fee. Benzema chose Madrid ahead of them

If that's true then it kind of backs up what I'm saying.

[EwarWoo]

From what I heard Lyon and Man utd had agreed a fee. Benzema chose Madrid ahead of them

And rumours are always true when they back up a story