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Well whatever, look Leicester are top of the prem right now and if I'd have called that at the beginning of the season people would have called me mad. So in that same vein I feel like we have a half-decent chance of a win against Barca. Its not anywhere near "odds-on" but if we work hard we can get a result.
I don't care what people think of Wenger, he's our manager and I treat management like playing staff and back them.
Course we do. This whole 'realistic' point of view isn't the preserve of a football fan. If that was the case there would be fans of around 70/80 clubs in England and hundreds more around the world who may as well just hang up their scarves. To dismiss any sign of hope completely misses the point of what sport, or any other type of escape serves in our lives. So what if we're let down, you just get back up for the next one, especially against a bunch of rotten cunts like Barcelona, the type of club that embody the worst in the game. Unfortunately if we want to compete that is where Arsenal will have to eventually sink down to but let's fuck them over if we can for now. Delusion at least reminds us we're alive for 90 minutes.Quote:
Originally Posted by tpyo
Well yes, but the goalposts have shifted. 10 years ago we had the double whammy of the stadium move restricting our spending and Chelsea and City spunking money like it was going out of fashion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
In that era it was hard for us to compete with them. Now our circumstances have changed. We've paid off a lot of the stadium debt, we have new sponsorship deals in place and maybe FFP will have some effect. And the new TV deals mean there's more money across the board, the billionaires money will be less effective and buying up every trophy now the new financial deals have somewhat levelled the playing field.
I don't think anyone could have predicted what Leicester are doing. But they are a rare exception to the general trend that money and success in football are highly correlated.
Has been for years :(Quote:
Football is going down the shitter.
Sadly I agree, I think we have a 1% chance of progressing and I'm not being negative or defeatist.Quote:
Originally Posted by Özim
I've seen enough of Barca this season to form the above opinion, they have gone up a level from last season and I thought they were superb last season.
Offensively they are soo strong it's not even funny, I watched them in the El Clasico systematically take apart Real (without Messi) and Real are a tier above us. I know Football doesn't always work that way but one thing I'll say about this Barca team is they consistently deliver in the big games, they have done for a couple of seasons now.
Of course we have the ability to surprise them, but over 2 legs?....don't think so.
I thought City have only really been spending the money in the last 5 years so 10 years ago it was only Chelsea. Also 10 years ago we were the top team, everyone was playing catch up with us. FFP wont have any affect with the new TV deals meaning City and Chelsea will make a profit, in fact that is probably what is going to make the league even more competitive as the TV money far outweighs the size of stadium etc benefits.Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters To Santa
Without a large influx of cash there is no way Chelsea or City would have won the league. But despite there spending United still won the league without having to match that spend.
I do think the fact the league is more competitive actually helps us as all teams (except Villa) can take points of all other teams. We are capable of dropping points against anyone regardless but not with other teams doing it... means no one team can run away with the league.
I do think we have a great chance this season and it would be disappointing if it doesn't go down to the wire this season with or even without any new signings.
Without new signings, especially in midfield, we have no chance. The experiment with Walcott as CF has not panned out either, so a new striker too is needed. Another half assed winter window is not what is needed, if we are serious about winning the league or giving Barca a real game.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bumble
Yes new signings would be great but I would be surprised if we make 2, and those 2 being 1st choice players to make a big impact. Even if we don't sign any players I still think we have a good chance in the league. City aren't dominating and they are struggling with injuries too (Aguero, Kompany, Nasri etc). I don't really care if we give barca a game or not - the CL just isn't that important. Its still a cup competition, the league we can do it though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Globalgunner
Utd were hardly frugal though, they still had significantly more to spend than us.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bumble
And they had Fergie of course, who IMO was the GOAT.
How have the goal posts shifted? Aren't we looking at the same set of contenders for the league each year? The TV money is a factor but do you think anyone besides the usual suspects has a chance of winning the league? A team that's never won it at all and that pattern likely to follow for years to come since the money is rolling in?Quote:
Originally Posted by Letters To Santa
We've been looking at a 3/4 horse race for the league title for years now. Before our sponsorship deals and I think the the fact that Chelsea and Utd are doing so badly with City looking beatable have slightly spewed your perspective.
I'd say the money from the new TV deals has somewhat levelled the playing field. Not completely, and it will take some years for the effects to be seen more but the PL is looking more competitive. Leicester are a bit of an anomaly, I still expect one of the usual suspects to win it but I don't think the gaps between the haves and have nots is as big as it was.