Ferguson: Benitez Has Spent More Than Manchester

omgukilledkenny SG · 2009-03-23T17:37:47+00:00

sure, we shall revisit this thread, after 20 years... no problem..fergie retire soon liao...then rafa can rack up the trophies

omgukilledkenny SG

Rafael Benitez might have got the better of Sir Alex Ferguson last weekend, when Liverpool went to Old Trafford and resoundingly beat Manchester United 4-1, but the Scot has taken a snipe at the Spaniard by refuting Benitez's claim that Ferguson has spent more on transfers.

Benitez said last week that Ferguson had spent £100million more on players than he had, but the United boss was far from convinced and instructed his staff to calculate each manager's spending since Benitez took charge at Anfield five years ago.

According to United's figures, Benitez has spent £24 million more than Ferguson - and the Scot expects his Liverpool adversary to outspend him again significantly this summer.

Ferguson is quoted by ITV Sport as saying, "I was amazed at that one. I got some of the people in the sports technology department to check that out.

"He's well ahead of us in spending in the last five years.

"He said our spending power is more than theirs but he has spent £24 million more than we have.

"I think you will see Rafa producing an absolute spending spree [this summer], I think that's an absolute certainty now he has signed a new contract.

"There's talk about a recession but I don't think there will be one at Liverpool this year."

ITV Sport calculate that in terms of net spending - taking into account income from player sales - the clubs are roughly equal. Liverpool's net spending on players over the last five years is £82.5 million, while United's has been £85.5 million. Chelsea spent £154.8 million net on players over the same period, while Arsenal splashed just £3.4 million in net terms.

Ferguson also claimed that while his policy involved developing home-grown talent through United's youth system, as well as signing established stars, Benitez was more focused on bringing in established players.

He said: "There's a balance - we have signed 18 players in the last five years and eight of those have been young players. There's a balance, it's about doing the thing correctly."

zocoss SG

If spending more is the question, then ah Ben have won lah...

The actual figures show Benitez has spent £191.95m and brought in 34 players since becoming Liverpool boss in 2004. Ferguson has spent £172.25m in the same period, while also sticking to his philosophy of developing young players. Fergie have signed 18 players in the last five years. “Eight of them are young players.

skythewood SG

If spending more is the question, then ah Ben have won lah...

ah ben got problem with controlling signings, his big boss gets in his way...

Francisk SG

ferguson never mention rafa spend more because rafa inherited a inferior team and had to rebuilt. manu at that time have already established their best 11 and a stable team. liverpool therefore had to spend abit more. yet only 24m more. only gerrard carra and hyypia remains on the current team. so ferguson. u are talking bullshit.

sg_forum SG

well said...

Chris88110 SG

You also forgot to mention that the team Ferguson inherited was far worse than the team Rafa did. Its was a recently promoted team of drunkards. And look what he turned them into. And no the team Rafa inherited was'nt too bad either, don't forget they won the mickey mouse treble in 2001

chrisbenoit SG

Ferguson took over Man U some 20 years ago, how can you compare then and now? And Fergie didnt achieve instant success, he took a while to get hold of the EPL trophy.

sg_forum SG

SAF is cracking up ..LOL talk so much...lost 2-0 against Fulham...seems like Benitez winning the mind game...

Chris88110 SG

Ferguson took over Man U some 20 years ago, how can you compare then and now? And Fergie didnt achieve instant success, he took a while to get hold of the EPL trophy.

Of course i can compare, even 20 years ago the squad Ferguson inherited was poor by the standards of that day. Thats why he did'nt achieve instant success. The squad Benitez inherited, or has for that matter, is definetely good enough to win th EPL, but...........

Chris88110 SG

SAF is cracking up ..LOL talk so much...lost 2-0 against Fulham...seems like Benitez winning the mind game...

We shall see, remember 1999

Zecyan88 SG

Below are the list of some players furgy inherited in 1986 and you called them "a recently promoted drunkards"? Were you drunk when you type out the posting? Goodness you don't even know about the team that you are supporting and you want to snatch the loud hailer?! You are a disgrace in the eye of manu fc and to other manu hardcore knowledgeable die hard fan. Please do not try to give a direction to others when you yourself blindly follow another blind.

1986 Team Sheet

Gary Baily

Mickey Thomas

Kevin Moran

Ray Wilkins

Mike Duxbury

John Gidman

Frank Stapleton

Remi Moses

Bryan Robson

Norman Whiteside

Paul McGrath

Mark Hughes

Graeme Hogg

Clayton Blackmore

Jesper Olsen

Gordon Strachan

Peter Davenport

do I really need to name more?....sigh....

sg_forum SG

1986 Team Sheet

Gary Baily

Mickey Thomas

Kevin Moran

Ray Wilkins

Mike Duxbury

John Gidman

Frank Stapleton

Remi Moses

Bryan Robson

Norman Whiteside

Paul McGrath

Mark Hughes

Graeme Hogg

Clayton Blackmore

Jesper Olsen

Gordon Strachan

Peter Davenport

do I really need to name more?....sigh....

come on man...please be a bit nicer to a lady...lol

Chris88110 SG

1986 Team Sheet

Gary Baily

Mickey Thomas

Kevin Moran

Ray Wilkins

Mike Duxbury

John Gidman

Frank Stapleton

Remi Moses

Bryan Robson

Norman Whiteside

Paul McGrath

Mark Hughes

Graeme Hogg

Clayton Blackmore

Jesper Olsen

Gordon Strachan

Peter Davenport

do I really need to name more?....sigh....

I see, and did you happen to notice the league position they were in? Did you see the form that those players were in?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Manchester_United_F.C._(1969%E2%80%931986)

Go read............

But then again i suppose both managers were in more or less the same position,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Ben%C3%ADtez

Liverpool were quick to take advantage of the disharmony at Valencia and Benítez was appointed manager of the English Premiership club on 16 June 2004, replacing Gérard Houllier. Arriving at Liverpool, he found himself in a very similar position to the one he had found at Valencia. The club had a talented but underperforming squad that included, among others, Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Dietmar Hamann, Harry Kewell, Steve Finnan and Sami Hyypiä.

Difference is Ferguson became the most successful manager in English footbal history, now i don't think Benitez is going to replace him as the most successful manager in English footbal history in the near future don't you think so?

crimson soldier SG

what about net transfer spending? I believe liverpool sells more players away than man utd. players have been going in and out..

Chris88110 SG

what about net transfer spending? I believe liverpool sells more players away than man utd. players have been going in and out..

I guess now we know why Liverpool is so reliant on only a few players

chrisbenoit SG

I see some good players from that 86 squad of United. Let me tell you something about drunks, even a Tony Adams battling alcoholism, maybe in his early 30s, would still be on my first team, as long as he doesnt drink at least 8 hours before a match, and most players wont do that. Players who have true ability are talented, and Fergie had taken over a promising, fairly talented squad.

limpper SG

1986 Team Sheet

Gary Baily

Mickey Thomas

Kevin Moran

Ray Wilkins

Mike Duxbury

John Gidman

Frank Stapleton

Remi Moses

Bryan Robson

Norman Whiteside

Paul McGrath

Mark Hughes

Graeme Hogg

Clayton Blackmore

Jesper Olsen

Gordon Strachan

Peter Davenport

do I really need to name more?....sigh....

what a pawnage

a-Lost-9uY SG

SAF is trying to play mind games wif Rafa bah..

to distract LFC..

i tink..

iceFatboy SG

aiyah, talk so much for what...

let's just talk about who win how many la... isn't that more important?

how many EPL titles Rafa won?

how many FA cups Rafa won?

how many European Cups Rafa won?

chrisbenoit SG

You forgot one thing. How many years Rafa in charge?