Rafa - I'm here to stay

[Craig_H]

F*cking Yakubu, 55 seconds

[Shaggy]

A lot more of a struggle in a less competitive league. We can also realistically take 3rd, we are not exactly miles behind Chelsea.

We're also heading for the quarter finals of the European Cup. Again.

You've got to look at the big picture. You can't just isolate one competition - whether it's the most treasured one or not.

[beabeasdad]

Cant remember whether that's true, but put it this way, i cant see us getting 4th place with 4 points to spare.

So if he does, and maybe win the CL too, should we keep him?

[Craig_H]

So if he does, and maybe win the CL too, should we keep him?

Not if we want to win the Premier League (or make a serious challenge for it).

[pezzzer]

but djs look at the money in the game now compared to then mate.

you had to deal with manure and arse as they had the money to spend, look at the clubs competing now with huge financial clout, citeh/west ham/chavs/villa/spurs/barcodes all have massive backing.

its much harder to compete in this league today than when under houllier, surely you can see that

[Craig_H]

We're also heading for the quarter finals of the European Cup. Again.

You've got to look at the big picture. You can't just isolate one competition - whether it's the most treasured one or not.

It's the main one shaggs, the one we play about 75% of our matches in...

[Sarb]

We're also heading for the quarter finals of the European Cup. Again.

You've got to look at the big picture. You can't just isolate one competition - whether it's the most treasured one or not.

But the one competition that you're choosing not to isolate is the bread and butter and the one measure of how good a team really is. Cup competitions are all one-off games. You've got to prove yourself to be the best over a season and we're nowhere near that. That's the problem

[Craig_H]

but djs look at the money in the game now compared to then mate.

you had to deal with manure and arse as they had the money to spend, look at the clubs competing now with huge financial clout, citeh/west ham/chavs/villa/spurs/barcodes all have massive backing.

its much harder to compete in this league today than when under houllier, surely you can see that

Round in circles pezzzer, Rafa's HAD money...

And why are you talking about the mancs and Arse? Forget them - our closest rivals are everton, city and villa...THAT is the embarrassing problem that nobody seems to get or mind.

[Craig_H]

But the one competition that you're choosing not to isolate is the bread and butter and the one measure of how good a team really is. Cup competitions are all one-off games. You've got to prove yourself to be the best over a season and we're nowhere near that. That's the problem

Spot on. It's no longer even a 'big four' ffs.

[Shaggy]

It's the main one shaggs, the one we play about 75% of our matches in...

And?

Why should the other competitions be completely disregarded?

There are two premier competitions - we're **** hot in one and not so **** hot in the other. The picture is nowhere near as bleak as you make it out to be.

It could be a hell of a lot worse. We could be struggling for 4th and being knocked out of the UEFA Cup by the likes of Marseille.

[Craig_H]

And?

Why should the other competitions be completely disregarded?

There are two premier competitions - we're **** hot in one and not so **** hot in the other. The picture is nowhere near as bleak as you make it out to be.

It could be a hell of a lot worse. We could be struggling for 4th and being knocked out of the UEFA Cup by the likes of Marseille.

Who's saying anything disregarding them? The point is, we're no longer better than everton, city and villa. Why is this acceptable?

We can harp on about our precious CL all we like, if things dont improve majorly, we wont even be playing in it for future seasons...then what?

[Sarb]

And?

Why should the other competitions be completely disregarded?

There are two premier competitions - we're **** hot in one and not so **** hot in the other. The picture is nowhere near as bleak as you make it out to be.

It could be a hell of a lot worse. We could be struggling for 4th and being knocked out of the UEFA Cup by the likes of Marseille.

Ok

But you're the one that's not seeing the bigger picture really. If you look at the bigger picture you shouldn't just say we're good in the European Cup so it's ok. We're crap in the league and out of the other three competitions. Looking at the bigger picture we're not doing too well are we?

Doing well in the European Cup just masks the other problems

[Assassin]

DJS- spot on. Ask any fan of Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea whether they want Rafa to stay or not they will say a resounding YES.

Untrue....you and Bascombe are a couple of closet Mancs and you both want Rafa out

[Shaggy]

But the one competition that you're choosing not to isolate is the bread and butter and the one measure of how good a team really is. Cup competitions are all one-off games. You've got to prove yourself to be the best over a season and we're nowhere near that. That's the problem

Not all of them.

One of them is a mini-league that morphs into a two-legged knockout. It is a premier competition and we're ****-hot at it. I fail to see why this should be disregarded.

I just can't understand why everything in these sort of threads has to be so black and white to some people. It isn't black and white.

I suppose some of you would've sacked Wenger last season? Or the season before.

[Mattshark]

Ok

But you're the one that's not seeing the bigger picture really. If you look at the bigger picture you shouldn't just say we're good in the European Cup so it's ok. We're crap in the league and out of the other three competitions. Looking at the bigger picture we're not doing too well are we?

Doing well in the European Cup just masks the other problems

But we are not crap in the league, if we were, we would have lost more than 3 games.