Kenny isn't what we need

[Mattshark]

I still can't believe that we didn't win it in 2008-09. We had a great team, we had just two defeats all season and the football we played between Feb-May was incredible.

Draws in December and January cost us. So close.

Lack of good depth cost us that season.

[RichC]

wasn't it something like 2 or 3 wins in 7 or 8 games through Jan & Feb? should have won it that season but we couldn't keep it together.

[el matador]

thats why I genuinely believe that rafa with proper backing is one of the worlds top five managers. utd got lucky with macheda who incidentally is doing sweet fa now.

rafa knows how to deal the the epl and he understands modern football. kenny with his 442 formation gives the impression of being stuck in the 80's which is exactly how were playing. time and time again opposition players get into the space between the lines; something o never saw under rafa.

just to underline rafas nous, after that 2008-09 season when we finished second he had deals for both david silva and jovetic lined up. if we had signed those two it would be a very different story now.

[Lee]

wasn't it something like 2 or 3 wins in 7 or 8 games through Jan & Feb? should have won it that season but we couldn't keep it together.

That could be it. Thought it was Dec & Jan but you could be right.

And the perfectly good goal against Stoke which wasn't given.

[Chris]

just to underline rafas nous, after that 2008-09 season when we finished second he had deals for both david silva and jovetic lined up. if we had signed those two it would be a very different story now.

Its just a shame he didnt use his nous better when spending £60m on Dossena, Keane, Johnson and Aquilani.

[el matador]

johnsons alright but I dont for one second believe aquilani was his first choice. the keane saga is a huge negative not just for his purchase but the way he was treated ditto bellamy and benayoun.

I did earlier say all managers make poor purchases. even kenny during his heyday signed jimmy carter, david speedie and ronnie rosenthal (he had nine good games in a title run in).

rafa signed some real dross, josemi, nunez, kronkamp, aquilani, degen, el zhar, keane but he also signed some absolute quality. his first choice players nearly always were brilliant. no one cansay that torres, alonso, masher, agger, reina, lucas, luis garcia werent all brilliant.

i

[Mattshark]

I don't Aquilani was dross though, he is a very good player, he was barely given a chance.

[Chris]

I don't Aquilani was dross though, he is a very good player, he was barely given a chance.

Rafa continuing with the hapless Lucas and Mascherano partnership while leaving him on the bench was very frustrating, but whatever the circumstances we couldnt find a buyer for him in the summer at a pittance and he's given virtually nothing to us. It's been a crap signing, though I dont think he's a crap player by any means.

[Arn]

johnsons alright but I dont for one second believe aquilani was his first choice. the keane saga is a huge negative not just for his purchase but the way he was treated ditto bellamy and benayoun.

I did earlier say all managers make poor purchases. even kenny during his heyday signed jimmy carter, david speedie and ronnie rosenthal (he had nine good games in a title run in).

rafa signed some real dross, josemi, nunez, kronkamp, aquilani, degen, el zhar, keane but he also signed some absolute quality. his first choice players nearly always were brilliant. no one cansay that torres, alonso, masher, agger, reina, lucas, luis garcia werent all brilliant.

i

Rafa have already said that it was Purslow that made the football decisions. That clearly points to that every signing that summer was players Purslow wanted and not Rafa.

[Chris]

Rafa have already said that it was Purslow that made the football decisions. That clearly points to that every signing that summer was players Purslow wanted and not Rafa.

Hahahahaahahahahha!

In that case, what do you make of Rafa lieing to the fans?

"We knew about the Alonso situation already, so we were planning to bring in a player with quality to replace him in the long term and Aquilani was this player."

Given he wasnt exactly shy in talking to or briefing the press you'd have thought he'd have told us Purslow signed Aquilani.

[MrMichael]

I know you need to look at net spend but kennys net spend after 12 months is probably near to rafas in six seasons.

Its not even remotely close.

Net, we've spent about £40m tops since Kenny took over. Now that's a really good amount, however when you consider how many players we got rid of in the summer and how much we cut the wage bill, it would actually be fair to consider an accurate spend to be a decent amount less than that.

In several of his earlier seasons Rafa spent around or over £20m net, and in doing so increased the wage bill etc. I really don't think a fair assessment, taking everything into account, would have Kenny's net spending as much more than Rafa was able to spend at all. Yeah sure, there's a couple of big individual deals that look rather dodgy at the moment (Carroll, Downing). However things may still turn around with those, and anyway I find it a little odd that Kenny is taking all the flak for them, considering Commoli's role in transfers.

[Mattshark]

Rafa continuing with the hapless Lucas and Mascherano partnership while leaving him on the bench was very frustrating, but whatever the circumstances we couldnt find a buyer for him in the summer at a pittance and he's given virtually nothing to us. It's been a crap signing, though I dont think he's a crap player by any means.

I still think Gerrard's awful form that season was far more of a contributing factor to our season than the Lucas - Mascherano midfield. We also shouldn't have tried to loan Aquilani out at the end of that season either (or this).

[Chris]

They were a big part of the reason why Gerrard wasnt performing though. Both sat deep just infront of our defence and slow as **** at releasing the ball.

He generally looked class when Aquilani was on the pitch. Someone who actually passes, moves and went towards the oppositions goal.

[Mattshark]

They were a big part of the reason why Gerrard wasnt performing though. Both sat deep just infront of our defence and slow as **** at releasing the ball.

He generally looked class when Aquilani was on the pitch. Someone who actually passes, moves and went towards the oppositions goal.

I can't agree, I thought Gerrard spent a lot of that season so far below his best form.

[Kenneth]

Rafa have already said that it was Purslow that made the football decisions. That clearly points to that every signing that summer was players Purslow wanted and not Rafa.

Shut up Arn.