Topic: 4th place just became a lot more difficult

[Sarge]

I do think we have a very good squad and we will challange for everytihng but it will get harder and harder with the likes of the City investors. If DIC come it will be better not sure how much but better. Also i think this is a good point.......

having the most money dosen't automatically mean you can have all the best players. 

As i said before Sami was 2.5m where Veron was 26.5m. Point above proven. I think if Rafa got a steady kitty we would be serious contenders on a yearly basis no matter how much the other clubs have.

[tomtom]

having the most money dosen't automatically mean you can have all the best players.  Chelsea were supposed to be about to buy everyone they wanted and create a superteam back in 2005/6.  Who has the best player in the Prem?  United.  Who has the best striker in the Prem? We do.

It's not as simple as one club having the monopoly.

Say David Villa wants to leave Valencia for the Prem next year.  Who will he go to ... United, Us, Chelsea, Arsenal .... or City?

And where would he go when City are in the champions league and offering him a considerable amount more than United, we or Arsneal could offer him in wages? Perhaps Villa is one of the few player who would pick a club offering less, but the majoirty of players out there who will go where the money is; Chelsea, City + Any future super rich club.

I'm not saying one club will have a monopoly, but in the scenario where another cash loaded investor of Abu Dhabi's size comes in its likely 2 out of the 3 teams in the big 4 who don't rely on a billionaire to fund fantasy football like transfers will be forced out of the champions league places and will stuggle to get back there. Just look how Chelsea have become so dominant, United have managed to stay competive because they have spent similar amounts to Abramovich, what happens if City start spending more than Abramovich as they have pledged, it seems pretty logical to me they too will become a very powerful club.

Ronaldo... went to the club who offered most money at the time, this was United. What happens now a club has more money than united and can outbid them and offer more money? Where do we stand in all this? Torres was an exception to the rule but this is becoming less common.

Even Rafa admits that money is massively important in the modern game, Chelsea's and United's dominance proves it is. If you look at it realisticaly many more clubs with unlimited amounts of money means we are in deep shit.

[liverpoolfcmike]

I do think we have a very good squad and we will challange for everytihng but it will get harder and harder with the likes of the City investors. If DIC come it will be better not sure how much but better. Also i think this is a good point.......

As i said before Sami was 2.5m where Veron was 26.5m. Point above proven. I think if Rafa got a steady kitty we would be serious contenders on a yearly basis no matter how much the other clubs have.

Whereas the bit about the money is true (in some cases), you have to keep into account it makes it a lot easier to get those top players.

[Tattyreagh]

2 years ago man city were a relatively small team
5 years ago chelsea were on the verge of administration

i can see the top 4 in a few years being a "billionaires only group"

[Sarge]

Whereas the bit about the money is true (in some cases), you have to keep into account it makes it a lot easier to get those top players.

As i said, give Rafa a regular decent kitty to do so. I think we are at a stage where we are still not where Rafa wants us to be like having 1/2/3 more World Class players in the squad. United, Chelsea only need to buy 1/2 players a year if need be as they are a setteled squad we are not yet.

[OSWALDO]

It was only a matter of time. Im happy for them being able to compete with the other half of Manchester. Will put their noses right out've joint. Also find it funny that so many have jumped ship and denounced their support after the whole Sinatra saga.

At least Gerrard won't have to move house when City put a bid in unlike the geographical inconvenience of his Chelsea flirtation.

Also £45m bid for Torres last week - I'm surprised G & H didn't snap City's arms off?

[tomtom]

As i said, give Rafa a regular decent kitty to do so. I think we are at a stage where we are still not where Rafa wants us to be like having 1/2/3 more World Class players in the squad. United, Chelsea only need to buy 1/2 players a year if need be as they are a setteled squad we are not yet.

Problem is the price of these world class players is going to keep rising. I'm pretty sure City pushed up the price of Berbatov yesterday, what happens if another team or 2 get backing like this? We won't get a Torres like signing for 20million, it will be more like 40million. DIC would be in it for profit, so who's going to be paying to compete with these billionaires? Thats right we are, is that realistic? No. Whats more the risk of us getting beaten to the champions league spot will be much higher so the chances of us getting that money to put towards making necassary signings to keep up with the top teams each year will diminish also.

[liverpooll]

It about about getting 4th place but everything, all clubs are getting more ambitious atm so we will have many problems in this time but those clubs are real small clubs so it doesnt work all the time as you cant buy support,love and all those things

[Crouchy]

I heard about City getting taken over last week by some Arabs but did'nt want to say, thought i'd get stick for winding people up. Didn't know they were this loaded tho!

[Midekima]

This is not good for us a tall, or the rest of the Premier League. Chelsea have finally settled down and are not paying over inflated prices like they were in the first few years. This Man City deal has blown all that out of the water.

Bottom line is every half decent player will now have Man City bidding for them and offering more money and more wages.

Man Utd have proven they can step up and pay the big money when needed, Chelsea certainly can and now so can Man City. Arsenal have more than they are spending but will never spend big money with Wenger in control. Even Villa have spent more cash than us this summer and are slowly cathing up.

We face the real prospect of not making the top four, when we drop out getting back in could become very troublesome. We need to get this stadium built over the next two years and get decent investors who will stay with us for ten years plus and allow us to buy a 30 million player each season.

With Torres and Gerrard out for at least 2 weeks i am genuinely concerned! 2 weeks may not be a long time but fatcor in regaining fitness levels and form and you are looking at 4-5 weeks with a team already playing terrible football.

[greeny01]

Just been on Sky sports that Man City's new owners have released a statement saying they will attempt to sign Cristiano Ronaldo for £130m and also Torres, Fabreagas and Villa in January.  Its funny but also fecking worrying.   

[YJT]

I heard about this stuff this morning. firstly i burst out laughing that they nicked a player from under chelsea's noses and then i thought about how this affects us...

Could this turn in to a positive thing for us?

Firstly imagine how G&H must be shitting it. They'll have taken the CL for granted, and we know how important financially that is for us. If we don't qualify not only us but the owners would be in deep financial trouble. maybe they'll start thinking about cutting their losses and reduce the price of the club??

secondly maybe DIC's pride has been hurt which will make them even more determined to buy us? they're supposedly massive rivals. where as rich guys compared houses and cars and in the UAE maybe horses the new must have item is a football team. If the rivalry is really strong they might feel they need to out do them which  would mean them buying us?

A possibility or me clutching at straws?

[YJT]

Just been on Sky sports that Man City's new owners have released a statement saying they will attempt to sign Cristiano Ronaldo for £130m and also Torres, Fabreagas and Villa in January.  Its funny but also fecking worrying.  

bloody hell i feel like I'm in the matrix and the world is really a football manager game!

[Mascherrardorres]

This is not good for us a tall, or the rest of the Premier League. Chelsea have finally settled down and are not paying over inflated prices like they were in the first few years. This Man City deal has blown all that out of the water.

Bottom line is every half decent player will now have Man City bidding for them and offering more money and more wages.

Man Utd have proven they can step up and pay the big money when needed, Chelsea certainly can and now so can Man City. Arsenal have more than they are spending but will never spend big money with Wenger in control. Even Villa have spent more cash than us this summer and are slowly cathing up.

We face the real prospect of not making the top four, when we drop out getting back in could become very troublesome. We need to get this stadium built over the next two years and get decent investors who will stay with us for ten years plus and allow us to buy a 30 million player each season.

With Torres and Gerrard out for at least 2 weeks i am genuinely concerned! 2 weeks may not be a long time but fatcor in regaining fitness levels and form and you are looking at 4-5 weeks with a team already playing terrible football.

I think we will still finish top 4 this season, realistically 3rd or 4th. However, I have my concerns when the transfer season starts again, teams below us will be getting world-class players and we'll still be scrapping for bargains.

[Litmanen10]

No worries, we got the new American owners who will bring lots of money to buy players and build us the new stadium, and guess what, the best part is, all debt will be on them and not the club!

No wait....

[43 and counting!]

Just been on Sky sports that Man City's new owners have released a statement saying they will attempt to sign Cristiano Ronaldo for £130m and also Torres, Fabreagas and Villa in January.  Its funny but also fecking worrying.   

is this a fucking wind up?

If not, I'm ditching Sky for good. fuck it!

I was talking to my mother earlier, yes, MY MOTHER lol, and I said, ''Chelsea are to blame for the state of football, now Man City are going to totally ruin it'' and she said, ''No, it's SKY'S fault!''

She's got a point.

I'm seriously considering ditching it now. Fuck it.

Murdoch 

[hyypia04]

As soon as I heard this story break I started to panic a little. Like others have said, it might not happen overnight but over the next few years the balance of power will change and quite possibly leave us fighting it out with Arsenal for the 4th Champions' League spot imo. Very depressing thought.

Fortunately, because they aren't in the CL this year and probably won't be next year either, it might take a little longer for City to get where Chelsea are as they already had qualification for the tournament pre-Abramovitch. I still think that playing Champions' League football is more of a pull factor for attracting players than money.

But now we have -
Chelsea and City with the funds for any player they want.
ManUre in a financial league of their own in terms of revenue.
Arsenal with a state-of-the-art 60,000 seater stadium that brings in a small fortune every matchday.

We need that new stadium so fucking badly.

[stockdam]

Nope £135M for Ronaldo and then Torrres and Fabregas.



http://football365.com/story/0,17033,8691_4086979,00.html


Stevie G is also a good player.

Now where will we be when we don't have our best players?


It's going to be a great time ahead for the likes of Torres and Gaerrard. Now that they have shown that they are stars in one of the "feeder" clubs (err that's Liverpool) then they'll be able to ask for whatever they want and will play Chelsea off against City.

[SallyCinnamon]

Problem is the price of these world class players is going to keep rising. I'm pretty sure City pushed up the price of Berbatov yesterday, what happens if another team or 2 get backing like this? We won't get a Torres like signing for 20million, it will be more like 40million. DIC would be in it for profit, so who's going to be paying to compete with these billionaires? Thats right we are, is that realistic? No. Whats more the risk of us getting beaten to the champions league spot will be much higher so the chances of us getting that money to put towards making necassary signings to keep up with the top teams each year will diminish also.

You must have gotten away with writing that shit half a dozen times now without anyone asking you how the fuck you know this to be true ?

You then claim that the Abu Dabs are only in it for the prestige it brings to the area,some thing i stated about DIC when they 1st came onto the scene,now if you think that the Abu Dabs are doing just that how the hell can you dismiss Dubai being in it for the very same reasons ?

I just want a level playing field & i believe we can achieve that with a new stadium & a 3 or 4 World Class player injection,if Dubai provide that i then believe we can push on using our own prestige to crack a bigger part of the market.

But again how the fuck do you know that Dubai will only be in it for the profit ?

[Sarge]

It is clear the Yanks must go no matter what. Fuck other Clubs i guess as we can only do what we can but at the moment we cann do alot better without the Yanks.

[rocco]

Wonder would the yanks turn down a £150 million offer from city for Torres and Gerrard

[Betty Blue]

I have to say that I imagine if this were us putting in massive bids for the world's superstars and bringing in Robinho on deadline day, most here would be rejoicing. Part of me never wants to see this happen at Liverpool, the people's club, but in my heart I know that if we can't match these clubs with are own big money transfers then we may never see a title at Liverpool again.

Benitez, like Wenger, is building his team on the youth policy. Assembling a strong spine - Reina, Agger, Masch, Gerrard, Torres - while working around the edges to improve elsewhere (the flanks for example) 'til we start to see the kids shine through. And perhaps if the right players comes good at the right time we can make a serious challenge, but there is always an element of luck in this method.

So I don't know what I want anymore. I love Liverpool and I don't want to see us overhauled by these mercenary sides, but if the cost in matching them is becoming one ourselves I just don't know whether it's worth it.

[Sarge]

Wonder would the yanks turn down a £150 million offer from city for Torres and Gerrard

What do you think.

[Sarge]

I have to say that I imagine if this were us putting in massive bids for the world's superstars and bringing in Robinho on deadline day, most here would be rejoicing. Part of me never wants to see this happen at Liverpool, the people's club, but in my heart I know that if we can't match these clubs with are own big money transfers then we may never see a title at Liverpool again.

Benitez, like Wenger, is building his team on the youth policy. Assembling a strong spine - Reina, Agger, Masch, Gerrard, Torres - while working around the edges to improve elsewhere (the flanks for example) 'til we start to see the kids shine through. And perhaps if the right players comes good at the right time we can make a serious challenge, but there is always an element of luck in this method.

So I don't know what I want anymore. I love Liverpool and I don't want to see us overhauled by these mercenary sides, but if the cost in matching them is becoming one ourselves I just don't know whether it's worth it.

Good post and i agree with most. So far Rafa has built his side as has Ferguson at most tbf. Chelsea are big time mercenaries and City will be too. Arsenal are like us i agree.

[tomtom]

You must have gotten away with writing that shit half a dozen times now without anyone asking you how the fuck you know this to be true ?

You then claim that the Abu Dabs are only in it for the prestige it brings to the area,some thing i stated about DIC when they 1st came onto the scene,now if you think that the Abu Dabs are doing just that how the hell can you dismiss Dubai being in it for the very same reasons ?

I just want a level playing field & i believe we can achieve that with a new stadium & a 3 or 4 World Class player injection,if Dubai provide that i then believe we can push on using our own prestige to crack a bigger part of the market.

But again how the fuck do you know that Dubai will only be in it for the profit ?

I don't know that for a fact, but I from what I have read about the group I have come to the conclusion that this is most likely.

I don't want DIC to come in and make us like City and I don't think they will. My point was that if they are in it for profit then it will be up to us the fans to fund the wages and transfer fee's if we are to compete in a vastly inflated market.

Sorry if I stated my opinion as fact - It was not my intention, there's no need to be so aggressive though is there?

[SallyCinnamon]

I don't know that for a fact, but I from what I have read about the group I have come to the conclusion that this is most likely.

I don't want DIC to come in and make us like City and I don't think they will. My point was that if they arn't in it for profit then it will be up to us the fans to fund the wages and transfer fee's if we are to compete in a vastly inflated market.

Sorry if I stated my opinion as fact - It was not my intention, there's no need to be so aggressive though is there?

Oh ok that's realy cleared it up  Surely if they are not it it for profit then the fans money wouldn't matter ? Or am i reading you wrong.

[tomtom]

Oh ok that's realy cleared it up  Surely if they are not it it for profit then the fans money wouldn't matter ? Or am i reading you wrong.

Haha, yea you knew what I meant though!

[And Could He Play]

If they sign Ronaldo, Gerrard and Torres along with Robinho and Biscan, shit, they'll have some side. Exciting times ahead in the prem.

Seriously though, i think it is good that another team spends big, will be decent watching how Rob gets on.

Plus Arsenal have got more reason to worry than us.

[SallyCinnamon]

If they sign Ronaldo, Gerrard and Torres along with Robinho and Biscan, shit, they'll have some side. Exciting times ahead in the prem.

Seriously though, i think it is good that another team spends big, will be decent watching how Rob gets on.

A few have said this latest buyout has put them off football but ffs surely that would've come with the Russian,i'm all for City stiring the pot even though i know if the Yanks don't sell up and we miss 4th spot then we're only a season or 2 away from being fucked.

[Sid7]

It's not just that they will buy our players. It's that they will push up the prices even more and price us out of the market.


Example - Say next season we have 30 million and we want to buy Villa. We offer him 70K a year and a chance to play for Liverpool. Well, along comes Manchester City and bids 45 million and offers him 130k a year. Who do you think he will opt for ?

9 out of 10 times the selling club and player will follow the money.

So expect to see a lot of our highly rated targets going to other clubs and us to continue bargin bin shopping and hoping they turn into world class players.

[SallyCinnamon]

It's not just that they will buy our players. It's that they will push up the prices even more and price us out of the market.


Example - Say next season we have 30 million and we want to buy Villa. We offer him 70K a year and a chance to play for Liverpool. Well, along comes Manchester City and bids 45 million and offers him 130k a year. Who do you think he will opt for ?

9 out of 10 times a player will follow the money.

So expect to see a lot of our highly rated targets going to other clubs and us to continue bargin bin shopping and hoping they turn into world class players.

Surely the fact we cannot compete in the transfer merry go round was allready clear before the Abu Dabs joined the party.

[Red Alert]

Amanda Staverley was one of the team in the take over at City, and has revealed that DIC STILL want to take over at Liverpool..........We wait and hope.

[SteveZissou]

If you got the right people behind the scenes you don't need billions.  We got Rick Parry.  No fear He will sign top players underneath our rivals noses.  Consistently beating Newcastle and Spurs to our third choice signings

[Paul JH]

Just been on Sky sports that Man City's new owners have released a statement saying they will attempt to sign Cristiano Ronaldo for £130m and also Torres, Fabreagas and Villa in January.  Its funny but also fecking worrying.   

More worrying that the FA don't sanction comments like these which are blatant tapping up of the highest order and now just seem fit to let this shite go on.

A few have said this latest buyout has put them off football but ffs surely that would've come with the Russian,i'm all for City stiring the pot even though i know if the Yanks don't sell up and we miss 4th spot then we're only a season or 2 away from being fucked.

Why do people act like we can ONLY get 4th? Sorry, but we did finish above Arsenal the previous two years and they've spent nothing hardly this summer. Christ, why do people have such short memories? Why settle for 4th this season, or act like we have no chance of anything higher?

[GBF]

It's not just that they will buy our players. It's that they will push up the prices even more and price us out of the market.


Example - Say next season we have 30 million and we want to buy Villa. We offer him 70K a year and a chance to play for Liverpool. Well, along comes Manchester City and bids 45 million and offers him 130k a year. Who do you think he will opt for ?

9 out of 10 times the selling club and player will follow the money.

So expect to see a lot of our highly rated targets going to other clubs and us to continue bargin bin shopping and hoping they turn into world class players.

all depend where Man City finished in the league...money could not buy Mascherano, Torres, Keane for example.  I think City will get their players but it will depend who is there manager and how they perform. 

Since they are not a london team (i.e. london to the most attractive place for mercenaries), they will settle for players who are either want to leave their club (like Robinio) or players at their end of their career.  They will try to get a CL spot in order to get a bit more much better players, but its longer term than Chelsea managed it.  But I dont think Hughes will be able to attract most of the best players of the world without winning the domestic cups, UEFA or get into CL

[Shanks1965]

all depend where Man City finished in the league...money could not buy Mascherano, Torres, Keane for example.  I think City will get their players but it will depend who is there manager and how they perform. 

Why couldn't money buy those players? Everyone has their price. Surely Robinho leaving Real Madrid (the club most players want to play for at some time or other) to join Man City (who?) tells you that?

If a silly offer came in for any of our players our owners would sell who ever it was just as in the same way they blocked the Barry deal because they thought he wasn't worth it.

[SallyCinnamon]

More worrying that the FA don't sanction comments like these which are blatant tapping up of the highest order and now just seem fit to let this shite go on.

Why do people act like we can ONLY get 4th? Sorry, but we did finish above Arsenal the previous two years and they've spent nothing hardly this summer. Christ, why do people have such short memories? Why settle for 4th this season, or act like we have no chance of anything higher?

I don't think that,i am always optimistic right up until the horse os long since dead in other peoples eyes...

I am saying if we don't get atleast 4th G&H/we're fucked,maybe the housing market slump is a blessing in disguise because if the Gunners were to sell up all the units they 2 would free up a good few million to go with the supposed £70m they have tucked away.

[GBF]

Why couldn't money buy those players? Everyone has their price. Surely Robinho leaving Real Madrid (the club most players want to play for at some time or other) to join Man City tells you that?

If a silly offer came in for any of our players our owners would sell who ever it was just as in the same way they blocked the Barry deal because they thought he wasn't worth it.

ask United why money could not buy them Torres....they were after him long before us

[tellusajoke]

Good. We shouldn't be aiming for 4th no matter what teams are out there we should be aiming for 1st and see where it takes us.

[Shanks1965]

So if they offered a silly amount of money to buy him and the club accepted the offer (as they would) and an even sillier long term contract compared to what we are paying him you really think Torres or any of those players you mention wouldnt go?