Liverpool Shoestring budget

it's ridiculous

our young players use velcro

Tricky - I could knock you down with a one-inch punch.

RMB idol, never speak to me again or i will destroy you!

The keane thing was all about NET SPEND imo they spent on someone who could not hit the net

budget isn't just about transfer fees though, im pretty sure Liverpool have the 5th highest wage bill in the PL.

RP - 150m is the net spend.

apologies, the net is 127m (arsenal over same period is 27m profit)

from today's papers

Manager Rafael Benitez will try and solve Liverpool's striker crisis by making a £32m move for West Ham's Carlton Cole in January.

''RP your net spend is still well high!

oh 5th highest thats so bad''



No one's saying we are paupers or that we dont have an advantage over your Boltons and Fulhams. But people want the manager sacked for not beating club's funded by 78,000 a week thru the gate or Russian billionaires. That's the issue here. The level of expectation

everyone has to cope with it, up till a couple of years ago Arse had to compete with Pools outrageous level of spending!

Here's the full list of players he's signed since he's been at the club (please read the summary below):

2004/05

£2m - Josemi: peanuts and was moved on in a swap for Kromkamp 18 months later
£1.5m - Antonio Nunez: part of the Michael Owen deal and filled a gap for a while. Peanuts.
£10.7m - Xabi Alonso: Massive success and sold for £30m+ in the summer when he wanted to leave
£6m - Luis Garcia: Massive success and sold to Athletico Madrid for £4m
Free - Pelligrino: Stop gap that allowed us to rest Sami for league games, benefitting us massively in Istanbul. Now on the coaching staff.
£6.3m - Fernando Morientes: Pretty much everyone made up when we signed him, top class, but never settled. Sold for £3m to Valencia.
£1m - Scott Carson: One the most highly rated young keepers around. Lost out through injury and signing of Reina when Dudek left the club. Sold for £3.25m.

Total bought: £27.5m

Free - Marcus Babbel: Released to Stuttgart at the end of his career.
£2.5m - Danny Murphy: Xabi Alonso signed to fill the role Murphy had in the side
£8.5m - Michael Owen: Wouldn't sign a new contract and sold before he left on a free. He's done nothing since that is a masterstroke with hindsight.
Free - Stephane Henchoz: Released to Celtic at the end of his career

Total sold: £11m

A total of £16.5m net spend in his first year at the club, with the vast majority of that being spent on Xabi Alonso.

2004/05 net spend: £16.5m

2005/06

£240,000 - Antonio Barragan: Kid for the future. Sold for £675,000 to Deportivo a year later.
Free - Boudewijn Zenden: Signed for nothing and released for nothing. Did a job for us.
£6m - Pepe Reina: In the top 3 or 4 keepers in the world now and still young. One of Rafa's best signings.
£5.6m - Momo Sissoko: Brilliant for a few years, had that eye injury and sold to Juventus when his form dipped for £8.2m. Replaced by Mascherano.
£7m - Peter Crouch: One signing I did question but proved to be a great bit of business. Turned him from a laughing stock into an international. Sold for £11m.
Unkown - Miki Roque: Kid bought for peanuts. Sold again for an unknown amount.
£150,000 - Jack Hobbs: Highly rated 16yr old signed from Lincoln. Didn't progress as hoped and sold to Leicester for a reported £1.5m, although figure not confirmed.
£190,000 Besian Idrizaj: No idea who he is
£1.5m - Mark Gonzales: Cheap player to provide back up for the left wing. Sold for £3.5m to Real Betis.
Exchange - Paul Anderson: Swapped for John Welsh. Sold for £250,000.
Exchange - Jan Kromkamp: Swapped for Josemi. Later sold for £1.75m
£5.8m - Daniel Agger: Blighted by injuries but potentially top class and great signing for the money.
£250,000 - David Martin: Young reserve keeper
Free - Robbie Fowler: Pay as you play deal and no risk involved. Scored a few goals. Released in the summer.

Total bought: £26.73

Free - Vladimir Smicer: Out of contract and released. Played a small part in Istanbul.
£3.5m - El Hadji Diouf: The best £3.5m Rafa has ever recieved.
Free - Pellegrino: Filled the gap in the last 5 months of the previous season, not good enough and released.
£2m - Alou Diarra: Sold for £2m. One of Houllier's buys.
£2m - Antonio Nunez: Bought for £1.5m and now sold for £2m when didn't work out.
£6.5m - Milan Baros: A Houllier signing sold at a profit. He's done nothing since.
Exchange - John Welsh: Swapped for Paul Anderson
Exchange - Josemi: Swapped for Kronkamp.

Total sold: £14m

2005/06 net spend: £12.73m

2006/07

£6m - Craig Bellamy: Good signing and later sold for £7.5m to fund Torres deal.
£2m - Gabriel Palletta: Played a few league cup games, not good enough and sold for £1.2m
Free - Fabio Aurelio: Very injury prone but a good player when fit. Great signing for nothing.
£6.7m - Jermaine Pennant: Second choice after missing out on Alves. Ran his contract down and released. Attitude stank.
£9m - Dirk Kuyt: Has his critics, but has been brilliant for the money. 15 goals last season from wide and vital to the way we play. Ultimate pro. Great signing.
£200,000 - Nabil El Zhar: Few cameos last season and improving. Injured now. Promising still. Peanuts.
£750,000 - Astrit Ajdarevic: No idea who he is, and released on a free to Leicester.
Loan - Daniele Padelli: Reserve keeper, made one appearance and never seen again.
Undisclosed - Jordy Brouwer: Young reserve.
£2.5m - Alvaro Arbeloa: Bargain signing, great service for a few years and sold for £3.5m when running his contract down.
Loan - Javier Mascherano: Rescued from West Ham, now one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and will probably be sold to Barca this summer for a massive profit. Paid £18.6m for him a year later at end of loan deal.

Total bought: £27.15m

£200,000 - Zak Whitbread: Youngster
Undisclosed - Bruno Cheyrou: Houllier flopped, sold for a reported £1.5m.
£3m - Fernando Morientes: Didn't work out. Cut his losses.
Free - Didi Hamann: Great servant, released at the end of his career
£675,000 - Antonio Barragan: Paid £240,000 for him.
£2m - Djimi Traore: Houllier signing and daylight robbery getting £2m for him
£500,000 - Neil Mellor: Signed as a kid and did a job for a while. Not good enough and released.
£1.75m - Jan Kromkamp: Nunez bought for £2m, swapped for him, who then sold for £1.75m. Stop gaps at minimal expense.
£525,000 - Darren Potter: Acadamy lad, not good enough and robbery getting that much for him.
£1.5m - Steven Warnock: Probably sold to cheap and looks a mistake with hindsight. Good squad player.
Free - Salif Diao: The clearout of Houllier's flops continues.

Total sold: £10.15m

2006/07 net spend: £17m

2007/08


£5m - Lucas Leiva: Brazilian player of the year when signed. Could still go either way but a lot to prove.
Undisclosed - Krisztian Nemeth: Promising youngster currently out on loan in Athens.
£270,000 - Mikel San Jose Dominguez: Youngester plays in the reserves.
£1.8m - Sebastian Leto: Left winger signing but refused a work permit. Sold for £3m.
£20.2m - Fernando Torres: Bargain of the century
Free - Andriy Voronin: Free transfer to strengthen the squad. Plays well in Germany, garbage over here.
£5m - Yossi Benayoun: Took a while to settle but now a key player. Superb signing and an absolute bargain.
£11.5m - Ryan Babel: Highly rated dutch international. Absolute waste of space. Bad signing on reflection, but nobody knew how he'd turn out. Still got potential but he can't be arsed.
Undisclosed - Charles Itandje: Back up keeper signed for peanuts. Now released.
£1.3m - Emiliano Insua: Youngster who is now a full Argentinian international and massive potential. Bargain.
£6.5m - Martin Skrtel: Been off form this season so far, but brilliant last year and a good signing for the money.
£18.6m - Javier Mascherano: Completion of loan deal

Total bought: £70.7m

£2.7m Florent Simana-Pongolle: Houllier youngster sold wanting first team football.
£100,000 Daniel ODonnell: Kid sold
Free Jerzy Dudek: Released at end of contract
Free - Zenden: Released at end of contract
Free Robbie Fowler: Released at end of contract
£4m Luis Garcia: Wanted to return to Spain. Great service.
£6m Djibril Cisse: Houllier signing sold to part fund Torres deal.
£7.5m Craig Bellamy: Sold at profit to part fund Torres deal
£3.5m Mark Gonzales: Signed for £1.5m and sold when didnt work out.
£1.2m Gabriel Palletta: Bought for £2m but never worked out. Young defender.
£3.5m Chris Kirkland: Houllier signing. Injury prone and wanted first team football.
£8.2m Momo Sissoko: Great signing, good service, sold when lost his form at a profit.

Total sold: £36.7m

2007/08 net spend: £34m

2008/09

Free Philip Degen: Garbage, but free.
£7m - Andrea Dossena: Italian international left back. Hasnt settled. Bad signing.
£3.5m Diego Cavalieri: Reserve keeper. Only played league cup games so far.
£1.5m David Ngog: Young French striker. Promising.
£19m Robbie Keane: Everyone made up when we signed him. Didnt work out and sold back to Spurs for £16m.
£8m - Albert Riera: Spanish international. Started well but jury still out.

Total bought: £39m

£4m John Arne Riise: Good servant but form tailed off. Snapped their hands off at £4m.
Free Harry Kewell: Harry who?
Undisclosed Anthony Le Tallec: Houllier youngster finally released. Fee not known.
£11m Peter Crouch: Laughing stock bought for £7m. Great signing. Wanted first team football.
£2.25m Danny Guthrie: Youngster from Acadamy thought not good enough.
£3.25m Scott Carson: Injury prone and Reina now first choice. Sold at profit.
Undisclosed Steve Finnan: Sold for a fee believed to be £1m
£16m Robbie Keane: Didnt work out.
Undisclosed Jack Hobbs: Young defender that didnt progress. Sold for believed to £1.5m.

Total sold: £36.5m

2008/09 net spend: £2.5m


2009/10

£17.5m Glen Johnson: Big fee, but has been brilliant so far.
£17.1m - Alberto Aquilani: Injured so far but meant to be a class act. Highly rated in Italy.
£2m Sotirios Kyrgiakos: Last minute signing to fill Hyypias shoes. Only money we had to spend.
£160,000 Daniel Ayala: Young defender, played a few times this season and looked promising.

Total bought: £36.76m

£250,000 Paul Anderson: Youngster that didnt progess.
Free Jermaine Pennant: Out of contract. Poor signing.
Free Miki Roque: No idea who he is. Bought for peanuts.
£3m Sebastian Leto: Signed for £1.8m but didnt get a work permit. Had to sell.
£3.5m Alvaro Arbeloa: Wanted to leave and out of contract in the summer.
£30m Xabi Alonso: Wanted to leave. Bought for £10.7m. Great signing.

Total sold: £36.75m

2009/10 net spend: £10,000


Total Players Bought: £228,976,000
Total Players Sold: £145,100,000

Total Net Spend: £83,876,000

exactly you have the 5th highest wage bill but its almost expected that they should be challenging for the title. The truth is there are at least 2 teams that should be finishing ahead of Liverpool in terms of the money they've spent on transfers and wages, expectations are probably unrealistic but thats football.

and the net spend argument has been done to death, on average Benitez has spent around £20 million per season since he arrived, is that enough to overturn teams like Man Utd and Arsenal who have managers that have been in their jobs much longer, or Chelsea who spend huge amounts in a short time.

Net spend only tells one story, you also have to consider the relative strengths of the different squads during that period, certainly Benitez had more players to shift than his rivals.

Teams wage bill is another expenditure that often gets overlooked but is usually a pretty good gauge about the quality of player being signed i.e the better quality the player the higher the wage. I think Liverpool have the 5th highest wage bill in the PL.

excuses.

Rafa has spent a lot of money on average players. If they were any good you would not be in this predicament.

the main point on transfers though is that whether he has a net spend of 80, 100, 120 or 150m - he has a squad that is unrecognisable when 2 players are injured, and one of those players was there before he joined!

they are more reliant than their rivals on their key players and it just so happens all of their key players are getting injured. So you take away Gerrard, Torres, Johnson and a few others and it doesn't look great, but building a strong squad takes time.

chicken - I've copied from The Times. Many are speculative as private companies do not need to disclose actual numbers. No-one can say theirs is definitive

the main point on transfers though is that whether he has a net spend of 80, 100, 120 or 150m - he has a squad that is unrecognisable when 2 players are injured, and one of those players was there before he joined!

Did the same thing not apply last season where they finished second, and the two players mentioned hardly played together, this season has seen the same scenario only it was weakened by alonso leaving (replacement not played) addittion of johnson, and the decline in form of carragher, no real differnce, just the results are far worse, the squad remains the same,

'Rafa has purchased dozens of players between £5m & £10m and how many of those would get into a tile winning side ?''


About half a dozen got within 4 pts last season, so not a dead loss, eh?