god_bless_john_houlding wrote:JoeTerp wrote:also Wenger has had plenty of TIME to build this team from cheaper youth signings
time, time, time, time, time and time again I hear how it's down to time that Wenger and Fergie are the top two managers in this division.
OK I'll accept that IF somebody can explain to me why Steve Coppell is managing a team below Sunderland, Birmingham, Spurs, Newcastle, Villa, City and Bolton. Keane, McCliesh, Ramos, Keegan (this time round) O'Neill, Eriksson and Megson have all be managing their repsective clubs for less time than Coppell has been managing Reading, but Reading are lower than them all. Your explanations here please. Or does time only excuse Benitez?
Next, Allerdyce had been managing Bolton for nearly 10 years in that time Benitez had managed us for three whole years. But Bolton didn't once finish above Liverpool under Benitez. So again why does time only exist for teams above us but not below.
Thirdly, Grant has been in charge of Chelsea for less time than Benitez has at Liverpool and Grant has spent less than Benitez, but Chelsea are above us under Grant. Hmmmmm now what's the reasons there?
Next just in case someone wants to mention money which is another great excuse for why we're so far behind. I'll use the prem again, Sunderland have spent millions of money this season, 9 million alone on a keeper and another 5 million on a first division player, yet still find themselves behind Blackburn who can't even afford the bus fair from Ewood Park to Speke Airport. So again is it only money when it comes to Liverpool? My favourite for this is Everton, they've spent nowhere near the equivilant of us yet find themselves above us.
Villa and City haven't spent as much as us over the past 4 years (Benitez' reign) and have managers who've been managing for shorter time than Benitez at their respected clubs but yet still find themsleves in a battle for fourth with us. So where does money and time exist here?
Now this isn't a rant about Benitez being a bad manager, it's a rant to prove that time and money are

excuses for why we're not challenging. Time and money don't win you the league, players and managers do. Just like zones don't score goals players do so why zonal mark. If it's down to time, what do you suggest...we keep hold of Benitez for 40 years and hope Fergie has retired by then because then he'd of had more time than any other manager in the league? Or maybe we just give Benitez an open cheque book to sign a million more Josemi's Nunez' or Morientes'.
Time and money (please read this carefully) BOTH CONTRIBUTE TO THE CHANCE OF WINNING THE LEAGUE, BUT NEITHER ARE VALID EXCUSES FOR FAILURE.