Player transfer fees

But they don't because you put two banks of four in and then give it Messi

Right but you could replace their keepers quite easily and they'd still be good. You cannot replace Ronaldo and Messi easily as very few forwards in hisory possess their quality. That's why they cost so much/are paid so much. Football clubs know this because scoring goals is the most important thing in football.

I'm sure all the great managers talk about building a team from the defence forward, and not the striker back

Yeah. They all had great strikers.

I'm also sure all the great managers spent more on their attackers than they did their keepers and defenders.

I can't believe I'm having to do this but....

Strikers/forwards effect the opposition. You can literally stop a far better team playing a high line if you have quality up front. No-one has ever changed their teams tactics to accommodate the oppositions centre backs.

If they were great managers, I'm sure they wanted the best player in every position, and I'm sure they valued their contribution equally

You think Fergie would have gone to such great lengths to protect Stam if he'd fly kicked a spectator cos I don't.

Execept he valued them different when it cane to the transfer market and wages, with Rio being an exception.

It's weird you are using managers as an example to try and support your point when they literally prove that attackers cost more and are paid more for a reason.

Fergie hates strikers