neville
Player Valuation: £30m
Here we go again
http://www.football365.com/story/0,1...490598,00.html
Rafael Benitez has started the season in traditional fashion by having a crack at old friend Alex Ferguson.
The Liverpool manager is quoted by The Guardian as claiming that Alex Ferguson has been rattled by the sheer weight of spending by Manchester City.
"We can always talk about the top four.but Manchester City are doing a very good job and have bought some excellent players.
"I can understand why Mr Ferguson at Manchester United is a little bit worried.
"Aston Villa and Tottenham have also spent some money, so there will five, six or more fighting now."
Benitez went on to outline the importance of tying his most important performers to Anfield, something he started on Friday after Fernando Torres signed a new deal.
"The important thing was to try and extend the contracts of key players" he said.
"And that is what we did. We had 86 points last season to finish second, and we have more or less the same squad, so maybe we can do the same again or better.
"But we will need to improve at home, and [Glen] Johnson as an attacking full-back is the sort of player who can make the difference in difficult home matches when opponents are defending. We have lost Sami Hyypia, he will be a big loss because he was a good player, but if Skrtel and Carragher are fit I thought we could manage.
"As for our title chances, the players know we were very close last season and they want to improve. We know what this team can achieve and they will be ready."
He also suggested that Javier Mascherano's Argentinian teammate Leo Messi had been trying to persuade the midfielder to move to Barcelona.
"Javier has a very good friend in the national team and that is Messi. Messi was on to him every day and that is not easy, but Javier knows what we think of him and he will be .
"I talked with Javier, his agent and Barça. It is normal they see him as such a good player, and an option for them.
"We told Javier he was so important for us and we wanted to keep him. We were not talking about any price. He was a bit disappointed as it was a fantastic opportunity with a big club. But he is happy here, and as a player and a person you can trust him 100%."
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http://www.football365.com/story/0,1...490598,00.html
Rafael Benitez has started the season in traditional fashion by having a crack at old friend Alex Ferguson.
The Liverpool manager is quoted by The Guardian as claiming that Alex Ferguson has been rattled by the sheer weight of spending by Manchester City.
"We can always talk about the top four.but Manchester City are doing a very good job and have bought some excellent players.
"I can understand why Mr Ferguson at Manchester United is a little bit worried.
"Aston Villa and Tottenham have also spent some money, so there will five, six or more fighting now."
Benitez went on to outline the importance of tying his most important performers to Anfield, something he started on Friday after Fernando Torres signed a new deal.
"The important thing was to try and extend the contracts of key players" he said.
"And that is what we did. We had 86 points last season to finish second, and we have more or less the same squad, so maybe we can do the same again or better.
"But we will need to improve at home, and [Glen] Johnson as an attacking full-back is the sort of player who can make the difference in difficult home matches when opponents are defending. We have lost Sami Hyypia, he will be a big loss because he was a good player, but if Skrtel and Carragher are fit I thought we could manage.
"As for our title chances, the players know we were very close last season and they want to improve. We know what this team can achieve and they will be ready."
He also suggested that Javier Mascherano's Argentinian teammate Leo Messi had been trying to persuade the midfielder to move to Barcelona.
"Javier has a very good friend in the national team and that is Messi. Messi was on to him every day and that is not easy, but Javier knows what we think of him and he will be .
"I talked with Javier, his agent and Barça. It is normal they see him as such a good player, and an option for them.
"We told Javier he was so important for us and we wanted to keep him. We were not talking about any price. He was a bit disappointed as it was a fantastic opportunity with a big club. But he is happy here, and as a player and a person you can trust him 100%."
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get a grip you idiot Benitez. 
