"We worked all summer. We never wanted to pay more for a player than his value. We didn't want to sign play-ers we didn't need.
"We tried, but because of circumstances, the clubs wouldn't sell. If a club is willing to sell without a fight, maybe the player isn't good enough. When the club tries hard to keep him, you know you're trying to sign someone of high class.
"Simao is an example, as is Milito and Figo. We watched Simao for a long time, but we were looking at others first because we didn't know if he was available. We decided to try and Benfica said yes. We thought we had control of the situation. Then they changed their mind.
"We also tried to sign centre-backs, but their clubs said no. Clubs think because we've won the Champions League we've got a lot of money. They put a £7m values on players who are no more than prospects.
"If you look at our squad now compared to last May, we've signed very good players and improved. We couldn't find the right players for the right and at centre-half, but because we're European champions, only certain players are good enough to play for us.
"If people want me to buy players to finish in the middle of the table, I can, but I want to win trophies. I will only buy players to do this.
"I have a lot of confidence we will have a better team this year. People may not agree with my decisions, but when I spend a lot of money I want it to be on one of the best players in the world."
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I can't wait till January. I think Rafa will buy big with a vengeance. The last sentence suggests he will buy big one of these days. Why does he have to spend big on players to mean they are any good?
Look at our "big buys" in the past?
Heskey - didnt live up to it - fraud
Collymore - ultimately flopped despite promising fowler partnership
Diouf - less said the better
Cisse - promise but jury still very much out
Alonso at 10m is the only real big money signing who we can say was ulimately a success and he's only been here just over a season.
The thing which really bugged me was people on here slagging the board off for our lack of activity in bringing players in. At the end of the day, only Rafa decides what players he wants, and only Rafa can say how much the players are worth. Parry cannot go throwing more money at clubs in an effort to get them to sell. That is over ruling Rafas opinion of a player and his worth. Parry has not scouted the players and probably doesnt know that much about them. Hes not going to agree to pay an extra £5m, or even more in Owens case, if Rafa doesn't rate them at that price.
I'll admit that in the heat of the moment I beefed about the performance off the pitch immediately after transfer deadline day passed but having had a full week to think about it, nows the time to get right behind the team and Rafa and lets hope the team can be in a position to challenge come January, starting at the lane on saturday..
).
Is that too much 
