So he was poop in his latter stages? From my memory he was one of the best left sided players in the league in 04/05

Two teams York and Man U right?

He hasn't bought the title because we can't match Chelsea and Man U season after season

Why was Robbie Keane signed a week before Crouch left?

Whats that got to with anything?

What does what he did at Valencia mean? it means hes a very good manager and same goes for what he has done here but keep saying hes poop without backing it up billy two teams.

I follow York yes. My main interest in the premiership is Utd but i'd hardly say I'm committed to following them, also have a soft spot for Arsenal. Both teams play attacking free flowing football something i don't get to see at York.

The thing that the Robbie Keane signing has to do with anything is that you said


The money that was gained after buying Keane was used to buy Keane?

Ok maybe i've missed something here but i'm pretty certain i have been backing up my claims with a fair amount of evidence providing links and even looking into your claims that Benitez inherited a crap squad. If anything your the person who needs to back up your claims by explaining how Benitez blew between 80 and 100 million in 3 seasons which saw you finish 3rd, 3rd and 4th, hardly a brilliant improvement. Ironically it was since his funding got cut that you had your best season under him, mainly due to at least 1 of your 2 world class players been fit. Your squad is very thin, its been created by Benitez at great cost over half a decade. Explain to me why he hasn't got a stronger squad without mentioning that he hasn't had big funds, because he has.

On the Keane thing you do know Football clubs accounts are not like ours? money doesn't go in and out right away theres payments involved sometimes.

It wasn't 80-100 mill in 3 seasons

last season we had everything go for us (well nearly) that team was overachieving no one expected us to win the title last season

Your on about the 3 seasons hardly a brilliant improvement not on Man U and Chelsea no but a CL final and Fa cup win

Explain to me why he hasn't got a stronger squad without mentioning that he hasn't had big funds, because he has

How can you make a squad stronger without buying £10M + players? how? you need an established squad before you do that an thats what he has been building its last season where is should of been given £20M to spend on class players, players who add to a team

2007/08 was when he spent the most net spend in his reign £34 Mill buying

Fernando Torres
Javier Mascherano
Emiliano Insua
Martin Skrtel
Yossi Benayoun

All good signings pitty hes not been given that kind of money again

It clearly was £80million in 3 years WITHOUT once again WITHOUT taking into account the 04/05 season. Throw that season in and its nearer to a £100million with Cisse £90million without. These are facts if you choose to ignore facts then your argument is baseless.

With regards to the Crouch/Keane i'll give you that one because i don't see it as a big arguing point. Though i have to ask why wasn't Keane properly replaced? If Benitez knew he wasn't going to get the funds for a £10mil striker why not bite the bullet and give Keane a proper go?

So when Rafa went into his 5th season, 08/09, he still wasn't seen to have a squad ready to challenge according to you? This after spending net £80-100mil in his previous 4 seasons refurbishing the squad. So you didn't expect Liverpool to challenge this season? Seen as teams have to buy £10mil+ players to get anywhere, though Arsenal get by without doing that.

That moves me on nicely to the final point. Arsenal stay competitive while running at a profit. Man Utd made £66mil in the summer and up there challenging with a few players out with injuries. Benitez bought 2 £15mil+ players during the summer and has done so consistently throughout his time at Liverpool. They are treading water on the financial, not surprising really when you think they would of budgeted on Benitez delivering the title and the extra revenue that comes with it.

Your squad has had money consistently spent on it since Benitez took over, it's won a few cups sure but is it where it should be after 5 years under the stewardship of a "top" manager brought in to deliver the league title? I'd say it was miles off

Ryan Babel £11.5mil left off
Sebastien Leto £1.5mil left off

The signings for that season total £69.75mil with a net spend on transactions of £39.85mil.

Ryan Babel was wanted buy half of Europe if he worked on his game instead of twitter and rapping and not being lazy he would be a great signing

Arsenal have moved into a new stadium and built a side which consistently finishes in the top 4, Rafa has done this while spending considerably more. Arsenal have won 1 FA cup and made 2 finals, not brilliant but not bad when you consider they have run at a net profit of £26mil on transfers in the last 5 years. Arsenal also buy youth and will be untouchable if they keep progressing with the young squad they have today.

I don't think Rafa is why your in debt. I'm saying your debt is surely budgeted on having been the champions of england at some point as well as continued success in the champions league. The extra income being champions is quite considerable with endorsements and overseas recognition. Why else did the board throw all that money at Benitez in his first few years?

Even if you take the Ronaldo transfer out of the mix Utd have still spent less than Liverpool over the past 5 years. Look at the table and do the maths. FWIW i think Ferguson didn't spend the Ronaldo money during the summer because he didn't like the look of anyone, not to manage the debt. If you look at Man Utds transfers over the past 5 years 4 out of the 5 they have brought in more than £10mil from selling players, they have been better managed on and off the pitch than Liverpool.

Benitez has not delivered on his objective of winning the league and has spent more than any other teams, Man City and Chelsea aside, in his time and has treaded water. If he needs to spend a net of £40mil like the year you highlighted to get you going anywhere then he is definitely of no use in your current financial situation