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Old 03-20-2017, 12:08 PM   #1581
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Yeah, that's true of course, but in a league with this kind of parity it is bound to happen? There are basically 6-7 clubs battling for those spots, and it's a pretty spoiled attitude to think that you just automatically get that every year.
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Old 03-20-2017, 02:33 PM   #1582
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Should their supporters be all that upset though? I mean they have won 2/3 FA Cups in the past few years, and finished top four consistently. I find it hilarious that they can't take the next step, and things aren't exactly on the upswing this year, but that track record isn't exactly terrible.
sorry, but that's such a Spurs mindset. You should always strive to be the best and Arsenal have enough ressources to not being content with being 3rd or 4th. Say what you want about guys like Guardiola and Mourinho, but at least that is out of the question for them.
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Old 03-20-2017, 02:37 PM   #1583
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dont remember a Thursday game in the league ever happening


Fixture amendments
(all times are BST)

Tuesday 25 April
7.45pm Chelsea v Southampton (Sky Sports)

Wednesday 26 April
7.45pm Arsenal v Leicester City (Sky Sports)
7.45pm Middlesbrough v Sunderland
8pm Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur

Thursday 27 April
8pm Manchester City v Manchester United (Sky Sports)

Sunday 30 April
2.05pm Middlesbrough v Manchester City*

*Consequent to Manchester City v Manchester United moving to Thursday 27 April
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Old 03-20-2017, 02:40 PM   #1584
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Apr 01 vs West Brom
Apr 04 vs Everton
Apr 09 at Sunderland
Apr 13 at Anderlecht
Apr 16 vs Chelsea
Apr 20 vs Anderlecht
Apr 23 at Burnley
Apr 27 at Man City
Apr 30 vs Swansea

another fun month lol
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Old 03-20-2017, 03:03 PM   #1585
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jesus
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Old 03-20-2017, 03:05 PM   #1586
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Should their supporters be all that upset though? I mean they have won 2/3 FA Cups in the past few years, and finished top four consistently. I find it hilarious that they can't take the next step, and things aren't exactly on the upswing this year, but that track record isn't exactly terrible.
I think the biggest issue for the fans is that they feel they were sold a bill of goods.

Once their arena was paid off Wenger was supposed to have the cash to be ambitious. Then from time to time they make it clear that Wenger has the money he just doesnt spend it.

I think thats really the issue. The mentality that you're talking about it exactly what most Arsenal fans believed.

"Muddle through being somewhat successful until the Stadium is paid for and then they'll invest and we can take it to the next level."

Except the latter part just hasnt come.

You get some board members saying he has the money he just isnt spending it, and then you get Wenger claiming that theres no one worth buying and everyone is just busy pointing their fingers at each other.
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Old 03-20-2017, 03:13 PM   #1587
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Then from time to time they make it clear that Wenger has the money he just doesnt spend it.
that's why Kroenke loves him so much. He doesn't spend as much as others and still makes top 4 (which equals CL money) - he's an owner's dream. Sucks for the fans though, they should be more ambitious for sure.
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Old 03-20-2017, 03:43 PM   #1588
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It doesn't matter what resources he has at his disposal. The game has passed him by and he hasn't the technical nous to adapt. He pretty much wasted $150m during the summer to build a team that is poorer than it was last season.

He has built a team without a spine, a team without any strength in midfield, and as for the defence....what defence.

He won't accept any dissenting views. He has seen to it that anyone with an opinion is cast out of the club and he has no leaders on the pitch. He hasn't had a strong captain since Vieira and when a player does show passion (Alexis), he is thrown under the bus.

The problems at the club go wayyyyy beyond what is spent or not. I personally don't want him spending another cent of our resources because I don't trust him to do so wisely.
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Old 03-20-2017, 08:22 PM   #1589
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sorry, but that's such a Spurs mindset. You should always strive to be the best and Arsenal have enough ressources to not being content with being 3rd or 4th. Say what you want about guys like Guardiola and Mourinho, but at least that is out of the question for them.
It's not about being happy with finishing in the top 4, and it has nothing to do with that. It's that there are literally 6-7 teams in the top tier, most of which who can spend to stay there or challenge. Pochettino (who is one of the best managers in the PL at this point) isn't happy to just finish near the top and has made it known that Spurs are trying to track down Chelsea. It's not that anyone is aiming for 4th, but really only one team is going to win it. At this point, barring injuries or a massive collapse, its Chelsea. All Tottenham can do is win their games and hope for Chelsea to drop points (and beat them in the semi final of the FA to deny them the double).

So what's left to play for? United can't be considered title challengers despite spending a couple hundred million this year. They're 17 (!!!) points back. Sure there is a game in hand, but even at that the best case is 14 points off the pace. Pep and his millions in expenditures have him 12 points back. I'm sure that none of the managers would like to be in this spot, but when you are those distances away from winning you have to realistically play to finish as high as possible. Why do they get a pass? If they're such amazing managers and doing such brilliant things then why are they so far behind Conte? He's a first year manager here also...
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Old 03-20-2017, 09:57 PM   #1590
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They are at risk of missing CL, and those big dollars.
That's what Kroenke really cares about, isn't it? Yet re-signs Arsene?
He's Arsenal's Jeff Fisher.
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Old 03-20-2017, 10:27 PM   #1591
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Bayern->Manchester->Chicago...
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Old 03-21-2017, 07:14 AM   #1592
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Bayern->Manchester->Chicago...
With the fixture jam, that Devo posted he would've been an asset.
Is Carrick signed yet? Zlatan?
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Old 03-21-2017, 07:22 AM   #1593
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he didn't make the bench with Pogba injured, Herrera suspended and Schneiderlin long gone. So not sure how he'd have been an asset, Mourinho didn't trust him at all and wouldn't have played him.

I expect Carrick to be back for one more year and Fellaini to be sold, so that would leave them with Pogba, Herrera, Carrick and Pereira (who is having an outstanding loan spell at Granada and simply has to be given an opportunity) in midfield. They'll need a number six ... maybe someone like Fabinho who'd also provide cover at RB.
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Old 03-21-2017, 11:38 AM   #1594
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ya, for this year its weird to not keep him especially with the fixture list

but this summer, and its easier to buy this summer with no tournament

id imagine Mourinho brings in a deeper lying CM, and another forward at the minimum
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Old 03-21-2017, 11:45 AM   #1595
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he didn't make the bench with Pogba injured, Herrera suspended and Schneiderlin long gone. So not sure how he'd have been an asset, Mourinho didn't trust him at all and wouldn't have played him.

I expect Carrick to be back for one more year and Fellaini to be sold, so that would leave them with Pogba, Herrera, Carrick and Pereira (who is having an outstanding loan spell at Granada and simply has to be given an opportunity) in midfield. They'll need a number six ... maybe someone like Fabinho who'd also provide cover at RB.
I think hope is the better word here, especially with Fellaini. I think Mourinho values him too much and will probably keep him. Besides he's been decent this year outside that Everton disaster.
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Old 03-21-2017, 12:32 PM   #1596
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yeah I guess it's more wishful thinking than anything else. He's been a useful depth player lately, I'll happily admit it. But the fact that they only triggered the 1 yr clause in his contract instead of re-signing him makes me think he's not in the long-term plans.
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Old 03-21-2017, 01:36 PM   #1597
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Being an Arsenal fan, I was hoping it was time for Wenger to move on.

Arsenal has been very mediocre over the last few years, despite big purchases. The time needs an overhaul, and I am not sure Wenger will be doing that this summer.

That being said, if he is staying on, I am hoping for some major changes in the transfer window to redefine the team.
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Old 03-22-2017, 02:23 AM   #1598
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It doesn't matter what resources he has at his disposal. The game has passed him by and he hasn't the technical nous to adapt. He pretty much wasted $150m during the summer to build a team that is poorer than it was last season.

He has built a team without a spine, a team without any strength in midfield, and as for the defence....what defence.

He won't accept any dissenting views. He has seen to it that anyone with an opinion is cast out of the club and he has no leaders on the pitch. He hasn't had a strong captain since Vieira and when a player does show passion (Alexis), he is thrown under the bus.

The problems at the club go wayyyyy beyond what is spent or not. I personally don't want him spending another cent of our resources because I don't trust him to do so wisely.
Morally superior, tactically inferior.


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It's not that anyone is aiming for 4th, but really only one team is going to win it.
There is a difference between 'competing for the title and at least finishing in the top 4' and 'being out of the title race by March but coming from behind to win a Top 4 trophy'.


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That being said, if he is staying on, I am hoping for some major changes in the transfer window to redefine the team.
This is probably one of the scarier prospects. If a ton of money is spent, can we really trust him to spend it well? Also, the major changes are probably going to be limited to losing the only two World Class players we have left.
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Old 03-22-2017, 07:40 AM   #1599
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Morally superior, tactically inferior.
This is probably one of the scarier prospects. If a ton of money is spent, can we really trust him to spend it well? Also, the major changes are probably going to be limited to losing the only two World Class players we have left.
My concern is if they are going to stick with him, might as well give him the complete reigns. The issue with Arsenal has been mediocrity. I don't agree that he has ever "screwed up the future" necessarily.

I would rather go in a different direction though. A fresh start with a new manager, so to speak.
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Old 03-22-2017, 04:38 PM   #1600
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The issue with Arsenal has been mediocrity. I don't agree that he has ever "screwed up the future" necessarily.
The former is at odds with the latter.

Are top shelf players identifying Arsenal as a place where they can go to win things? Is he tying down our prospects with contracts that incentivise performance or is he rewarding them with contracts that make them difficult to off-load if they don't pan out? Is he preparing for a future where other clubs are knocking on the door of the Top 4 or is he content with maintaining the status quo?

To be fair, he's maintaining a status quo with which the board and owner are beyond content.
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