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The race for the title

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
My point was by December the season was wrecked, so it was very difficult to get things back on track. All dressing rooms have cliques anyway. The main reason people stopped playing was Mourinho and his increasingly maniacal behaviour and defensive tactics.

It changed big time when Moaninho totally disrespected the physio on the opening day last season.

last season I was a very proud fan, and to be honest the last times i really felt like that was 80-84, 87 and even the 91 season, (i actually think the sacking of Venables set us back big time). I never really expected us to improve this season but we have, and was gutted to lose the semi, as well falling short again in the league. last season we suffered very few injuries, yet this season we have lost some crucial players for long periods.

next season is so hard to call, Man C, Man U, Chelsea have bottomless pits of cash. City if they can sort their defence out they will be very tough. Man U i think have to many players to replace, but with Moaninho he knows how to not lose games, and not every goalkeeper will have a worldie against them next season. Chelsea will need to strengthen if they want to compete in the CL, and a very good chance they will start without Costa. with us playing at Wembley we need to make it our home very quickly because there are 19 other teams though mainly 12 or 13 other teams that will be having their day in a stadium they very rarely get to visit in their history.

if we can keep this 1st team together though I do expect Walker will move on, and add a bit of strength to cover for possible injuries then hopefully next season we can provide a challenge in all 4 comps, and hopefully win something, but whatever happens, it will never ever dampen my love for this club, i just hope next season makes me feel as proud as I am now(y)
 

danielneeds

Kick-Ass
May 5, 2004
24,179
48,764
Most but not all and we have had side good enough since 2005 to win the domestic cups. If we didn't then I could live with that but that is not the case and certainly not since the start of the '10s. And let's not forget the UEFA cup which we have consistently been a disaster in despite often being the wealthiest club in it. ENIC like all of the other moneymen are only really interested in the commercial aspect of the game which is why they are all obbessed with CL revenues. The prioritisation of that is what is so damaging because everything else becomes secondary. Arsenal are a club that embodies that, we are not far of that and Liverpool are heading that way as well.
No, I really don't agree with some notion ENIC have influenced the manager like that. The fact is all managers in the PL know that PL performance is what will influence whether they stay in the job, so cups are secondary. Did ENIC influence our loss against Pompey in the semi-final, or the performance against Chelsea in the league cup final? No, we've had plenty of opportunities to win something alongside good league performances, but either bad luck or poor performances have cost us.
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
Most but not all and we have had side good enough since 2005 to win the domestic cups. If we didn't then I could live with that but that is not the case and certainly not since the start of the '10s. And let's not forget the UEFA cup which we have consistently been a disaster in despite often being the wealthiest club in it. ENIC like all of the other moneymen are only really interested in the commercial aspect of the game which is why they are all obbessed with CL revenues. The prioritisation of that is what is so damaging because everything else becomes secondary. Arsenal are a club that embodies that, we are not far of that and Liverpool are heading that way as well.

at the moment getting in the CL will help us attract players, increase our wages a lot better than they were in the past, and will also help pay towards the stadium, winning the CoC doesn't do anything other than get us a guaranteed place in europe. winning the FA Cup would be great for us fans and would hopefully give the players a lift, but again it doesn't do much for the club financially just a place in europe.

we have had a chance to push for the title for 2 years running now, but don't really have the squad size able to compete in Europe at the moment, so if we have the chance of finishing in the top 4 or push for top spot, that is where we will put all our eggs. if next season we are struggling to finish in top 4 and we are involved in the CoC, FA Cup (which we really went for this season), or fall into the Europa again, I am sure we will make them priorities, but unfortunately in todays game it's too much about money compared to the days of pride for both clubs and and a very high % of players (not many players are playing for the teams they started at these days).
 

TheHood

.................................
Jan 17, 2006
1,671
2,104
No, I really don't agree with some notion ENIC have influenced the manager like that. The fact is all managers in the PL know that PL performance is what will influence whether they stay in the job, so cups are secondary. Did ENIC influence our loss against Pompey in the semi-final, or the performance against Chelsea in the league cup final? No, we've had plenty of opportunities to win something alongside good league performances, but either bad luck or poor performances have cost us.

They influenced the whole club like that, its been that way for years, we have become defined by it almost, Levy's desire for it is well documented. And no it is not direct influence in that manner you suggest, but more of top down direct they want the club to go. Just look at our managers and players ( even supporters) have talked about as their priorities at the start of each season. If silverware is not a priotisation and if there is little to no pressure on a club to win anything( and that is clearly the case with us) then you are not going to create an enviroment that will foster such success.
 

TheHood

.................................
Jan 17, 2006
1,671
2,104
at the moment getting in the CL will help us attract players, increase our wages a lot better than they were in the past, and will also help pay towards the stadium, winning the CoC doesn't do anything other than get us a guaranteed place in europe. winning the FA Cup would be great for us fans and would hopefully give the players a lift, but again it doesn't do much for the club financially just a place in europe.

we have had a chance to push for the title for 2 years running now, but don't really have the squad size able to compete in Europe at the moment, so if we have the chance of finishing in the top 4 or push for top spot, that is where we will put all our eggs. if next season we are struggling to finish in top 4 and we are involved in the CoC, FA Cup (which we really went for this season), or fall into the Europa again, I am sure we will make them priorities, but unfortunately in todays game it's too much about money compared to the days of pride for both clubs and and a very high % of players (not many players are playing for the teams they started at these days).

CL qualification resulted in £35 million worth of addtional revenues for us. That doesn't even afford you players like Moussa Sissoko in today's market. Real Madrid secured £89 million for winning the tournament, we would need to do that just to surpass Liverpool in term of their revenue capacity, a club who itself cannot compete at the highest level in a consistent basis. This isn't the magic wand that it is being made out to be, we have been in the tournament twice before and we haven't signed any players that we couldn't have previously. If we keep living in the future and focusing on what we may do or what we may become then we will continue to miss out on the opportunities that here are now. There is nothing to be positive about chasing dreams and fantasies when it comes at the expense at attainable success.
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
CL qualification resulted in £35 million worth of addtional revenues for us. That doesn't even afford you players like Moussa Sissoko in today's market. Real Madrid secured £89 million for winning the tournament, we would need to do that just to surpass Liverpool in term of their revenue capacity, a club who itself cannot compete at the highest level in a consistent basis. This isn't the magic wand that it is being made out to be, we have been in the tournament twice before and we haven't signed any players that we couldn't have previously. If we keep living in the future and focusing on what we may do or what we may become then we will continue to miss out on the opportunities that here are now. There is nothing to be positive about chasing dreams and fantasies when it comes at the expense at attainable success.

this is the 1st time we have ever got back to back CL, so that's another £35m which might not buy Sissoko, but means the money never come out of other resources. had we concentrated on winning the CoC or FA cup last season instead of finishing in the top 4 how much would we have earned? if we wasn't in the CL none of our players would of seen an increase in their wages this season.

if we had put our eggs in the Europa last season to try and get a trophy, which at a time of playing Dortmund away we were right in with a chance of winning the league, could of cost us everything. Dortmund are a top team and wasn't the easiest team to draw, but to put our full team out just after a very hectic week could of ended our season.

I don't know anyone that would want to win the Europa over the League, and by that time Poch most probably knew his squad couldn't cope on both fronts

we are not going to surpass Liverpool financially till the new stadium is up, but it will help keeping the gap by playing CL football instead of in the Europa and winning the CoC.
 

double0

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2006
14,423
12,258
We've definitely improved from last season our points tally has gone up considerably and most of our game stats too.

We have a very good squad over that last two season's, we keep these together next season we'll be up there challenging for the league again.

Our transfer activities should be clever. We don't need massive excavation, In fact I'd rather we guy one marquee player than squad fillers.
 
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tiger666

Large Member
Jan 4, 2005
27,978
82,214
Paying higher wages and offering champions league football brings better players than an FA cup win.
 

Shea

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2013
7,711
10,930
Arsenal fans I know are more worried about top four than FA cup for the very reason that they fear losing Sanchez and their better players in addition to being unable to bring in the level of player they want without CL football on the table

Same probably applies to us

CL football could be the difference between keeping some of our better players and even signing a player we want to bring in (although last year proved there is no guarantee to being able to get our top targets just because we have CL football)
 

WexfordTownSpur

preposition me arse
Aug 2, 2007
2,615
653
Bad day at the office. Man City hit every break they could and are now only 5 points behind us with 2 games I can't see them loosing.
ARSENAL win away from home and still have a game in hand and look like they can still get top 4 and CL football.
Leicester could have won today I think it will be a tough game for us to get anything off them.
Hull will be either fighting for there lives. Or like Newcastle last year, players putting themselves in the shop window! And totally relaxed.
Then we have a very emotional game tomorrow at the lane tomorrow and the pressure of holding on to an unbeaten record at home. Man U will have to go for it, forget what Jose says. They will have to beat a very good Ajax side to get CL. He has over a weeks rest after our game so he will put out a full and strong side!
I can see this all going Pete Tong

All we need is one bloody point out of 12! And I can see us blowing it again and missing out on second. And bloody ARSEnal getting in the CL.

Come on Spurs don't do it to us again. Get that bloody point tomorrow- PLEASE!!!!
 

Shea

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2013
7,711
10,930
Bad day at the office. Man City hit every break they could and are now only 5 points behind us with 2 games I can't see them loosing.
ARSENAL win away from home and still have a game in hand and look like they can still get top 4 and CL football.
Leicester could have won today I think it will be a tough game for us to get anything off them.
Hull will be either fighting for there lives. Or like Newcastle last year, players putting themselves in the shop window! And totally relaxed.
Then we have a very emotional game tomorrow at the lane tomorrow and the pressure of holding on to an unbeaten record at home. Man U will have to go for it, forget what Jose says. They will have to beat a very good Ajax side to get CL. He has over a weeks rest after our game so he will put out a full and strong side!
I can see this all going Pete Tong

All we need is one bloody point out of 12! And I can see us blowing it again and missing out on second. And bloody ARSEnal getting in the CL.

Come on Spurs don't do it to us again. Get that bloody point tomorrow- PLEASE!!!!
I just want us to not lose against Man U to end our days at White Hart Lane with an unbeaten season

Doing that takes care of second place, nothing else even matters to me for the rest of the season now
 

dricha1

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2005
1,311
2,579
Bad day at the office. Man City hit every break they could and are now only 5 points behind us with 2 games I can't see them loosing.
ARSENAL win away from home and still have a game in hand and look like they can still get top 4 and CL football.
Leicester could have won today I think it will be a tough game for us to get anything off them.
Hull will be either fighting for there lives. Or like Newcastle last year, players putting themselves in the shop window! And totally relaxed.
Then we have a very emotional game tomorrow at the lane tomorrow and the pressure of holding on to an unbeaten record at home. Man U will have to go for it, forget what Jose says. They will have to beat a very good Ajax side to get CL. He has over a weeks rest after our game so he will put out a full and strong side!
I can see this all going Pete Tong

All we need is one bloody point out of 12! And I can see us blowing it again and missing out on second. And bloody ARSEnal getting in the CL.

Come on Spurs don't do it to us again. Get that bloody point tomorrow- PLEASE!!!!

We should get at least one point from the last 3 i really want us to finish 2nd to show improvement on last season. And I don't really care if Arsenal make top 4, it's still below us and might mean Liverpool don't finish top 4 which I think would harm them massively.
 

Roynie

Well-Known Member
Oct 2, 2007
3,116
3,882
Bad day at the office. Man City hit every break they could and are now only 5 points behind us with 2 games I can't see them loosing.
ARSENAL win away from home and still have a game in hand and look like they can still get top 4 and CL football.
Leicester could have won today I think it will be a tough game for us to get anything off them.
Hull will be either fighting for there lives. Or like Newcastle last year, players putting themselves in the shop window! And totally relaxed.
Then we have a very emotional game tomorrow at the lane tomorrow and the pressure of holding on to an unbeaten record at home. Man U will have to go for it, forget what Jose says. They will have to beat a very good Ajax side to get CL. He has over a weeks rest after our game so he will put out a full and strong side!
I can see this all going Pete Tong

All we need is one bloody point out of 12! And I can see us blowing it again and missing out on second. And bloody ARSEnal getting in the CL.

Come on Spurs don't do it to us again. Get that bloody point tomorrow- PLEASE!!!!

We have 3 games left, that means a max of 9 points, not 12. Keep the faith, we'll get the point(s) we need tomorrow!
 

Shea

Well-Known Member
Apr 5, 2013
7,711
10,930
We should get at least one point from the last 3 i really want us to finish 2nd to show improvement on last season. And I don't really care if Arsenal make top 4, it's still below us and might mean Liverpool don't finish top 4 which I think would harm them massively.
I think it would harm arsenal more than Liverpool to miss out on top four

All Liverpool's players are used to them not having CL football, I don't think anyone their will push for a move if they miss out and I also don't think it will massively detract from their recruitment if they don't have CL football to offer next season

Arsenal on the other hand could lose their best players
 

WexfordTownSpur

preposition me arse
Aug 2, 2007
2,615
653
We have 3 games left, that means a max of 9 points, not 12. Keep the faith, we'll get the point(s) we need tomorrow!
I was talking about before the wet spam game. Just like last year we had a possible 12 points and blew it. Sorry until I see that 1 point on the bag, like last year, it is hard to keep the faith. Happily take a point now tomorrow!
 

nasescoba1985

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2011
847
3,058
Liverpool and Arsenal battling desperately for that 4th place. Can't stand either club and it's like asking who to save from a burning building out of Ian Huntley and Jimmy Saville.
 

WexfordTownSpur

preposition me arse
Aug 2, 2007
2,615
653
We should get at least one point from the last 3 i really want us to finish 2nd to show improvement on last season. And I don't really care if Arsenal make top 4, it's still below us and might mean Liverpool don't finish top 4 which I think would harm them massively.
Remember last year. Same position with 4 games to go and we blew it. Such short memories? We should have got a point at spammers. But with all we had to play for we still didn't show up!
So not sure why after that display at spammers and the games we have why people are So confident we will get that point, history tells us otherwise.
 

THFCSPURS19

The Speaker of the Transfer Rumours Forum
Jan 6, 2013
37,886
130,485
I was talking about before the wet spam game. Just like last year we had a possible 12 points and blew it. Sorry until I see that 1 point on the bag, like last year, it is hard to keep the faith. Happily take a point now tomorrow!
It's the last game at WHL, anything less than a win would be pretty heartbreaking.
 

WexfordTownSpur

preposition me arse
Aug 2, 2007
2,615
653
It's the last game at WHL, anything less than a win would be pretty heartbreaking.
Sorry being pragmatic. Just a point gets us all this for a great season.
Highest finish since the double winning team
Unbeaten at the lane in our last season there
We already finish above Arsenal, but would also be above Pool, Utd and City!!!
What an achievement and a massive reason to party!!!
And all this for one point, come on you spurs, do it for the lane, do it for your fans!!
 
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