Which is what this part of my post was about:



I was talking about the latest story linked to, which is nothing to do with that point. In that case he would seem to be entirely right. I just think whining again about others spending more is getting boring and achieves nothing.

Has it never occured tor you that the reason he talks about it maybe because reporters/media ask him about him? They have press conferences virtually every other day, they have to say something and answer the questions they receive.

I'm not sure what Rosicky or Park have over and above Benayoun for example.

Of course anyone can pick out and compare a managers decent buys against another managers poor buys.

What about Insua or Aurelio, both cost nothing. Arbeloa, less than £3m. It seems people ignore what's in front of their eyes.

I agree with some of that, Benayoun plays a similar kinda role if anything he has been more productive although Park is there mainly for his work ethic. I think what people are getting at is that Rafa's strike rate isn't great and that maybe why he wasn't allowed to choose, your wife may doing something similar with your cloth shopping...can't be trusted etc.

What you trying to say? Matalan is where it's at.

Matalan? You posh tw'at....get to Primarni.

It's pretty much what Mark said. Benayoun is actually one of the half-dozen I was thinking of.

Also, perhaps the reason it's easy in this case is the differing strike rates some of us are talking about.

As for the last 3, I don't particularly rate any, especially Arbeloa. Insua I've seen less of though, TBF. But if I was to draw up a list of decent fullbacks at the top 4 clubs, they'd be a decent way down it, which is the bottom line of the matter isn't it?

Why do they? Why not a simple; 'I've spoken about this before and the situation is pretty much the same. Next.' He doesn't even need to throw his toys out of the pram about it or anything either, just make the point that the press continually re-tread the same ground and he's said his piece.

Which begs the question, where are the other 2 teams of the "big four" suffering, because last time I looked, Liverpool were above them in the League.

The reason you don't rate any is because you probably don't watch enough of them. The thing is with Arbeloa, he isn't an Alves or a Cole, he's a defender who goes forward when he can, his game isn't based on going forward. It seems these days if you're not bombing forward, then you don't get noticed at full back.

Alves is allegedly the best full back in the world according to many fans and pundits. From what I saw against Chelsea, he was average at best. He's obviously doing something right to get all the plaudits he has, but the ironic thing is, Rafa wanted to sign him, but guess what, the powers that be thought he was valued to highly. Go figure.

So, if he's saying something against the grain he's throwing the toys out of the pram? I suggest you don't listen to any manager, as you will get very frustrated very soon.

It's actually Arbeloa's defensive qualities that I don't rate, not him going forward. When the ball is put in the air towards him it's almost a guaranteed corner, regardless of any danger posed.

If Benitez had won the league then he'd have obviously been above Hiddink in my rankings.

In reference to [iwhat might have been[/i in the CL semi it's a simple case of seeing what the talk was in the build up to the matches and seeing how Chelsea dictated the outcome of the games. Barca were supposedly the best side in Europe, an unstoppable attacking force. They had one shot on target in the second leg, in the 93rd minute.

Under Scolari, Chelsea hadn't won a single game against any of the other big clubs, nor had they won a London derby. They were beaten twice by Liverpool, they lost at home to Arsenal. Under Hiddink they knocked Liverpool out of the CL, they beat Arsenal in the FA Cup semi and they've just hammered Arsenal 4-1 at the Emirates. Even a scouser as thick as you can surely see the contrast?

No, I meant he is more than capable of dealing with the press without appearing to do so. As in, choosing not to answer inane questions. He could make his point in a fair and reasoned way, he wouldn't have to resort to petulance and make a big issue out of it.

But you go ahead and interpret posts however suits you best.

Neither have Bolton. Think Megson's done a worse job than Phil Brown this year?

Results against specific clubs mean nothing.

You know what I hope Everton win the Fa cup just to pi$$ you and rest of plastic FC off

COYB

i take it you will be a man utd fan again next year

In The FA Cup we'd played Southend and Ipswich. We needed a replay to beat Southend. We were knocked out of the Carling Cup, at home, by Burnley.

In the Champions League we finished second in pretty weak group. We were tvvated 3-1 by Roma. Given Scolari's record against difficult opposition it wasn't looking like we'd get past Juve.

ATM it's looking like the only thing Benitez will achieve is 2nd place in the league. IMO finishing 3rd in the league, reaching the FA Cup final, knocking Liverpool out of the CL, being 2 minutes and 1 decent referee away from a CL final is a better achievement.

Since Hiddink took over Hiddink has taken 28 points from a possible 33. Benitez has taken 26 from 33.

IMO the main reason Liverpool are going to finish second is Scolari. If Hiddink was in charge for the whole season we'd be pushing United a lot closer, and possibly be at the top of the table right now.

That's why I rate Hiddink as worthy of a far better placement in the Manager of the Year ratings than Benitez.

Never was a Man Utd fan

Man U are going to draw there remaining 3 games you heard it here first

you was before hull $hitty came up

next season you will be a man utd fan again

So the 4-4 draw with your team, when we were 2-0 down, was nothing special?

Beating Arsenal in an FA Cup semi was nothing special?

Our performance against Barcelona was magnificent. We were playing supposedly the best side in Europe and we made them look ordinary. Johan Cryuff came out and slagged Hiddink off for taking Drogba off in the Barca match and Hiddink may have made an error in that, but over the 180 minutes Hiddink slaughtered Guardiola.

And if they do then Hiddink will sink lower in the ratings. But at the moment they still have to play the final, are big favourites to win it, so a probable FA Cup is a better addition to the trophy cabinet than Benitez's haul of nothing.

Not if we win the league.

Bolton weren't really expected to win against the top sides. Chelsea were.

But that won't happen. There is more chance of Chelsea pipping Liverpool to second place than Liverpool winning the league.

But neither will happen.