Like it.

It was posted on here just a few weeks ago by Mutt1. Very boring now, especially from bluenoses.

I think he was signed because he was at such a cut price. A fit Aquilani would cost around £25-£30m, he's a very good player who some people have already come to the opinion of that he's poor already.

As for it being a luxury, from what I understand, only £20m was spent by us in the summer, the rest will be paid out in installments. Considering £7m of that £20m was money owed to us by Pompey as well as apparent money left over from the sale of Robbie Keane, it wasn't that much for us to spend. However, the board hadn't given him any money to spend in the summer, it was all money made from sales (Alonso, £30m, Arbeloa, £4m).

From what it equates to, it's something like £16m net spent each year by Benitez. I know a lot of people think that net spend doesn't matter, but when you're building a squad to win trophies it does. You simply can't build a team having to sell 5 players every summer and bring in 5 more who are only slight improvements. Remember the year United won the title (2007), that summer they went and signed Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson and Tevez. Last year, we finished second and were expected to build on our team, instead, we lost one of our best, a very solid defender and, in the hope we'd get a similar quality player to Alonso, had to sign an injured midfielder.


Anyway, as I've said, Rafa's on thin ice, the echo says the club aren't looking to sack him, but if we don't beat Stoke or Spurs, I find it very hard how the man can justify his job after an unbelievably bad season.

The typical LFC sense of humour is truly evident on this thread

With the reported money problems, one possible problem the board may have is they can't afford the pay off to sack Benitez, coupled with the fact the large backroom team he's assembled who would probably follow him out the door. The only way I can see him going is if he resigns but think he's a bit too stubborn for that to happen.

I did find Rafa quite amusing with his facts. Ironic really that a year ago they were top of the league prior to his previous rant.

FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACHHHHHHHHHT

Dreading this game against. Stoke how bad is that?

[url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6998385/Manchester-United-fans-unite-to-devise-plan-to-force-Glazers-out.htmlIMUSA and MUST meeting today.[/url

The back four looks shaky at best. I'd have played Derby and started with Riera out wide myself.
Why leave Aquilani on the bench when your midfield is Degen, Lucas, Mascherano, Aurelio?

The Facht man was interveiwed on Talksport before and said that because of all of Aquilanis injuries he can't play two games in a week as he needs rest time. Looks like you've paid £20m for a 25 year old Ledley King

I was talking to a mate who's a finacial advisor the other day about whats going on at the club and his veiws are that the bond issue is a smoke screen ad the glazers are looking to sell the club and the way he explained it sounds like he could be right.

With the document now out in public an investor can now see the money coming into the club etc etc and will make themselves known to the Glazers, They can then see how much real interest (money men) there is in the club.

If someone wants to invest in these bonds it's not going to be a company just buying one or two it's gonna be billionares buying up large ammounts who would in theory be interested in owning the club outright. So say one man buys up 50% of the bonds and thinks sod it i'll make an outright offer for the club as a whole say around £900m the glazers would make around £150m profit but they relase it to the public about a £900m offer for the club but they'll only start to listen at £1bn and try to start a bidding war for the club (my mate thinks it'd take £1.1bn). Now if the Glazers just put up a FOR SALE sign up outside Old Trafford an investor would still come in but he'd know they are looking to sell so would probably offer £750m and the glazers walk away with nothing. Remember if you want something thats not for sale you pay over the odds to get it but if someone offers it to you, you pay it's true value or even less.

Lee Mason





Tit

I take it he refereed Liverpool's latest stunning performance? Was he at fault for the 16 poor players on show as well



Alright, my posts about Rafa have been slightly exagerrated, but since the LFC fans seem to defend the players and think they are good enough, what do they make of their performances of late? Todays performance sounded abysmal on the radio commentary with Aldridge mentioning hearts the size of peas a few times. It was again not a showing by a set of players determined to prove the doubters wrong and to stick up for their manager. Do the players want Rafa out one wonders?

Whats the point of playing well if the ref misses key moment?

Anyway shouldn't you be at the pit shouting handball blue boy?

Edwin is back!



So is Nani, time for him to step up and save his United career.

i must admit I'm loving Liverpool's season so far. The look on some of their faces after Stoke scored was worth the sky subcription alone.

What happened? I think he is one of the best referees in the league.

As dominant a 45 minutes of football you'll see at Stamford Bridge.
Hate to say it but Chelsea look fantastic.

16? Hmm, intriguing.

So who were the other 3 poor players then, pray tell?

Meh, not bad, not brilliant. Valencia has been the best player on the park, his crossing has been as good as I've ever seen. Nani got better as the half went on, and had a couple of decent efforts. It's a good job VDS is back to save our bacon because Evans and Brown cannot play together, VDS has rescued them a few times. Berbatov and Scholes look injured. We need more compsure in front of goal too. I think one goal will see them crumble.

Nice to see Brucey doing us a favour at the Bridge.

Another hilarious Rafa interview post match today.

Similar to the 'ref was perfect' interview only this time it was 'ask the 27,000' (over and over)!

I think Delap, Faye and Sidibe could have raised their game given the vulnerability of their opposition today.

Hmm, intriguing.