The Football.....

[vickster]

I want Arsenal start quickly tonight against Valencia to put them on the back foot but if they do what they often do - sit back and see what the other team is going to do - I fear they will give away the first goal... a vital away goal. Then their backs will be against the wall and the job will be very difficult from then on.

Hoping for the best.

Jeez, they are hopeless ffs

 

[vickster]

Ok, let’s have another 3 without reply please

 

[Kempstonian]

Well that could have been worse! 3-1 means we are in with a good chance of making the final. An away goal would make that so much easier though.

 

[gavgav]

Wandering, questioning, slightly disappointed but not criticising. Like I said; what do I know.

I’m just thankful we are above Man U and Spurs, as it gives me the bragging rights in my family

 

[Vapin' Joe]

So, Man U out of the Champion's League places for next year, just the Thursday Cup to satisfy them instead. How many of the big names will stick around for that, and what possible replacements will want to even go there?

It's a big financial loss to the club and the stadium needs serious money spending too. It could be a long time before the glory days return.

 

[Slick]

It was the big names that put them where they are. Not that I'm bothered either way, but if I was a supporter I'd be looking for a clear out.

 

[StuAff]

Clear out should start with Mr Woodward, but won't, because the Glazers like him too much. They seem unable to work out that as much money as they've taken out of their cash cow, she'd be even more successful for them if she were successful on the pitch. Given that they've lumbered themselves with multiple expensive renewed contracts for players who should be heading out the door, let alone Alexis Sanchez, signs are not promising. Even if they could flick a switch and get City or Liverpool's setup and staff, they'd screw that up…

 

[PaulB]

Clear out should start with Mr Woodward, but won't, because the Glazers like him too much. They seem unable to work out that as much money as they've taken out of their cash cow, she'd be even more successful for them if she were successful on the pitch. Given that they've lumbered themselves with multiple expensive renewed contracts for players who should be heading out the door, let alone Alexis Sanchez, signs are not promising. Even if they could flick a switch and get City or Liverpool's setup and staff, they'd screw that up…

What's wrong with Pompey?

 

[StuAff]

What's wrong with Pompey?

At the moment: not a lot. Our owner might have worked for Disney, but he's not Mickey Mouse. Good manager backed by professional backroom, and some quality players. Still in with a shout of promotion via the playoffs.
And thank **** the Glazers aren't in charge, we had enough of the cowboys a few years back....

 

[Kempstonian]

Well Arsenal blew their chance of a top 4 finish (barring miracles in the last game). All things considered they did well to stay in the hunt for so long, considering not one pundit gave them a chance before the season even started.

In the summer I don't want to see any more talk of attackers or midfielders - we want and need a defence! If we have any money to spend I want reliable, solid defenders to be top of our shopping list.

We still have the Europa Cup possibility as a way of getting Champions League next year but if we get past Valencia (not certain by any means) we are likely to face Chelsea in the final. That could go either way tbh. I would say though that a 5th place finish and a Europa final is a pretty good season for Emery and the club. Arsene Wenger's departure must have caused a lot of uncertainty around the club at the start of the season. They have done well I think.

 

[rich p]

Brighton pluckily got a point at the Arse although we were already safe due to Cardiff being even more crap than us. Cue another year of relegation fight.
The point off Arsenal helps out Spurs in the 4 way battle to seemingly avoid the last champions league spot @Dayvo

 

[albal]

I on way to Imber court southern league play off final Met Police v Poole town fc , think we might just nick it 1-0.

 

[Crackle]

Brighton pluckily got a point at the Arse although we were already safe due to Cardiff being even more crap than us. Cue another year of relegation fight.
The point off Arsenal helps out Spurs in the 4 way battle to seemingly avoid the last champions league spot @Dayvo

Any chance you could take a point off City next week before you put your feet up for summer?

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Well Arsenal blew their chance of a top 4 finish (barring miracles in the last game). All things considered they did well to stay in the hunt for so long, considering not one pundit gave them a chance before the season even started.

In the summer I don't want to see any more talk of attackers or midfielders - we want and need a defence! If we have any money to spend I want reliable, solid defenders to be top of our shopping list.

We still have the Europa Cup possibility as a way of getting Champions League next year but if we get past Valencia (not certain by any means) we are likely to face Chelsea in the final. That could go either way tbh. I would say though that a 5th place finish and a Europa final is a pretty good season for Emery and the club. Arsene Wenger's departure must have caused a lot of uncertainty around the club at the start of the season. They have done well I think.

Chelsea fan here.

I think you've had a reasonable season too. Against a backdrop of City moving the game on massively in recent years and Liverpool coming back from a long hiatus as a 'top table' side the 'other 4' have variously been at different stages of a rebuild in terms of coaches, players and footballing styles.

Only one team can be top dog at any one time and at the moment that is clearly City - it remains to be seen whether or not LFC can overhaul them and again move the game on.

For me the big (in recent years) game changers in English football were (in chronological order) the hugely successful pre-EPL LFC teams, MUFC (by far the best performing club England has ever seen plus the 'treble' was stunning), Arsenal ( the blisteringly brilliant 'Invincibles'), CFC (16 trophies in 18 years), & MCFC.

Every dog (even top dogs) have their day and at some stage one or other of the other 5 teams in the 'big six' will probably move the game on again - LFC are my favourites to do this again at the moment.

Of course, the whole thing could be turned upside down by a big investor buying a non 'top 6' club and tackling the current hegemony - I thought that Leicester with their Baht injection were the ones but they burned bright for a moment and then sputtered.

 

[rich p]

Any chance you could take a point off City next week before you put your feet up for summer?

We weren't disgraced in the FA Cup semis so all things are possible...
...however unlikely.
FWIW, I'd like to see your fine young chaps win the league instead of that other lot.
Leicester may already have whupped City's arse by then...