For years, rival fans claimed that Manchester United “bought” their success. Unlike Liverpool, we took advantage of our big name globally, cashed in nicely on the Sky Sports money, exploited fans with regular new shirts and merchandise, so we had money to burn in the transfer market.
We broke the British transfer record in 1981 when we paid £1.5m to bring Bryan Robson from West Brom, two years after City broke the record to sign Steve Daley for £1.45m, who The Observer later called the “biggest waste of money in football history”.
Over the next four seasons our club broke the records again, this time for the fees paid to our club when we sold Ray Wilkins to AC Milan (£1.5m) and Mark Hughes to Barcelona (£2.3m).
United next broke the record in 1995 to bring Andy Cole from Newcastle to try and help us secure that third title on the bounce but we lost out to Blackburn on the final day of the season after failing to beat West Ham. The £7m we paid for him was superseded by Arsenal a few months later when they paid £7.5m for Denis Bergkamp and that same month, Liverpool paid £8.5m for Stan Collymore. The following summer Newcastle paid an incredible £15m for Alan Shearer after he shunned us, meaning we forked out just £1.5m for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer instead that same week.
After winning the unprecedented Treble, United meant business in the transfer market, signing Juan Sebastian Veron for £28m in the summer of 2001 and Rio Ferdinand for £29m the following year. Rio was money well spent whilst Veron was shoehorned in to arguably one of the best central midfields of all time, with Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, and never really worked. Thankfully, we made more than half our money back on him when Chelsea took him off our hands a couple of years later.
The transfer record was next broken by Chelsea in 2006 when they signed Andriy Shevchenko for £30.8m before City broke it two years later to bring Robinho from Real Madrid for £32.5m.
However, it’s obviously not just breaking transfer records which you need to look at, indicated most clearly by both City and Chelsea who have spent shedloads of cash over the past few seasons but have only broken the transfer record once each in this time.
This table proves better than anything anyone could say that money does not necessarily equal success. Of course, there’s no denying that money gives you a much better chance of being successful and in most situations, it will make you more successful than you would otherwise be without it, but spending lots of money does not guarantee success, certainly not on the scale that United have enjoyed over the past few decades at least. Per season, there’s next to no difference between the spending of Spurs and United, for example, but the difference between trophies won is obviously vast. Liverpool are the third biggest spenders in the Premier League years yet have never even won it!
In the past eight seasons, four clubs have a larger net spend than United, with Aston Villa less than £3m behind us, yet when we compare the success in this time it’s laughable. United have won four league titles, Chelsea have won three and Arsenal have won one. United have also won the Champions League, the FA Cup and three League Cups. Chelsea have also won three FA Cups and two League Cups. Arsenal have also won an FA Cup, as have Liverpool and City, whilst Tottenham have won the League Cup. Aston Villa, of course, have won nothing.
The teams are ranked in order of how much money they’ve spent but this money isn’t reflected by the success they’ve had, particularly where United are concerned.
After winning back to back titles in 2005 and 2006, Chelsea strengthened their squad with one of the best players in the world for three positions, in Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko. In contrast, United just signed Carrick, despite selling top scorer, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and buying no replacement. It was United that won the league for the next three seasons though, as well as beating Chelsea in the European Cup final in 2008. If success can be bought, why did that happen?
Chelsea’s time as the biggest spenders has more or less come and gone, although they did spend more than City in the season just gone. However, with City now the biggest spenders, the most successful club has still been United. If they do win the league this season, as they are clear favourites to do, that will make it four Premier League title wins from the past five season. This table shows the net and total spend over the past five years.
So, to reiterate the point made earlier, money is needed to be successful, but it is just one of the many ingredients needed to win trophies. When you look at what United have that Chelsea and City don’t, like a brilliant manager who is a stable presence, as well as a constant stream of youth players in the first team squad who not only care more about the club but who also allow you to spend money elsewhere because they have no transfer fee, it illustrates clearly where our success comes from.
If you could buy success, Chelsea would have won the title every season since 2005, with City taking it off them last season and this. As it stands, we’re eight points clear at the top and likely to win back to back titles yet again.
——–
Transfer fees taken from TransferLeague.co.uk
Man Utd News 24/7
Read on Sky Teletext, Rio and Scholes to be rest and Smalling,Nani and Clevs to start.
So Im going with with my predicted line up of…….
De Gea, Rafael. Smalling, Evans, Evra,Nani,Cleverley,Giggs,Young,Chicharito,Welbeck
With,
Amos,Jones,Fabio, Carrick,Pogba,Valencia.Rooney on the bench.
It’ll be a very itchy game if Clevs and Giggsy is our CM pairing. More like Carrick-Jones/Giggs/Clevs
My prediction would be
DDG
Rafael Smalling Evans Evra
Tony V Carrick Giggs Nani
Rooney Hernandez
You need to do money spent since 92, adjusted for inflation yearly. I think we would be far higher up then. Just saying, I’m all for stats to use in arguments with City fans about us being sky-whores, but lets at least make them relevant?
I do love it when Scott writes these really long threads and the first lot of posts is about something completely different.
To add to the different posts – I hope Giggs isn’t in central midfield as we’ve not played that well with him there recently. He seems to have caught the wondering bug where he just seems to go up front and leave whoever he’s paried with to hold the middle on his own.
My prediction would be the sames as Jeet. Maybe jones as right back
Def Nani in for Young although Young has been really good for us this season. Just feel we have missed Nani’s creativity, passing, crosses, goals and skills a lot since he’s been out. The lad is a world class player there no doubt about it and has shown terrific form for us over the last couple seasons. Let’s hope he gets his chance tonight and really grasps it to fire us to the title again. VIVA LUIS NANI!!!! I’d go with de gea, rafael, smalling, rio, Patrice, LuiV25,carrick, Giggs, Nani, Wazza and Chicharito aka little pea Hernandez. Let’s av it tonight lads. 3 points is all that matters. Good luck lads. MUFC!!!!!!!!!!!
Scott – for the last chart you need to look at the last 6 years – as it’ll be 5 league titles in 6 years if / when we win this year’s title.
Can’t take away ronaldo transfer but obviously it skews figures insanely. If you take away the 69m net you made on him then suddenly it’s nearly 20m a season from 03. And net spend is relevant but not quite in the way you speak about it
Eg. Sell 70m player. Buy 5 14m players
Net spend 0
Another club sells and buys nothing
Who’s better off?
So whilst net spend was 0 I think overall spending is also important for obvious reasons
It’s actually incredible how well arsenal have done considering lowest net spenders in league. At the same time though- apparently they’ve had money to spend far beyond that for the last 4 seasons so its stupid that they’re still spending at that limit. Lol
Can’t say we don’t spend money but we also sell. The important thing is that we spend within our means
I think it’s imperative that we win tonight. You can think of all manner of scenario’s for the remaining fixtures but still being a minimum of 8 points clear, going into two home games against Villa and Everton (which are usually 3 point bankers), should ward off any late optimistic surge from the bitters.
I fancy a tough enough game tonight but a win for Utd. I also wouldn’t be surprised if WBA get a point tonight. It’s a great time to play those cunts!
I see MUST are demanding a cut in ticket prices for next year and are using net spending to justify the lack of investment in the club.
Good article, but as said before the figures in the first table especially, need to be adjusted for inflation.
@phildo 79- imagine a WBA win , not impossible .
so. Mario will never play for city again, now he will, no he wont …………………….. jokers
Before I start, yes I am a Liverpool fan, and whilst it irks me that United (I know its early but can’t see you dropping 8 points) have effectively won the league again this season, I find it heartening that United are able to win the league without having spent silly money in the league. It should give every club heart that just because you don’t have the best resources it is still possible to win the league.
Until Abromavich came along with his Rubels, United were by far the richest club, but only because you made the most of a massive fan base and identified the commercial riches that the Premier League brought with it. I don’t begrudge you that at all, because it took someone behind the scenes to spot those commercial advantages and you worked hard to benefit from them. If the money men at Liverpool had followed a similar suit, instead of believing that our former success was sufficient to be successful in the future, we may be doing better than 8th (I’d give Kenny another season though as I think any manager needs time, but that’s a story for another day). Unlike City and Chelsea who were bought and bankrolled by billionaires. (Interestingly the press don’t seem as keen to get rid of Mancini as they do KK. Is it better to finish to 2nd, 3rd or 4th or to win trophies? IMO winning trophies should give the team a winning mentality and the desire to achieve more, than finishing runners up or worse every season. Again for another time!)
So every club should take heart from United winning the league (even as grudgingly as I do) because, whilst the pockets of certain clubs are becomingly uncompetitively deep, its not the be all end all and sets the EPL apart from leagues such as Spain and Italy.
I think that even the most biassed United fan will agree that the age of the Glaziers and their purchase of the club has vastly reduced the money available for investment in the club and squad, despite the large turnover the club generates, but have again managed to win the league. As you say, you have stability at the top; players who may not all be Lionel Messi but want to play for United and an excellent youth setup. Its not rocket science which baffles me why more clubs don’t follow suit.
So through gritted teeth, well done United on number 20 and I hope its us rather than the billionaires club that get the chance to knock you off your perch!
This articles speaks volumes..The most important winning Ingredient is HEART with this any team can overcome challenges
As for Tonight i pray we go with:
De Gea Rafael Smalling Evans Evra Valencia Carrick Cleverley Young Rooney Welbeck
Subs: Amos Jones Nani Hernandez Giggs Scholes Rio
Bloody hell, how can any Red possibly tire of watching this….what a night and clear as yesterday…shivers…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Riy5M6zJJ8
MU do a good business….
Money cant buy success!
@Scousewalian: While I wouldn’t say your post comes close to making up for the Suarez t-shirts (for another day), that was very big of you. Classy post. Cheers, and good luck for the rest of your games and next season, just so long as your lot stay away from the perches
Have a good day, friend!
When Arsenal fans talk about how low their net spend is compared to ours, they tend to forget our prize money in the same period. We invest more because we also make a lot more from our prize money.
And, Xeno is right, we need to adjust for inflation for accurate comparison.
Carrick and Valencia are absolutely indispensable till the end of the season. I’d be surprised if Carrick doesn’t start.
Wow I’m shocked buying a bunch of fucking rent boys doesn’t guarantee success
I hope I won´t be punished here if I write that I am glad there is a post written with common sence also from a Liverpool fan …
BUt – not only for him – the 20th is NOWHERE NEAR DONE … UNTIL IT IS DONE!
I do hope we make it as – must admit – I am glad it is OUR perch now & even DO believe we are good enough to win it (upon what we´ve been showing in last 4+ months) … but 1st of all WANT US FANS & OUR PLAYERS AS WELL TO REALISE that we HAVEN´T won it being 8 pts clear with 18 pts to still be played for …
come on united!!!
I will go wt 4-4-2 fmtn wt de gea on goal, jones,smalling,evans,evra at d defence. Cleverly,giggs,nani,valencia at d middle of d park. Wazza,chicharigoal up front.
Very interesting stats guys. Like the breakdown of trophies won in the last 8 years as well – proves a point that it’s not all about money, although Chelsea have certainly seen the benefits of investment, and City have FINALLY won a trophy in the FA Cup. But United’s success is outstanding given that we’ve invested far less than the other clubs trying to catch us up, while remaining at the very top.
Regarding tonights game, I really hope SAF doesn’t rest Rio. If Scholes is rested then Giggs would be a good replacement, but I think we’ve got to stick with our best team until at least derby day – after all, if we carry on winning up until then, then the title will virtually be ours.
@Scousewalian, If only the bitter berties had the same insight as your good self, but that’s never going to happen, despite the inborn hate for all things Liverpool, I for one preferred it when our two clubs were battling it out with each other, here’s hoping your fortunes improve (not too much though)
@Jeet
That video has a sound lag, there is another one which is very clear as well
Another thing about that video, reminds you of something.
United has Sir Bobby Charlton as Ambassador
City has Patrick Viera?
What a joke
Clearly alot of research and time put into this article great work. All true, great article. Good work.
STR, I will say one thing, your stats do suggest that money spend does buy success IF success is measured in European appearances. My point is that fans might be limited to focusing on trophies, but the money managers will focus on big pay offs such as (high position in table, CL or Europa, TV rev, Advertising rev. City and Liverpool have bigger pay offs for their shirt deals than do United at the moment. So all in the top 10 are probably being reasonably well run from the point of view of income.
THE better point is that riches don’t buy trophies. But one can really see the wolves at the door. Hope we can continue this forray. I imagine that the similar stats could have been thrown at United over the 20 dark years of the 70s-80s We still had the largest fan base, but we couldn’t buy the title.
Older fans might not be so fast in throwing this pie in the face. Success is a very complex rubric. It can come and go in a relative heart beat.
Scousewalian Fair play. Think most would find it well said.
I’ve actually just calculated the inflation adjusted spends for United, Chelsea, City, Liverpool & Arsenal, interesting stuff, I will send STR the spreadsheet. Got bored after those because it takes forever!
Since 92:
United
Total spend: £483m (£589 inflation adjusted), recouped £307m, net £175m. Inflation adjusted net spend £220m
City
Total spend: £727m (£802 inflation adjusted), recouped £166m, net £561m, Inflation adjusted net spend £561.
Listen Papii
Mancini issa got help from somewhere
With strugglers like Villa next. Then Sunderland and Everton who fight till death.
We are in for a rough ride, expect United to do it the hard way.
I believe this loss will spark a great run of wins, remember this loss ended a long run of being undefeated, so our new focus will be adjusted.
We needed this shock to spark a bounce in our “United step” and Im kind of glad, because after these sort of games, we go on a long run of good form, which is ideal considering we have some real squeaky bum time games coming up.
What do you guys think “Blessing in disguise”?
Papii
You called? ha ha ha…..We were due one mate, laws of averages and what not. What some are forgetting is that we are still fucking 5 points clear!
CLint – agree. I think this season we’ve needed a regular kick up our backsides to get going again. I think complacency strikes in after every 10 games or so.
Should really give SAF enough ammo to give one final kick up each and every squad member’s ass.
Cedars
no one seems to remembers that anymore! I guess perspective is really a commodity in short supply
Papii
It’s sort of like that but the other way around
Manchester United will get a right rollicking bollock-ing hair dryer treatment x number not seen before for the next few hours before the gaffer puts his arms around them and fires them up.
The team SAF sent out was good enough, they should have known that Wigan would have been up for it – the truth is they scored from a corner which should have never happened so there you go. They got lucky we didn’t end of story. It all evens out doesn’t it?
We have 5 games left and have to better or match city.
Thats it
19
Cedars –
Thats brilliant, PL in the bag 
We do things the hard way, I believe we’ll win the league about 7 points clear.
5 points? Thank God I thought it was 3
Atin – Yes mate it is every 10 games which is expected because even the best forget their flaws when Cruising, happens often to champions, they just need something to ignite that spark again and order is resumed.
SAF is going to rape the lads, not mentally but in every physical way, they disappointed him and the dedicated away fans who should be refunded .
Lets keep this thread alive
So where is the host of the party? He invites us here then ditches us!
Issa here no?
Mancini no know who issa help Roberto.
Mancini phone so many friends they no help, then Angel of God come and help no?
MG
I see your point, the team was good enough for the other 30 games so no excuses now imo.
They are not crap, they just didn’t match Wigans willpower along with matching their luck because we was a bit unfortunate. The non-corner is another example of terrible refereeing over the last 7 days.
I think it does even out and I reckon we’ll get our revenge in the emptyhad.Because we’re the ones that need the win more, we have hurt lying in our motives.
Papii, Don’t think it was a blessing. We have several concerns and primary about them is the midfield on days like today. We spent large percentage of the game without the ball. Don’t know what the final stats were, but at one point in the second half it was being reported as 57% to them. That is unacceptable. They outworked us.
Still have to look at the ref all told. Dowd was SHOCKING. Ah well, I still think this is ours to loose. But there were real concerns today. Fair play to Wigan but shocking from us.
Also, no one should talk about Young diving after that lad from Wigan was going down left and right. An embarrassment.
But back to the midfield. We need to solve this problem of holding on to the ball with committed lower quality opposition. We saw it in europe and we have seen it over and over when we don’t have Scholes in the side.
In the end, it was a chance to get Cleverley and Nani a few minutes. But I honestly dispare at what Chicharito has done in the last few games. The player performances were really below par. Hope this was a one off and we get up for Villa. Again congratulations to a committed Wigan.
I bet mario is handing out cigars tomorrow
Mancini fucked us royally – the mind game got us
anyone have stats on our performances directly after a loss to one of the bottom teams.
never believe your hype clint
Papii
Mancini is a genius mate, he has totally ruined the boss
Papii
The last line is very important.
Let city come – it is important that they do this and that United know this if they thought otherwise.
Cedars
I second Mancini – issa special no?
Redbilly, A united myth is that we always bounce back. That is always going to be difficult to judge from a team that wins over 90% of it’s games. This year we lost 2 in a row and todays team looked more like the sides that have been unconvincing for the first 45 minutes of the last two outings. Just find it hard to think this is a one off.
Fergie is going off on Dowd and the assistant in his post match. Hope he doesn’t go and say anything rash. FA always love to hand us a ban or two and probably feel a bit itchy since they havn’t done us yet this year.
Fletch -
They outworked, but we will improve in the middle, we have been strong in the middle in the past 12 games because of Carrick and today he lost his cool imo.
Ref- decision, you win some and lose some….it happens, qpr and wigan are clear proof.
The midfield is full of ball players and not enough ball chasers imo. We need that Fletch type, two of them to boost our midfield but thats impossible at the moment, its difficult to find that complete midfielder.
I dont get the Chico criticism, its 2nd season syndrome. (Injuries,form,injuries,lack of games,form etc) People are quick to knife him in the back when they sang his praises last season, short memories. The boy is the future.
Watching MOTD ….really want to quit watching the pig fingering show !
They talk shite and leave out key arguments in their supposed punditry.
Mancini,Tevez and Kunt are coming for United
Be right back having dinner
clint. Fair play to anyone who recognizes what we lost when Fletcher got sick. We used to have a number of them Smith, Fletcher Gibbo and even Hargreaves at times.
Cleverley isn’t that mold and don’t see it in any of the youngsters (Pobga, Keanes, Petrucci). A problem that needs solving. You do see it when Jones and Carrick sit in front of the bake 4 and RB X is bombing down the wing.
Simple story today is we didn’t control enough of the ball and Dowd didn’t have a clue how to get ahold of Wigans antics.
But don’t take this as a negative. I am alway positive in the main and will be back to my chipper self soon enough.
At least Giggs is agreeing with me:
“Credit to Wigan, they put us under pressure but we didn’t perform. We didn’t keep the ball like Manchester United usually do.” via Gemma Thompson
The problem with midfield is a long term one and can’t be solved overnight. We need to go back to days of having a good blend, at the moment the blend is there is their in terms of making up the numbers and reliability.
Carrick is a passer not a Fletcher type. Scholes is the bomb but can’t play all games, this was the first league he missed and we cant depend on him for another era. Giggs is a man behind the two forwards and cant be asked of much in a two man midfield.
Pogba 
Clevs is young and unproven still,Anderson
I don’t buy for a minute we have a poor midfield but in the big occasion or when forced back they do crumble because what’s meant to be instinctive, doesn’t happen for guys like Giggs,Clevs and Carrick. They are limited so work needs to be done to find a good blend.
Look at 08′, we had Scholes,Hargreaves,Fletcher,Carrick,Anderson,Giggs….what a fucking great batch to have, perfection. We need major investment in a new one and to start some more faces so they learn. For 2012-13 we need Carrick,Fletcher, Giggs, Player X,Cleverley,Player X/Pogba/Scholes.
We will win the league, but its going to be difiicult, one problem at a time please
fletch- im not talkin about the myth. We may play ultra defensive at OT in a similar vein to the response after the back to back losses. SAF will adjust for the weekend. we were all over the place tonight but we are not the only team to do it .
Anyway It’s time to bow out United
We’ll go again
OT here we come Sunday – 19
MG
xxx
Your a good egg !
So lonely….Mr Lonely….I have nobody
King Eric
We need you.
Hell, I need you.
I’m a mess without you. I miss you so damn much! I miss being with you.
I miss being near you.
I miss your laugh!
MG
I miss your musk… When this all gets sorted out, I think you and me should get an apartment together!
For whoever it may concern
I know that one day Willie and I are gonna to get married on top of a mountain,
and there’s going to be flutes playing and trombones and flowers and garlands of fresh herbs. And we will dance till the sun rises. And then our children will form a family band. And we will tour the countryside and you won’t be invited.
Fletch -
I’m not a baby, I am a man. A Man United Man
RedMeg, Jason Park, Antiscouser, K9
You are a smelly pirate hooker.
Sweet Lincoln’s mullet….thats an awful lot of non sense
Papii
I read that Papii
I don’t think we need to get an apartment Papii, but hey if it keeps you happy
More so we should get our lightsabers out our Star Trek phasers and head for that elusive city bottle.
Failing that we can always try to find out who made Mancini happy today the naughty naughty boys United!
Night Papii you RED genius – till tomorrow which is technically today!
19
I believe diversity is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.
MG -
I believe United have found the City Bottle at the DW stadium, we best stay clear, I hear Wigan Bottle it there often. “The dark side lies there, At the DW ”
Laters Taters you feisty racoon
See you?……read you at Sunrise pal
Named must your fear be, before banish it, you can
Man City – Mancini “Its finished,over”
Man Utd – SAF “Not if anything to say about it, I have”
On the whole, Jones,Welbeck,Rafa,Fabio,Clevs debate…i’d like to add
The dark side clouds everything. Impossible to see the future is.
Mancini: “He’s suffered a defeat, yes, but… behind the walls of Carington , our enemy is regrouping. “
Giggs: Is there any hope, Gaffer, for Wazza and Ron?
SAF: There never was much hope. Just a fool’s hope.
Sheik Makhtoub:
The power of the enemy is growing. Ferguson will use his puppet Scholes to destroy the people of Stockport. Rooney has been unleashed. The Eye of Ferguson now turns to Giggs, the last free king of men. His war on this city will come swiftly. He senses the Cup is close. The strength of the Cup challenger is failing. In his heart, Mancini begins to understand. The quest will claim his life. You know this. You have foreseen it. It is the risk we all took. In the gathering dark, the will of the Cup grows strong. It works hard now to find its way back into the hands of United. United, who are so easily seduced by its power. The young captain of United has but to extend his hand, take the Cup for his own and the league will fall. It is close now, so close to achieving its goal. For Ferguson will have dominion over all life in this league, even unto the ending of the Premier league. The time of the Bitters is over. Do we leave Stockport to its fate? Do we let them stand alone?
Paul Scholes:
From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak I fought with the hands of time… Until at last I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountain side… Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time… The stars wheeled overhead, and every day was as long as a life age of the earth… But it was not the end. I felt life in me again.
I’ve been sent back until my task is done.
I’m awake, pig fingerers
These guys are better than Michael McIntyre.
Kumbaya my lord, Kumbaya !
Papii
Still on it you Star
Sorry couldn’t get into it have been out all day long – back now Papii as the threads go marching on and on