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Fergie's losing it

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posted on 6/5/12

City have bought in 4 years what Utd have been doing for a decade.
A comparison of squad costs would show this.

posted on 6/5/12

I'm not pretending they haven't spent a lot. But I'm contesting Ferguson's view that they have made prices insane. This is done by paying unnecessary money for a certain player, and for the majority of their players Man City have not done this. Only Milner springs to mind (good player though)

posted on 6/5/12

comment by Wengers Philosophy Teacher (U3394)
posted 7 minutes ago
City have bought in 4 years what Utd have been doing for a decade.
A comparison of squad costs would show this.

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The real talent is sustaining a league chasing and trophy chasing team for a decade, not building one in a few years like Chelsea did (now look at them) and now City.

posted on 6/5/12


I'm not disagreeing. I think it's ridiculous for Utd to complain about City's financial power.
Perhaps the only time they have been priced out, was during the signing of Nasri - but we'll never really know how interested Utd were in him.

posted on 6/5/12

The real talent is sustaining a league chasing and trophy chasing team for a decade, not building one in a few years like Chelsea did (now look at them) and now City.
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Chelsea have had a brilliant season. Nice point there.

posted on 6/5/12

Yeah, Chelsea having a nightmare. F.A cup win and Champions league final.

posted on 6/5/12

"Man City have not done this. Only Milner springs to mind"

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Lescott, Santa Cruz and Bridge were all over-valued by City.

comment by X (U4074)

posted on 6/5/12

Arguably Lescott has been the best centrehalf in the country this year, if he plays as well for two more years then his price might be justified x

posted on 6/5/12

X - He hasn't even been your best CB. That title is still Kompany's.

comment by (U8008)

posted on 6/5/12

It seems strange that Ferguson should blame teams like Man City for the ridiculous prices paid for top players. Utd paid £28M for Veron and £19M for Van Nistelrooy. Tidy sums of money even now, but those were paid out 11 years ago in the summer of 2001! Huge sums then and the Veron figure raised a few eyebrows at the time. Utd had won 3 consecutive titles at that point and were a leading side in Europe. Nobody else in England could compete with this buying power, with Utd pretty much capable of getting whoever they wanted. The following year Utd made another big purchase in Ferdinand of £28M. These massive signings were made before Roman Abramovich came to Chelsea and started splashing money around.

Rooney and Berbatov were bought for big fees in seasons to come, before Man City were splashing money around (although you could argue City were after Berbatov). Even now Utd still have 4 of the top 10 fees paid by Premiership sides.

And you only have to look back over the Ferguson years to see the transfer fees that have been paid. Andy Cole at £7M in 1995 shattered the previous English transfer record of £5M. Keane, Stam, Yorke and Barthez were all big fees for the time. And of course there have been big £15M+ fees paid in recent seasons for Carrick, Hargreaves, Anderson, Valencia, Young, De Gea and Jones.

To blame clubs like Man City for transfer fees is a bit of sour grapes now that Utd slipping behind City. Utd have always spent big, but now cannot compete themselves with the riches at the disposal of the owners of Chelsea and City.

posted on 6/5/12


The real talent is sustaining a league chasing and trophy chasing team for a decade, not building one in a few years like Chelsea did (now look at them) and now City.

That's why City are spending £200m on a new training complex and youth development complex.

posted on 6/5/12

"Even now Utd still have 4 of the top 10 fees paid by Premiership sides."

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After 20 odd years of dominance you'd expect it. Man City have 3, and they've been nowhere for the last 20 years.

comment by (U8008)

posted on 6/5/12

comment by MonDieu - Maybe I'm the Dragonborn and I just don't know it yet. Michael Gove is a ...and so is Cristina Fernandez. RIP The Swerve. You'll be misssed fella. (U9200) posted 20 minutes ago

"Even now Utd still have 4 of the top 10 fees paid by Premiership sides."

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After 20 odd years of dominance you'd expect it. Man City have 3, and they've been nowhere for the last 20 years.

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The point Ferguson is making is that Man City are spending ridiculous fees on players and it's spoiling things. Yet Utd still have 4 of the top fees ever paid, 2 of them were paid out 10 years ago! So what have Utd done over the years?

comment by X (U4074)

posted on 6/5/12

Well City won the FA Cup last year and are also close to being champions this year, so I'd thank you to amend your statement to "they've been nowhere for 18 of the last 20 years."

I know it kind of takes the drama out of your rant, but don't you think criticism of City's transfer outlay should be measured against recent success and impending domination for the next 5 years or so x

posted on 6/5/12

"don't you think criticism of City's transfer outlay should be measured against recent success and impending domination for the next 5 years or so"

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Well, seeing as that 'outlay' is likely to increase a LOT over the next 5 seasons or so, no.

posted on 6/5/12

Why will it increase, the core of our team is 25 or under and we have a lot of youth players who sshould be able to step up a level next season.

posted on 6/5/12

Boris - It probably won't increase by a lot IF you win the PL, but I can't see Mancini keeping his job if you don't. That'll mean a new manager buying his own 'chosen few' so-to-speak.

Even if Mancini does keep his job (after losing Title), he will be pushed to improve his squad which will mean buying players, and given everyone knows how much dosh you have, it'll mean a bit of a hefty outlay.

I'm just calling things the way I see it. I may well be wrong, but none of us can really predict the future, just guess, based on future TW's.

posted on 6/5/12

The owners gave Mancini a public vote of confidence when we were 8 points behind United, that's what probably galvanised the team - Bobby's here to stay and he's only about 2 players short of the squad he wants.

posted on 6/5/12

Public votes of confidence aren't worth diddly and you know it mate. I'd love Mancini to stay as he's probably my favourite manager in the PL, but no doubt about it, his position will be discussed at the end of the season if he doesn't win.

posted on 6/5/12

Not saying for one second that Mansour is like Abramovich, btw.

posted on 6/5/12

It's already been discussed as I said before.

posted on 6/5/12

Yes Boris, it has been discussed. But under quite different circumstances to those in which the club may find itself come the 14th.

posted on 6/5/12

It was discussed when the season looked over. Mancini's target is season on season improvement and that's what he's achieved already no matter how the season ends.

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