latest on the warchest.

[Skullflower]

The broader question, as the club seek to end their miserable 20-year wait for a league title, is whether Benitez will be given money to spend by American owners whose financial problems have cast a cloud over the club almost since the day they took over at Anfield.

"It is something I have to talk with the club about," said Benitez when asked if funds were available, money which he has generated himself from summer sales which include Xabi Alonso's £30m departure to Real Madrid.

"We have some ideas and we have to discuss these ideas. We will see. We are talking about these things. We are working always. We try to be ready just in case [we can sign someone], but you never know. It depends on the prices.

"We have to work with the players we have at this moment and keep working with the scouting department. The main thing for me is we have one week to work and prepare the players."

It was hardly a positive rejoinder to the claims last week from Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson that he does not expect Liverpool to provide the most serious challenge to his club's title defence.

"We had some money but I will not talk about figures," added Benitez when pressed further. "On the record or off the record when you talk about figures I think it is clear. I will not say anything. I don't have the answer.

"We are working hard with the players we have and the money we have. Always it is difficult to compete in the Premier League with clubs who have more money."

Especially if, as seems at least a possibility, Benitez has zero money to spend in the transfer market this week.

 

[eecheerow]

We need Babel, Riera, Voronin et. al. to step up if we're going to have a shot this year... and we need to get and then keep everyone healthy. To have this be the case after coming so close last year is more than just a little bit disheartening.

 

[Skullflower]

can't believe we might not even spend the alonso money. it's extremely worrying.

 

[Skullflower]

Lack of summer signings dents Liverpool's title dream

09/08/09 David Maddock


t was only a friendly, and in the great scheme of things this match means less than zero.

Yet the look in Rafael Benitez's eye afterwards, as he cautiously fielded questions about his summer transfer spending, suggested that more significant issues were raised at Anfield on Saturday than mere defeat to middling Spanish opposition.

The Liverpool boss watched in horror as Jamie Carragher, his only fit senior defender, inevitably limped out of the game after just 14 minutes, with a twisted ankle that required a scan yesterday afternoon.

The prognosis is not serious, but still the Reds will have to wait until at least Wednesday for the swelling to go down to get a clear idea of whether their stalwart will be fit for the opening day of the season.

But with Benitez's two other centre-halves Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger both in a race against time to shake off injuries - and with both clearly far from match fit after missing big chunks of pre-season - it raises the immediate question of resources at Anfield.

It is clear the Merseyside club require a fourth centre-half after the departure of Sami Hyypia in the summer, and yet it is equally clear that there is no money to buy one.

That is a painful situation for Benitez, because he has made a profit in the transfer market this summer, and rightly would expect to reinvest that money generated.

Indeed, when renegotiating his new contract last April, one of the key elements before the Spaniard put pen to paper on a five-year deal was the availability of funds to make the significant signings this summer he felt were required to finally bring the title to Anfield after a wait of 20 years.

At the time, the club's American owners let it be known there was £40million to spend, plus anything Benitez raised in sales. Instead, he has not even been able to spend everything he raised, and the £40m has gone to the banks to reduce debt and secure a refinancing deal.

It is a difficult situation for the manager because he knows he is so close to a title-winning side, perhaps on two or three quality players away.

But his dealings this week will be revealing. It is clear the Anfield boss will try to sign a centre-half, and he revealed at the weekend that he has already been in talks with Phil Brown over Hull's Michael Turner.

Yet he also indicated almost as clearly that he simply doesn't have the funds to meet the £11m asking price, and will instead have to shop in the bargain basement, represented by the £3m rated Portsmouth defender Sylvain Distin.

Benitez tried to make light of the situation after the defeat by Atletico Madrid, but it is clear that the financial crisis at Anfield is a huge problem for him...and the club's prospects.

"We were supposed to have some money but I will not talk about figures. On the record or off the record when you talk about figures I think it is clear. I will not say anything. I don't have the answer," Benitez explained.

"We just have to manage with the players we have, and we will try to be ready just in case we can sign someone, but you never know. It depends on the prices."

Despite his caution, Benitez there was clearly revealing his frustration at the lack of funds available, and he even admitted that he is in talks with the owners over simply getting the money to spend he has raised through selling players this summer.

So far, he has no indication that the money will be made available, hence his talk about making do with the players he already has.

It is a desperate situation for Liverpool, who were in their best position for 20 years as genuine title contenders, and yet face going into the season with a smaller, less well-equipped squad than last season when they finished second.

Liverpool's poor pre-season results have illustrated the problems Benitez faces, and not least here, with Atletico's top class strike duo Kun Aguero and Diego Forlan getting a goal apiece as they exploited the inexperience of teenage centre-half pairing Danny Ayala and Mikel San Jose.

But at least there were some positives. Fernando Torres appeared to pull up in the second half with a hamstring problem, but afterwards Benitez insisted it was not serious, and probably just a minor ankle problem.

He also stated that he was 80 per cent confident that two of Carragher, Agger and Skrtel will be available for the opening day game against Spurs and the peculiar threat Peter Crouch will pose.

Torres looked far from match fit in this game, but he still could have scored three or four, and as he gets into the swing of the season will surely again be a devastating threat for Liverpool.

Lucas too, showed that he can fill the gap left by Xabi Alonso's departure and the two-month injury lay-off for new signing Alberto Aquliani, with a good late goal and an energetic attacking display from midfield.

But perhaps the most important indicator of how Liverpool will fare this season - and perhaps over the next few years - will come in the transfer market this week. If Benitez has no funds to make the signings he needs, then it could be a long, hard season.

 

[Skullflower]

can you feel the doom?

 

[Ryan]

I can't remember a summer that had any positivity to it, so why let this one be any different.

Roll on Spurs.

 

[Skullflower]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=35150.msg921746#msg921746 date=1249863674]
I can't remember a summer that had any positivity to it, so why let this one be any different.

Roll on Spurs.
[/quote]

the first summer of yank was pretty boss. all the players and the stadium on the way.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=35150.msg921747#msg921747 date=1249863803]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=35150.msg921746#msg921746 date=1249863674]
I can't remember a summer that had any positivity to it, so why let this one be any different.

Roll on Spurs.
[/quote]

the first summer of yank was pretty boss. all the players and the stadium on the way.
[/quote]

It was hardly an Abramovich or Man City type feeling though was it?

Anyone with a modicum of sense knew they were too good to be true.

 

[Skullflower]

Rafael Benítez has given an ominous indication of Liverpool's financial state by admitting his transfer budget may not exceed what he has recouped through player sales. Ahead of a Premier League campaign of high expectations at Anfield, the Spaniard claims he is looking to existing players such as Lucas, David Ngog and Nabil El Zhar to improve last season's second place finish and win the club's first league title since 1990.

Doubts have been cast over Liverpool's spending power since American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett agreed a refinancing package last month that involves repaying £60m of £290m debt over the next 12 months. Last week Benítez made a £6m approach for the Hull City defender Michael Turner but balked at Phil Brown's £10m valuation of the 25-year-old.

Under the terms of the five-year contract Benítez signed with Liverpool in March, £20m was to be allocated for new players this summer plus whatever he raised through sales. It now appears, however, that the Liverpool manager's budget could only amount to what he has received for Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa and Sebastian Leto as he attempts to overhaul Manchester United in the title race.

Benítez has so far spent a headline figure of £37m on Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani, although the £17m fee for the former Portsmouth defender has been recouped by selling Leto, Arbeloa, Jack Hobbs, Paul Anderson plus money from Robbie Keane's return to Tottenham Hotspur in January. He now has to ask the club's owners whether the £10m profit he made on the £30m sale of Alonso to Real Madrid and the £20m signing of Aquilani from Roma will be reinvested this summer, a situation that casts serious doubt on his ability to add the likes of Valencia's David Silva to his search for defensive cover.

"We have to work with the players we have at this moment and keep working with the scouting department," said Benítez , who saw his team lose their final pre-season friendly 2-1 to Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Saturday. "We had some money but I will not talk about figures. When you talk about the figures I think it is clear. I will not say anything. I don't have the answer. We are working hard with the players we have and the money we have. Always it is difficult to compete in the Premier League with clubs who have more money."

The Liverpool manager refused to confirm that Hicks and Gillett have revised his transfer budget but admitted he is uncertain as to what he has left to spend. "We will see," he said. "We are talking about these things. We are working always. We try to be ready just in case [we can sign someone], but you never know. It depends on the prices. It is something I have to talk with the club about. We have some ideas and we have to discuss these ideas."

Benítez revealed he is seeking improvement within the Liverpool ranks for this season's title challenge, and believes the acquisition of Aquilani will provide greater penetration at home. He explained: "To sign better players than we have now is not easy. If you analyse it you have to spend big, big money to sign these players. We have to manage with the players we have and I am pleased with them and hopefully with the experience of last season they will be better.

"I think we have some young players who need to improve, [Mikel] San Jose, [Daniel] Ayala, but also Ngog, Nabil, [Ryan] Babel and Lucas; young players with quality. The priority [this summer] was to extend the contract of the senior players to make sure we kept the spine of the team. Alonso decided he wanted to go. He told me in May he wanted to leave. We had to keep working and I think the price at the end was good. With this money we have brought in Aquilani. We knew he had an operation, but we wanted to change a little bit the games at home when the opposition is deep and it is not easy to give the final pass. Aquilani will be good there. The other players we have to wait and see how they progress in the season."

Aquilani made only 14 appearances for Roma last season because of an ankle injury that required surgery in May and will delay the Italian midfielder's Liverpool debut until at least a month into the new season. The 25-year-old was also sidelined two seasons ago with a serious thigh strain, but Benítez denied the £20m deal represents a gamble.

"We couldn't change the situation of Alonso. He decided to go, we had to progress. You have to manage in the best way you can," the Liverpool manager said. "If Aquilani was in a normal market he could cost £25m-£30m but because of his operation he was a bit cheaper. We have to wait but he is a player we are signing for five years, not for five matches. I was talking with a lot of people in Italy and people are saying it is a fantastic signing. He is now under the control of our medical staff because he had been going to different people. I think it will be better and he has the quality to settle down in England."

Benítez has an added headache ahead of Sunday's opener at Tottenham with all three of his established central defenders - Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel – injury doubts. Carragher is awaiting results of a scan on an ankle injury sustained against Atletico on Saturday, while Agger has a back problem and Skrtel is recovering from a hamstring strain but has now returned to light training. "I am 80% sure we will have two available for the next game," he said.

Guardian

 

[Oncy]

I dont really think he's said anything there to suggest he thinks we cant or wont sign anyone else. I think hes just echoing Ancelotti and Ferguson in playing it close to his chest.
Rafa - 'We're minted, no problem la'
Creosote Phil - 'That'll be 15m for the big centre back please Sancho'

We'll sign another player before August 31st.

 

[Skullflower]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35150.msg921750#msg921750 date=1249865781]
I dont really think he's said anything there to suggest he thinks we cant or wont sign anyone else. I think hes just echoing Ancelotti and Ferguson in playing it close to his chest.
Rafa - 'We're minted, no problem la'
Creosote Phil - 'That'll be 15m for the big centre back please Sancho'

We'll sign another player before August 31st.
[/quote]

in what position, though? and at what price? i

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=35150.msg921749#msg921749 date=1249865556]
Rafael Benítez has given an ominous indication of Liverpool's financial state by admitting his transfer budget may not exceed what he has recouped through player sales. Ahead of a Premier League campaign of high expectations at Anfield, the Spaniard claims he is looking to existing players such as Lucas, David Ngog and Nabil El Zhar to improve last season's second place finish and win the club's first league title since 1990.

Doubts have been cast over Liverpool's spending power since American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett agreed a refinancing package last month that involves repaying £60m of £290m debt over the next 12 months. Last week Benítez made a £6m approach for the Hull City defender Michael Turner but balked at Phil Brown's £10m valuation of the 25-year-old.

Under the terms of the five-year contract Benítez signed with Liverpool in March, £20m was to be allocated for new players this summer plus whatever he raised through sales. It now appears, however, that the Liverpool manager's budget could only amount to what he has received for Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa and Sebastian Leto as he attempts to overhaul Manchester United in the title race.

Benítez has so far spent a headline figure of £37m on Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani, although the £17m fee for the former Portsmouth defender has been recouped by selling Leto, Arbeloa, Jack Hobbs, Paul Anderson plus money from Robbie Keane's return to Tottenham Hotspur in January. He now has to ask the club's owners whether the £10m profit he made on the £30m sale of Alonso to Real Madrid and the £20m signing of Aquilani from Roma will be reinvested this summer, a situation that casts serious doubt on his ability to add the likes of Valencia's David Silva to his search for defensive cover.

"We have to work with the players we have at this moment and keep working with the scouting department," said Benítez , who saw his team lose their final pre-season friendly 2-1 to Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Saturday. "We had some money but I will not talk about figures. When you talk about the figures I think it is clear. I will not say anything. I don't have the answer. We are working hard with the players we have and the money we have. Always it is difficult to compete in the Premier League with clubs who have more money."

The Liverpool manager refused to confirm that Hicks and Gillett have revised his transfer budget but admitted he is uncertain as to what he has left to spend. "We will see," he said. "We are talking about these things. We are working always. We try to be ready just in case [we can sign someone], but you never know. It depends on the prices. It is something I have to talk with the club about. We have some ideas and we have to discuss these ideas."

Benítez revealed he is seeking improvement within the Liverpool ranks for this season's title challenge, and believes the acquisition of Aquilani will provide greater penetration at home. He explained: "To sign better players than we have now is not easy. If you analyse it you have to spend big, big money to sign these players. We have to manage with the players we have and I am pleased with them and hopefully with the experience of last season they will be better.

"I think we have some young players who need to improve, [Mikel] San Jose, [Daniel] Ayala, but also Ngog, Nabil, [Ryan] Babel and Lucas; young players with quality. The priority [this summer] was to extend the contract of the senior players to make sure we kept the spine of the team. Alonso decided he wanted to go. He told me in May he wanted to leave. We had to keep working and I think the price at the end was good. With this money we have brought in Aquilani. We knew he had an operation, but we wanted to change a little bit the games at home when the opposition is deep and it is not easy to give the final pass. Aquilani will be good there. The other players we have to wait and see how they progress in the season."

Aquilani made only 14 appearances for Roma last season because of an ankle injury that required surgery in May and will delay the Italian midfielder's Liverpool debut until at least a month into the new season. The 25-year-old was also sidelined two seasons ago with a serious thigh strain, but Benítez denied the £20m deal represents a gamble.

"We couldn't change the situation of Alonso. He decided to go, we had to progress. You have to manage in the best way you can," the Liverpool manager said. "If Aquilani was in a normal market he could cost £25m-£30m but because of his operation he was a bit cheaper. We have to wait but he is a player we are signing for five years, not for five matches. I was talking with a lot of people in Italy and people are saying it is a fantastic signing. He is now under the control of our medical staff because he had been going to different people. I think it will be better and he has the quality to settle down in England."

Benítez has an added headache ahead of Sunday's opener at Tottenham with all three of his established central defenders - Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel – injury doubts. Carragher is awaiting results of a scan on an ankle injury sustained against Atletico on Saturday, while Agger has a back problem and Skrtel is recovering from a hamstring strain but has now returned to light training. "I am 80% sure we will have two available for the next game," he said.

Guardian
[/quote]Those figures dont even make sense.
He's recieved 30m, 3.5m and 3m for the 3 players sold.
And so far PAID OUT 8m for Johnson (thats actual money out this transfer window) and 5m for Aquilani (according to the figure in another thread released by Roma) so even if the suggested 20m kitty were removed to service the debt.
That would still leave 23m of the money from sales.
Bottom line is the press know 2 bits of fuck all, and as usual spin Rafa saying 'we will see' into doom and fucking gloom in comparison with Fergie saying 'we wont sign anyone' and the press fawning over a fucking has been crock and a winger from Wigan.
Fucking bollocks. We may or may not sign anyone else but regardless the press will be after ruining us. Fuck em.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35150.msg921753#msg921753 date=1249866434]
[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=35150.msg921749#msg921749 date=1249865556]
Rafael Benítez has given an ominous indication of Liverpool's financial state by admitting his transfer budget may not exceed what he has recouped through player sales. Ahead of a Premier League campaign of high expectations at Anfield, the Spaniard claims he is looking to existing players such as Lucas, David Ngog and Nabil El Zhar to improve last season's second place finish and win the club's first league title since 1990.

Doubts have been cast over Liverpool's spending power since American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett agreed a refinancing package last month that involves repaying £60m of £290m debt over the next 12 months. Last week Benítez made a £6m approach for the Hull City defender Michael Turner but balked at Phil Brown's £10m valuation of the 25-year-old.

Under the terms of the five-year contract Benítez signed with Liverpool in March, £20m was to be allocated for new players this summer plus whatever he raised through sales. It now appears, however, that the Liverpool manager's budget could only amount to what he has received for Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa and Sebastian Leto as he attempts to overhaul Manchester United in the title race.

Benítez has so far spent a headline figure of £37m on Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani, although the £17m fee for the former Portsmouth defender has been recouped by selling Leto, Arbeloa, Jack Hobbs, Paul Anderson plus money from Robbie Keane's return to Tottenham Hotspur in January. He now has to ask the club's owners whether the £10m profit he made on the £30m sale of Alonso to Real Madrid and the £20m signing of Aquilani from Roma will be reinvested this summer, a situation that casts serious doubt on his ability to add the likes of Valencia's David Silva to his search for defensive cover.

"We have to work with the players we have at this moment and keep working with the scouting department," said Benítez , who saw his team lose their final pre-season friendly 2-1 to Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Saturday. "We had some money but I will not talk about figures. When you talk about the figures I think it is clear. I will not say anything. I don't have the answer. We are working hard with the players we have and the money we have. Always it is difficult to compete in the Premier League with clubs who have more money."

The Liverpool manager refused to confirm that Hicks and Gillett have revised his transfer budget but admitted he is uncertain as to what he has left to spend. "We will see," he said. "We are talking about these things. We are working always. We try to be ready just in case [we can sign someone], but you never know. It depends on the prices. It is something I have to talk with the club about. We have some ideas and we have to discuss these ideas."

Benítez revealed he is seeking improvement within the Liverpool ranks for this season's title challenge, and believes the acquisition of Aquilani will provide greater penetration at home. He explained: "To sign better players than we have now is not easy. If you analyse it you have to spend big, big money to sign these players. We have to manage with the players we have and I am pleased with them and hopefully with the experience of last season they will be better.

"I think we have some young players who need to improve, [Mikel] San Jose, [Daniel] Ayala, but also Ngog, Nabil, [Ryan] Babel and Lucas; young players with quality. The priority [this summer] was to extend the contract of the senior players to make sure we kept the spine of the team. Alonso decided he wanted to go. He told me in May he wanted to leave. We had to keep working and I think the price at the end was good. With this money we have brought in Aquilani. We knew he had an operation, but we wanted to change a little bit the games at home when the opposition is deep and it is not easy to give the final pass. Aquilani will be good there. The other players we have to wait and see how they progress in the season."

Aquilani made only 14 appearances for Roma last season because of an ankle injury that required surgery in May and will delay the Italian midfielder's Liverpool debut until at least a month into the new season. The 25-year-old was also sidelined two seasons ago with a serious thigh strain, but Benítez denied the £20m deal represents a gamble.

"We couldn't change the situation of Alonso. He decided to go, we had to progress. You have to manage in the best way you can," the Liverpool manager said. "If Aquilani was in a normal market he could cost £25m-£30m but because of his operation he was a bit cheaper. We have to wait but he is a player we are signing for five years, not for five matches. I was talking with a lot of people in Italy and people are saying it is a fantastic signing. He is now under the control of our medical staff because he had been going to different people. I think it will be better and he has the quality to settle down in England."

Benítez has an added headache ahead of Sunday's opener at Tottenham with all three of his established central defenders - Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel – injury doubts. Carragher is awaiting results of a scan on an ankle injury sustained against Atletico on Saturday, while Agger has a back problem and Skrtel is recovering from a hamstring strain but has now returned to light training. "I am 80% sure we will have two available for the next game," he said.

Guardian
[/quote]Those figures dont even make sense.
He's recieved 30m, 3.5m and 3m for the 3 players sold.
And so far PAID OUT 8m for Johnson (thats actual money out this transfer window) and 5m for Aquilani (according to the figure in another thread released by Roma) so even if the suggested 20m kitty were removed to service the debt.
That would still leave 23m of the money from sales.
Bottom line is the press know 2 bits of fuck all, and as usual spin Rafa saying 'we will see' into doom and fucking gloom in comparison with Fergie saying 'we wont sign anyone' and the press fawning over a fucking has been crock and a winger from Wigan.
Fucking bollocks. We may or may not sign anyone else but regardless the press will be after ruining us. Fuck em.
[/quote]

I wish I shared your naivety positivity on this one Oncy.

This looks ominously like the sort of thing that's gonna have Rafa moaning and compalining in 6 months time, when our title challenge has faded under a maelstrom of injured Gerrards.

 

[Hansern]

Tbh I don't think any of us knows what Rafa can use or not. An article like this doesn't change anything.

I think he got a set transfer budget when he signed his contract, and that is something they can't change. It's more an waiting game, as the prices are so incredibly inflated. Just look at Wenger, Ancelotti and Ferguson. They haven't spent a lot either. But they have funds availeble, it just about price and what the market is like.

We'll sign one more player, and I would love for it to be an attacking rather than defensive signing. But with our injury situation, it looks like a CB.

 

[doctor_mac]

I heard from an 'insider' near the beginning of the transfer window that Rafa would have to sell to spend.

 

[koze]

[quote author=Hansern link=topic=35150.msg921777#msg921777 date=1249884868]
Tbh I don't think any of us knows what Rafa can use or not. An article like this doesn't change anything.

I think he got a set transfer budget when he signed his contract, and that is something they can't change. It's more an waiting game, as the prices are so incredibly inflated. Just look at Wenger, Ancelotti and Ferguson. They haven't spent a lot either. But they have funds availeble, it just about price and what the market is like.

We'll sign one more player, and I would love for it to be an attacking rather than defensive signing. But with our injury situation, it looks like a CB.
[/quote]
Bullshit. What if we got no money. Rafa could hardly go, "But you promised mister!!!"

 

[keniget]

Well, it's one week before the season starts, we haven't been properly linked to anyone of note for months and it seems that it's only injury concerns that have accelerated our efforts to find defensive cover. Surely if we had any real money or intent to spend we'd have heard more by now.

I can't say I'm particularly hopeful of us making a top attacking signing at this moment in time.

 

[TheBunnyman]

It doesn't sound promising, does it? I wonder at what stage of the summer Rafa decided that his priority signing was a right-back rather than an attacking midfielder?

 

[doctor_mac]

When Arby told him he was leaving?

 

[Hansern]

8.16 Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez admits he may have to speak to the club's owners in order to secure more transfer funds to improve his squad.

 

[rage]

i cannot believe that a transfer budget was not arranged at the latest the end of last season.

this just doesn't get any better does it.

 

[gkmacca]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35150.msg921750#msg921750 date=1249865781]
I dont really think he's said anything there to suggest he thinks we cant or wont sign anyone else. I think hes just echoing Ancelotti and Ferguson in playing it close to his chest.
Rafa - 'We're minted, no problem la'
Creosote Phil - 'That'll be 15m for the big centre back please Sancho'

We'll sign another player before August 31st.
[/quote]

Exactly. The first step was to squeeze as much as possible out of Real, and the second step was to counteract any attempts to hike the price up of players we might now buy.

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=doctor_mac link=topic=35150.msg921802#msg921802 date=1249890744]
When Arby told him he was leaving?
[/quote]

I'm not disputing that we needed a new RB, nor am I disputing that Glen Johnson is a good player. But if you know you have a transfer budget of zero pounds and that you desperately need to improve the team's creativity on the left side of attack, would you really consider it a good idea to spend £17m on the right side of defence? When we signed Johnson, I took that as meaning that we still had £20m left in our budget, or at least that Rafa had a plan to spend the Xabi fee on a Silva-esque player. I'm kind of baffled now - unless this is all another famous smokescreen.

 

[Farkmaster]

[quote author=rage link=topic=35150.msg921804#msg921804 date=1249890915]
i cannot believe that a transfer budget was not arranged at the latest the end of last season.

this just doesn't get any better does it.
[/quote]

Why would we announce our transfer budget?

L: "we want player x"
Other club: "you can have him for 10M"
L: "we're only capable and willing to pay 6M"
Other club: "what about that 20M there"
L: KAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHNNNNNN... I mean, RAAAAAAAGEEEEE

 

[keniget]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=35150.msg921807#msg921807 date=1249891225]
[quote author=doctor_mac link=topic=35150.msg921802#msg921802 date=1249890744]
When Arby told him he was leaving?
[/quote]

I'm not disputing that we needed a new RB, nor am I disputing that Glen Johnson is a good player. But if you know you have a transfer budget of zero pounds and that you desperately need to improve the team's creativity on the left side of attack, would you really consider it a good idea to spend £17m on the right side of defence? When we signed Johnson, I took that as meaning that we still had £20m left in our budget, or at least that Rafa had a plan to spend the Xabi fee on a Silva-esque player. I'm kind of baffled now - unless this is all another famous smokescreen.
[/quote]

Maybe he wanted a player that could dominate the right flank allowing Kuyt more freedom to drift inside and get in the box or play up front. Either that or the fact that incoming regulations meant that the prospect of losing out on one of the few English players that could make our first team was out of the question.

Maybe we've been stung by our inability to offload some of the fringe players. The fire sale everyone expected at Valencia, who've stood firm all summer, never materialized and I suspect Silva would've cost a lot more than we all imagined as Rafa reportedly found out back in May / June.

 

[Oncy]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=35150.msg921799#msg921799 date=1249890630]
Well, it's one week before the season starts, we haven't been properly linked to anyone of note for months and it seems that it's only injury concerns that have accelerated our efforts to find defensive cover.
[/quote]Or the fact our budget was spent on Johnson originally. If Rafa (as expected) knew Alonso and Arbeloa were leaving then its safe to assume that he has identified targets should that money be made available. So far we've spent 5m (the first installment of the Aquilani deal) so im not giving up hope of there being more made available for Turner, Silva or whoever.
If not then fuck it we have what we have. Lets get out there and twat em.

 

[rage]

i wish i shared your optimism farkmaster. but rafa's quotes don't really read that way. maybe i'm thinking this because of what has gone on before.

i would also like to think that less than 7 days before the start of the season we'd worked out roughly what x player was going to cost us and were already in negotiations with someone.

 

[Y1]

[quote author=Herr Onceared link=topic=35150.msg921814#msg921814 date=1249891621]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=35150.msg921799#msg921799 date=1249890630]
Well, it's one week before the season starts, we haven't been properly linked to anyone of note for months and it seems that it's only injury concerns that have accelerated our efforts to find defensive cover.
[/quote]Or the fact our budget was spent on Johnson originally. If Rafa (as expected) knew Alonso and Arbeloa were leaving then its safe to assume that he has identified targets should that money be made available. So far we've spent 5m (the first installment of the Aquilani deal) so im not giving up hope of there being more made available for Turner, Silva or whoever.
If not then fuck it we have what we have. Lets get out there and twat em.
[/quote]

Eggzackerley. Let's get on with it and stop moaning!

Windows does not close until 31 August eneways.....

 

[gkmacca]

[quote author=rage link=topic=35150.msg921820#msg921820 date=1249891792]
maybe i'm thinking this because of what has gone on before.
[/quote]

You always do. Anyway, there is absolutely no chance that (a) we didn't plan our budget or (b) that we didn't plan our transfer targets. You combine the memory of any bad precedent with a startling readiness to believe any negative rumour in the papers to arrive at the pre-programmed despairing conclusion. Take a few steps back and reflect.

 

[spider-Neil]

this season is where the physios earn their corn in the attempt to keep the first team injury and where the fringe players turn their potential into tangible end product because I don't see another attacking player arriving and at a stretch all I see us getting is cover at center back.