Yeah, I'm the same mate, I'd also rather play the continental sides,just to mix it up. - after all, that's what europe's about; playing sides with different playing styles. There's already some good competition in the europa this season, and there's soon to be more when the CL drop outs join in. However, part of me would love to play chelsea and hopefully beat them, just so AVB can stick two fingers up. The Arsenal v West Brom game is going to be very interesting, however I think it'll be an arsenal win, even if it's not convincing. West Brom's bubble will burst, they've already lost 2 on the trot. Again, confidence is a massive part of football and West Brom have been full of it, with nothing to lose. I think the recent defeats will knock them back a bit and Arsenal are due a win. careful NSIS - we've conceded 23 we're can't talk about other teams not being able to defend! just about every supporter of every other club knew this though SOS. The CL win was very lucky and this years CL campaign coincides with last years premier league finish. But most Chelsea fans are never going to admit that - just like the AVB sacking. (which they are not backtracking on massively since RDM was sacked, as their previous comments have no strength whatsoever anymore. ) Long way to go yet mate! If they don't take the EL seriously and get knocked out by fielding a weak team, it's actually going to make the league harder as we'll be the ones flying across europe all the time! (if we make it, that is)
A bit mean of RDM to take the bus with him on his way out. Champions till May? Lol what a hollow victory. Reminds me of when Saddam was about to get hanged and kept on saying 'I am the leader of Iraq'. Anyway, good job their fans refused to take the piss when we dropped into the Europa and they went into the CL or I'd be tempted to take the piss too
Yeah, I think the same goes for Utd - and most PL teams. You can get away with poor defending in the PL - In Europe, you'll get found out. Perversely, The Chavs won last year because of their do or die defending ( mixed with an incredible amount of luck!)
Chelsea are where they should be and should have been and that's the Europa. They finished 6th ffs,not good enough for the CL.
Difficult to make the argument that we would have done better looking at our performance in our europa group, isnt it? To be fair to them they had a very tough group.
Buit chances are Arry would still be manager, VDV wouldn't have left and we would have ryan neilsen in defence so that would have stopped Juve
Our Europa results prior to our debut CL season would have suggested some kind of Man Cityesque debacle. However £400 million spent and the crown of English champions resulted in that shower of shot that picked up 3 points from 6 games. Chelsea on the other hand played like a team that finished 6 th in their domestic league. When we got in the CL we did our club proud, got to the quarters and even beat the holders of the trophy. So I wouldn't read too much into how our Europa performances would mean that we would embarrass English football like the two moneybags have.
I appreciate that, Roo, and we've got to address that. However, the distinction I was making was that you can very often get away with crap defending in the PL - often because the opposition defence is as crap as yours' In Europe, you won't get away with. The top sides will make you pay, as most of our PL sides found out last year.
Yeah, unfortunately I think Chelsea have too much talent to finish below fourth, or even third--if they don't continue the meltdown. It is Arsenal that doesn't look like it has the players at this point. The Europa League should seriously have a category of "matchup too good to miss" which supercedes the draw. Everyone wants to see Chelsea Tottenham--fans of both teams, neutrals, you name it.
I'll have to stop going to the Chavs board,their Banner is making my stomach hurt, from laughing to much
They had better put in for their new banner now. It takes time to change, as we know. They will get some stick if the banner lasts beyond this seasons Final.
Don't underestimate the strength of feeling against their manager from the fans, RWAEB. A lot of them really despise Benitez and he's replacing someone who was a hero, both as a player and taking two trophies as a manager, despite his shortcomings. If they come back from the World Club Cup needing points and he doesn't immediately pick one up, then I'd expect the supporters to up their campaign against him. Their home game against QPR on the 2nd of January has gone on general sale, which I've been told is virtually unheard of.
We can safely refer to the chavs as winners in 2011\2012 and nothing more. They somehow still think they are champions until someone lifts the cup in may, I mean, clinging on or what, pathetic, and now goal difference is why they were knocked out
They've openly said, yep, RA bought (not brought- where they'd got that R I've no idea ) us success so we'll spinelessly turn on Rafa. That's pretty much the meat of it meaning to those numpties bragging rights are the end all and be all so don't be extremely surprised if you talk to a chav that cannot name the Chelsea 1st team in its entirety
Looking at how you've played,especially defensively I would say you'd have finished 3rd or bottom in City's group, you gotta be realistic mate. I think you'd have qualified from the chavs group though but that's only IF AVB put the CL ahead of the league
