We are top half of the league say we are top half of the league

I have zero confidence in us getting a win today. Draw is what I think will happen. I'm hoping I'm proven wrong. I'd love to see us get a big win and build some confidence going into the 2nd leg.

Even if they did, none of the good ones would be coming our way.

Nice comfortable win. Goal and some minutes for Aubameyang was the biggest positive ahead of Thursday. I also really like Martinelli and his willingness to directly dribble at players, he causes problems, ok it might not work every time but given the choice between a winger who dribbles 10 times and loses it 7 of those times and beats his man the other 3 vs a winger who constantly just passes it back to his full back I know which it rather have.

I’d start Bellerin on Thursday as well.

Nice comfortable win. Goal and some minutes for Aubameyang was the biggest positive ahead of Thursday. I also really like Martinelli and his willingness to directly dribble at players, he causes problems, ok it might not work every time but given the choice between a winger who dribbles 10 times and loses it 7 of those times and beats his man the other 3 vs a winger who constantly just passes it back to his full back I know which it rather have.

I’d start Bellerin on Thursday as well.

No game. United v Liverpool game postponed. A lot of damage inside stadium.

Bellerin is comfortably the best right back at the club. It's another odd decision by Arteta. Also, what was the point of signing Cédric if he is neither 1st or 2nd choice for either fullback position?

No game. United v Liverpool game postponed. A lot of damage inside stadium.

If true then that’s a shame. It detracts hugely from the message that I presume that they were trying to get across.

Assuming it was local fans who would bother to turn up for a ‘behind closed doors’ fixture, being it’s all going to be on CCTV the Manchester police will be busy identifying culprits involved over the next few days. Expect lots of them to be nicked for this.

Heavy fines, maybe a few of the ones who caused damage spending a bit of time in Strangeways?

Financially it won't phase the Glazers much. Their NFL team won the Super Bowl this year.

If true then that’s a shame. It detracts hugely from the message that I presume that they were trying to get across.

I don't pay much attention to American football, but I read an article that notes it can be more rewarding to come last in the league than to win, because you then get first pick at the draft. Towards then end of the season the weaker teams start deliberately losing to increase their chances of getting the next NFL equivalent of Messi. Rather like ringing it to get a high handicap in golf.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, who are supposedly hopeless, got a player called Trevor Lawrence (who looks like he'd fit right in to Jacksonville) who is supposedly the absolute mustard with a football (if that is the right word) in hand (Rather like the best English prospect being forced to go and play for Barnet?) They then cash in, owners pocket cash, and things proceed in unruffled manner, with the Jags propping up the table like Atlas each season.

it seem to be quite a curious game.

Hi Decaf,
No I don't bother with the NFL much either. Only do at times as we have owners involved in it. Recent Super Bowl winning players pocket $130K, whereas, losing players get $65K. Not sure if that's each, but if it is, not too shabby.

Indeed.

I was worried there for a moment with that challenge on Martinelli.

Don’t know if that sounds huge. A mate of mine knew the father of one of our reserve players about 15 years ago he was sporadically involved after a spate of injuries from time to time and the father said our players and his son won a few win bonuses for champions league group games and the amount per game was 16 thousand quid. That sounded huge to me at the time. No wonder they go ballistic when we win.

Bellerin is comfortably the best right back at the club. It's another odd decision by Arteta. Also, what was the point of signing Cédric if he is neither 1st or 2nd choice for either fullback position?

Was thinking the same when the squads went up. Cédric is apparently a worse left back option than Xhaka but is good enough to be on the bench. Unless it was Arteta's attempts to play a 3-6-1 formation.

"Top half of the league" doesn't quite quicken the pulse in the same manner as "top of the league", does it?

I think it sort of was! Xhaka basically stepped up into midfield and played quarterback and against Newcastle you can just about get away with it. After the terror of him playing that whole second half on a yellow I thought he actually did really well, but Gabriel covered there a few times which I don’t think was by accident. Whoever was on Newcastle’s right wing thought I’ll have a run at Xhaka and get him sent off, found themselves up against a brick wall in Gab and he showed that at his best he’s a phenomenal one on one defender. I still think he and one other is our best option as the CB pairing. I wonder again what’s going to happens with Saliba at the end of the season...

I mean if you can’t celebrate the Arsenal breaking the shackles of 11th place and rising like mighty phoenixes to, er, 9th then you sir, and I’m sorry to use this strong language, are a curmudgeon.

It was 50 years ago today......

That Sgt.Pepper taught the band to play?

Ray Kennedy. White Hart Lane. Part 1 of 2

You have the same sense of humour as me. The same things shot into my mind.

Was at both games. Brilliant week. I still have my rosette from the final!
(Younger forumites may need to look that word up)

Was at both games. Brilliant week. I still have my rosette from the final!
(Younger forumites may need to look that word up)

I think Bern may have been there too. Anyone else?

Wrote my last post before seeing yours.

Getting in WHL that night was tough. The crowds were incredible. I just got swept along... think my feet were both off the ground at some point Don’t remember too much about the game.Apart from Rays header I remember Gilzean going in hard on Bob Wilson at one point. After the game I followed the crowd and got up near the Director’s box
I have a lovely photo somewhere of Billy Nicholson congratulating Bertie Mee
Nice touch from a classy guy.
If memory serves we won the double and Spurs the League Cup. Did Chelsea win the Cup Winners Cup in a replay that year also.
Good year for London clubs

MOTD last night. Man City have spent about 400 million more than arsenal in the last 8 years.

Daft sport

Clubs like city and chavski would be midtable without their sugar daddy owners, that is clear.

Not sure how it can be called sport really.

I'd love some sort of 50+1 model in the EPL but prizing 'assets' away from billionaires under a tory government won't be easy.

I do wonder how this all is going to play out, but facing decades ahead under KSE while oligarchs and Arab states buy up success is not an option!.

I mean if you can’t celebrate the Arsenal breaking the shackles of 11th place and rising like mighty phoenixes to, er, 9th then you sir, and I’m sorry to use this strong language, are a curmudgeon.