Also, how many of United's players have come from their own academies?
One could argue that they've been buying the league for a while.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 16:58, 1 reply, 14 years ago)

they won the league with their academy
they used the money earned from sustained dominance of the game to buy better players and maintain their dominance. Also, they have a fairly astute transfer policy most of the time, and make a lot of money from selling players.

Apart from the general moaning about money in football, which is a fair point but not relevant here really, how is that in any way wrong?
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:01, Reply)

I have no issue with them.
It's simply the number of people who after the City game came out and said "They're only buying the league anyway!".
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:02, Reply)

Well, they are and those people have a point.
If you want to buy, earn first. Run as a business.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:04, Reply)

however, I still don't think they'll win the league.
Balotelli is a walking disaster and they can't rely entirely on Silva.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:05, Reply)

You make a very good point about Silva
What do you think the chances are of them trying to pick up a similar player in January?
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:07, Reply)

*cough*Samir Nasri*cough*

(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:11, Reply)

They already have one
and he can't buy a game. Nasri.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:15, Reply)

Erm
Balotelli Rooney
Silva Nani
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:09, Reply)

I don't think Nani's had a decent game for weeks, so that's hardly relevant
And Rooney, while a liability, plays for the team in the most part and doesn't suffer from what is known in the trade as "Nicholas Bedntner Syndrome"

Let me put it this way. When Balotelli scored against man U, he showed that tshirt and got booked, right? Well, there's two things about that which define why he is a nightmare. Firstly, "why always me?" everything is about him, and that makes him a nightmare to play with and manage and secondly, do you doubt for one fraction of a second that he's have done it anyway, even if he was already booked, and therefore got sent off? The man is a tool. Neutrals love him being in the game, but every Man City fan I know is petrified when he's on the team sheet because who knows which one will turn up?
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:15, Reply)

You're right, it's not a fair comparison
And yes, Balotelli is a fuckwit. Nonetheless, should he be suspended for shitting on the ball before kick-off or injured attempting to score with his nostril, they can replace him easily; as they'll have to when his form peters out anyway. United without Rooney are just not as potent an attacking force. And he WILL get suspended for doing something absurdly thick.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:17, Reply)

United without Rooney can still play as a team
City, I don't think can. They perform individual roles well, and Silva can create brilliance (at least against mediocre opposition) but beyond that .. Nah. They were put under pressure against Munich, and they collapsed. Ditto Charity shield, although meaningless. And let's not forget they barely deserved their lead befor Evans was sent off. They've done nothing yet to suggest they are any better than last year, except they've scored more goals against dross.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Tue 22 Nov 2011, 17:22, Reply)