I still don't get this whole "rivals for top 4" thing. If a team that

[Billy Goat Sverige]

has finished at least 10 points behind us for the last 5 seasons can call themselves our rivals can't we call ourselves a rival for the top 2?

[NOT Nicosia. Now banned.]

You know those things that soccer clubs actually compete for.

[Billy Goat Sverige]

Keeping their best players.

[NOT Nicosia. Now banned.]

the game.

[Monty91]

Liverpool challenging us for fourth place in recent seasons, and so could conceivably change if they get it right footballistically, whereas the gap between us and the top 2/3 has grown due to a financial chasm that we are to a certain extent powerless to close.

[Hillary]

[NOT Nicosia. Now banned.]

[Hillary]

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Monty91]

You should be asking him whether he would rather win the Carling Cup and then do fúck all for years, or win nothing, qualify for the Champions League and be able to lure the best player from said club that won the Carling Cup and then did fúck all for years.

That's the far more pertinent question...

[NOT Nicosia. Now banned.]

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01837/arsenal_1837318c.jpg


http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lhbklrjBWf1qg4va1.jpg

[NOT Nicosia. Now banned.]

[Hillary]

He was forced to pretend he'd rather have Pompey's FA Cup win and demise than our top 4 finishes.

[Hillary]

[NOT Nicosia. Now banned.]

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSyVWaR9BUauilwhuylnn1dwjvOLrtxx VxwI4WMOH6edEsWHoKb

[Monty91]

is not simply for the glory of fourth place, but to put us in a position where we can compete for the likes of Suarez, which in turn will allow us to compete for the most prestigious trophies.

[Monty91]

[Hillary]

I, at no point, suggested that winning a trophy was not something we would want to do.

You're being a dishonest **** now.

[NOT Nicosia. Now banned.]

Might even win a cup then.......... :rolleyes:

[Hillary]

[Monty91]

[Monty91]

seems to be passing you by, for whatever reason).

[NOT Nicosia. Now banned.]

[Hillary]

if you didn't win a trophy. They were nice-to-haves rather than being an affront to civilisation if you didn't win one. I actually enjoyed watching the sport then.

[Monty91]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

I blame Thatcher. It all started with her trying to make everyone middle class.

[Monty91]

[Monty91]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

[NOT Nicosia. Now banned.]

[Monty91]

trophies, which we can only do by finishing fourth and attracting players of Suarez's calibre?

[Ashberto]

[Hillary]

Have another go.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

I have thrown not a single house, ever.

Your cavalier attitude does you no credit, a.

[Ashberto]

[NOT Nicosia. Now banned.]

I actually would have a wry smile on my face if we manage to get knocked out of the qualifier for the CL in a few weeks.

[Monty91]

doing everything in its power to win trophies.

For us, finishing fourth should be a stepping stone to greater things; a means to an end. Surely you don't object to that on any kind of moral basis?

[Monty91]

of the signings it allowed us to make? Surely then you would view the fourth place finish as trumping the FA cup or carling cup?

[Hillary]

[NOT Nicosia. Now banned.]

Would we have won the double back in 98 if we didn't get knocked out of Europe at the first hurdle? I don't think that squad had the dept to handle reaching say the semi's of the uefa cup while going on that run in the league and cup towards the end of the season.

[Monty91]

,because of the distraction of Europe?

What about our chances of winning the Champions League? I'd say they rely pretty heavily on us qualifying for the tournament...

[NOT Nicosia. Now banned.]

1. Get knocked out of Europe at the first hurdle.
2. Makes it easier to win the league that season.
3. Have a better chance to win next seasons CL due to winning league....

[Monty91]

or do you think we don't need to in order to win the league?

[NOT Nicosia. Now banned.]

[Monty91]

for him wanting to join us.

So, please answer the question: do you not think we need to sign these kind of players in order to win the league? And if so, how do you propose we sign them without finishing in the top four?

[NOT Nicosia. Now banned.]

We're one of the richest clubs in the World after all.