Arsenals chances of a top 4 finish this season
- Thread starter Eyepopper
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
We're not far behind City first XI wise (we beat them at our place and were worth a point at Eastlands). We need to keep RvP and add cover for Song and expect step ups from Ox and Ramsey to be competitive.
oh i forgot, i am posting in a forum where people cry about a lil bit of exaggeration.
Nope, don't quite think squeaking past us by one point on the final day after one of the worst goalkeeping performance this season is the same as winning the title unbeaten and finishing the season on twice the number of points as us.
As for the poor run early on, we didn't exactly start off the season in the best fashion either. The Tottenham riots, Redknapp's heart operation and court case and the speculation following Capello's resignation weren't exactly aids in the season. You have to get on with things though. Unfortunately we finished 4thand therefore, must now rely on Bayern.
What is clear regardless of all this is that
a) Man utd had the better season
b) the gap has been closing, quite clearly for the past 8 years
Im faling to see the reason for optimism, the only difference between this season and every other is you got your annual bottle job out of the way at the start rather than wait till feb/March........same old same old.
What the hell are you going on about now?
I only mentioned the form of Newcastle, Spurs and Chelsea in the context of Arsenal's form at the same point in the season. You know? Comparing like with like?
As opposed to say, trying to put aside the run of shite form that derailed Arsenal's season. A run of shite form for which you have nobody to blame but yourselves.
H2H isn't a great reflection. The league doesn't lie.
Last season you said similar, saying you needed Fabregas and Nasri to stay, otherwise it cemented yourselves as a club not competing at the top table. You were convinced one if not both would.
And here we are again, except the situation is more critical.
It's shite btw. A travesty for football if Arsenal lose Van Persie to City.
no shit.
And Rednapp should have been in jail but then again he wouldn't have been there to initiate your relegation form.
A very easy question:
With Van Persie: Highly likely.
Without Van Persie - Very difficult.
With Van Persie: Highly likely.
Without Van Persie - Very difficult.
Same scenario as most seasons......just at the other end for a change.
I see Vieira has started the public tapping up of van Persie.
I've never written off Arsenal, but god they made hard work of it this year. Next year though?
To put it simply, they needed the complete and utter collapse of two top-four teams to finish 3rd. Just.
They won't have that luxury next year. Who is going to collapse, Spurs? United? City? Chelsea?
- This year they could barely finish above Newcastle, with arguably the leagues best player. In fact I don't even think that is arguable.
- Next year if Tottenham keep Modric and maybe Ade they will have a better team than Arsenal, even if they keep Robin.
- Next year Chelsea will have a better team than them.
- Man City and Utd will still have better teams than them.
To put it simply, they needed the complete and utter collapse of two top-four teams to finish 3rd. Just.
They won't have that luxury next year. Who is going to collapse, Spurs? United? City? Chelsea?
Vieira should be ashamed of himself.
What is it that he actually does for City apart from taking a presumably large wage? An ambassador?
It was pretty cringeworthy when I saw Kompany refer to him as a City legend.
Reminds me of Kenyon at Chelsea in Moscow, when he was their club ambassador to lead them up to the podium, whilst we were led by Sir Bobby Charlton.
That's not how you do it. Basically what you have to do is say something outrageous, then stick to it for quite a while. Then, once you're bored of that dismiss that outrageous statement as being insignificant and move onto another point. All with tongue firmly in-cheek. The equivalent of a schoolboy chucking water bombs while he's struggling to run he's laughing so hard.
PM pete if you need a bit more guidance.
Tap up Arsenal players by the look of it.
I believe his correct title is Football Development Executive, whatever that is.
Yes, but it's a bit of a myth. They've said the same thing about us with Giggs and Scholes, and we just kept them until the collapsed. It worked fine, we just kept adding to them team.
Give them a decent manager and they will flourish unfortunately. Hopefully the Europa League will weigh them down.
Are Arsenal a better team than Spurs currently, rcoobc?
So did youAnd Arsenal will remain exactly the same and will have the same kind of season in 2012-13?
Ah, logical logic. clever
Yeah we've lost a steady stream of players over the last few years which mean that we've stood trod water instead of progressing. Losing Fabregas was the biggest blow but losing RvP wouldn't help. If we keep RvP, a first XI of
Sczesny
Sagna Koscielny Vermaelen Gibbs
Ramsey Song Wilshere
Walcott RvP Podolski
with (Arteta, Santos, Gervinho, Ox etc rotating) doesn't look too bad. Need cover for Song (M'Vila?) and another striking option (Remy?) IMO.
Remy apparently met 'Arry in Paris yesterday.
Julien Laurens @LaurensJulien
Harry Redknapp met Loïc Rémy yesterday in Paris at Orly airport.Looking good for Spurs.Marseille is asking around15M£ for the transfer #thfc
I think I'll frame this quote...
On a serious note, Wenger has done well this season, given the circumstances.
He should have identified replacements for Fabregas and Nasri long before they left; not doing so cost Arsenal a few points at least, from their horrid run at the beginning of the season. Mertesacker and Santos have been underwhelming at best. Their defense has the propensity of letting in easy goals and making it harder for the attack to bail them out. He needs to work on that in the summer. Kosenlcy (I can't spell it) and Vermaleen are a very good pairing when they're fit, but backups need to be brought in.
The hardest gap to bridge is the gap between 3rd, and contenders for 1st. In the last few years, Chelsea and City have only been able to do so with unlimited spending, hampering the likes of Arsenal and Spurs in the process. That Wenger has kept them in contention, both in the league, and in Europe, is excellent. He needs to get the fans a trophy soon: either the League Cup, or the FA Cup. It can only help.
I thought transfers were nothing to do wiv 'Arry (but all down to that nice Mr Levy) or is that only when they're shit ones like buying back Robbie Keane?
No, not really.
Chelsea are a top 4 team handicapped by an internal war. Which they won't have next year imo.
If Arsenal have the exact same season as this year, do you think they will get in the top 4? Because I don't.
I think Man City and Utd were reasonably mediocre and it was the weakness of the teams below them which made them look better than they are. Look at Newcastle, does anyone genuinely think they would nearly finish 4th in years gone by?
United were worse than last year and finished 19 points clear of Arsenal. Tottenham spent half the season losing and finished a point behind Arsenal. Newcastle were Newcastle, a very very decent team but not that amazing, yet finished just 5 points behind.
Chelsea could be European champions.
Next year will be harder, I hope Arsenal finish in the top 4 but I have a feeling they won't.
Bump..... Spurs losing Adebayor and Modric will probably help.
Plus ça change with Arsenal. Nothing will change, I'm sure they will get out of the cups if they have to, in order to guarantee a top four finish.
They'll come 4th in my opinion. They still have a decent squad, even without Van Persie and some players will step up. Liverpool, Spurs and Newcastle don't look capable of finishing ahead of them at the moment to be honest. Chelsea probably will though.
They will finish ahead of chelsea.
Their direct competition for the 4th spot haven't even improved so it's still theirs to lose
They finish in the top 4 when they want.
They finish in the top 4 when they want.
Meh, hard to chant. But it's true.
They finish in the top 4 when they want.
Meh, hard to chant. But it's true.
I do think they will finish ahead of us unless Wenger makes the same organisational mistakes in defense he made last year for almost half a season.
I think they will still finish top four but the 10 year plan may have to be extended to 15 years.
They could do with keeping hold of Song and getting Wilshere fit but they'll no doubt finish in the top 4 like always. Same as it ever was, same as it ever was.
Its all down to Spurs and Liverpool. If either one of them manage to improve enough they can take 4th spot
Chelsea will comfortably finish ahead of them
Chelsea will comfortably finish ahead of them
Chelsea under Di Matteo will be doing well to finish top 4.
I have almost no idea how Chelsea will do. A lot depends on how quickly their new signings settle in. They do have a very exciting young team.