Match Thread: Ars*nal vs Tottenham Hotspur

[Ginola's Son]

Don't waste your time laughing at facts. You don't go beating Everton, Blackburn and Newcastle's full strength sides without being very very good!

Accept it.


No that was a Cup winners cup spot that turned into a Uefa spot when the CWC was IMO wrongly abolished.

I know that. And it was wrong to abolish it. But all the same, I don't think a losing finalist...someone that didn't win something...should be rewarded.

[RuFuS]

I don't think a losing finalist...someone that didn't win something...should be rewarded.

Take that to it's logical conclusion each country would only have their winners in the CL as their other 3 weren't Champions. Something i dont have a problem with by the way.

Think of it this way. We lose the cup final to a team that has already qualifed for the CL and due to the other cup final winners, the placings for a UEFA spot go down to 8th (which i think is possible) and you'd be happy that portsmouth (currently) were in the uefa cup instead of us ?

[Ginola's Son]

If they have performed better then us over the course of the season then I'd have no complaints. I think premiership consistancy is more deserving of a place in Europe then a perhaps fortunate run to a cup final which you've lost.

You could beat Blackpool, Port Vale, Leicester and then lose to Chelsea and be in Europe.

You know its bollocks.

[jrio]

No that was a Cup winners cup spot that turned into a Uefa spot when the CWC was IMO wrongly abolished.
With the inflated CL televised on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, there was no room for tv coverage and thus no money in playing in it. It would have reached the stage where all the clubs put out their second choice sides. That still happens to some extent in the UEFA Cup.

[RuFuS]

If they have performed better then us over the course of the season then I'd have no complaints. I think premiership consistancy is more deserving of a place in Europe then a perhaps fortunate run to a cup final which you've lost.
You could beat Blackpool, Port Vale, Leicester and then lose to Chelsea and be in Europe.

8th in the prem is a consistant performance ?

You could beat Reading, Man u,Scum1,Chelsea, and then lose to Liverpool in the final and get SFA while portsmouth go on a european tour for fininshing 8th.

you know it's nonsence.

[Gino Ginelli]

That has to be the best I've seen us play all season, but nevertheless we were always going to need that 2nd or 3rd goal, as Arsenal, 1st team or not, will always score somehow. Keane, Steed and Defoe all guilty of poor finishing in clear cut chances, despite playing well. Need I mention Berbatov? Majestic and in charge of every attack we made. Some of his touches and control tonight were simply breathtaking, Zidane like levels of ability.

King provides solidity and defensive nous like no other player we have, and kept Daws in check for most of the time. He's no where near full strength either yet. I hope to whatever god there is that he can regain his old fitness.

But I reserve my main plaudits for O'Hara. He put in a complete midfielders performance last night. It shows that he can struggle to get his game fast enough. In the first half he struggled to complete some passes purely because he couldn't react or think fast enough to release it, but he caught on, upped his game, and became a highlight of the team. His delivery was decent, but it was his attitude that shone the most, urging his team-mates on, telling them to come closer to provide a target for him and playing with real spirit. Not sure he'll ever be top class, but he is something we've lacked in CM for a while.

A mention for Lee who did great for most of the game, sticking to Walcott like glue. The only time he got away from him was the goal, but then that was the first time Walcott went inside, and even then, Lee nearly got the ball away from him. Walcott was never jammier then when the ball hit his shoulder and bounced past Cerny. Bastard.

If Wenger fields that side again, then we can really do them at WHL, as long as we finish better!

[Ginola's Son]

8th in the prem is a consistant performance ?

You could beat Reading, Man u,Scum1,Chelsea, and then lose to Liverpool in the final and get SFA while portsmouth go on a european tour for fininshing 8th.

you know it's nonsence.

I think 8th in the prem is consistant yes. You must have won most of your game to be there.

But I reserve my main plaudits for O'Hara. He put in a complete midfielders performance last night. It shows that he can struggle to get his game fast enough. In the first half he struggled to complete some passes purely because he couldn't react or think fast enough to release it, but he caught on, upped his game, and became a highlight of the team. His delivery was decent, but it was his attitude that shone the most, urging his team-mates on, telling them to come closer to provide a target for him and playing with real spirit. Not sure he'll ever be top class, but he is something we've lacked in CM for a while.



Utterly agree, he was sensational. Brilliant moment when he was caught on camera screaming at his far more experianced peers to remember just where they were, in the cup semi's vs Arsenal. Filled me with joy when I saw that. His commitment spread throughout the team. That's what I want out of a player.

[mjbmedia]

But if they're completely level in Europe - if both legs ended one each - the away team in the second leg then has an extra 30 minutes to get an away goal. What you're asking for is away goals to count after FT when the clubs are all playing in the same country. The away goals after ET is just a way to avoid the lottery of penalties.
yep you got it, well done sir :cool: away goals to count after FT like they do in Europe if the aggregate is level but the scores were say 3-1 and 2-0 the team scoring the one away goal go thru . Of course the scenario you describe can and does happen but at least theyve both had 90 minutes to score their away goals , what should then happen is the 30 minutes is in effect a separate match, away goals DONT count double, its whoever wins the thirty minute match else its penalties, its simple but then we're talking about UEFA and the FA!!!!
If that was the Carling cup the tie would go into extra time . Why??? ok its the rules but theyre clearly wrong and favour the team playing away second as if they then score in extra time, the home team have to score twice else theyre out.

[jrio]

I'm just amazed that you've gotten so irate at a rule that was introduced purely to avoid penalties if possible.

[mjbmedia]

i was getting irate at peoples inability to understand what the hell i was on about;) not the ruling itself, tho it sucks it only bothers me if we go out because of it 0-0 after 90 2-2 AET

[jrio]

I understood what you meant - it wasn't really that complex - just amazed you couldn't see the outlandishness in advocating 2 leg CC semis being subject to away goals after 90 mins. Presumably, as that will never be introduced, you'd advocate away goals don't count after ET and go to penalties.

[Ginola's Son]

I think away goals should count after 90 mins. Its not fair that you play 90 mins in one game and 120 in another. It should only go to ET if scores and away goals are dead level (matching scores in both legs)

[berbzy 'G']

Lucky bastards

[mjbmedia]

well as id imagine the whole point of having a twolegged semi is fairness to both teams ie no real home advantage as both teams will play at home, it then seems to contradict itself (which isnt surprising as its football) by infact giving a huge advantage (at least if the aggregate is level) to the team playing away second.

i dont see anything outlandish in wanting total fairness to both teams in a semifinal , or are you winding me up? :cool: