And, we're off.....2016/17

[sawtooth]

You can't take the semi-final seriously if you've been knocked out in the group stages!
No one is saying make it a priority, but surely any team would want to do well in all comps they enter and go as far as they can, you stated you hope you're knocked out early.

I take it you'd rather finish out of EL places than finish 5th or 6th and qualify?

So if Utd were already safe in top 4 and they were in a championship race, do you seriously think Utd would continue to play a full strength team on a Thursday night to try and win the Europa Cup? I don't.

It suited Utd this year because they ran out of options.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

So if Utd were already safe in top 4 and they were in a championship race, do you seriously think Utd would continue to play a full strength team on a Thursday night to try and win the Europa Cup? I don't.

It suited Utd this year because they ran out of options.

That's all what ifs, I'm not saying any team would.

Again, you stated you hope you go out as soon as possible, that point you're now avoiding.

If you had a crap league season and couldn't make top 4, do you think Arsenal should take it seriously and try to win it to get CL football?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I'm with Sawtooth. I think the Europa league is pants. It's a huge drain on a club's resources and has a disproportionate affect on the rest of their season. Too many Mickey Mouse matches all over far flung parts of Europe. I'd have no problem in Koeman playing the kids and going out early.

Half the number of matches and make it relevant again.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

I'm with Sawtooth. I think the Europa league is pants. It's a huge drain on a club's resources and has a disproportionate affect on the rest of their season. Too many Mickey Mouse matches all over far flung parts of Europe. I'd have no problem in Koeman playing the kids and going out early.

Half the number of matches and make it relevant again.

I really don't get this "go out early" point of view, how is a team like Everton meant to get european experience or attract the best players?

Surely you want your team (whoever you support) to do well in every game they play, I get that we need to prioritise said competitions but not to the point of not trying or playing kids, kids will end up with more experience than 1st eleven.

Right now I'd say Everton's priorities for next season imo should be: PL, EL, FA Cup then Carling(or whatever it is).

 

[sawtooth]

that's all what ifs, i'm not saying any team would.

Again, you stated you hope you go out as soon as possible, that point you're now avoiding.

If you had a crap league season and couldn't make top 4, do you think arsenal should take it seriously and try to win it to get cl football?

i not only hope that we go out early, i wished that we didnt even need to enter it in the first place!!

 

[sawtooth]

Giroud scored a hatrick for France yesterday, their first one recorded since 2000. That's 16 goals in 16 appearances for France and he's scored only 1 goal less for France than Benzema but Giroud played 19 fewer games. Deschamps says Giroud is their best goal scorer.

Still some golf monthly forummers don't rate him.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Paul, I think the EL is a drain and has such a detrimental effect on the rest of the season that it is a negative not a positive. There are so many games to play that the chances of winning is quite limited. Our squad is not big enough to cope with those extra games and still compete in the league and domestic cups. I'd rather be in the CL or nothing as far as Europe is concerned.

We will have to disagree on this one

 

[Papas1982]

Giroud scored a hatrick for France yesterday, their first one recorded since 2000. That's 16 goals in 16 appearances for France and he's scored only 1 goal less for France than Benzema but Giroud played 19 fewer games. Deschamps says Giroud is their best goal scorer.

Still some golf monthly forummers don't rate him.

So maybe you should fill your team with French players so he performs at Arsenal.

His goalscoring record domestically doesn't compare to the rest of the top strikers.

Would you honestly rather him than Kane, Lukaku, Aguero, Sanchez or Costa?

even an ageing Zlatan outperformed him.

He finished with 12 league goals. Midfielders and relegation fighters out scored him.

 

[Slime]

i not only hope that we go out early, i wished that we didnt even need to enter it in the first place!!

Well, you should have finished in the top four then.
Wenger only has himself to blame ............. though obviously not in your opinion.

 

[sawtooth]

Well, you should have finished in the top four then.
Wenger only has himself to blame ............. though obviously not in your opinion.

Its not really a blame thing, fair play to Spurs and Liverpool for being that much better than Arsenal over the 38 games.

For the record its no one individuals fault either, its a team game involving all of the coaches, players, physios,manager, etc, etc.

 

[Slime]

Its not really a blame thing, fair play to Spurs and Liverpool for being that much better than Arsenal over the 38 games.

For the record its no one individuals fault either, its a team game involving all of the coaches, players, physios,manager, etc, etc.

......... and Wenger is at the top table, where the buck stops. He is in charge of all of the above.

 

[Fish]

......... and Wenger is at the top table, where the buck stops. He is in charge of all of the above.

Yeah, he's the top of the untouchables!

 

[sawtooth]

Yeah, he's the top of the untouchables!

Like your club, you have no soul Robin.

Wenger has given 20 years of his life to Arsenal , yes he gets paid handsomely for it but money can't be his motivation when he's 67 years old and already has more than he could ever spend.

Anyone who loves his work as much as he does deserves a bit more respect don't you think?

 

[Hobbit]

Like your club, you have no soul Robin.

Wenger has given 20 years of his life to Arsenal , yes he gets paid handsomely for it but money can't be his motivation when he's 67 years old and already has more than he could ever spend.

Anyone who loves his work as much as he does deserves a bit more respect don't you think?

Can't disagree with any of that. But would you play Ian Wright if he turned up at the ground for the next home game? No, because he's past it.

Wenger has signed for two years, so let's see how next season goes. It would be a crying shame to see him sacked if things don't go well.

 

[Fish]

Like your club, you have no soul Robin.

Wenger has given 20 years of his life to Arsenal , yes he gets paid handsomely for it but money can't be his motivation when he's 67 years old and already has more than he could ever spend.

Anyone who loves his work as much as he does deserves a bit more respect don't you think?

I wholly admit I have no soul where business and result based events take place as everything has a use by date and Wenger is past his sell by date.

He had the perfect opportunity to bow out gracefully probably 1 or 2 years ago but he's now risking, or imo has already achieved risking his past achievements to be all undone by now failing, as last season was clearly a failure as was the season before imo.

Ozil will only stay for the money if he gets what he wants and Sanchez will only stay if there are marquee signings built around him, or he's off imo.

I can see Ox leaving under the same premis so the big question will be, can Wenger change his mentality towards buying and risk buying the right players for the immediate moment and future, I personally don't think so, I think what you see is what you get with Wenger and his old school thinking is miles behind what Arsenal need now to keep in touch of they'll fall even further behind and just become one of the pack between 7-5 with the odd spurt here and there into CL but never challenging for the title without a huge change in attitude.

He's yesterday's man, pure and simple.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

It seems VVD is on his way to city......

 

[Fish]

It seems VVD is on his way to city......

Kompany has been pretty impressive towards the end of the season and more importantly, free of injury, so, who's VVD going to be by the side of, Kompany or Stones?

 

[Pin-seeker]

Kompany has been pretty impressive towards the end of the season and more importantly, free of injury, so, who's VVD going to be by the side of, Kompany or Stones?

But who else do they have?
I agree that Konmany as looked good,but you just get the feeling that he could get injured at anytime.
They definitely need to add in that area.

 

[Pin-seeker]

Wow £60m??
Crazy

 

[Deleted member 15344]

It seems VVD is on his way to city......

Lots of differing reports suggesting that a deal hasn't been done yet - but £60mil and £200k a week is a lot of money for a CB