Benitez to be Newcastle Manager..

[mark1975]

Yeah I agree Fab's and LTW, I don't think it makes you the best, it gives you credit at a different level, or within a different category. I do agree though that times have changed, four Champions Leagues places, revenue and the format have changed that, so there's broader degrees of success these days, but we still get it in the ear everytime United win the title and we'll continue to until we get back on level terms (at least).

 

[gkmacca]

Houllier bought so many crap French players that I actually became allergic to cheese.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

I don't know refugee .... Porto won the CL, are they considered anywhere near the best? Can they attract the best talent in Europe? Monaco almost won the CL, the only thing that is making them attractive now is $$$.

I think the best team in Europe wins the CL most years. The only possible exceptions I can think of in the past 10 years are Porto, us and Chelsea.

But I can also think of arguments as to why they might have won it too. I don't think it's as pot-luck as some people make out.


For us, the priority is definitely the league. For United, I imagine it's the CL. For Chelsea it was the CL, but now it's probably the league again. All depends on what you've won recently.

 

[Rosco]

I don't believe for one minute that Rafa didn't know what wages were being put on the table for players, when it would have had a significant bearing on his transfer budget, an amount he was all too keen to make known when he didn't find it sufficient.

He did at least some of the negotiations himself according to our own players autobiographies.

 

[Rosco]

Houllier bought so many crap French players that I actually became allergic to cheese.

Using the same agent all the time.

Suspicious or just stupid?

 

[refugee]

He did at least some of the negotiations himself according to our own players autobiographies.

He did Carraghers, and Carra told him to get lost when he offered lower wages than he was expecting. Then the board stepped in and did that negotiation, significantly raising Carraghers pay.

 

[juniormember]

Just naive.

Edit
In regards to Ross's post.

 

[refugee]

Using the same agent all the time.

Suspicious or just stupid?

From the players perspective, I can see why that agent would be in demand. Seeing some of those players getting big pay deals made me want to use him as my agent.

 

[Rosco]

From the players perspective, I can see why that agent would be in demand. Seeing some of those players getting big pay deals made me want to use him as my agent.

The agent was used to broker the transfer between the clubs. Nothing to do with the players salary

 

[Leo]

Lol, You mean after wining it once, making the finals and semi finals the rest of the time?

Yep then after putting his own *stamp* on the squad we won the square root of fuck all.

 

[localny]

Yep then after putting his own *stamp* on the squad we won the square root of fuck all.

i just deleted my reply to this thread. I can't do any more rafa threads. Good luck deriding!

 

[LeTallecWiz]

That the best players on the continent would consider coming to our club. Yeah I'd take that.

We never got the 'best players in the continent' local - Alonso wasn't that when he came to us, neither was Torres, or even Mascherano. They were all highly rated but had not proven themselves enough to attract attention from the big players (The only exception was Fergie being interested in Torres during one summer I think - and I can't remember why that didn't go through. I highly doubt the 'I refused Manure' line was real), and took their level to the next level with us.

It's the same thing with Suarez and Kenny (though his profile was high due to the world cup), or Rodgers and Sturridge/Coutinho etc. We haven't had 'the best players' wanting to come to us in a long time mate - and I don't know if that will change in the near future.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

We never got the 'best players in the continent' local - Alonso wasn't that when he came to us, neither was Torres, or even Mascherano. They were all highly rated but had not proven themselves enough to attract attention from the big players (The only exception was Fergie being interested in Torres during one summer I think - and I can't remember why that didn't go through. I highly doubt the 'I refused Manure' line was real), and took their level to the next level with us.

It's the same thing with Suarez and Kenny (though his profile was high due to the world cup), or Rodgers and Sturridge/Coutinho etc. We haven't had 'the best players' wanting to come to us in a long time mate - and I don't know if that will change in the near future.

If you're putting it like that, then we've never had the best players in Europe wanting to come to us. I don't think we've ever had a player that was recognised as world class before he joined, joining us, have we?

 

[Modo]

We never got the 'best players in the continent' local - Alonso wasn't that when he came to us, neither was Torres, or even Mascherano. They were all highly rated but had not proven themselves enough to attract attention from the big players (The only exception was Fergie being interested in Torres during one summer I think - and I can't remember why that didn't go through. I highly doubt the 'I refused Manure' line was real), and took their level to the next level with us.

It's the same thing with Suarez and Kenny (though his profile was high due to the world cup), or Rodgers and Sturridge/Coutinho etc. We haven't had 'the best players' wanting to come to us in a long time mate - and I don't know if that will change in the near future.

When they did want to come we didn't have the cash.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

If you're putting it like that, then we've never had the best players in Europe wanting to come to us. I don't think we've ever had a player that was recognised as world class before he joined, joining us, have we?

Well, when we were top - we were going after the best talent (normally) in the UK ... bar Molby (was he highly sought after?).

When they did want to come we didn't have the cash.

Who have you got in mind?

 

[Modo]

Well, when we were top - we were going after the best talent (normally) in the UK ... bar Molby (was he highly sought after?).



Who have you got in mind?

Pretty much every star player that came to the premiership after Rafa left.

Aguero, Silva, Mata etc.
Maybe Martinez as well.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

Well, when we were top - we were going after the best talent (normally) in the UK ... bar Molby (was he highly sought after?).

We still are looking at getting the best talent in the UK. Johnson, Henderson, Sterling etc.

And we still look at getting the best talent around Europe: Torres, Suarez, Coutinho etc.

I don't think we've ever got a player nominated for top player in Europe(Litmanen or Morientes maybe?), we've never been in the same league as Real, Barcelona or Milan in those terms.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Pretty much every star player that came to the premiership after Rafa left.

Aguero, Silva, Mata etc.
Maybe Martinez as well.

Didn't we buy Downing etc the same summer they got Mata? We had enough money for them.

Rafa could have had Silva I'm sure - Aquilani's fee would probably have done that back then.

Were we ever in for Aguero once he left Argentina?

Never heard of the Martinez link - it was more of a 'please please' on the SCM wish list.

And we still look at getting the best talent around Europe: Torres, Suarez, Coutinho etc.

I don't think we've ever got a player nominated for top player in Europe(Litmanen or Morientes maybe?), we've never been in the same league as Real, Barcelona or Milan in those terms.

We look for the talent that is coming to us ... but once the players hit their prime, they rarely come to us (Litmanen and Morinetes came to us on the way down).

We just have to be smart - ala Coutinho, Torres, Suarez, Alonso etc - and hope to build a spine and maintain it to become a dominant force again. Then maybe we can attract the best in Europe.

 

[refugee]

I highly doubt the 'I refused Manure' line was real), and took their level to the next level with us.

Didn't Fergie admit it though? Why would be lie (not that he wouldn't lie, just what would he have to gain)?

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Didn't Fergie admit it though? Why would be lie (not that he wouldn't lie, just what would he have to gain)?

I dunno - if I'm a gifted footballer, and a top top manager wants me for a top top club (that's not Real if you're Torres), would you really say no? I think it was the summer before we signed for him too ... Who knows.

 

[Modo]

How about Alves?
Or David Villa?

 

[refugee]

I dunno - if I'm a gifted footballer, and a top top manager wants me for a top top club (that's not Real if you're Torres), would you really say no? I think it was the summer before we signed for him too ... Who knows.

I suppose it would depend on external factors as well, wife girlfriend etc. Perhaps in his youth he was idealistic and loyal and he lost that as he got older, or perhaps they couldn't guarantee him first team football.

Ferguson said: "For years we tried to do a deal there but we never quite managed it either because Atletico Madrid didn't want to sell or one year the player felt he was too young.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2328504/Ferguson-I-wanted-Torres-for-Man-Utd.html

Fuck knows. He's a cunt

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I suppose it would depend on external factors as well, wife girlfriend etc. Perhaps in his youth he was idealistic and loyal and he lost that as he got older, or perhaps they couldn't guarantee him first team football.

Ferguson said: "For years we tried to do a deal there but we never quite managed it either because Atletico Madrid didn't want to sell or one year the player felt he was too young.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2328504/Ferguson-I-wanted-Torres-for-Man-Utd.html

Fuck knows. He's a cunt

to be honest, even if Manure had got him, it would have been the same thing as us - getting a player who's highly rated but has not yet taken his game to the next level. I guess a good recent example is Bayern with Lewandoski (he's in his prime) and Goetze (he's going to get even better).

 

[LeTallecWiz]

How about Alves?
Or David Villa?

I thought we could have had ALves? DIdn't we sign Pennant and someone else (Bellers?) and that would have been enough to land him? Tbh, we dodged a bullet there because he'd have been shit in England I think.

 

[Fabio]

Villa said many times he didn't want to come to England

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Villa said many times he didn't want to come to England

and the cunt hates the beatles. CUNT.

 

[refugee]

to be honest, even if Manure had got him, it would have been the same thing as us - getting a player who's highly rated but has not yet taken his game to the next level. I guess a good recent example is Bayern with Lewandoski (he's in his prime) and Goetze (he's going to get even better).

I don't care about that (only a few elite clubs buy world class players in their prime due to wages and transfer fees), I just wanted to know why you didn't believe it? Man Utd claims to have tried to sign a player a few times but for various reasons couldn't, and you disregard it out of hand....?

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I don't care about that (only a few elite clubs buy world class players in their prime due to wages and transfer fees), I just wanted to know why you didn't believe it? Man Utd claims to have tried to sign a player a few times but for various reasons couldn't, and you disregard it out of hand....?

No - I meant I didn't believe that he didn't want to sign for them because of loyalty to us (which is something that was bandied around, esp with the captain's armband pic).

 

[refugee]

Tbh, we dodged a bullet there because he'd have been shit in England I think.

He'd have been a garbage right back I reckon, but he might have been a decent midfielder. He would have been beaten from pillar to post on this site though for his lack of defensive ability, that I'm certain off.

 

[peterhague]

Torres was a top top player when he signed for us. Probably the biggest name we've ever signed. But the main point is that the closest we've ever come to being able to attract the best players in Europe came under Rafa.