Champions League Knock Out Stages Draw - 16 Dec 2011 - Nyon

[LDG]

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-await-opponents-in-knockout-stages


Confirmed possible last 16 opponents: Napoli, CSKA Moscow, FC Basel, Lyon, Bayer Leverkusen, Zenit St Petersburg, AC Milan



:popcorn:


Europa League draw is on the same day. Utd and City will be in this.


















:haha:

[Cripps_orig]

On SSN at 10.30am

[LDG]

You'd have to say, we are more than capable of going through to the Qtrs with those possible opponents.

[Kano]

milan please

[Syn]

Zenit :pray:

Yeah, we should be ok whoever. Don't really fancy Milan.

Best thing about finishing top is that we have the away game first. I still think that's a good advantage to have. We might well have a narrow defeat away but we can demolish them at our place.

[Cripps_orig]

No one there im really worried about

Ideally though, we get Basle, APOEL face CSKA and we get the winner of that in the QFs.

Piss easy path to the semi and then bring on Barca who we destroy and then Real in the final who we lose to

Real :bow:

[Kano]

Zenit :pray:

Yeah, we should be ok whoever. Don't really fancy Milan.

Best thing about finishing top is that we have the away game first. I still think that's a good advantage to have. We might well have a narrow defeat away but we can demolish them at our place.
we're not winning it, so let's face up to some good teams (milan), test ourselves and enjoy the ride. it's what the competition should be all about in the ko stage

[Syn]

we're not winning it, so let's face up to some good teams (milan), test ourselves and enjoy the ride. it's what the competition should be all about in the ko stage

We have a very small chance of winning it but it is a chance, and strange things happen in football. Behind Bayern, Real Madrid and Barcelona, we are probably 4th favourites. A couple of nice draws (who knows - Barca and Real facing eachother in the quarters) and you never know.

I'd prefer to get as far as we can and we have a better chance of doing that if we face some kind draws...though I think nothing is too easy at this stage.

[Marc Overmars]

Either of the Russian sides would be good. I think they'll be in the middle of their pre-season when the 2nd round starts.

Fancy our chances against any of those 2nd seeds though, although Milan would obviously be a huge test.

Bring it on.

[Cripps_orig]

We've never won in Russia and cant see that changing with the team we have now so no thanks to them.

Stay away from the Italians as well

Lyon will be tough.

That leave Basle or Leverkusen

Basle for me, first hand view of Shaqiri

[Marc Overmars]

To be honest these teams aren't here by fluke, so whoever we get shouldn't be taken for granted.

Knowing us we will make the tie difficult for ourselves anyway.

[LDG]

I'll take any of 'em tbf.

Like Syn says, you never know what the draw will bring, though I'm pretty certain UEFA will fix (as best they can) a Real v Barca final.

If we stay professional, and do things right, there's no reason why we can't make the Semi's. All depends on how much the team wants it, and to a degree, whether we can add some quality in January.

[Cripps_orig]

Cos im bored, im predicting the draw

Lyon v Bayern
Zenit v Inter
Marseille v Benfica
Leverkusen v Real Madrid
AC Milan v Chelsea
CSKA v Arsenal
Napoli v Apoel
Basle v Cunts

[tigerthesmurf85]

Zenit would be the best draw IMO.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Zenit would be the best draw IMO.

As long as we don't get, Lyon/Milan or CSKA we'd be ok

[Syn]

Zenit are actually awesome and they play some sexy stuff. Closest style to the invincibles you'll see.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Either of the Russian sides would be good. I think they'll be in the middle of their pre-season when the 2nd round starts.

Fancy our chances against any of those 2nd seeds though, although Milan would obviously be a huge test.

Bring it on.

Russia's league splits in to two groups and they have huge gaps in between fixtures, it's very odd but it's to bring it more in line with the other European leagues. I'd prefer Basel based on us going away first.

[Master Splinter]

We struggle against counter-attacks, so Napoli or Basel would be tricky on those terms.

I think the Russian teams would actually be most awkward.

If Milan get Tevez, they'll have a great forward line. They're shite elsewhere though.

[Ollie the Optimist]

when united last got knocked out in the group stages, it was on the 7th decemeber. that year. Arsenal got to the final.

Its on :dance:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

This is the next thing on the agenda.

:popcorn:

[fakeyank]

when united last got knocked out in the group stages, it was on the 7th decemeber. that year. Arsenal got to the final.

Its on


I cant take another loss in the final. 06 still hurts! :(

[Coney]

I cant take another loss in the final. 06 still hurts! :(


Yeah, but this time, Diaby will be fit.



Oh. Shit.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

We got Milan in the draw rehearsal.

[Coney]

With the spending spree Wenger will go on in January, we can take any of them on. :)

[LDG]

We got Milan in the draw rehearsal.

They even fixed the rehearsal :sulk:

We're defo getting them btw. Absolute nailed on.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

10:30am = 7:30pm over here, late night in the office tonight, so gives me something yo distract me from my work!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

In the second rehearsal we got Lyon. Not sure how many of these there are going to be.

[LDG]

As many as it takes to get it right.

:crooked:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It can't take too long to heat balls.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

In the second rehearsal we got Lyon. Not sure how many of these there are going to be.

Until till thay pair Barca with the easiet team left.

What time does the draw take place, 11:30 id presume.

[LDG]

Until till thay pair Barca with the easiet team left.

What time does the draw take place, 11:30 id presume.

Yes. 11.30.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Until till thay pair Barca with the easiet team left.

What time does the draw take place, 11:30 id presume.

We can't face them this year though. :ninja:

And well, the ceremony starts at 11 but yeah, it'll probably end up being that time before it starts. I'll post when it is about to start though anyway.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sky's programme on SSN starts in a minute.

[Marc Overmars]

I am relying on Maccy's updates to be kept informed.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

They have cut to the draw in Nyon now.

[Letters]

Sky's programme on SSN starts in a minute.

We'll know who we got in about 3 hours then.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's time to look at what happened in the group stages. :lol:

[LDG]

It's time to look at what happened in the group stages. :lol:

CiTited Lolerzzzzzzz.

[Joker]

We will get Napoli

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's reminisce with Paul Breitner time. :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

Just started watching

What have they been doing for the last 45 minutes?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Talking. Where would we be without RVP. Stuff like that. In fairness, the UEFA stuff didn't start until 11.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Here we go. :popcorn:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lyon are out first.

[Cripps_orig]

Lyon v Apoel

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lyon vs APOEL.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Napoli vs Chelsea!

[Cripps_orig]

Napoli v Chelsea

:lol:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Chavs vs Napoli LMAO

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Milan vs Arsenal. :rolleyes:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Millan vs Arsenal

[Cripps_orig]

Milan v Arsenal

ffs

[Joker]

Shit.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Basel vs Bayern Munich.

[LDG]

Lol.

Fix.

As predicted.

[Letters]

Milan vs Arsenal. :rolleyes:

roffle.

We'll win and win well

[Cripps_orig]

Basle v Bayern

[GP]

:woohoo:

[Letters]

Lol.

Fix.

As predicted.

Have you been taking Ollie's stupid pills again?

[LDG]

Barca v some muppets.

Real v some muppets.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Milan v Arsenal

ffs

We'll do em tbf

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bayer Leverkusen vs Barcelona.

[dazthegooner]

Arsenal getting Milan who'd have thought those dirty cheating Europeans why pull both out of the hat twice :rolleyes:

[LDG]

Have you been taking Ollie's stupid pills again?

If he takes reality pills, then yes.

We were always getting Milan.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

CSKA Moscow vs Real Madrid.

[dazthegooner]

Barca v some muppets.

Real v some muppets.

The best draw money can buy :)

[LDG]

Bayer Leverkusen vs Barcelona.

lol.

Fix.

As predicted.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Madrid vs Moskow

[LDG]

CSKA Moscow vs Real Madrid.

Lol.

Fix.

As predicted.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Zenit vs Benfica.

[Letters]

If he takes reality pills, then yes.

We were always getting Milan.

OK, I'll indulge you. Why?

[Cripps_orig]

Madrid vs MoskowThats not possible

[LDG]

AC / Gooners V's Barca / Leverkusen

Garunteeeeeeed.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Marseille vs Inter.

This one aside, how many times do English sides and Italian sides get drawn together?

[LDG]

OK, I'll indulge you. Why?

Because it's rigged to utter fuck.

Always is.

[Joker]

Wouldn't be surprised if the draw was fixed tbh. The suits all come across as professional and objective, but it's clear they have their own favourites.

[Letters]

Because it's rigged to utter fuck.

Always is.

Rigged to what end? What are they trying to achieve by fixing it, whoever 'they' are?

[Cripps_orig]

We're in the tie of the round

[dazthegooner]

Tbh i would rather us go to Italy than Russia we never seem to do well there and Italian football is not as good as it was!we should beat them...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cesc Fabregas on Twitter: "Woooow Arsenal vs Milan!!!! What a draw!!!!"

You're at Barca now, Cesc.

[Syn]

FFS missed the draw.

Who did Man Utd get?

[Cripps_orig]

Forgot we played them a few years ago

Ade scoring at the San Siro :bow:

How he is missed

[LDG]

Rigged to what end? What are they trying to achieve by fixing it, whoever 'they' are?


Basle V's CSKA would be a great showpiece final wouldn't it.

I'm sure that it would bring in the most bestest revenue in the world ever.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Forgot we played them a few years ago

Ade scoring at the San Siro :bow:

How he is missed

Theo assist.

Theo. :bow:

[GP]

FFS missed the draw.

Who did Man Utd get?

Weatherfield Athletic.

[LDG]

Weatherfield Athletic.

Come on the Weathers!!! :scarf:

[Marc Overmars]

Milan. :doh:

Oh FFS.

Come on you Gunners!

[Syn]

Not ideal opponents but we're better than them and will probably beat them so :shrug:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Who was the guy talking for us

[Letters]

Basle V's CSKA would be a great showpiece final wouldn't it.

I'm sure that it would bring in the most bestest revenue in the world ever.

So you think they're rigging it to make the final the most 'exciting' teams?
How does us getting Milan facilitate that?

[Cripps_orig]

SSN presenter :doh:

Saying we beat them at the Emirates and drew at the san siro

Other way round you twat

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Who was the guy talking for us

Terry Venables I think. He keeps saying we.

David Miles though, in seriousness. Club secretary.

[LDG]

So you think they're rigging it to make the final the most 'exciting' teams?
How does us getting Milan facilitate that?

Oh they'll be quite happy when we / Milan get Barca or Real in the quarters.

They want Barca v Real final.

Anything that can make that happen, it will happen. They couldn't draw Barca v Milan or Real v Milan, because that wouldn't be right at this stage.

Do you actually know how much money is involved here. When you get shitloads of money flying around, you get shit loads of bent people. Come on man. Live in the real world.

[Fist of Lehmann]

Tbh i would rather us go to Italy than Russia we never seem to do well there and Italian football is not as good as it was!we should beat them...I agree. Long trips to sub-zero temperatures and frozen pitches? No thanks.

Milan isn't the nicest city in the world but hey, ties like this are what you're in Europe for. We disposed of Udinese and they're joint top of Serie A.
I say, bring it.

[dazthegooner]

And they couldn't but help through in a work about there darling spuds who did they get?? :unsure:

[Kano]

brilliant news, just the draw i wanted.

we can face up to a proper team and enjoy the ride

[Letters]

They want Barca v Real final.

Anything that can make that happen, it will happen.

Is that why they fixed it so they drew each other in the semi-final last year?


:coffee:

[Cripps_orig]

Is that why they fixed it so they drew each other in the semi-final last year?


:coffee:Man Utd were still in the CL then so they wanted a Barca/Real v Man Utd final

[dazthegooner]

Man Utd were still in the CL then so they wanted a Barca/Real v Man Utd final


:gp:

[LDG]

Is that why they fixed it so they drew each other in the semi-final last year?


:coffee:

Well no, because Utd v Barca was better for the world audience.

As thye're not in it this year (Lolerzzzzzz), Barca V Real is the next big one.

[BOBN]

Reminds me of the madrid draw in 06 this.

We can do these.

And i hope it encourages wenger to buy.

[Syn]

brilliant news, just the draw i wanted.

we can face up to a proper team and enjoy the ride

I think you and Paul Merson are the only gooners that wanted Milan. <_<

And he was probably drunk.

You probably are as well.

But we should be ok to make it through and hopefully we'll draw Leverkusen.

[Cripps_orig]

Didnt Spuds play and beat AC Milan last season at the same stage?

We cant lose to Milam

[dazthegooner]

Didnt Spuds play and beat AC Milan last season at the same stage?

We cant lose to Milam

Think they did yes the spuds did make one futher round than us :( but we made it again this year :)) one season wonders :pal:

[Letters]

Well no, because Utd v Barca was better for the world audience.

As thye're not in it this year (Lolerzzzzzz), Barca V Real is the next big one.

Right.

They do rig it of course but by seedings to ensure (or try to. ManYoo :pal: ) the big sides get through to the last 16.
After that I don't buy it's rigged. If Real and Barca get drawn together before the final, assuming they keep getting through, then will you accept you may be wrong?
Do the FA do the same with the FA Cup? If so then surely it would have been better to keep City and Utd apart in the 3rd round so they both get further...or was that rigged to make an exciting 3rd round clash?
Unless you've got any statistically significant data to show that draws are not random then while I agree there are financial motives I don't buy they rig the draw.

[GP]

Right.

They do rig it of course but by seedings to ensure (or try to. ManYoo :pal: ) the big sides get through to the last 16.
After that I don't buy it's rigged. If Real and Barca get drawn together before the final, assuming they keep getting through, then will you accept you may be wrong?
Do the FA do the same with the FA Cup? If so then surely it would have been better to keep City and Utd apart in the 3rd round so they both get further...or was that rigged to make an exciting 3rd round clash?
Unless you've got any statistically significant data to show that draws are not random then while I agree there are financial motives I don't buy they rig the draw.

The way UEFA are, and have acted, I'd need evidence to prove is WASN'T rigged.

[LDG]

Right.

They do rig it of course but by seedings to ensure (or try to. ManYoo :pal: ) the big sides get through to the last 16.
After that I don't buy it's rigged. If Real and Barca get drawn together before the final, assuming they keep getting through, then will you accept you may be wrong?
Do the FA do the same with the FA Cup? If so then surely it would have been better to keep City and Utd apart in the 3rd round so they both get further...or was that rigged to make an exciting 3rd round clash?
Unless you've got any statistically significant data to show that draws are not random then while I agree there are financial motives I don't buy they rig the draw.

You know what else needs fixing? Your face.

Lol.

[Letters]

serious debate :rose:

[LDG]

Seriously though.

I accept that not everything is planned down to the last detail. But there are ways by which they can ensure "a bloody good chance" of something happening.

If not, how the bloody hell was I able to say, before the draw, that we would get Milan, and Barca and Real would get pub teams?

[Syn]

Just looked at the Milan team and squad. Bunch of old fuckers. Really old.

Punt to Theo.

[Fist of Lehmann]

It's all done through hot balls and cold balls tbh.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Our first leg will be on ITV1 I think. Not sure what date yet though, hopefully later on in February as it'll give us a chance to properly get Gervinho back.

[LDG]

We got Milan in the draw rehearsal.

:faint:

[LDG]

They even fixed the rehearsal :sulk:

We're defo getting them btw. Absolute nailed on.

:gp:

[Letters]

If not, how the bloody hell was I able to say, before the draw, that we would get Milan, and Barca and Real would get pub teams?

Other people on here said something different :lol;

If I say a dice will come up 6 and it does that doesn't mean I either have special powers or the dice is rigged. It might mean that of course but unless you can consistently call draws right then it doesn't demonstrate anything. Chelsea got a pub team too. Last year we got pub teams in the group (and contrived to cock it up), this year we got a much tougher group. Such is the nature of a draw.

[LDG]

Barca v some muppets.

Real v some muppets.

:gp:

[Kaiser]

We got Zenit in the draw rehearsal...

[LDG]

Other people on here said something different :lol;

If I say a dice will come up 6 and it does that doesn't mean I either have special powers or the dice is rigged. It might mean that of course but unless you can consistently call draws right then it doesn't demonstrate anything. Chelsea got a pub team too. Last year we got pub teams in the group (and contrived to cock it up), this year we got a much tougher group. Such is the nature of a draw.

Other people < Me tbf.

Grrr.

Annoys me, as I knew for abosolute certain we were getting Milan, and Barca & Real would get shit-kickers.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

We got Zenit in the draw rehearsal...

No, Chelsea did.

[Letters]

Annoys me, as I knew for abosolute certain we were getting Milan, and Barca & Real would get shit-kickers.

OK. Well the only way to determine this is for you to predict the draw every round over a number of years and see how you do.

Not sure we're a pub team btw and they got us last year at this stage. We beat them at the Emirates and but for a RvP sending off may well have put them out...

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Other people < Me tbf.

Grrr.

Annoys me, as I knew for abosolute certain we were getting Milan, and Barca & Real would get shit-kickers.


Well we can't have more then 1 english team in the last 8 we have been dominating for too long, rest of europe hated it, Uefa working their magic to sort it.

[IBK]

Well we can't have more then 1 english team in the last 8 we have been dominating for too long, rest of europe hated it, Uefa working their magic to sort it.

If I believed in fixing, that would be more the smell of it.

[Kaiser]

Oh yeah, we got Lyon.

[LDG]

It's fucking corrupt. The whole sodding lot of it.

I'll still watch it all though.

I'm a fucking mug.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

It's fucking corrupt. The whole sodding lot of it.

I'll still watch it all though.

I'm a fucking mug.

Champions League music. :bow:

Anyway it has been the case for years and years that English sides get Italian sides, plus it's a waste of my time rallying against something I can't ever hope to prove.

[Syn]

We beat them at the Emirates and but for a RvP sending off may well have put them out...

:haha:

Yeah, funny how that worked out.

[Kaiser]

I do have suspicions about draws for loads of competitions though. The Euro 2012 one had someone post the exact draw on Twitter like an hour before it happened - with old rivalries like Holland-Germany and England-France. There's always a hint of a fix in every draw. Having corrupt morons in charge of FIFA and UEFA doesn't help stop those suspicions.

[Letters]

:haha:

Yeah, funny how that worked out.

Why watch at all if you think it's fixed? I wouldn't bother if I thought that, where's the fun in that?

[LDG]

Do they not do the next stage at this draw, or am I thinking of the Qtrs >>> Semis?? :unsure:

Anyway. For Clarity's sake.

Ars/Mil v Barca or Real
Chelsea v Barca or Real

I'll be back to quote this after the next draw :good:

[Letters]

The Euro 2012 one had someone post the exact draw on Twitter like an hour before it happened - with old rivalries like Holland-Germany and England-France.

And lots of people tweeting different draws, no doubt, and all those tweets forgotten...
Someone wins the lottery most weeks. It's not a fix it's just there are a lot of tickets out there and if you know anything about probabilities you'll know the chances of someone winning are quite high. The chances of it being you are very low.

[LDG]

Why watch at all if you think it's fixed? I wouldn't bother if I thought that, where's the fun in that?

Dennis Bender could have scored the winner....but cocked it up. You can't legislate for everything in a match. You can't fix it all.

Hang on....

Dennis Bender could have scored the winner....but cocked it up.

Yup. As predicted.

Fix!

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Do they not do the next stage at this draw, or am I thinking of the Qtrs >>> Semis?? :unsure:

Anyway. For Clarity's sake.

Ars/Mil v Barca or Real
Chelsea v Barca or Real

I'll be back to quote this after the next draw :good:

No they do it in the last 8 draw

[LDG]

And lots of people tweeting different draws, no doubt, and all those tweets forgotten...
Someone wins the lottery most weeks. It's not a fix it's just there are a lot of tickets out there and if you know anything about probabilities you'll know the chances of someone winning are quite high. The chances of it being you are very low.

Regards the lottery.

Always fat people.

Always.

[Letters]

Regards the lottery.

Always fat people.

Always.

Really?

*buys ticket*

[Kano]

It's fucking corrupt. The whole sodding lot of it.

I'll still watch it all though.

I'm a fucking mug.

:lol:

[Kaiser]

The two seeded English teams in both the CL and EL were drawn first...

[Joker]

Someone on Redcafe posted the draws that Chelsea have had in the FA Cup over the last 5-6 seasons, and especially in the early rounds, they've always had extremely easy opposition, and if you compare their draws with the draws of other "big" teams, I'm sure the difference is statistically significant at the 1% level.

[Niall_Quinn]

Rigged to what end? What are they trying to achieve by fixing it, whoever 'they' are?

Good one!

Are you serious?

The first of the fixes is publicly announced, it's called seeding which is another way to say rigging the draw so the big teams all find it easier to get to the latter rounds. Why? Money, what other possible reason could there be? None of these parasites actually has any interest in the game beyond how much it can make them. "They" are the people who skim money from football and put it in their pockets because they have friends who write stuff on paper that says they are entitled.

But we know all this.

[Syn]

15th Feb AC Milan
18th Feb (FA Cup 5th round)
26th Feb Tottenham Hotspur
3rd Mar Liverpool
6th Mar AC Milan
10th Mar Newcastle United

Our season usually falls apart a bit later than this. <_<

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bollocks, Gervinho is going to be knackered by the time he gets back. Although I suppose the same might be true of 'Prince'.

[Letters]

The first of the fixes is publicly announced, it's called seeding which is another way to say rigging the draw so the big teams all find it easier to get to the latter rounds.

I know. I already mentioned this.

[Letters]

Someone on Redcafe posted the draws that Chelsea have had in the FA Cup over the last 5-6 seasons, and especially in the early rounds, they've always had extremely easy opposition, and if you compare their draws with the draws of other "big" teams, I'm sure the difference is statistically significant at the 1% level.

Someone on RedCafe doesn't understand statistics or the nature of randomness over time either then :rolleyes:

[Niall_Quinn]

I'm happy with the draw, we'll beat Milan. I'd have been more worried about getting a minnow because we take those games too lightly. We'll be up for this and we'll win it.

Silly debate about whether the time and again proven corrupt cunts are corrupt. Duh.

[Özim]

Tough draw but are Milan that good? Italian teams are a bit better these days (certainly than they have been) but think they're beatable, having said that we made hard work of Udinese.

Anyway we were never going to win this thing, that's gonna be Barca or Real, Wenger should play his 2nd team like he does in the other cups so we can concentrate on getting the 4th place major trophy.

[Niall_Quinn]

I know. I already mentioned this.

So they don't do it because they support one team or the other, they do it to maximise revenue. So why would they suddenly stop doing that at the latter stages? It's all about the money. Anyway, we were never winning this. Even if we beat Milan and end up getting through to the final there are plenty of refs who can guarantee the desired outcome - as we have seen time and again in the past. Whole thing is rigged from top to bottom, teh only things left to chance are those which make no odds.

[Letters]

There's a clear difference between seeding and rigging.

[Syn]

the only things left to chance are those which make no odds.

Poetic imo.

[Özim]

So they don't do it because they support one team or the other, they do it to maximise revenue. So why would they suddenly stop doing that at the latter stages? It's all about the money. Anyway, we were never winning this. Even if we beat Milan and end up getting through to the final there are plenty of refs who can guarantee the desired outcome - as we have seen time and again in the past. Whole thing is rigged from top to bottom, teh only things left to chance are those which make no odds.
That's the big clubs fault though (including ourselves), they want to make sure they get to the latter stages for financial reasons, as for winning it well there's much better sides than us, Barca and Real are just two teams who are miles ahead of us and the best team should win the competition at the end of the day.

If we didn't settle for 4th place all the time we might actually have an outside chance, but hey ho it's not meant to be.

[Niall_Quinn]

That's the big clubs fault though (including ourselves), they want to make sure they get to the latter stages for financial reasons, as for winning it well there's much better sides than us, Barca and Real are just two teams who are miles ahead of us and the best team should win the competition at the end of the day.

If we didn't settle for 4th place all the time we might actually have an outside chance, but hey ho it's not meant to be.

Your face is the reason we have so much corruption in sport.

[Özim]

Your face is the reason we have so much corruption in sport.
Well I didn't want to say, but yes there is that as well :lol:

[Letters]

If we didn't settle for 4th place all the time we might actually have an outside chance, but hey ho it's not meant to be.

Yeah, if only we as ambitious as City or Utd.


Hmm.

[Özim]

Yeah, if only we as ambitious as City or Utd.


Hmm.
We just make up the numbers in this competition, as far as I'm concerned it's totally pointless, yeah sure we get there every season and make money but how does that help the ordinary fan exactly?

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Bollocks, Gervinho is going to be knackered by the time he gets back. Although I suppose the same might be true of 'Prince'.

He's retired from international footie

[Letters]

I've enjoyed it so far. Last year wasn't much fun as we got pub teams in the group and while we conspired not to win the group we were always going to qualify. This year has been much better group, a tougher group and winning it showed we've not fallen as far as some people on here (at times including me) thought.

I agree we won't win it but I'm not a glory hunter who is only interested in the end result of a season, I'm there for the journey. A better draw would have been nice but at least this is a draw where I can get excited about the games. I enjoyed the Barca tie last year despite the result, the game at the Emirates was the best one there so far IMO, and I'm sure I'll enjoy this tie too.

The end result is not irrelevant but it's not the be all and end all either. Were it so no-one outside the top few would have any fans.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He's retired from international footie

What? :lol: After such a successful career I suppose he deserves it. :unsure:

[Özim]

I've enjoyed it so far. Last year wasn't much fun as we got pub teams in the group and while we conspired not to win the group we were always going to qualify. This year has been much better group, a tougher group and winning it showed we've not fallen as far as some people on here (at times including me) thought.

I agree we won't win it but I'm not a glory hunter who is only interested in the end result of a season, I'm there for the journey. A better draw would have been nice but at least this is a draw where I can get excited about the games. I enjoyed the Barca tie last year despite the result, the game at the Emirates was the best one there so far IMO, and I'm sure I'll enjoy this tie too.

The end result is not irrelevant but it's not the be all and end all either. Were it so no-one outside the top few would have any fans.
There's a difference between not winning and having no chance of winning for a big club (which is what we are, we're not a small club so can't be compared to one).

The fact is whilst we play in it every season we never have a hope of winning it and hope is all important even if it comes to nothing in the end. It's about belief in the manager and the team, I don't believe in the manager he's proved he can't hack it anymore, he should have moved on but unfortunately he hasn't and until he does I fear we will always have no chance of winning a trophy.

[Letters]

I wouldn't say we have no chance of winning it. There are better sides around - Barca beat us relatively comfortably but they handed ManYoo's arses to them too. They're better than both of us. In that sense ManYoo have no chance either. If Barca happen to get knocked out before we play them then it would give other teams a chance. Realistically you'd expect one of the Spanish sides to win it but hey, if I thought we had no chance I wouldn't bother watching. In sport you never really know.

[Coney]

I wouldn't say we have no chance of winning it. There are better sides around - Barca beat us relatively comfortably but they handed ManYoo's arses to them too. They're better than both of us. In that sense ManYoo have no chance either. If Barca happen to get knocked out before we play them then it would give other teams a chance. Realistically you'd expect one of the Spanish sides to win it but hey, if I thought we had no chance I wouldn't bother watching. In sport you never really know.

Indeed. The probability of Barca winning the trophy is certainly higher than for us, but we are not without a chance. If we were to get to the final and meet them there, in a one-off match we could still sneak it.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

There's a difference between not winning and having no chance of winning for a big club (which is what we are, we're not a small club so can't be compared to one).

The fact is whilst we play in it every season we never have a hope of winning it and hope is all important even if it comes to nothing in the end. It's about belief in the manager and the team, I don't believe in the manager he's proved he can't hack it anymore, he should have moved on but unfortunately he hasn't and until he does I fear we will always have no chance of winning a trophy.

Being 1-0 up in the final 06 showed we had every hope of winning it, and we would have won it if Henry took his chances. too say we have no hope is rubbish its a cup competition and the best don't always win, you need luck to win it in reality.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I wouldn't say we have no chance of winning it. There are better sides around - Barca beat us relatively comfortably but they handed ManYoo's arses to them too. They're better than both of us. In that sense ManYoo have no chance either. If Barca happen to get knocked out before we play them then it would give other teams a chance. Realistically you'd expect one of the Spanish sides to win it but hey, if I thought we had no chance I wouldn't bother watching. In sport you never really know.

Yeah we were possibly a Dennis Bendtner away from going through last season. Not that it would've taken us to the final of course but it would've been a big step. I always want us to get to the QFs at least because then we can see what path we would have to go down to reach the final. If, like the Spuds we have Real Madrid and then Barcelona, it's hard to see us getting through. Always a chance of fluking an easier draw though.

[Coney]

Being 1-0 up in the final 06 showed we had every hope of winning it, and we would have won it if Henry took his chances. too say we have no hope is rubbish its a cup competition and the best don't always win, you need luck to win it in reality.

1999 for a jammy smash and grab win, for instance.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Fuck this. . ,and I know it sounds corny but youve got to be in it to win it. . .as long as the scores are level we have a chance
We are where we are cos we won our group and have as much of a chance as any

Looking for the boys to give it their best

[Özim]

I wouldn't say we have no chance of winning it. There are better sides around - Barca beat us relatively comfortably but they handed ManYoo's arses to them too. They're better than both of us. In that sense ManYoo have no chance either. If Barca happen to get knocked out before we play them then it would give other teams a chance. Realistically you'd expect one of the Spanish sides to win it but hey, if I thought we had no chance I wouldn't bother watching. In sport you never really know.
Man U have been in 3 of the last 4 finals and have won one, they've had a bad year but one things for sure they always have a chance as the mentality of the manager and the team often makes up for defficiencies on the pitch.

Same cannot be said about us, it's not really about being the best it's the ability to produce performances when it matters and a winning attitude....we just don't have that as the manager cannot instill that in players, they either have it when he buys them or they don't.

[Özim]

Being 1-0 up in the final 06 showed we had every hope of winning it, and we would have won it if Henry took his chances. too say we have no hope is rubbish its a cup competition and the best don't always win, you need luck to win it in reality.
We had winners in that team, players like Henry, Campbelll etc....totally different kettle of fish...the current team have none of that.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

We had winners in that team, players like Henry, Campbelll etc....totally different kettle of fish...the current team have none of that.

Did Greece have winners when they won Euro 2004, or Porto when they won it, Barca or real might not get to the final and once those two are out the way their is no team we can't beat.

i hope the players don't have the attitude you have they deffo won't win it then.

[Xhaka Can’t]

First god, now the integrity of Uefa?

Is there anything Letters doesn't believe in (other than my face)?

[gunnerrrrr]

we have RVP....we can beat anybody

[Letters]

Man U have been in 3 of the last 4 finals and have won one, they've had a bad year but one things for sure they always have a chance as the mentality of the manager and the team often makes up for defficiencies on the pitch.

Who did they get in the last 16 again?
Do you think Wenger deserves any credit for us winning the group given our wretched start?

[Letters]

First god, now the integrity of Uefa?

Is there anything Letters doesn't believe in (other than my face)?

I don't believe in the integrity of Uefa. That doesn't mean I have a tin foil hat on and am looking for conspiracies and fixes at every turn.

[Özim]

Who did they get in the last 16 again?
Do you think Wenger deserves any credit for us winning the group given our wretched start?
The bad start was entirely due to his incompetence but we did win the group, it would mean something if we really felt we had a chance of winning it (even an outside chance).

I'm happy to write off this competition and focus on the FA cup personally.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Should we drop out of the Premier League too? Not likely to win that either, really.

[Özim]

Did Greece have winners when they won Euro 2004, or Porto when they won it, Barca or real might not get to the final and once those two are out the way their is no team we can't beat.

i hope the players don't have the attitude you have they deffo won't win it then.
Greece were solid and got lucky but their attitude was great, Porto had Mourinho enough said really.

Barca or Real are too good and if they don't play each other will be in the final, you might also find that Milan prove you wrong, though I'm not sure how good they really are.

Bayern however are very good and may well beat us.

[Özim]

Should we drop out of the Premier League too? Not likely to win that either, really.
No we should settle for 4th place every year nad never aim higher, oh hang on..

[Cripps_orig]

We wont win the CL but whilst we're in it, im going to enjoy it.

Now then, anyone got any tips how i can get my brother to let me go to the Milan home game instead of him?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

No we should settle for 4th place every year nad never aim higher, oh hang on..

You're aiming lower than winning the Champions League though - in fact just writing it off. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

We wont win the CL but whilst we're in it, im going to enjoy it.

Now then, anyone got any tips how i can get my brother to let me go to the Milan home game instead of him?

Break his legs? That'd do it. :good:

[Özim]

You're aiming lower than winning the Champions League though - in fact just writing it off. :lol:
I don't want to write it off, just have no belief we have any chance of winning it.

I've got bored of seeing us do pretty much the same thing every season, get out of the group then get knocked out when we play someone decent, we're very predictable in that sense.

[Cripps_orig]

Break his legs? That'd do it. :good:Are Shawcross/Taylor/Sunderland Pub Teamer on hire?

[Olivier's xmas twist]

The bad start was entirely due to his incompetence but we did win the group, it would mean something if we really felt we had a chance of winning it (even an outside chance).

I'm happy to write off this competition and focus on the FA cup personally.

Pot kettle black comes to mind, are you not the same person who always bleats on about us not being ambtious etc. if Aw said what you did, you'd be calling him all sorts of names.

[Letters]

The bad start was entirely due to his incompetence but we did win the group, it would mean something if we really felt we had a chance of winning it (even an outside chance).

So no then? Criticism when we do poorly, no credit when we pick up and do well. Fair enough.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Greece were solid and got lucky but their attitude was great, Porto had Mourinho enough said really.Barca or Real are too good and if they don't play each other will be in the final, you might also find that Milan prove you wrong, though I'm not sure how good they really are.

Bayern however are very good and may well beat us.

He was nothing at the time and got lucky against the mancs and the fact the chavs fecked up in the semi final helped. they never won the cl because Jose was a genuis, they won it because like Greece they got lucky end off.

[GP]

He was nothing at the time and got lucky against the mancs and the fact the chavs fecked up in the semi final helped. they never won the cl because Jose was a genuis, they won it because like Greece they got lucky end off.

Pretty much. We would have slaughtered Monaco in the final too, And Man Utd wrongly had a goal ruled out against Porto. Luck.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I don't want to write it off, just have no belief we have any chance of winning it.

I've got bored of seeing us do pretty much the same thing every season, get out of the group then get knocked out when we play someone decent, we're very predictable in that sense.

Would you be pleased to see us make a good showing of it then? I don't understand the mentality of somebody that criticises our lack of ambition towards winning trophies but at the same turn would then be willing to write us out of one we're still in.

[Fist of Lehmann]

Last I looked, bookies had us 5th favourite behind Barca, Real, Bayern and Chelsea. Odds might have gone out a bit since the draw but all in all it's a cup, everyone has at least a punchers chance. Were that not the case then Greece wouldn't have been European Champions, and teams like Pompey and Boro wouldn't have won a cup and been relegated in the same season.

[Fist of Lehmann]

I'm happy to write off this competition...


I don't want to write it off...

Do you actually know what you want or what?

[Özim]

Pot kettle black comes to mind, are you not the same person who always bleats on about us not being ambtious etc. if Aw said what you did, you'd be calling him all sorts of names.
We're not ambitious and getting through the group doesn't make us so.

We should just start again and look to become a force again, making up the numbers in the CL is worthless, let's build to make us a genuine force again not 4th place losers all the time.

We won't win the CL, we have no chance.

[Özim]

So no then? Criticism when we do poorly, no credit when we pick up and do well. Fair enough.
As I said last summer he's finished for me there's no way back for him, as far as I'm concerned he's incapable of delivering so we're wasting our time keeping him.

[Özim]

He was nothing at the time and got lucky against the mancs and the fact the chavs fecked up in the semi final helped. they never won the cl because Jose was a genuis, they won it because like Greece they got lucky end off.
Nothing? I see to recall he won the UEFA Cup the season before.

Mourinho is a proven winner that's a fact.

[Özim]

Would you be pleased to see us make a good showing of it then? I don't understand the mentality of somebody that criticises our lack of ambition towards winning trophies but at the same turn would then be willing to write us out of one we're still in.
Honestly, I couldn't give a toss about the CL, it's a bore my interest might come back in a few years if we have a proper team but until then it's a waste of time.

[Özim]

Last I looked, bookies had us 5th favourite behind Barca, Real, Bayern and Chelsea. Odds might have gone out a bit since the draw but all in all it's a cup, everyone has at least a punchers chance. Were that not the case then Greece wouldn't have been European Champions, and teams like Pompey and Boro wouldn't have won a cup and been relegated in the same season.
For a start ties are over two legs, thus generally the better side wins...secondly yes it's a cup but teams that win cups have a determination and desire to win it, don't think we've had that for years and without that you have no hope. Graham's teams weren't the best but they were determined and gave 100% to the cause.

[Özim]

Do you actually know what you want or what?
You're taking these out of context.

I'm happy to write it off now as I feel we have no hope, I'd like us to have a chance but IMO we don't.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Honestly, I couldn't give a toss about the CL, it's a bore my interest might come back in a few years if we have a proper team but until then it's a waste of time.

That sounds very much like "I want my ball back". If you want a side to believe in themselves, then effectively saying 'you shouldn't bother with this one, you're not good enough', is not in any way going to help them get to the level you want us to be at.

[Özim]

That sounds very much like "I want my ball back". If you want a side to believe in themselves, then effectively saying 'you shouldn't bother with this one, you're not good enough', is not in anyway going to help them get to the level you want us to be at.
I'd settle for a Wengerless Arsenal :lol:

This team needs a new manager, until it gets one there won't be any belief as 6 years of failure has put pay to that. If you want belief you need motivator or a manager capable of motivating, Wenger isn't the one for that.

[dazthegooner]

That sounds very much like "I want my ball back". If you want a side to believe in themselves, then effectively saying 'you shouldn't bother with this one, you're not good enough', is not in any way going to help them get to the level you want us to be at.

:gp:

[Coney]

I'm happy to write off this competition...


I don't want to write if off...


Do you actually know what you want or what?

Two ItsMe's, there's only two ItsMe's.. :scarf:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I'd settle for a Wengerless Arsenal :lol:

Ambitious, I suppose.

[Marc Overmars]

I doubt we'll win it but getting teams like Milan is what it's all about. The knockouts is where this competiton really heats up and I'm glad we're there competing.

[Coney]

I'd settle for a ItsMeless GW :lol:

[Letters]

This team needs a new manager, until it gets one there won't be any belief as 6 years of failure has put pay to that.

Luckily the team right now are playing with some belief and the fans who go to games are starting to believe in them again too.

You must be hating our good run right now. Still, at least we'll probably lose on Sunday so you'll have something to cheer then.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I'd settle for a Wengerless Arsenal :lol:

This team needs a new manager, until it gets one there won't be any belief as 6 years of failure has put pay to that. If you want belief you need motivator or a manager capable of motivating, Wenger isn't the one for that.

In that case, why would would you settle for us winning the FA Cup?

[Kano]

ItsMe: it's a strange condition to not really care what your team are doing, or about the competitions in general then be so eager to tell everyone about your lack of interest. football in general seems completely unappealing to you, i don't understand why you spend time even speaking about it. just move on.

[Özim]

Luckily the team right now are playing with some belief and the fans who go to games are starting to believe in them again too.

You must be hating our good run right now. Still, at least we'll probably lose on Sunday so you'll have something to cheer then.
Problem is many fans like Wenger have short memories, when it all goes pear shaped towards the end of the season it'll come back to you though.

Am I hating it no not at all but I'm realistic we're on a good run but it will end at some point and the same problems will re-appear, if we lose on Sunday we lose at the end of the day we're not realistically in the title race 4th place is about our limit, I wish it was different but it isn't...but there you go.

I can't believe that after all that's happened you still think Wenger can cut it at the top.

[Özim]

In that case, why would would you settle for us winning the FA Cup?
At this point it's more realistic than winning the other competitions and we have to start somewhere, it shouldn't be like this but it is.

[Özim]

ItsMe: it's a strange condition to not really care what your team are doing, or about the competitions in general then be so eager to tell everyone about your lack of interest. football in general seems completely unappealing to you, i don't understand why you spend time even speaking about it. just move on.
I'm not that bothered about it this season, but I remember what it was like when it was worth watching...be nice to get that again. Wenger leaving would do it for me :lol:

Incidentally I haven't posted much this season and that's a symptom of my loss of interest. Occasionally I post a bit like today.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

I'd settle for a ItsMeless GW :lol:

:gp:

You know what they say, best not to feed the trolls tbh.

[Özim]

Funny how when I post the activity seems to go up, you have to ask why if people don't want me to.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

At this point it's more realistic than winning the other competitions and we have to start somewhere, it shouldn't be like this but it is.

You just said we have no chance of gaining belief with Wenger as manager though, so why bother winning that? Just something for you to celebrate?

[Xhaka Can’t]

You all must have fuck all to do at work.

[Özim]

You just said we have no chance of gaining belief with Wenger as manager though, so why bother winning that?
It's something to get excited about maybe.

Ultimately I'm just waiting for the day Wenger retires now, I can't see my interest coming back till he does, the guy is a bore.

[Özim]

You all must have fuck all to do at work.
I'm not working today or until 9th Jan, generally too busy when working these days.

[Coney]

You all must have fuck all to do at work.

Hey - don't knock it.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

We're not ambitious and getting through the group doesn't make us so.

We should just start again and look to become a force again, making up the numbers in the CL is worthless, let's build to make us a genuine force again not 4th place losers all the time.

We won't win the CL, we have no chance.

Well ill still watch it even if we don't win it as long as we do out best thats fine with me.

Nothing? I see to recall he won the UEFA Cup the season before.Mourinho is a proven winner that's a fact.

Any clown could win the Uefa cup means nothing. Jose was lucky to win the CL with porto end off. Not saying he is not a class manager though or a winner as you say.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

It's something to get excited about maybe.

Ultimately I'm just waiting for the day Wenger retires now, I can't see my interest coming back till he does, the guy is a bore.

and you think a new manager is going to be excited, if you think once wenger leaves we are going to get a Mourihno or a hiddink etc more fool you the new man will be in the same mould as wenger, it will be someone who will do the boards bidding once more.

[Fist of Lehmann]

Funny how when I post the activity seems to go up, you have to ask why if people don't want me to.I think the why is fairly obvious, but I doubt people want you stop posting. Beside, they could just stick you on ignore if they genuinely thought you were a prick.

[Özim]

and you think a new manager is going to be excited, if you think once wenger leaves we are going to get a Mourihno or a hiddink etc more fool you the new man will be in the same mould as wenger, it will be someone who will do the boards bidding once more.
I think it will be exciting yes, to finally have something a bit different at the club someone new with new and different ideas, the Wengerway has gone stale and a a change would be best for everyone IMO.

I don't know how you guys stay enthusiastic and excited after so long, especially as we've had so much repetition as well, he thinks he's entertaining, I don't really agree :lol:

[Özim]

I think the why is fairly obvious, but I doubt people want you stop posting. Beside, they could just stick you on ignore if they genuinely thought you were a prick.
Good to hear :lol:

[Letters]

I can't believe that after all that's happened you still think Wenger can cut it at the top.

I'm not sure if I do or not. I've said over and over he should have been sacked for the end of last season.

Right now I'm just enjoying the good run, enjoying the football we're playing and the way we're looking like a team again, looking like they're playing for each other and for Wenger. He deserves some credit for that, as do the players. Finishing below City is not failure, losing to them this Sunday isn't either. Utd got their arses handed to them too, throw enough money around and it's almost impossible to compete. We shouldn't be finishing below teams like Spurs though so that's the benchmark for me this season. End of the day so long as the team are doing their best and fighting to win games I'm happy. It's the capitulation or lack of effort which hurt last season, I'm not seeing that right now so, for now, I'm pretty happy with the team. If we fall apart again (and I don't just mean a failure to win trophies, I mean a failure to do their best) then we'll be back to square one. There seems to be a bit more resolve about us right now so let's see.

Wenger isn't going to get sacked this season. Get over it. So let's just get behind him and the team and see how we do.

[fakeyank]

Zimm- greatest poster in the history of GW :bow:

[GP]

I think the why is fairly obvious, but I doubt people want you stop posting. Beside, they could just stick you on ignore if they genuinely thought you were a prick.

Put who on ignore?

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Zimm- greatest poster in the history of GW :bow:

If thats the case they need to close shop now. Besides we all know Ach has the Honour

[Niall_Quinn]

we have RVP....we can beat anybody

Ref put paid to that last time around.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Put who on ignore?

Zimm he means

[Cripps_orig]

Oh dear

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Oh dear
?

[LDG]

:haha:

[Niall_Quinn]

It's funny because Letters was joking but Rednose thought he was serious!

[LDG]

It's also funny cos he's mental.

[GP]

Zimm he means

Oh

[Niall_Quinn]

To bring us back to the topic, could some admin change my username to Letters to Niall Quinn please? (note the lack of the underscore between Niall and Quinn, please don't get this bit wrong).

[Olivier's xmas twist]

It's also funny cos he's mental.

So's your face

[Olivier's xmas twist]

It's funny because Letters was joking but Rednose thought he was serious!

How was i suppose to know he was joking.

[Niall_Quinn]

How was i suppose to know he was joking.

You should have asked! So lazy.

[Fist of Lehmann]

:haha:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

You should have asked! So lazy.

So's you face

[Özim]

:lol:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

:lol:

[Ollie the Optimist]

I'd settle for a Wengerless Arsenal :lol:

This team needs a new manager, until it gets one there won't be any belief as 6 years of failure has put pay to that. If you want belief you need motivator or a manager capable of motivating, Wenger isn't the one for that.

only looking at the short term here i know and ignoring last 6 years. but this season, wenger has done exactly what you said he cant do. he has motivated his team, he has got them playing as a team, he has got them standing tall with the attiude of you aint fucking scoring and if you do, we'll score more. this team fight at the moment, they are proud to wear that shirt. while that continues, we have a chance of winning. remember 2006? written off as soon as draw happened, what actually happened was we became the first english team to win at madrid with a team so full of injuries it was unreal.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

only looking at the short term here i know and ignoring last 6 years. but this season, wenger has done exactly what you said he cant do. he has motivated his team, he has got them playing as a team, he has got them standing tall with the attiude of you aint fucking scoring and if you do, we'll score more. this team fight at the moment, they are proud to wear that shirt. while that continues, we have a chance of winning. remember 2006? written off as soon as draw happened, what actually happened was we became the first english team to win at madrid with a team so full of injuries it was unreal.

:gp:

[Master Splinter]

:haha:

This thread.

:haha:

[Master Splinter]

On topic, we'll win 0-2 in Milan and 3-0 at home.

Podolski with all five.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

On topic, we'll win 0-2 in Milan and 3-0 at home.

Podolski with all five.

:bow: Lukas
:bow: Wenger

[Joker]

I agree that we should focus on the FA Cup tbh. Wenger hasn't assembled a squad strong enough to make a real challenge in the Champions League, because he's simply content with qualifying and then getting to the second round/Quarter Finals, and picking up the financial rewards that that brings. It's the lack of ambition that's so frustrating. If we do get knocked out against a better side, then fair enough, but it's as if we're content with simply picking up the requisite revenue from the UCL Cash Cow, and then not minding when we're knocked out. It may be good "business" sense, but for a football fan, it's damn frustrating.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

I agree that we should focus on the FA Cup tbh. Wenger hasn't assembled a squad strong enough to make a real challenge in the Champions League, because he's simply content with qualifying and then getting to the second round/Quarter Finals, and picking up the financial rewards that that brings. It's the lack of ambition that's so frustrating. If we do get knocked out against a better side, then fair enough, but it's as if we're content with simply picking up the requisite revenue from the UCL Cash Cow, and then not minding when we're knocked out. It may be good "business" sense, but for a football fan, it's damn frustrating.

we might be out the fa cup by the time the cl comes round then what.

[fakeyank]

we might be out the fa cup by the time the cl comes round then what.

Then we fucked brother :(

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I agree that we should focus on the FA Cup tbh. Wenger hasn't assembled a squad strong enough to make a real challenge in the Champions League, because he's simply content with qualifying and then getting to the second round/Quarter Finals, and picking up the financial rewards that that brings. It's the lack of ambition that's so frustrating. If we do get knocked out against a better side, then fair enough, but it's as if we're content with simply picking up the requisite revenue from the UCL Cash Cow, and then not minding when we're knocked out. It may be good "business" sense, but for a football fan, it's damn frustrating.

I highly doubt Wenger is just content with not performing significantly in the Champions League, I think it's that obsession with it that might have been to our detriment in recent seasons (league wise).

You can't really 'focus' on the FA Cup, it's so dependant on having a favourable draw and the diffremt rounds only come once every three/four weeks. And then there is the problem that later on it means league fixtures need to be postponed.

[Özim]

we might be out the fa cup by the time the cl comes round then what.
Then our season will be as good as over cos we're not winning the CL or the league, still have the 4th place chump cup to fight for I guess.

[Özim]

I highly doubt Wenger is just content with not performing significantly in the Champions League, I think it's that obsession with it that might have been to our detriment in recent seasons (league wise).

You can't really 'focus' on the FA Cup, it's so dependant on having a favourable draw and the diffremt rounds only come once every three/four weeks. And then there is the problem that later on it means league fixtures need to be postponed.
You can't say he's obsessed with the CL when his team don't ever look capable of winning it, someone obsessed with it would adapt his team especially for it....he just sends out his team ignores the opposition and tells them to "just play your game".

[McNamara That Ghost...]

You can't say he's obsessed with the CL when his team don't ever look capable of winning it, someone obsessed with it would adapt his team especially for it....he just sends out his team ignores the opposition and tells them to "just play your game".

Well no, someone who is obsessed with something can't be objective and look at things clearly. Obsession isn't always a good thing in football.

In any case, don't you think in the last few years our style has been tailored more to doing well in the Champions League (in theory I mean) and thus at the expense of the Premier League?

[Xhaka Can’t]

only looking at the short term here i know and ignoring last 6 years. but this season, wenger has done exactly what you said he cant do. he has motivated his team, he has got them playing as a team, he has got them standing tall with the attiude of you aint fucking scoring and if you do, we'll score more. this team fight at the moment, they are proud to wear that shirt. while that continues, we have a chance of winning. remember 2006? written off as soon as draw happened, what actually happened was we became the first english team to win at madrid with a team so full of injuries it was unreal.

If you meant that, you're a fucking genius.

[Niall_Quinn]

If you meant that, you're a fucking genius.

I told him to say that.

Also thank for changing my name to something stupid and meaningless. I finally feel I have arrived.