Football manager stuff though. WE were willing to spend £20m on Willian, Costa & Henri Ryan, but lack of CL and lack of chance to get to speak to them meant they couldn't come.
I understand what you're saying and I agree it's frstrating and would be better spent on a quality first teamer. However, we did spend £17m on Sakho and £9m on Migs too though, that's £26m on first team players to add to the £20m spent on Sturridge (£12m) and Coutinho (£8m) for the first team last summer.
And as I keep pointing out, we then spent £7m on Ilori and £17m on Sakho AFTER these links/deals were dead. I personally think Brod intended to sell Coates and Skrtel to raise funds for these (or similar) deals.
Yes... although this one is 2.5. If you sign 6 youth at that price and one turns out to be a real gem you come out well ahead. 7 or 8 million you really need to be a very good prospect.
Both good points, and I did gloss over the money spent on first teamers. But I think there comes a point where we'd be better off just not spending on 'potential' if the quality is unavailable. We have a small squad but filling it with players who aren't ready yet isn't going to help cover the cracks when established players get hurt. I think there's a hesitancy to spend big money on one player after the Carroll/Downing thing as a big money flop seems more damaging to a manager's reputation than a multitude of lesser signings all struggling (and that's unfair on Illori, Alberto and Aspas who all have time to improve but I'm talking about right now).
I do agree. In an ideal World, you'd have your squad then spend £20m on a instant 1st team player than can make a huge difference each year then use money from play sales to replace any that's needed. That what United had done the last 10 years or so. They had a decent squad and used their money to get 1 or 2 big name signings that can instantly improve the squad. However, our problem is that we don't/didn't have the squad depth to be able to do that. Therefore you can either go and spend all your money on 1 player, however if they then don't perform or get injured then you're pretty much stuffed as you have no alternatives and you've not strengthened the squad. Or you could spend the same money on 2 or 3 players that may not be quite as good (unless you get lucky and pick up a bargain like Sturridge/Coutinho) but would improve the depth of the squad which over the course of the season can help you rotate.
I agree, and you expressed my point better than I did. I guess my argument would be at this point with the squad we have and the squads of the teams around us it's time to start gambling on those one or two big first team players making a difference in order to keep up with or surpass some of the top 5 or 6 sides.
This was my biggest argument against Rafa when you had him in charge, you all said he had no money to spend but he used to buy 4/5 players per window when one better class player would have helped the team/squad over time.
You are missing the point, you pay the money for a top class player to replace a first team player who then becomes a good squad player. By buying a top class player every season (window if lucky) you improve the squad.
It's a good point, but as Biscan was saying our squad was (and to some degree still is) so shallow that more than one or two additions per window were necessary to give it enough depth to last a season.
I don't think he's been oblivious of the fact. But he has to contend with the transfer committee, the owners, and the small problem of finding the right player at the right price. Perhaps the disastrous performance against Villa was a deliberate attempt to prove to the watching JWH that we really do need further investment.
prediction: mata to athletico... costa to chelsea... rooney to Real... LFC keep suarez... Utd sign eldonkio from noname LFC.
F sake... I made the exact same point last week. you guys never listen to me do you? listening to a manc.. for shame
Apparently Mata to Utd is going ahead http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/21/chelsea-manchester-united-juan-mata That headline is unclear though, how they can have agreed a fee without an offer being made is a little curious. Question I have is why aren't we trying to get him if Chelsea are willing to do business?
Massive mistake if Chelsea let Mata go to utd. Having said that if they are willing to sell him to an English club, why aren't we bidding?!?!?!??????
Exactly, could be that we are a closer rival for the league so they wouldn't want to sell to us. Still think we should be getting in there even though a dm/cm seems to be a priority given your namesake has gots himself crock.
40million is f**king ridiculous. The Mancs must be mental to pay such a sum for a player that's wanting to leave. I would love to have him here, but not for anything close to that figure. Do they even need him. They could do well spending such a fee on someone like Pogba or Gundogan. But they look desperate to land a big name. Wonder if he's willing to join a sinking ship though.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...ews/liverpool-fc-transfer-rumour-mill-6533089 What do people think of the away kit?
