The summer of discontent...

David Gill, United's CEO, promised the fans that this summers spending would be wrapped up before the World Cup got under way - nothing happened - the World Cup came and went and no signings were forthcoming. Mind you Gill also said Glazer would be bad news for United...yet he's still there spinning a different line.

Eventually Michael Carrick was signed at a huge expense, the club agreed to pay Spurs an eyebrow raising £18 million - this for a player who'd cost a fraction of that fee two years ago from the then relegated West Ham United.