The seeds of greatness? (24/10)

[gooner.ed]

http://www.onlinegooner.com/editorial/index.php?id=81

usual thread starter… So do you believe? I think it’s safe to say we’re as good as in the last 16. Which teams would you fear facing next February? And do you think the football is actually better than that played by the Unbeatables (a team that really should have won the CL in 2004).

[26may1989]

There is better team play in the current batch but they are not as talented as the 2002-4 vintage. On their day, Henry, Pires etc were playing football from another planet, and some of the goals we scored then were truly amazing, but there was frustration in that we didn't do quite as well as we should have. One moment that encapsulated the enigma of the team was Pires's attempted "pass from a penalty" - genius though unnecessary idea, fluffed execution.

The Cesc team is different. It has more than its fair share of talent and creativity but it is better balanced than its predecessor team and is built more for success than dazzling moments.

[Sammy Mooner]

I'd totally agree with Kev that we are seeing a very special team emerge. And I know we haven't been tested yet, I know we haven't played the top teams yet and I also know that man for man our squad does not contain as many expensive or established big names as United, Chelsea or Liverpool if we are brutaly honest. But so what.

There are times when you just have a gut feeling that something seriously special is going on. You don't know quite how or why - you just know it. Our 6th goal summed up what is going on with Arsenal right now - dogs bollocks football is what is going on. Its the sort of football where you are so in awe that you almost forget to breath. Its the total football that Real Madrid introduced to Europe and later the Netherlands and Brazil introduced to the world stage. Only this is far superior. Its the sort of football that fans worldwide drool over and its the type of football that within the next couple of seasons will make tickets even harder to come by at Ashburton.

I believe that most regular fans at most Clubs understand how their team works and what they will do next in any given situation. With Arsenal right now you just know that no game is over till the 90th minute and whatever they do in the next 60 seconds of play will probably be beautiful to watch. More importantly it will be done going forward and will be as unpredictable to the terraces as it will be for the opposition.

I've no idea what we will win this season, if anything at all, but right now I really don't care because our style is established throught the Club and when played at its best is unstoppable and just beautiful to watch.

Wengerball is brilliant, Wengerball is frightening and right now the team playing Wengerball for our delight are a couple of years away from peaking.

[REB]

lets not get to carried away,, theres a long season ahead and much bigger and better teams to come

[Rainham Red]

Yes lets not get carried away but last nights football was so beautiful to watch that maybe just maybe we are on the verge of something great.The next two months will decide if we are a flash in the pan or ready to become one of the truly great teams

[donaldo]

I always thought we would do better in the CL than the premiership this season.Its all about hitting form at the right time like we did in 2006. Also unlike 2006 there is no outstanding team like Barcelona. AC Milan look like an old team this year,Barca and Madrid are hit and miss who can be beaten on a good day. I hate to say this but Manure could be our biggest rivals.
Moscow here we come we have some unfinished buisness to complete

[dvbrisgooner1]

I'll reserve judgement until after next week. If we can come out of the next 2 games unscathed then I will start to believe we can win the League this season. Winning the European Cup would be nice, but you don't have to be a particularly good side to win that - after all we nearly did it with 10 men and a squad that finished fourth.

[26may1989]

Love the enthusiasm Sammy Mooner, but as rebel says, calm down! Better than the Brazil of Pele, Zico, Socrates etc?? Better than Johan Cruyff's Ajax, who won 3 European Cups in a row? Better than the Real Madrid of the 50s, who won the first 5 Euro Cups? Sorry, but no.

Let our very, very good young team develop. They could be something special, and possibly very soon, but they're going to have some tough periods, so let's just chill out and not get ahead of ourselves.

And to answer gooner.ed's other question, who should we fear in the knock-out stages, I don't really think there's anyone of the teams we're likely to meet at that stage who should worry us. I assume Barca, Inter, Real etc will win their groups, and we will do likewise, so we won't meet them. Of the possible second placers, Roma, Valencia and Shakhtar Donetsk would be the tougher ones, but certainly nothing we should feel too concerned about.

I have a horrible feeling we'll meet Barca at some point this season. They are beatable but they also have such talent they'd be favourites. But the thought of Henry scoring to put us out is the bit that I like least. Still, it would be very cool if we won.

[proudtosaythatname]

I think this team is really special. I couldn't find words for Cesc's 2nd, it was so perfect. Just speechless, then ecstatic. Must get it on my ipod. I think what we are seeing is a combination of youthful enthusiasm, spirit and skill, but whatever it is it is something to be savoured.

[dvbrisgooner1]

I'll reserve judgement until after next week. If we can come out of the next 2 games unscathed then I will start to believe we can win the League this season. Winning the European Cup would be nice, but you don't have to be a particularly good side to win that - after all we nearly did it with 10 men and a squad that finished fourth.

Now I believe. The boys have showed the never-say-die spirit and desire to go all the way this season. Give us a top keeper (Shay Given will do nicely) and we can win this title.