Martin Samuels in The Mail

[shaunstrudwick]

It sounds hyper critical but I'm sick of being told we're paupers, Benitez himself loves to talk about it.

 

it's just not true either

 

to me it's just another pawn in his ongoing chess game with Hicks and Gillette and Parry

 

a chess game that i have fucking had enough off

[Code]

He's a lazy idiot. If you scored points for running into defenders' backs he'd be the best player in the world.

 

I dont think he is lazy, but like Gonzales he too often gets too close to the defender before he makes his move and instead of using his pace to get the better of the defender he looks clumsy as he gives the defender every opportunity to just win the ball.

 

A player like Babel will never get better though without getting games and how he has been overlooked this season based on last seasons performances makes me think its not only football reasons behind it.

 

But if you cross Rafa your obviously not going to get many chances to prove him wrong unless you are of the purest quality like Alonso.

[shaunstrudwick]

He's a lazy idiot. If you scored points for running into defenders' backs he'd be the best player in the world.

 

so why target him then?

 

imo if he was at Arsenal he would've proved to be a great signing and it is Rafa's man management that has fucked him up/over

[zico]

How much was Ronaldo? I seem to remeber it being no more than 12million? Not much more than Babel. He was also a rough diamond when he arrived but they've nurtured him properly. I think it shows Rafas man-management up a bit

 

It could be that he was the bigger talent of the two?

[ScottyT]

The finance issue is a cop out. While it obviously helps, we have the team, supposed top manager, reputation and status in the game to expect a credible title challenge and decent brand of football after 5 seasons in the job.

 

The mancs didn't have the same spending power as Chelsea, and we're close to financial ruin had Fergie not held them together and risen to the challenge, making the best of what he had and putting faith in a brave approach.

 

If it was all just about money Spurs would have been up there fighting for the title every season over the past 15 years.

[RedinSweden]

The finance issue is a cop out. While it obviously helps, we have the team, supposed top manager, reputation and status in the game to expect a credible title challenge and decent brand of football after 5 seasons in the job.

 

The mancs didn't have the same spending power as Chelsea, and we're close to financial ruin had Fergie not held them together and risen to the challenge, making the best of what he had and putting faith in a brave approach.

 

If it was all just about money Spurs would have been up there fighting for the title every season over the past 15 years.

 

I seem to remember him breaking the transfer record for Pallister during one of his early trophyless seasons. It hasn't always had to do with money, no, but continuity has helped him. If we had performed as United did in Ferguson's first 5 years most people would have been calling for his head.

[Hermes]

Rafa has spent money, but too often we've had to solve 4 or 5 problems in the same summer and the money has had to be spread too thin.

 

You only need 11 to start a game, 2 summers should have been enough even by your criteria. Rafa's weakness is that the problems he is trying to solve (mediocre players), have been signed by him. It's a constant tear it up and start again every season.

[Tom R]

can't believe I just repped Hermes.

[aws]

can't believe I just repped Hermes.

 

negged

[Hermes]

can't believe I just raped Hermes.

 

You'd have to, I assure you.

[Dave D]

It could be that he was the bigger talent of the two?

 

Get afeeling it will always be ifs, buts and maybes with Babel in a liverpool shirt. But I dont think Ronaldo looked that special when he arrived. More of rich mans mark walters!!

[bri]

the underlying point is that utd have more money than lfc and for players / agents 5% (or whatever they pick up of a transfer) of £20m is almost double of what they get frm us. Plus their more or less guaranteed a run at the silverwear.

 

Agreed with the original point moores and parry failed to find the balance between a business and a club.

 

Not with standing were just blowing our best chance at the league in 19 years. You can argue the toss all day long but Rafa did fuck up £20m this summer.

 

CFC shite, 4 managers in two years, Arsenal gone through a down turn, Utd fuck up the beginning of the season and we just blow it at home. The first 11 is sound the rest is bloody average at best

[Total Longo]

His article simplifies the difference between us and Man Ure down to the strength of the squad. It's true, but the strength comes from the money Man U have spent, which in turn comes from 70,000 home gates and a phenomenal global marketing program. We won't be able to compete on an equal footing until and unless we tap into a bigger fan base. Club projections show that the new stadium will be sold out. LFC has the support and the "brand" to outmuscle Man U financially, but we are still just looking at spreadsheets!

 

The tragedy is, the bus was missed, not by Hicks and Gillette, but by Moores and Parry.

 

They are to blame for our squad being weaker than Man U's, and I won't be content until both of their influence is history in L4.

 

The fat prick also put Darren Fletcher in his amalgamated side ahead of Xabi, so that tells you everything. The only three players we got in were Carra (at right back), Gerrard and Torres. Nobody can seriously suggest that Fletcher is better than Alonso. Oh yes, Martin Samuel can.