Why is top 4 so important?

[CosmicHotspur]

Yes, it is about the money and if we are realistic about it it's unlikely, as things stand right now, that we would stand a chance of winning CL.

I would be happy to win silverware in a domestic competition. It's been a long time.

 

[Mr Pink]

To be fair we got tot he qf's on our first shot and if it wasn't for Crouch we, well ok we'd have gone out probably anyway, but who knows. Plus even getting tot he quarters or semi's woud mean a lot of high profile games along the way. Seeing Barca at the Lane is one of those dreams that keeps you going through losing to Wigan.

I don't get the alternative. Should we just stop?[/quote]

 

[Mullers]

A stadiumt hat they paid for themselves that has given them the highest match day revenue in the company which will enable them to compete financially with pretty much any club in the world. Not their fault that it looks like their executives are pocketing all the extra cash, but how many football teams are running at a profit in the world right now?

And it depends on what you define as lately. They have won the premier league a lot more recently and more often than we have, and I'm sorry, when was the last time we finished above them again?

By lately I don't mean 8 years ago, which is when Arsenal last won something. Which goes to show champions league doesn't guarantee anything.

 

[littlemandefoe]

Very simple mate!

In today's cash rich modern football game, the UCL is that pot of gold that'll be the spring board to bigger and better things be it
attracting players, sponsors, fans or a new stadium!

More importantly, i see qualification as not only a positive for us but more of a negative for someone else be it Le Arse or Chelscum!
Let's take a look at teams who used to be in the competition and have dropped out

Liverpool - midtable mediocrity and have not qualified since dropping out
Newcastle - relegated and are in the bottom half
Leeds - enough said!

I see it more of the start of the beginning of the end for the Woolwich if they drop out once and it's the start of the White Dynasty in
North London.

Chelscum would not have been able to buy Hazard and Oscar if that fluke in Allianz arena didn't happen but they could go the sugar daddy route.

In a nutshell, We can afford not to qualify cos we are a well run club but Le Arse, having been spoilt over the past 16years would face a massive shock and MIGHT not be able to recover!!!

Can guarantee with one or two decent signings, Arsenal will be back up there for top 3 next season. Hate to say that I really do but I can just see them signing one or two big big names.

 

[Mr Pink]

Exactly. Should we just prioritise all cup competitions and do just enough to stay in the League with the focus being mainly about Cup runs??????

Lets be honest the silverware is brilliant be it the Carling Cup or whatever but it doesn't earn you the serious respect you get from making the Champions League and progressing well in it. Our first season in it was fabulous in all honesty, filled me with pride. People took note of who we were after that I tell you - and others around us couldn't help but begrudgingly admire.

I could watch the Inter games, particularly the one at WHL, all day and night.[/quot

 

[absolute bobbins]

Genuine question.

We are a long way off ever challenging to win this competition. Yet it is what 99% of you want on here (over winnings trophies)

Why is it so important to us in your opinion?

Would rather have won the Europa League but Levy is more likely to open the cheque book if we are in the CHampions League

 

[SugarRay]

The main reason for me is that it increases the chances of us keeping hold of Bale for another year or two and puts us in a better position to sign new players.

I think the money issue is a little less important for next year as the increase in Premiership TV money from £50m to £100m (or thereabouts) is almost double what we'd be likely to earn in a Champions League run.

This.

Thing is, last time we got in we didnt exactly set the world alight with our transfer dealings so I don't see us suddenly snapping up world class talent left, right and centre if we do somehow manage to salvage our top 4 challenge.

Hopefully it means we can hang on to Bale by getting top 4.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

By lately I don't mean 8 years ago, which is when Arsenal last won something. Which goes to show champions league doesn't guarantee anything.

At no point did I say that it guarantees a win on everything, it is just a prerequisite for winning the two biggest vclub competitions in the world - the Champions League itself, and the Premier League.

I said that money helps you win things, and if you don't have a sugar daddy owner then the additional revenue from the champions league is your only bet.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

The main reason for me is that it increases the chances of us keeping hold of Bale for another year or two and puts us in a better position to sign new players.

I think the money issue is a little less important for next year as the increase in Premiership TV money from £50m to £100m (or thereabouts) is almost double what we'd be likely to earn in a Champions League run.

Yes but everyone in the Premier League get s more moeny. You will see far more talented players in the premier league as a result of the additional tv revenue, but we will also be facing a hell of a lot more competition from fellow premier league clubs for signings.

 

[Hoddle_Ledge]

Well the Goons have had 16 years of CL money yet consider scraping for 4th place a trophy so...

 

[dontcallme]

Chance to play Europe's elite:

I remember with great joy seeing us play the Milan clubs and Real Madrid. It is the glamour tournament and loved seeing my Arsenal and Chelsea fan mates acknowledge that we were exciting and did really well.

Financial:

No it doesn't guarantee £30m in transfer fees or top players to clamour to join us overnight but it does help our revenue. Surely that's a good thing?

Belief we are progressing: League places are important but some more important than others. For some clubs a mid table finish is a sign of progression as relegation ceases to become a worry. Others want to push for top 6 to get a Europa spot. We are not good enough to put in a title challenge but Man Utd, City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and ourselves all want CL football so beating two of our nearest competitors to that place is a sign that we are better than them.


I will always want trophies over everything else. I like the glamour side of football and those moments that live with you. But CL has become the top prize by a long way and to be in will still be a sign of a good season for me.

 

[ecce_tottenham]

1. Get more money
2. Keep Bale
3. Attract better players
4. Piss off scum.

 

[onthetwo]

££££$$$$$$$

 

[Dazza86]

Ultimately, I think that is hurts the club that losses out as our expense more, which indirectly helps us.

If our competitors lose £40m - £50m because we took it, based on their expenses it puts a massive strain on them, meaning they'll be more scared of FFP and unable to strengthen because of it - likely taking steps backwards as a consequence. This obviously helps our long term goals as finishing above them becomes easier, making us more likely to sign the top players and keep ours = winning things.

People will respond here saying that we'll directly improve because of the increased finances, but that isn't certain. We don't know what the money will be used for. But a certainty is that our competition would lose out and that they wouldn't be able to use that money at all.

 

[vegassd]

You only have to look back at the past 20 years of FA cup winners to see how being in the top 4 league places helps to win trophies. The league cup reflects the same but to a lesser extent, showing that the big clubs take that competition less seriously.

I'm sure that Birmingham and Portsmouth players are proud of their recent cup wins, but I'm also sure that players around the world aren't angling for a move to either club just because of those wins.

The very best players will want to win the very best trophies, and we need to be competing in the CL a) for the money to pay those players and b) for the prestige that might make them think we can win something.

Arsenal, Chelsea, City and United are all "bigger" teams than us. They have more money, bigger stadiums, and more realistic chance of winning trophies than we do. If we want to get in amongst the mix then we need to have something that one of them doesn't, and the only way we can do that is via the NDP or the CL. And CL is much closer to happening.

 

[Francis Gibbs]

Would rather have won the Europa League but Levy is more likely to open the cheque book if we are in the CHampions League

agree re EL, but Levy didn't open it last time and wont get the opp to open it this time which probably suits him

 

[Locotoro]

I'd rather have a club that consistently wins silverware than only finishes 4th every season.

The example of Newcastle, Everton and Leeds are point in case. Hardly anyone will remember that they did it.

 

[stonecolddeanaustin]

Yes but everyone in the Premier League get s more moeny. You will see far more talented players in the premier league as a result of the additional tv revenue, but we will also be facing a hell of a lot more competition from fellow premier league clubs for signings.

Yeah I know that but say for a club with a turnover of £80m without champions league under the old tv deal, then £20m of champions league money was an extra 25% revenue. Under the new deal that club's revenue is £130m and the champions league money is now only an extra 15% so with the new TV deal I don't think it's the be all and all that it's once was with regards to short term income.

The main thing about for me is that it raises the profile of the club which helps with attracting better sponsorship deals and better players.

 

[dynamoSpurs]

Dumb question.

I'll answer it anyway.

- 4th is better than 5th
- champ leagues = £££
- champ league attracts better players

Thought all the above was obvious..

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

It's a good question, obviously we all want to finish in the top four. Don't know why people are being so sarky on that front. It's just would you prioritise actually winning trophies over maybe just even a cl play off place. Trophies every day for me. who's to say we're going to spend loads more more on better players if we come fourth, because I for one can't see it.