Hang abouts! If we win our two games in hand on Liverpool we're back in the top four

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Originally Posted by Pat Vegas

I have this image in my head of Monty masturbating furiously as he post these types of threads.

Back in 5

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Do you suppose he can touch his own skinless pecker with the tip of his nose?

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Originally Posted by Burney

Why is there reason to crow? And please don't say because we may not be quite as bad as some have made out. :-(

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Because we have a chance to finish in the top four for the 22nd season in a row. This is an undeniably commendable thing that few other cubs can match :shrug:

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Originally Posted by Sir C

I appreciate that, of course.

Perhaps I should tweet about it, or, as we now know it, 'unleash a twitterstorm'.

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Perhaps so. Maybe then you could end up having to retire from twitter because you're being trolled like Owen Jones?

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Originally Posted by redgunamo

Seen. It's only within the context of this ongoing discussion that the Cup doesn't count.

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I beg to differ! It is acutely relevant to this discussion.

There are five 'major' trophies up for grabs each season: UCL, EPL, FAC, UEL and FLC - in that order of importance.

In the last three years We have won two and so have United, Liverpool and Spuds have won **** all. Only The two mega bucks boys have won more than us and we have also qualified for the UCL each year which only City have have also done. We are definitely not in the halycon days of the early Wenger Years, but it aint that ****!

:titles:

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Originally Posted by World's End Stella

No, I think our expectations are to have a manager who will leverage the financial power of the club, and any other means at his disposal, in order to try and win trophies.

The view of many, for very good reasons imo, is that Arsene Wenger is no longer such a manager.

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Did you go to Barrafina last nght?

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Originally Posted by Monty92

Because we have a chance to finish in the top four for the 22nd season in a row. This is an undeniably commendable thing that few other cubs can match :shrug:

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But - other than in a long-term historical sense - it doesn't represent progress, does it? Indeed, over the course of Wenger's career, it represents the reverse. Clinging onto top four 'status' by our fingernails would hardly be a cause for celebration - that's what we were doing a few seasons ago when we were skint. :shrug:

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Originally Posted by Rich

But we don't know about the club's financial model.

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I reckon we do, after last season :-|

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Originally Posted by Burney

Perhaps so. Maybe then you could end up having to retire from twitter because you're being trolled like Owen Jones?

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Yes, I could retire because of the violence inflicted on me by the words of twitter trolls, only to magically reappear, refreshed and convalesced, 12 hours later :clap:

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Originally Posted by Herbette Chapman - aged 15

Do you suppose he can touch his own skinless pecker with the tip of his nose?

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I sometimes wonder if he can actually do anything else. Obviously I don't wonder about this very often.

No, not very often at all.

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Originally Posted by Burney

But - other than in a long-term historical sense - it doesn't represent progress, does it? Indeed, over the course of Wenger's career, it represents the reverse. Clinging onto top four 'status' by our fingernails would hardly be a cause for celebration - that's what we were doing a few seasons ago when we were skint. :shrug:

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You can compare it to something like Coventry's run in the First Division/Premier League. Only Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal played in the top flight for everyone of the 34 seasons that they did. Hugely impressive but basically they were just hanging on for years and when they did go down, they were ****ed

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Originally Posted by Burney

But - other than in a long-term historical sense - it doesn't represent progress, does it? Indeed, over the course of Wenger's career, it represents the reverse. Clinging onto top four 'status' by our fingernails would hardly be a cause for celebration - that's what we were doing a few seasons ago when we were skint. :shrug:

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Yes, you are right. We have not achieved what we could all progress in recent years. But progress would require us to improve from an already commendable level of achievement and consistency, which is certainly something to celebrate (albeit not with an open top bus parade).

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Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda

You can compare it to something like Coventry's run in the First Division/Premier League. Only Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal played in the top flight for everyone of the 34 seasons that they did. Hugely impressive but basically they were just hanging on for years and when they did go down, they were ****ed

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Yes, I sometimes get a bit sad about poor old Coventry's plight. But then I remember that David Burrows played for them and I get over it.

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Originally Posted by The Insider

I beg to differ! It is acutely relevant to this discussion.

There are five 'major' trophies up for grabs each season: UCL, EPL, FAC, UEL and FLC - in that order of importance.

In the last three years We have won two and so have United, Liverpool and Spuds have won **** all. Only The two mega bucks boys have won more than us and we have also qualified for the UCL each year which only City have have also done. We are definitely not in the halycon days of the early Wenger Years, but it aint that ****!

:titles:

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I agree. The "everything is rubbish" schtick is just Monty being a drama queen. Nobody is saying that at all, not even him.

The discussion is, we want to be better, we are not yet where we want to be; is Wenger still the man to get us there.

Nobody imagined we'd need players from Real Madrid and Barcelona just so we could win a few more FA cups.

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Originally Posted by Burney

Yes, I sometimes get a bit sad about poor old Coventry's plight. But then I remember that David Burrows played for them and I get over it.

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Christ, I had forgotten about David Burrows - what a ****

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Originally Posted by Monty92

Yes, you are right. We have not achieved what we could all progress in recent years. But progress would require us to improve from an already commendable level of achievement and consistency, which is certainly something to celebrate (albeit not with an open top bus parade).

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But is that not our minimum expectation now? And equally, does that not mean that you are tacitly accepting that, should we fail to achieve it, some very serious questions need to be asked about the management of the team?

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Originally Posted by Burney

But is that not our minimum expectation now? And equally, does that not mean that you are tacitly accepting that, should we fail to achieve it, some very serious questions need to be asked about the management of the team?

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Must we have 'minimum expectations' and 'ask serious questions', though? It all sounds terribly dramatic.

It is, after all, a game.

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Originally Posted by Monty92

Yes, you are right. We have not achieved what we could all progress in recent years. But progress would require us to improve from an already commendable level of achievement and consistency, which is certainly something to celebrate (albeit not with an open top bus parade).

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That's an interesting point; perhaps if Wenger had insisted on open-topped bus parades whenever we qualified for the Champions League, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

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Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda

Christ, I had forgotten about David Burrows - what a ****

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:hehe: I used to have to run a conference at the Ricoh Arena. This took place in what was laughingly called 'The Legends Lounge', which was lined with pictures of Coventry...errr...'greats'. This meant speaking from the lectern, one had a bloody great picture of Burrows in one's line of sight. :-(

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Originally Posted by Burney

:hehe: I used to have to run a conference at the Ricoh Arena. This took place in what was laughingly called 'The Legends Lounge', which was lined with pictures of Coventry...errr...'greats'. This meant speaking from the lectern, one had a bloody great picture of Burrows in one's line of sight. :-(

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Was there one of Micky Gynn - I liked Micky Gynn. Tiny wee fella. As opposed to Mickey Quinn - fat tosser

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Originally Posted by redgunamo

I sometimes wonder if he can actually do anything else. Obviously I don't wonder about this very often.

No, not very often at all.

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I should think if he ever engages in a little soixante-neuf with his GLW, the tip of his outrageously large olfactory organ penetrates her back passage. Whether she finds this edifying or not is a perfectly valid subject for idle speculation methinks.

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Originally Posted by Sir C

Must we have 'minimum expectations' and 'ask serious questions', though? It all sounds terribly dramatic.

It is, after all, a game.

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Certainly people prefer to see their team win the league. There's nothing wrong with that, imo.

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Originally Posted by Sir C

Must we have 'minimum expectations' and 'ask serious questions', though? It all sounds terribly dramatic.

It is, after all, a game.

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Well you say it's just a game, but it's also a business, isn't it? It employs a bunch of people whose incomes and even jobs may be threatened should it start to enter a period of serious decline. So we may think 'It's just a game', but the people who run the club may not.

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Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda

Was there one of Micky Gynn - I liked Micky Gynn. Tiny wee fella. As opposed to Mickey Quinn - fat tosser

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There was certainly one of Quinn. Gynn, I'm not sure about.

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Originally Posted by Burney

Well you say it's just a game, but it's also a business, isn't it? It employs a bunch of people whose incomes and even jobs may be threatened should it start to enter a period of serious decline. So we may think 'It's just a game', but the people who run the club may not.

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Well, quite. For the shareholders it is a serious matter and they are entitled to ask whatever questions they deem appropriate.

The rest of us are just watching a bunch of lads kick an inflated sphere about. It's nothing to get excited about.

I'm wearing my pragmatic head today.

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Originally Posted by World's End Stella

No, I think our expectations are to have a manager who will leverage the financial power of the club, and any other means at his disposal, in order to try and win trophies.

The view of many, for very good reasons imo, is that Arsene Wenger is no longer such a manager.

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Leverage. :redcard:

Get off. Get off the fùcking pitch now WES. There's no excuse for that kind of behaviour.

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Originally Posted by Sir C

Well, quite. For the shareholders it is a serious matter and they are entitled to ask whatever questions they deem appropriate.

The rest of us are just watching a bunch of lads kick an inflated sphere about. It's nothing to get excited about.

I'm wearing my pragmatic head today.

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Oh, I agree. As you know, I'm even less likely than you to get myself excited about it. However, I just felt Monty's tone a tad misplaced and felt the need to pull him up on it.

Is it Decline and Fall again tonight? It's on at the same time as the Saxon violence thing, I think.

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Originally Posted by Monty92

I thought we were unmitigated gash?

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Your mum is unmitigated gash

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Originally Posted by Ash

Leverage. :redcard:

Get off. Get off the fùcking pitch now WES. There's no excuse for that kind of behaviour.

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You know he pronounced it to rhyme with Dame Edna Everage as well. :-(

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Originally Posted by Alberto Balsam Rodriguez

Your mum is unmitigated gash

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:hehe: Played.

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Originally Posted by redgunamo

Very good. And Squadron certainly enjoyed a Christmas Carroll last night. Anyway, he had him trussed and bound like a turkey.

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We think times are bad for us, but over at the Taxpayers' Bowl it's definitely a Bleak House.

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Originally Posted by Billy Goat Sverige

Well no. The discussion has been more about how the team continues to have the same failings. Top 4 is irrelevant.

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POTY young man, I congratulate you. A succinct summation of events given without hyperbole nor bias.

:clap:

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Originally Posted by Burney

Oh, I agree. As you know, I'm even less likely than you to get myself excited about it. However, I just felt Monty's tone a tad misplaced and felt the need to pull him up on it.

Is it Decline and Fall again tonight? It's on at the same time as the Saxon violence thing, I think.

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I'm not sure, I've got it set to record. glw out tonight, so I need to decide which lump of meat I'm going to experiment with. So far I have Komadoed a leg of lamb (slow roast with smoke) and some fat rib-eyes (seared then finished over indirect heat.) Both results have been marvellous. (The steaks might have benefitted from 30 seconds less cooking.) Perhaps I should try some pigflesh.

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Originally Posted by Monty92

No, our expectations are to have a manager as reliably good as Mourinho, Klopp or Guardiola.

Oh.

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Christ alive, you really are an actual headwanding spastic with potentially less football knowledge than even Rich.

Just stand back and have a read of your input above.

You utter fúcking dick.

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Originally Posted by Ash

We think times are bad for us, but over at the Taxpayers' Bowl it's definitely a Bleak House.

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Sure everyone would cheer if they go down?

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Originally Posted by Sir C

I'm not sure, I've got it set to record. glw out tonight, so I need to decide which lump of meat I'm going to experiment with. So far I have Komadoed a leg of lamb (slow roast with smoke) and some fat rib-eyes (seared then finished over indirect heat.) Both results have been marvellous. (The steaks might have benefitted from 30 seconds less cooking.) Perhaps I should try some pigflesh.

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It's on Friday nights I think. Finally saw the second half of episode one last night. Quite superb

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Originally Posted by Sir C

I thought we were talking about football, though. There's nothing cruel or oppressive about football. It is a leisure activity.

This current appetite for wailing, gnashing hyperbole is reducing all discussion to, well, nonsense.

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As AWIMB conclusively proved in a lengthy discussion the other week, it's more than a business or leisure activity. Passion. Pwide. Love.

And getting mad and letting off steam is what football was invented for anyway. As an outlet for 19th century workers forced into grinding poverty having had not only their surplus value but their very lives and souls sucked out of them by unrestrained, vampiric capitalism. Great days.

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Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda

It's on Friday nights I think. Finally saw the second half of episode one last night. Quite superb

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Isn't it, though? I'm very pleasantly surprised by how good Jack Whitehall is, I must admit. Well first I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't feel my usual strong urge to strike him and then was impressed by his acting.

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Originally Posted by SWv2

Christ alive, you really are an actual headwanding spastic with potentially less football knowledge than even Rich.

Just stand back and have a read of your input above.

You utter fúcking dick.

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I really think there's no need for this sort of abuse, sw. Can we not all behave as gentlemen? :shrug:

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Originally Posted by Sir C

Well, quite. For the shareholders it is a serious matter and they are entitled to ask whatever questions they deem appropriate.

The rest of us are just watching a bunch of lads kick an inflated sphere about. It's nothing to get excited about.

I'm wearing my pragmatic head today.

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It's each to their own, innit. You like television; is that not just a game, a play?

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Originally Posted by Burney

But is that not our minimum expectation now? And equally, does that not mean that you are tacitly accepting that, should we fail to achieve it, some very serious questions need to be asked about the management of the team?

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I don't think supporter expectation should matter in an ideal world.

I think those questions would be asked by the incumbent himself, who is likely to be best placed to ask and answer them (while has has the desire to do so) given he knows the club and his players better than anyone on earth.