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English Angle: Manchester United Vs Liverpool - Who's Spent More, And Who's Spent Better?
It is an endless debate that rarely centres on solid facts, figures and results, but Goal.com's Mike Maguire is here to settle the dispute between Sir Alex and Rafa once and for all...
26-Mar-2009 9:30:38 PM
Rafael Benitez was asked recently about the key factor separating Liverpool from the almighty Manchester United, and he responded, "About £100 million." That comment, however rhetorical or sardonic it may have been, has sparked yet another feud between he and Sir Alex Ferguson as we enter the business end of the Premier League season.
The Red Devils manager's reply was swift enough. Clearly rankled by Rafa's remarks, the Scot had the club's number crunchers calculate whether or not the Spaniard was onto something. And he was quite satisfied with the findings.
"[Benitez is] well ahead of us in spending in the last five years," Ferguson declared. "He said our spending power is more than theirs but he has spent £24 million more than we have."
The press has offered a startling variety of figures in response to this debate, with some sources claiming that United have spent comfortably more while others indicate that Liverpool have in fact splashed more cash since Benitez's arrival.
We at Goal.com have attempted to end the confusion (or add to it, as the case may be) by getting out the calculators and tallying up one by one every transfer each club has completed over the past five years. Only the straight-up, basic fees were considered - no toying around with signing-on costs, agent's stakes, player wages and such - and the figures make for interesting reading.
Initially, the sums seemed remarkably tight - literally a matter of a few hundred thousand pounds separating the two teams' gross expenditure. But upon closer inspection, it became apparent that this git of a writer had overlooked one rather important deal.
The thing is, most 'official' or rigidly correct lists of transfers had a certain Javier Mascherano's switch to Anfield marked down as a freebie, due to the complicated nature of his contract at West Ham United. He actually cost around £18.6m, and it is this deal which tipped the scales.
According to our calculations, Liverpool have spent a sizeable £190m on players (over £195m with known add-ons) since Benitez succeeded Gerard Houllier - and that figure doesn't include the purchase of Djibril Cisse, whose move from Auxerre was agreed just prior to Rafa's appointment.
Man United, on the other hand, have forked out around about £172m in basic transfer costs, with add-ons potentially taking that figure to the £180m mark. So much for the "£100 million" that Benitez believes is the reason for the gulf in quality between the two teams.
In terms of NET expenditure (i.e. the total when player sales are taken into consideration), the numbers are much, much closer. While 'Pool have recouped £102m or more, the Mancs have got back around £82m, leaving the NET sums at £88m and £90m respectively.
Of course, these can only ever be ball-park figures, but the exact amount is unimportant. What matters is that Benitez clearly hasn't been outspent by Ferguson, at least nowhere near as drastically as he thinks he has. In terms of funds available during the course of his Merseyside tenure, the ex-Valencia boss has been allowed just as much pocket money as his north west neighbour.
The difference is, Fergie has been allowed splurge on top-shelf sweets year after year, while Rafa has often had to settle for a big bag of boiled lollies.
Not including Bosman transfers or free youth-signings in the mould of Giuseppe Rossi and the Da Silva twins, Manchester United have bought 18 players since the summer of 2004. Liverpool, however, have paid for 33.
Now, we've all heard Benitez moan about how he had to rebuild after the Houllier era came to an ignominious end; he certainly did have to, there is no denying that. And he has sealed many a good deal - Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel, Fernando Torres and Mascherano are among the best in the business. But the early days of his reign saw him merely replace the French flops with garbage of his own - the Josemis, Antonio Barragans, and what have you.
Since then, his purchases have become gradually shrewder. Yossi Benayoun is starting to prove a useful little footballer at the top level, as has Alvaro Arbeloa, while Dirk Kuyt - although it was never intended - has developed into a pecular workhorse wide-man and Albert Riera has won over many of his critics on the opposite flank as well.
But still, for all the revamping and bulk-buying, the Reds' squad remains incomplete. They do not have a pacey and skilful winger (Ryan Babel, a born forward, is the closest they can get); they do not have adequate cover along the right flank - or up front, now that Robbie Keane is gone; and, when all is said and done, they still rely hugely on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to win them games. Apart from central midfield, central defence and in goal, there is a distinct lack of depth - despite the wholesale, squad-filling purchases.
Compare that to United. They can afford to leave Carlos Tevez on the bench; they have a variety of options for wide midfield positions, from Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs to Ji-Sung Park, Nani, and even the ridiculously versatile and reliable Darren Fletcher (not to mention Wayne Rooney for tough European fixtures). John O'Shea, wherever and whenever he plays, may be a weak point, but otherwise they are pretty well covered in all positions. With the Da Silva twins fit, they have a near-complete squad.
What may play in Benitez's favour is his lack of authority in comparison to Fergie. Only now, since signing his new five-year contract, will we see what Benitez can really do in the transfer market without any element of doubt over who is and isn't his man. Chief executive Rick Parry - who will leave the club at season's end - has been a constant thorn in Rafa's side, scuppering deals for Dani Alves, Ricardo Quaresma and Simao whilst foisting the likes of Keane and Cisse upon the gaffer, if reports are to be believed.
So, in many ways, we can only speculate as to how well Benitez himself has bought during his time in England, as Parry and those even higher up have clearly had a significant influence upon his transfer plans - quite unlike Ferguson, who has been given as good as free reign by the Glazer family, chief executive David Gill, Sir Bobby Charlton and the rest.
All in all, it is clear that the Mersey men have, in essence, mismanaged their finances compared to their neighbours up the East Lancs Road. Benitez has been craving these '£30 million' buys, and we will see this summer - maybe - whether he is actually capable of making the right choices.
But never can money be made an excuse by Benitez. It is just that he, perhaps in combination with his superiors, have felt the need to distribute their funds differently - and perhaps more expensively, given more players means more wages that need to be met.
This summer and next season will be defining for Liverpool and Benitez. Even if they manage to claim an as yet unlikely maiden Premier League crown this term, they will be under pressure to defend their title next time around; if they fall way short as they have done over and over in recent years, they will have to recruit players who can help them take the next step. The resources are there - of that there can be no doubt - but Rafa, can you do it?
Mike Maguire, Goal.com
The Red Devils manager's reply was swift enough. Clearly rankled by Rafa's remarks, the Scot had the club's number crunchers calculate whether or not the Spaniard was onto something. And he was quite satisfied with the findings.
"[Benitez is] well ahead of us in spending in the last five years," Ferguson declared. "He said our spending power is more than theirs but he has spent £24 million more than we have."
The press has offered a startling variety of figures in response to this debate, with some sources claiming that United have spent comfortably more while others indicate that Liverpool have in fact splashed more cash since Benitez's arrival.
We at Goal.com have attempted to end the confusion (or add to it, as the case may be) by getting out the calculators and tallying up one by one every transfer each club has completed over the past five years. Only the straight-up, basic fees were considered - no toying around with signing-on costs, agent's stakes, player wages and such - and the figures make for interesting reading.
Initially, the sums seemed remarkably tight - literally a matter of a few hundred thousand pounds separating the two teams' gross expenditure. But upon closer inspection, it became apparent that this git of a writer had overlooked one rather important deal.
The thing is, most 'official' or rigidly correct lists of transfers had a certain Javier Mascherano's switch to Anfield marked down as a freebie, due to the complicated nature of his contract at West Ham United. He actually cost around £18.6m, and it is this deal which tipped the scales.
According to our calculations, Liverpool have spent a sizeable £190m on players (over £195m with known add-ons) since Benitez succeeded Gerard Houllier - and that figure doesn't include the purchase of Djibril Cisse, whose move from Auxerre was agreed just prior to Rafa's appointment.
Man United, on the other hand, have forked out around about £172m in basic transfer costs, with add-ons potentially taking that figure to the £180m mark. So much for the "£100 million" that Benitez believes is the reason for the gulf in quality between the two teams.
In terms of NET expenditure (i.e. the total when player sales are taken into consideration), the numbers are much, much closer. While 'Pool have recouped £102m or more, the Mancs have got back around £82m, leaving the NET sums at £88m and £90m respectively.
Of course, these can only ever be ball-park figures, but the exact amount is unimportant. What matters is that Benitez clearly hasn't been outspent by Ferguson, at least nowhere near as drastically as he thinks he has. In terms of funds available during the course of his Merseyside tenure, the ex-Valencia boss has been allowed just as much pocket money as his north west neighbour.
The difference is, Fergie has been allowed splurge on top-shelf sweets year after year, while Rafa has often had to settle for a big bag of boiled lollies.
Not including Bosman transfers or free youth-signings in the mould of Giuseppe Rossi and the Da Silva twins, Manchester United have bought 18 players since the summer of 2004. Liverpool, however, have paid for 33.
Now, we've all heard Benitez moan about how he had to rebuild after the Houllier era came to an ignominious end; he certainly did have to, there is no denying that. And he has sealed many a good deal - Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel, Fernando Torres and Mascherano are among the best in the business. But the early days of his reign saw him merely replace the French flops with garbage of his own - the Josemis, Antonio Barragans, and what have you.
Since then, his purchases have become gradually shrewder. Yossi Benayoun is starting to prove a useful little footballer at the top level, as has Alvaro Arbeloa, while Dirk Kuyt - although it was never intended - has developed into a pecular workhorse wide-man and Albert Riera has won over many of his critics on the opposite flank as well.
But still, for all the revamping and bulk-buying, the Reds' squad remains incomplete. They do not have a pacey and skilful winger (Ryan Babel, a born forward, is the closest they can get); they do not have adequate cover along the right flank - or up front, now that Robbie Keane is gone; and, when all is said and done, they still rely hugely on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to win them games. Apart from central midfield, central defence and in goal, there is a distinct lack of depth - despite the wholesale, squad-filling purchases.
Compare that to United. They can afford to leave Carlos Tevez on the bench; they have a variety of options for wide midfield positions, from Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs to Ji-Sung Park, Nani, and even the ridiculously versatile and reliable Darren Fletcher (not to mention Wayne Rooney for tough European fixtures). John O'Shea, wherever and whenever he plays, may be a weak point, but otherwise they are pretty well covered in all positions. With the Da Silva twins fit, they have a near-complete squad.
What may play in Benitez's favour is his lack of authority in comparison to Fergie. Only now, since signing his new five-year contract, will we see what Benitez can really do in the transfer market without any element of doubt over who is and isn't his man. Chief executive Rick Parry - who will leave the club at season's end - has been a constant thorn in Rafa's side, scuppering deals for Dani Alves, Ricardo Quaresma and Simao whilst foisting the likes of Keane and Cisse upon the gaffer, if reports are to be believed.
So, in many ways, we can only speculate as to how well Benitez himself has bought during his time in England, as Parry and those even higher up have clearly had a significant influence upon his transfer plans - quite unlike Ferguson, who has been given as good as free reign by the Glazer family, chief executive David Gill, Sir Bobby Charlton and the rest.
All in all, it is clear that the Mersey men have, in essence, mismanaged their finances compared to their neighbours up the East Lancs Road. Benitez has been craving these '£30 million' buys, and we will see this summer - maybe - whether he is actually capable of making the right choices.
But never can money be made an excuse by Benitez. It is just that he, perhaps in combination with his superiors, have felt the need to distribute their funds differently - and perhaps more expensively, given more players means more wages that need to be met.
This summer and next season will be defining for Liverpool and Benitez. Even if they manage to claim an as yet unlikely maiden Premier League crown this term, they will be under pressure to defend their title next time around; if they fall way short as they have done over and over in recent years, they will have to recruit players who can help them take the next step. The resources are there - of that there can be no doubt - but Rafa, can you do it?
Mike Maguire, Goal.com
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