European Football – A blessing and a curse
As I am writing this, Liverpool have just secured themselves Champions League football while Manchester United have just been guaranteed not to have Champions League football for next season. As for The Arsenal, well, we are stuck somewhere in the middle, again.
Three different teams. Three different schedules. Three different fortunes.
ManUre – Yes, new management team struggling in their first season PF (post Ferguson), made the last eight of the Champions League, never mounted a serious challenge for Premier League title, languishing in 7th and likely to stay there (and not qualify for any European football next season).
The Arsenal – As is customary, when February comes, we were in the last 16 of the Champions League and challenging for the title. When March is over, we were out of the Champions League and out of the title race.
Liverpool – No European football at all and apart from a blip at the turn of the year, have been there or thereabouts all season and now it’s their title to lose.
I’m in no way saying that I don’t want Champions League football, far from it.
Is it just that, unless you are willing to invest an inordinate amount of cash, a la €it¥ and the Chavs, and have a depth of squad to cope with two games a week (and the inevitable injuries), does the midweek ‘inconvenience’ of Champions League football, now stop you mounting a serious and sustained challenge for the Premier League?
TheSundayMorningGooner: it’s just a thought!
Steve Wellman
English by birth, Australian by choice. Traffic Engineer, Arsenal ST Holder, Sun DreamTeam Winner, Writer on @GunnersTown, Depeche Mode, Welcome to my world…
I agree completely, for me our team is too good for our squad.
Our team tends to get us into a position our squad can’t handle.
We would have faired better with a draw in Dortmund and going out at the group stage of the CL this season. I am certain of that.
tell me who was the last team to win the EPL who weren’t competing in the CL the same year ,?
what a load of tosh !!!!
Look at your results and stats, Jan 18th you were 8 points ahead of liverpool and top of the table. You had one UCL game in feburary and one in March. After both those games you got 3 points against Sunderland and spurs. No UCL hangover. Preceding your drubbing against liverpool and Chelsea you had a clear week of prep. You know the results… You are now 10 points adrift off the top. So stop believing the rubbish your manager is feeding you. 2 UCL games in 2014 do not constitute a 18 point shift. Poor motivation, lack of dept, poor tactics and a manager who has lost his bollocks are to blame for your position.
Good points well made to be fair
Wake up
Firstly, presuming you are a Liverrpool fan, genuine congrats
Secondly, I agree, I’m not claiming UCL hangovers, I’m merely pointing out that yes, Arsenals squad is not big enough to play the number if games we have this season to compete at thd tail end on more than one front