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Spurs probably won more knockout ties in the run to the CL final than both of those two teams combined. Arsenal haven’t been in the CL for ages and swear they used to get beat in the last 16 by Barca or Bayern for a few years prior to that too
 
KingHotspur said:
Spurs probably won more knockout ties in the run to the CL final than both of those two teams combined. Arsenal haven’t been in the CL for ages and swear they used to get beat in the last 16 by Barca or Bayern for a few years prior to that too
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Battered would probably be more accurate, but that's part of being in that competition.
You can get lucky with the draw or face a side that could embarrass you over two legs.

Just checked and Arsenal got knocked out in the round of 16 on 7 consecutive occasions before failing to qualify again.
Barca, Milan, Bayern twice, Monaco, Barca again and then Bayern a third time.
They finished 2nd in the group in 5 of those 7 season, which is probably why.
They also faced Bayern in the group once, Dortmund three times and Schalke once.
Must have some sort of cheap travel arrangement with Germany! <laugh>
 
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Citizen Kane. said:
A fantasy that was fed, aided and abetted every step of the way by authorities, pundits and journalists who couldn't see beyond the shiny glimmer of gold.
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This isn't entirely accurate. The inception of the PL by the then big 5 was a deregulation of football designed for American corporations and likes of BSkyB to profit. What nobody envisaged was Yeltsin stepping down and an anti-Western and anti-Oligarch Russian leader in Putin replacing him. The oligarchs all fled and bought up assets in the West by way of protection. Abramovich's money was an unfortunate consequence of trying to create a crony-capitalist super league but the idea that he was welcomed is inaccurate. The "fit and proper persons" test was basically a tiny bit of legislation to tie up the loophole that had enabled Abramovich to own Chelsea FC in the first place.
 
humanbeingincroydon said:
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Times Liverpool are scheduled to play before City: 4
Times City are scheduled to play before Liverpool: 1
====
Times United are scheduled to play before Arsenal: 3
Times Arsenal are scheduled to play before United: 0

Times United are scheduled to play before Tottenham: 3
Times Tottenham are scheduled to play before United: 1

Sky and BT trying to aid Liverpool and United in their quest for the title/top 4? Say it ain't so.
 
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District Line said:
This isn't entirely accurate. The inception of the PL by the then big 5 was a deregulation of football designed for American corporations and likes of BSkyB to profit. What nobody envisaged was Yeltsin stepping down and an anti-Western and anti-Oligarch Russian leader in Putin replacing him. The oligarchs all fled and bought up assets in the West by way of protection. Abramovich's money was an unfortunate consequence of trying to create a crony-capitalist super league but the idea that he was welcomed is inaccurate. The "fit and proper persons" test was basically a tiny bit of legislation to tie up the loophole that had enabled Abramovich to own Chelsea FC in the first place.
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The fit and proper persons test is a joke.
Letting Alexandre Gaydamak buy Portsmouth was ludicrous, for a start. How did he pass?
All his money comes from his father Arcadi, who gave the club big loans at outrageous rates.
Then he got done for arms trafficking and called them in, which sent the club into administration.

The Saudis don't own Newcastle? Their own website says otherwise.
The Glazers buying Man Utd with it's own money? **** right off.
Leicester's owners paid off a military junta, all of City's have been an utter joke and West Ham's paid off the Tories.
Virtually none of the current lot should pass.
 
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PleaseNotPoll said:
The fit and proper persons test is a joke.
Letting Alexandre Gaydamak buy Portsmouth was ludicrous, for a start. How did he pass?
All his money comes from his father Arcadi, who gave the club big loans at outrageous rates.
Then he got done for arms trafficking and called them in, which sent the club into administration.

The Saudis don't own Newcastle? Their own website says otherwise.
The Glazers buying Man Utd with it's own money? **** right off.
Leicester's owners paid off a military junta, all of City's have been an utter joke and West Ham's paid off the Tories.
Virtually none of the current lot should pass.
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This is the issue I have with it. I will never defend Abramovich personally or how he acquired his wealth but it's the system at fault here - it just seems like whoever is flavour of the month with Third Way politicians gets the golden ticket as far as access ti purchase football clubs goes. Abramovich's history was well documented long before Chelsea even won a trophy under him in 2005. Other Russian oligarchs committed fraud and acquired wealth by similar means.

If we are going to be selective in who we allow to own football clubs then IMO there has to be a transition towards part-fan ownership.
 
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PleaseNotPoll said:
The fit and proper persons test is a joke.
Letting Alexandre Gaydamak buy Portsmouth was ludicrous, for a start. How did he pass?
All his money comes from his father Arcadi, who gave the club big loans at outrageous rates.
Then he got done for arms trafficking and called them in, which sent the club into administration.

The Saudis don't own Newcastle? Their own website says otherwise.
The Glazers buying Man Utd with it's own money? **** right off.
Leicester's owners paid off a military junta, all of City's have been an utter joke and West Ham's paid off the Tories.
Virtually none of the current lot should pass.
Click to expand...
Please don’t mention the Glazers buying Utd with the club’s own money :emoticon-0121-angry
 
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