Rafa Benitez Vs Alex Ferguson

EXCLUSIVE: Rafa Benitez vs. Alex Ferguson - First 6 years comparison.



Rafa Benitez and Alex Ferguson share one major thing in common: after 6 years at their respective clubs, both had failed to win the title. Ferguson won the league in his 7th season in charge, but Liverpool look as far away from winning the title as they ever have under Benitez. I've completed a side-by-side comparison of the first 6 years in charge for each manager at their respective clubs. Are there any parallels between LFC and Man United? Benitez and Ferguson?

SOURCES

Transfer spending is accounted for in club accounts.

* Liverpool Transfers: Snippets from each set of accounts illustrating transfer additions/disposals each year:

2004-5
2005-6
2006-7
2007-8
2008-9

NB. Rafa Benitez's recent attempt to downplay his transfer spending
(i.e. personal propaganda) directly contradicts the figures in the CLUB's own accounts. These figures are absolute. They cannot be disputed, even by the manager.

* Man United transfers: Snippets from each set of accounts illustrating transfer additions/disposals each year:

1986-88
1988-89
1989-90
1990-92

* Historical Inflation Calculator

* Season stats: LFC History | Soccernet | Soccerbase | Red11 (MU Stats)

NOTES

* There comparison consists of three tables:

1. Side-by-Side season overview.
2. Side-by-Side season stats overview.
3. Gross/Net Transfer spending comparison.

* I present Man United's transfer spending in two forms: original amounts + adjusted for inflation.

*
I have omitted LFC's transfer activity for accounting year 2009-10 (31-July-31 July) as the club accounts for this year will not be
available until 2011. Consequently, there is no way to be 100% sure about the figures. I will update the transfer spending table when the
2009-10 accounts are released.

* The point of this article is
NOT to compare transfer spending (!) - I've supplied the figures purely because they're a part of any accurate comparison. Football has changed
dramatically in the last 25 years so there's no real point in comparing like-for-like transfer activity. I stress again: the figures are merely
included for the same of presenting a proper first-6 year comparison.

*
It's worth remembering that English clubs were banned from Europe between 1985 and 1990 (Liverpool had a further year's ban until 1991).
This obviously would've had a knock-on effect on turnover/money available for transfers during that period.

* The reason I've done this comparison is mainly because so many fans have asked for it
(if I'm honest, mainly people who are pro-Benitez).

* This is
NOT an attack on Benitez (!). Such an accusation would be ridiculous anyway as many of the figures below place Benitez in a positive light.

* These stats have never been compiled before online.

TABLE 1: Side by Side Season Overview


TABLE 2: Side-by-Side season stats overview



TABLE 3: Gross/Net Transfer spending comparison



So - there you have it. I draw no conclusions - I'm just presenting the figures.


Read more: http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2010/05/exclusive-rafa-benitez-vs-alex-ferguson.html#ixzz0oxnbYWsK



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interesting article.. Thoughts?

Very interesting article presented here, ive always wanted someone to compare Rafa first number years at Liverpool to Fergie years.

IMO Rafa and Fergie are two very equal managers in thier first 6 years at thier respected clubs.

In favor of Fergie, he didnt have the luxury of millions of money back in the 80s, where Rafa did, spending 20million on players such as Torres, Mascherano, Aquilani, Keane, Johnson etc. Also im not sure if this is an advantage to Fergie but manchester united wernt in the european cup for the first 5 years of his career (having said that his players would have been fresher to more focused on winning the championship) but they never won the championship until Fergies 7th year.

In favor of Rafa, the game as changed so much since the 80s and to manage at the top flight is far more stressful and tactical than it used to be. Also it is harder to win the premier league nowadays with the improvements of City and Chelsea!! back in the 80s only Liverpool, Arsenal and (outsiders) Everton were challenging for the league title so United didnt have to much competition yet someone they were unable to win the championship until Fergies 7th year.

Overall I would say Rafa has done more in his 6 years than Fergie has done in his 6 years. As Rafa has won the champions league, Fa cup and a few more mickey mouse cups, ALSO he has improved the team endlessly!!! ARGUABLY we have the best goalkeeper in the world (Reina), best rightback in the world (Johnson), Best centre back in the world (Carragher), Best defensive midfielder in the world (Mascherano), Best attacking midfielder in the world (Gerrard) and the best striker in the world (Torres).

Fergie soon after build Man united up to be the best because he was given TIME to manage united, I think Rafa can still take Liverpool forward although its so vital that he wins something next season because if not it could be the end!.

Interesting read that was, even thought the author's an anti-Rafa fan.

Anyways, all these figures tell me is that Fergie would have been sacked if he was just starting out now. To take a 4th placed team as low as 13th and failing to win nearly 60% of all league games would see any manager sacked today. So, Rafa should be given more time. I feel he deserves at least another season after what he has achieved in an, arguably, more competive league than when Fergie started.

Kopstarsteve1988 wrote:Interesting read that was, even thought the author's an anti-Rafa fan.

Anyways, all these figures tell me is that Fergie would have been sacked if he was just starting out now. To take a 4th placed team as low as 13th and failing to win nearly 60% of all league games would see any manager sacked today. So, Rafa should be given more time. I feel he deserves at least another season after what he has achieved in an, arguably, more competive league than when Fergie started.

Exactly! right now with Liverpool backroom staff in a massive mess we need stability! and the only way to get that is to give the manager time AND money!

intresting article overall rafa is a better manager tbh

lfc4ever wrote:intresting article overall rafa is a better manager tbh