Could be, I still think Real Madrid will be to good for any side they meet this year, I don't think even Bayern will be able to live with Ronaldo and Bale. Bale is really starting to show why they payed all that money for him, and has added an extra dimension to Madrids attack. I was glad we avoided them, that's for sure
We don't class ourselves up there with the Reals etc and on a world wide basis we are a new 'big' club obviously. But we've won 4 European trophies since 98, multiple domestic trophies, have an increasing world wide fan base, have had world class players and managers at the club, expanding markets all over the world, massive attendances when we play abroad etc.
United's win's have been spread over a much larger period and there was large fortune to the 99 and 08 wins too. Barca absolutely dominated the 2 finals they won in 3 years, were regarded as one of if not the best club side ever and they won another as recently as 06. Fair play to United making 3 finals close together but they were never seen as one of the best sides ever during that time. United are one of the worlds biggest clubs, no doubt but just not top 2.
I'll take your word for that. The day we start comparing clubs based on accounts and balance sheets is the day football dies. As I see it, Barcelona have always been able to attract the best players, United haven't. They've had some cracking players of course but say Best and Ronaldo made their names at United. Just in the modern era Barca have bought Villa in his prime, Zlatan, Fabregas, Neymar. If the best players want to play for Madrid and Barca over United what does that tell you? It's all opinion of course and largely irrelevant bollox.
It tells me that despite all the money that changed hands between Real, Barca etc and other clubs to attain trophies and titles is to the detriment of talented kids in their own country and as much as I dislike Utd and Fergie in football terms the "fledglings" show what can be done with less money and by giving this country's youth a chance to flourish.
Buying players means ****. If it did then City and PSG would have a claim to being the biggest in the world. Its much deeper than that. Put it this way, go anywhere on earth and strike up a conversation about football. Chances are United will soon be discussed because regardless of language, age, class or other.... everyone knows who Manchester United are.
Think you are trying to argue over something that is impossible to argue over. Different eras are very difficult to compare. You could argue that due to the way footballers are pampered and travel is far easier now that the whole concept of euro football is easier now. Back in the old days a long trip to eastern europe followed by one of your 46 ( yes 46 ) league games with a smaller squad and less training knowledge to aid recovery, plus the match itself was phyically more challenging due to spartanesque rules and crap pitches or you could say today is more physically demanding, in short, really don t think you can compare. What you guys did in 99 was remarkable, our histories are something to be proud of.
