The Race for Champions League Places

[Exiled_red]

I don't think it'll play as big a part this season as many do.. I think clubs will be focusing on finding a way around it. Didn't city sell their stadium name for a ridiculous amount?

There was something (ages ago) about wages in contracts signed before summer 2010(??) not counting towards the losses for FFP, so Chelsea's loss of £67m in FFP terms is probably significantly less than that.

[Exiled_red]

I hope they disgrace themselves.. But even then no doubt the media would look the other way.

The thing that concerns me is that this is their closed home game to the anniversary of Munich, so there will presumably be a minutes silence, I hope none of our fans disrupt that. If that happens it will be that which gets the headlines.

[~LFCHistory~]

I don't think it'll play as big a part this season as many do.. I think clubs will be focusing on finding a way around it. Didn't city sell their stadium name for a ridiculous amount?

Yeah I think it was 400 million over 10 years for naming rights. But even with that deal they won't meet the requirements of FFP as things stand. IIRC the rules are that if you don't follow the FFP rules you could be punished with points deductions or suspension from the CL.

[DannyMan2006]

I'm sorry, but I'm surprised by what I have read tbh.

A player measures his career by looking at what he's won, and I do the same as a fan. Finishing 4th and playing in the CL is no doubt very important for financial reasons and ability to attract better players.

But hold on a sec. Why is it so important to have more money & better players? It's so we have a better chance of winning things. Well we have a great chance of winning two cups this season, and I'd take that over coming 4th any day.

Arsenal have been in the CL for about 14 years on the trot, but what has that helped them achieve? Nothing. And that's why Wenger is always under pressure.

So anyone who says that winning the two domestic cups would be a failure, well I just can't see the logic myself.

[~LFCHistory~]

I'm sorry, but I'm surprised by what I have read tbh.

A player measures his career by looking at what he's won, and I do the same as a fan. Finishing 4th and playing in the CL is no doubt very important for financial reasons and ability to attract better players.

But hold on a sec. Why is it so important to have more money & better players? It's so we have a better chance of winning things. Well we have a great chance of winning two cups this season, and I'd take that over coming 4th any day.

Arsenal have been in the CL for about 14 years on the trot, but what has that helped them achieve? Nothing. And that's why Wenger is always under pressure.

So anyone who says that winning the two domestic cups would be a failure, well I just can't see the logic myself.

CL qualification means we can attract the players who will help us win the PL and CL. FA and CC cups are nice but are small fry compared to the two big trophies.

Arsenal have won **** all because since 2006 they have an overall net spend of -31 million. http://www.transferleague.co.uk/leag...2006-2011.html

[danperkins]

I'm sorry, but I'm surprised by what I have read tbh.

A player measures his career by looking at what he's won, and I do the same as a fan. Finishing 4th and playing in the CL is no doubt very important for financial reasons and ability to attract better players.

But hold on a sec. Why is it so important to have more money & better players? It's so we have a better chance of winning things. Well we have a great chance of winning two cups this season, and I'd take that over coming 4th any day.

Arsenal have been in the CL for about 14 years on the trot, but what has that helped them achieve? Nothing. And that's why Wenger is always under pressure.

So anyone who says that winning the two domestic cups would be a failure, well I just can't see the logic myself.

So you would rather win 2 domestic cups, than qualify for the biggest club competition in the world, playing against the best players in the world & showcasing Liverpool Football Club?

Winning 2 domestic cups is certainly not a failure but taking it over a champs league place, crazy stuff IMO.

The champions league is the top tier of club football, being in it means keeping our existing talent, attracting better player to help us progress domestically, lots of revenue from tv etc, & of course Liverpool F.C. being back where they should be. I find it absolutely baffling how anyone wouldn't want us to be in the champs league, but sure each to their own

[danperkins]

CL qualification means we can attract the players who will help us win the PL and CL. FA and CC cups are nice but are small fry compared to the two big trophies.

Arsenal have won **** all because since 2006 they have an overall net spend of -31 million. http://www.transferleague.co.uk/leag...2006-2011.html

[Reece]

Of course we all WANT to be in the Champions League.

But football is about winning trophies at the end of the day (or at least it used to be before it became all about the money). We haven't won one for nearly six years now. So give me winning the Carling Cup and the FA Cup over finishing fourth any day - as things currently stand.

I remember how great 2001, 2005 and 2006 were. Even 2003 (I think?!) when we just won the Carling Cup. I want to experience that again.

Once we've got the lack of trophies monkey off our back, then I'd probably change my mind and say let's finish fourth.

[Craig_H]

They couldn't create a hostile reception, even if they handed out 80,000 machine guns before the game

[Craig_H]

I'm sorry, but I'm surprised by what I have read tbh.

A player measures his career by looking at what he's won, and I do the same as a fan. Finishing 4th and playing in the CL is no doubt very important for financial reasons and ability to attract better players.

But hold on a sec. Why is it so important to have more money & better players? It's so we have a better chance of winning things. Well we have a great chance of winning two cups this season, and I'd take that over coming 4th any day.

Arsenal have been in the CL for about 14 years on the trot, but what has that helped them achieve? Nothing. And that's why Wenger is always under pressure.

So anyone who says that winning the two domestic cups would be a failure, well I just can't see the logic myself.

It's simple enough mate, regularly being in the CL gives us a good chance of winning things on an ongoing basis. Not being in the CL doesnt.

[Chris]

Winning 2 domestic cups is certainly not a failure but taking it over a champs league place, crazy stuff IMO.

This is just everything thats wrong with football at the minute. How can a supporter be "crazy" for wanting his team to win trophies as opposed to finishing 4th in the league?!

[Shaggy]

Can't we just have both? They're not mutually exclusive.

I desperately want both.

[Chris]

Can't we just have both? They're not mutually exclusive.

I desperately want both.

Defo and no reason why we cant. Best 2 teams are out of the FA Cup, Chelsea and Arsenal getting worse and worse in the League and got a Final against a lower league team in the other. Let the momentum build from each competition and lets do the lot.

[Craig_H]

Can't we just have both? They're not mutually exclusive.

I desperately want both.

Without wanting to go all Arsene Wenger (Feb 2011), we've virtually already won silverware - we're going to beat Cardiff obviously. So really, the two together (4th place and silverware) are hardly poles apart. We've all but already got the silverware.

[The_weatherman]

Without wanting to go all Arsene Wenger (Feb 2011), we've virtually already won silverware - we're going to beat Cardiff obviously. So really, the two together (4th place and silverware) are hardly poles apart. We've all but already got the silverware.

Well, that's what our players thought before playing Bolton.