A year in the UEFA Cup may do Arsenal some good in the long run. Financially, it would be a disaster for the club but for the team and AW it may do us some good.
First of all we wouldn't have to play in a qualifying round in mid August as we would be straight into the first round because of all the UEFA points we have. It would also give all our long term injured players time to recover and come back fully fit for a new season, and any new signings know exactly what they are coming into as there is no guarantee that we would progress through the qualifying round.
We would have a very real opportunity of winning a European trophy and with this young squad winning in Europe will only give them confidence to progress both domestically and in the Champions League in future years. The pressure they are under might destroy some of the young players which is totally counter productive. Look at Sevilla, it hasn't done them any harm winning the UEFA cup.
Arsene has never won a European trophy. He's lost 3 European finals so having a very real chance of winning one will improve his status in Europe as being a great manager. Look at Benitez, Mourinhio both won the UEFA cup first and Ferguson won the CWC twice , before claiming the big eared one.
Also, considering the only European trophies that we have won no longer exist it's time to rectify that for the history books. For next season I look forward to us emulating Liverpool's cup treble of 2001, finishing second and dominating the domestic and the Champions League thereafter. Finishing fifth doesn't seem too bad after all does it?
A Year in the UEFA Cup will do us good!
I've heard of 'positive spins' but this takes the biscuit.
The UEFA Cup - Europe’s equivalent of the League Cup and you want Arsenal to be in that? Look at the dross and crap in that competition, the Champs Cup League stage is bad enough for boring games but at least you have an outside chance of playing a half decent team.
If we did qualify for the UEFA Cup I think the club may regret it's new 'buy back' scheme for season ticket holders as I doubt many would be happy to pay upwards of £50 to watch up play a bunch of part time footballers from some distant corner.
And yes financially it would be a nightmare - all round, TV, tickets, merchandise, attracting players - I think we've gone backwards enough of late not to try and sugar coat or potential failings in the league by talking up entering the Champions League's ugly relation.
We need the money as I believe the squad needs some serious investment; we therefore need to Champs Cup.
The suggestion you are making is that finishing fifth or sixth would be ok - I could not disagree more, it would be shite and put us in with the likes of Everton and Bolton for Christ’s sake.
We need the Champs Cup and anything else is simply not acceptable, and pretty much unthinkable.
The UEFA Cup - Europe’s equivalent of the League Cup and you want Arsenal to be in that? Look at the dross and crap in that competition, the Champs Cup League stage is bad enough for boring games but at least you have an outside chance of playing a half decent team.
If we did qualify for the UEFA Cup I think the club may regret it's new 'buy back' scheme for season ticket holders as I doubt many would be happy to pay upwards of £50 to watch up play a bunch of part time footballers from some distant corner.
And yes financially it would be a nightmare - all round, TV, tickets, merchandise, attracting players - I think we've gone backwards enough of late not to try and sugar coat or potential failings in the league by talking up entering the Champions League's ugly relation.
We need the money as I believe the squad needs some serious investment; we therefore need to Champs Cup.
The suggestion you are making is that finishing fifth or sixth would be ok - I could not disagree more, it would be shite and put us in with the likes of Everton and Bolton for Christ’s sake.
We need the Champs Cup and anything else is simply not acceptable, and pretty much unthinkable.
Com on Pav. Don't sit on the fence....!!!
From a purely football perspective, I wouldn't mind playing in the UEFA Cup. I think the Champions League is overrated. How many of our games this time around did you get truly excited about? One, two?
Unfortunately, the media/sponsors look at things slightly differently, so my problem is purely financial. We cannot afford not to be in the CL. And the idea of allowing Bolton to beat us to 4th spot in the Premiership also doesn't appeal.
I think you also might have misunderstood the way the "buy back" facility operates. The normal way these things work (using Man Utd as an example) is that they kick in only once the fixture has sold out. And these games would undoubtedly also be included on Season Tickets so it won't be a question of "if we'd be happy to pay" - we already will have done. So Arsenal FC don't suffer. They get full revenue for the match....and then also take a cut on any re-sales. Its brilliant for Silver/Red members, a nice little earner for the club and should also mean that we don't get as many empty seats.
God forbid it doesn't happen but in the event we don't qualify for next seasons CL then will Arsenal reduce Season Ticket prices??? Given that 6 out of 26 games covered on the ticket this year were for the glamour of the CL then difficult to see how the UEFA Cup can possible be worth the same. Could even be that Arsenal would plan a Carling Cup style pricing policy for these games - so hardly fair if Gold members end up being the only ones paying full price. Don't worry though as this will be irrelevant after we've thrashed Bolton next weekend and ended any doubts about our qualification.....
From a purely football perspective, I wouldn't mind playing in the UEFA Cup. I think the Champions League is overrated. How many of our games this time around did you get truly excited about? One, two?
Unfortunately, the media/sponsors look at things slightly differently, so my problem is purely financial. We cannot afford not to be in the CL. And the idea of allowing Bolton to beat us to 4th spot in the Premiership also doesn't appeal.
I think you also might have misunderstood the way the "buy back" facility operates. The normal way these things work (using Man Utd as an example) is that they kick in only once the fixture has sold out. And these games would undoubtedly also be included on Season Tickets so it won't be a question of "if we'd be happy to pay" - we already will have done. So Arsenal FC don't suffer. They get full revenue for the match....and then also take a cut on any re-sales. Its brilliant for Silver/Red members, a nice little earner for the club and should also mean that we don't get as many empty seats.
God forbid it doesn't happen but in the event we don't qualify for next seasons CL then will Arsenal reduce Season Ticket prices??? Given that 6 out of 26 games covered on the ticket this year were for the glamour of the CL then difficult to see how the UEFA Cup can possible be worth the same. Could even be that Arsenal would plan a Carling Cup style pricing policy for these games - so hardly fair if Gold members end up being the only ones paying full price. Don't worry though as this will be irrelevant after we've thrashed Bolton next weekend and ended any doubts about our qualification.....
I hope so.
With regard to the buy back I would say you are almost certainly correct as I didn't look in to it too deeply as I go to every home game irrespective of the opposition anyway.
The UEFA cup is littered with games of a similar quality to the worst of the Champs League games, the tournament is so poor even Middlesbrough can reach a final!!!
Maybe I am just a little over depressed after watching possibly the worst performance from an Arsenal team for a long time yesterday - to couple that with the suggestion of fifth or sixth place finish is a bit much, especially on the first day back to work after a Bank Holiday!!
I think L37 Gooner may be Alistair Campbell in disguise!!
With regard to the buy back I would say you are almost certainly correct as I didn't look in to it too deeply as I go to every home game irrespective of the opposition anyway.
The UEFA cup is littered with games of a similar quality to the worst of the Champs League games, the tournament is so poor even Middlesbrough can reach a final!!!
Maybe I am just a little over depressed after watching possibly the worst performance from an Arsenal team for a long time yesterday - to couple that with the suggestion of fifth or sixth place finish is a bit much, especially on the first day back to work after a Bank Holiday!!
I think L37 Gooner may be Alistair Campbell in disguise!!
Pav you were spot on (other than the buyback).
In an ideal football world then the Uefa cup may be beneficial but that was 10 years ago before the champions league was where all the money is, before transfer fees/wages went astronomical, before players were only interested in playing on a world stage, before moneymen took over our rivals and before we got a brand new stadium.
Uefa Cup would be financial suicide, the stadium/squad etc is built around a plan that we will be in the Champions League for the next few seasons, failure to do so may result in us 'doing a leeds'!
On a playing note it may be ok but this is the modern game where football is a business rather than a game and we can't afford to not be at the top table with the situation we have put ourselves in. Do we want to see world stars every week? Samuel Etoo/Torres/Ribery etc...would laugh at their agent for suggesting a season out of the CL. Torres/Ribery love the Madrid/Marseille but the reason they want to leave is for regular CL football and an approach from Chavski/Scousers/Mancs would mean they went there rather than us as we would just be a sideways step.
We love a good laugh at the Spuds when they link themselves we every highly rated misfit each summer, knowing full well they won;t go there as they are just another (if their lucky) UEFA club, why suggest putting us in that position.
If you love our club then the suggestion of Uefa Cup football should appall you and be cast from your mind forever. Otherwise I suggest you get yourself a nice white shirt and bu**er off down the road or up to dirty leeds and hopefully that will make you have a rethink!
Having said that after seeing our attempts at trying to score in recent games it may well be that we have to prepare ourselves for the catastrophe you suggest as I can't see where our goals are coming from.
It sounds very dramatic but with the financial implications we have put on ourselves it could be RIP to the club we know as it is, I hope i'm wrong, I love this club and everything it has achieved.
In an ideal football world then the Uefa cup may be beneficial but that was 10 years ago before the champions league was where all the money is, before transfer fees/wages went astronomical, before players were only interested in playing on a world stage, before moneymen took over our rivals and before we got a brand new stadium.
Uefa Cup would be financial suicide, the stadium/squad etc is built around a plan that we will be in the Champions League for the next few seasons, failure to do so may result in us 'doing a leeds'!
On a playing note it may be ok but this is the modern game where football is a business rather than a game and we can't afford to not be at the top table with the situation we have put ourselves in. Do we want to see world stars every week? Samuel Etoo/Torres/Ribery etc...would laugh at their agent for suggesting a season out of the CL. Torres/Ribery love the Madrid/Marseille but the reason they want to leave is for regular CL football and an approach from Chavski/Scousers/Mancs would mean they went there rather than us as we would just be a sideways step.
We love a good laugh at the Spuds when they link themselves we every highly rated misfit each summer, knowing full well they won;t go there as they are just another (if their lucky) UEFA club, why suggest putting us in that position.
If you love our club then the suggestion of Uefa Cup football should appall you and be cast from your mind forever. Otherwise I suggest you get yourself a nice white shirt and bu**er off down the road or up to dirty leeds and hopefully that will make you have a rethink!
Having said that after seeing our attempts at trying to score in recent games it may well be that we have to prepare ourselves for the catastrophe you suggest as I can't see where our goals are coming from.
It sounds very dramatic but with the financial implications we have put on ourselves it could be RIP to the club we know as it is, I hope i'm wrong, I love this club and everything it has achieved.
We keep hearing how Arsene is building something. Well if we fail to make the CL that could stop dead in it's track. Without the money and the offer of Champions League football, we won't attract the players we need to make that final step. The days of players signing simply because they want to sign for Arsenal are long gone.
Ribery, one of our rumoured targets, has gone on record as saying the key to whether he leaves Marseille and if so who he may join depends purely on his desire to play Champions League football. He won't be the only player with that outlook and who can blame them?
And when other clubs come knocking for our best players as they do every season, it's hardly going to enhance our chances of holding on to them if we can't offer them CL football.
As for the club dropping ticket prices if we fail to make the CL. I see the logic but the reverse could be true. The club will lose millions from not qualifying and I have no doubt they'll look to recoup as much of the loss where ever they can.
And if you think the Champions League has been dull and uninspiring, wait til you see the UEFA Cup, especially the earlier rounds!!
We've got to get 4th guys.
Ribery, one of our rumoured targets, has gone on record as saying the key to whether he leaves Marseille and if so who he may join depends purely on his desire to play Champions League football. He won't be the only player with that outlook and who can blame them?
And when other clubs come knocking for our best players as they do every season, it's hardly going to enhance our chances of holding on to them if we can't offer them CL football.
As for the club dropping ticket prices if we fail to make the CL. I see the logic but the reverse could be true. The club will lose millions from not qualifying and I have no doubt they'll look to recoup as much of the loss where ever they can.
And if you think the Champions League has been dull and uninspiring, wait til you see the UEFA Cup, especially the earlier rounds!!
We've got to get 4th guys.
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proudtosaythatname
- Posts: 678
- Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:12 pm
I agree - it has to be the Champions League for Arsenal for all the reasons in the preceding emails. The inability to score in the proverbial brothel (Mr Rosicky excluded, allegedly) will end hopefully sooner rather than later - remember Liverpool couldn't buy an away point at the beginning of the season but look at them now. However, after Monday i'm not exactly confident...
Are you serious L37 Gooner finishing 5th would be an absolute disaster!!!To qualify for the EUFA cup is a sign of faliure. It is a competition for the likes of has-been teams like the Spuds and Everton. And what top class footballer wants to play in it,do you think Ribery would join us if we are not in the champions league. Also it is thursday night football with the league game following played on a sunday. Matches shown on channel 5 and prize money of two bob.The champions league is the greatest club competiton in the world we have to be in it every year.If Arsenal fail to qualify the Wenger revelotion will hit a brick wall. The likes of Henry,Fabregas and Van Persie will all leave.Its champions league or nothing.Leave the Mickey Mouse,i mean the EUFA cup to the Spuds
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BRADYTHEGREATEST
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:22 am
A Year in the UEFA CUP will do us good
I also do NOT agree that a year in this tinpot european competition will do us good!Also-has anyone else heard what i did about Monsieur Platini-and the fact that he is trying to reduce the number of English teams that can actually enter the Champions League.....
At the moment we are really struggling for the fourth best spot in out league-so if he reduces the amount of teams to -say 3-or god forbid-2,then we are in the shit--bigtime.
The only argument that can be said for reducing the amount of teams any one league can enter in the Champs League-is that it will invariably strengthen the quality of the UEFA Cup,and thus give it more credence.
Maybe this would be a good idea as i dont think im alone in saying that i actually preffered it when it was the old European Cup-and Champions actually meant to come 1st!!
This is the only way it would be acceptable for us to enter this competition-and if there were other big teams in it-then the sponsors would follow.
Keep the faith-and for Gods sake start singing-and show those Chelshit tossers how loud we can really be
At the moment we are really struggling for the fourth best spot in out league-so if he reduces the amount of teams to -say 3-or god forbid-2,then we are in the shit--bigtime.
The only argument that can be said for reducing the amount of teams any one league can enter in the Champs League-is that it will invariably strengthen the quality of the UEFA Cup,and thus give it more credence.
Maybe this would be a good idea as i dont think im alone in saying that i actually preffered it when it was the old European Cup-and Champions actually meant to come 1st!!
This is the only way it would be acceptable for us to enter this competition-and if there were other big teams in it-then the sponsors would follow.
Keep the faith-and for Gods sake start singing-and show those Chelshit tossers how loud we can really be
Forgive me but this suggestion just warrents one thing F@@**K OFF!!!
There are times when going backwards is the best way to go forward but this is not one of those times.
We could and should have won the CL last year and well we all know about our problems this year. But lets face it, we tore the scum @ the bridge apart even if we didn't win the games, we beat Man U 2x (if I remember currectly and coming from behind at the Emirates)and did Liverpool over 3 out of 4 (2x at Anfield) times puting 12 past them in the process. And these are the 3teams thought of as the favourites to make the final with many expecting a Man U vs scum final. Though I believe Liverpool will beat the scum.
So no we don't need a step back we just need a more ruthless approach at times, and our results this season against Bolton suggests we are getting their.
There are times when going backwards is the best way to go forward but this is not one of those times.
We could and should have won the CL last year and well we all know about our problems this year. But lets face it, we tore the scum @ the bridge apart even if we didn't win the games, we beat Man U 2x (if I remember currectly and coming from behind at the Emirates)and did Liverpool over 3 out of 4 (2x at Anfield) times puting 12 past them in the process. And these are the 3teams thought of as the favourites to make the final with many expecting a Man U vs scum final. Though I believe Liverpool will beat the scum.
So no we don't need a step back we just need a more ruthless approach at times, and our results this season against Bolton suggests we are getting their.
