Can lightning strike twice? Can Liverpool inflict upon Arsenal a second humiliating defeat in the space of a week? Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish thinks so, and the King believes that the Gunners could get another spanking if Arsene Wenger plays anything but his strongest available side.
In his column for The Mirror today, Dalglish suggested that Arsenal will be feeling 'bitter' about the 5-1 obliteration, and argued that playing a weakened team could lead to another hammering. He observed:
"If they’re not careful, Arsenal will get another hiding this weekend.
"Liverpool do not have the Champions League to worry about, so they will be strong. If Arsenal do put out a weakened side, they might struggle badly and one more chance of a trophy will have been lost"
Arsene Wenger claims that winning the FA Cup is a priority for the Gunners, but I doubt anyone really believes he'll subjugate the Premier League and Champions League for the FA Cup. I suspect that, privately, Wenger is not that bothered about going out of the FA Cup, and who can blame him?
Football is all about money, and compared to riches on offer from winning the league/progressing in the CL, the FA Cup is a comparative pauper of a competition.
It's sad to see the the importance of the FA Cup declining, but it's just a sign of the times. The only way to reinvigorate the competition is to provide a more attractive prize for the winners. Entry into the first round of Champions League qualification, for example.
On another note: having the semi-finals at Wembley also (arguably) devalues the competition. Wembley should be reserved for the finalists, and having the semis there robs the final of an element of prestige.
Additionally, it causes major cost/logistics issues for fans. If, for example, two Northern clubs meet in the semis (Man Utd vs. Newcastle, for example), why force fans to spend ridiculous money to endure the transport nightmare of traveling all the way to London? It makes no sense.
In my view it's just one giant rip-off.
As for the Arsenal game: a damaging defeat to Liverpool tomorrow could send the Gunners' season into a downward spiral. They'll almost certainly lose against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, which would then make it three defeats in four games.
To be honest, I don't want that to happen! I really respect Arsenal, and I'm a huge fan of Wenger, and I'd much rather see the Gunners win the title than Chelsea or Man City.
Author: Jaimie K
In his column for The Mirror today, Dalglish suggested that Arsenal will be feeling 'bitter' about the 5-1 obliteration, and argued that playing a weakened team could lead to another hammering. He observed:
"If they’re not careful, Arsenal will get another hiding this weekend.
"Liverpool do not have the Champions League to worry about, so they will be strong. If Arsenal do put out a weakened side, they might struggle badly and one more chance of a trophy will have been lost"
Arsene Wenger claims that winning the FA Cup is a priority for the Gunners, but I doubt anyone really believes he'll subjugate the Premier League and Champions League for the FA Cup. I suspect that, privately, Wenger is not that bothered about going out of the FA Cup, and who can blame him?
Football is all about money, and compared to riches on offer from winning the league/progressing in the CL, the FA Cup is a comparative pauper of a competition.
It's sad to see the the importance of the FA Cup declining, but it's just a sign of the times. The only way to reinvigorate the competition is to provide a more attractive prize for the winners. Entry into the first round of Champions League qualification, for example.
On another note: having the semi-finals at Wembley also (arguably) devalues the competition. Wembley should be reserved for the finalists, and having the semis there robs the final of an element of prestige.
Additionally, it causes major cost/logistics issues for fans. If, for example, two Northern clubs meet in the semis (Man Utd vs. Newcastle, for example), why force fans to spend ridiculous money to endure the transport nightmare of traveling all the way to London? It makes no sense.
In my view it's just one giant rip-off.
As for the Arsenal game: a damaging defeat to Liverpool tomorrow could send the Gunners' season into a downward spiral. They'll almost certainly lose against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, which would then make it three defeats in four games.
To be honest, I don't want that to happen! I really respect Arsenal, and I'm a huge fan of Wenger, and I'd much rather see the Gunners win the title than Chelsea or Man City.
Author: Jaimie K
You dont Want Arsenal to lose against us because you fear for the rest of their season? ..............
ReplyDeleteWhat Jose said about Wenger yesterday was disgraceful. I hope City destroy Chelsea today. Liverpool aren't good enough away from home to hammer any team imo. I'd take a 1-1 now and bring it back to Anfield.
ReplyDeleteWe thrashed Spurs 5-0 away?
ReplyDeleteNo, I said I don't want Arsenal to suffer another 'damaging' defeat like the 5-1. 1-0; 2-1 narrow victory for LFC will do just fine. I wouldn't say no to a draw, either. Another cup game at Anfield? Yes please.
ReplyDeletenot sure you know the meaning of the word 'subjugate'
ReplyDeleteAlso would rather see the Gunners win the league over City or Chelsea but we seem to have a chance of winning it too :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't think we should really care about what happens to Arsenal. If they win the league, respect to them. But their future is in their hands. When playing against Liverpool tomorrow, I want to see us beating them again. We could use a cup run.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that Arsenal would be preferable to City and Chelsea for the league. It just seems hollow for the sugar daddy teams to win it by subverting the transfer market and wage structures teams who have to live within their limits abide by.
ReplyDeleteI agree about Wembley too, it should be prestigious to get there and you shouldn't have to travel down there twice if your team is getting to the final. It is really not taking in to consideration the fans at all.
As for Kenny's thoughts about them fielding a "weaker side" I am not so convinced. I think the side with changes won't be that weak and they will likely be fresher and could well start a lot quicker. One way or another Wenger (who I respect too) will not let us do what we did last time. We can win but this game will be more like the city game I think. Harder fought and won by a small margin.
No, it's you who doesn't know the meaning of the word. Subjugate, in this context means 'to make something subservient'.
ReplyDeleteMan I am going back and forth on this. I looked at fixtures and think March will be a big month for everyone who wants the league and CL. But then I looked at what kind of points have generally won the league and what kind of ins it takes and it pretty much (historically) would take us winning every one of our remaining games. That won't happen. The only way we win this league this season is if it is one of those times it is unusually low points requirement. Which is possible with the potential of teams to take points off each other. It's all very interesting but unlikely. I would be made up with CL anyway so it doesn't hurt to dream, just not too hard so we get disappointed.
ReplyDeleteDoes that work in context though?
ReplyDeleteIt makes perfect sense:
ReplyDelete"I doubt anyone really believes he'll subjugate [i.e. make subordinate] the Premier League and Champions League for the FA Cup"
Yeah suppose it does.
ReplyDeleteI didn't doubt it when I read it first time but read your reply and then went back and read it about three times before I agreed.
ReplyDeleteCity have gone without any goals in their last two EPL matches. This season still has many twists and turns to come. Chelsea have not been at their best either. There are many twists and turns to follow.
ReplyDeleteWe do have a chance...
Definitely a chance just an unlikely one. You feel that on the whole Chelsea can grind out results better than anyone and once City have people back from injury properly they will be free scoring again.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping for some twists but just not making any banners.
Perhaps you should go back and read it once more just be sure ;-)
ReplyDeletePlus Chelsea and City still have to visit Anfield.
ReplyDeleteNow if we win both those matches then we are really going to be in for a interesting finish to the season.
2011 Man Utd won league with 80 points. After 26 games they had similar points to our current total I think. The Second Placed teams (Arsenal and Chelsea) had 71 points. With this being one of the tightest league season a similar points tally should win the title. ( 9 wins out of twelve = PL title :P)
ReplyDeleteIf LFC win both those games, the title is coming home to Anfield (IMO)
ReplyDeleteWho cares what happens to them? Man City/Chelsea are not like Manure/Bitters to us, so which one of those 3 wins the league is inconsequential in the eyes of many a LFC fan. I concur though, all I care about is progressing to the next round with the minimum of energy expended and no injuries.
ReplyDeleteIt is going to be touch and go but I have to agree with you on that!
ReplyDeleteI know mate I looked back to 2000 and that was an anomaly. At 26 games United were in first place with 56 points so only one more win but they were in first place Arsenal in second had the same points as us. They finished fourth.
ReplyDeleteThere was also that year that Chelsea won it with 95 points. I am not sure how likely 80 points is and I am sure no one will get 95 but 90 to 85 seems more likely.
If City and Chelsea win all their remaining games, both will finish on 93 points which is unlikely to happen.
ReplyDeleteOne thing is for sure, this season will go down to the wire and do not be surprised to see three teams fighting it out on the very last day...
Even though i'm a big fan of what wenger is doing with Arsenal, winning this game could become something more than going to the next turn of the FA cup and give us the opportunity to see them starting to fall apart and go for the 3rd place in the league.
ReplyDeleteLet's go for the jugular and kill them!
Mourinho has been irritating me of late so hope City win tonight.
ReplyDeleteDon't jinx it know jaimie! I'm getting really superstitious whenever somebody is talking about the title... Lets just wait and see on the last day :)
ReplyDeleteWhat Jose said was politically incorrect. But was what he said actually incorrect?
ReplyDeleteIn what other world are you consistently praised for finishing 4th consistently. At some point there has to be some growth.
The truth is that the Arsenal board loves Wenger because Kroenke wants to make money off the team. Easiest way to make money is limit expenditures and make Champions League every year, which is essentially what they've done. The Ozil deal was an aberration.
But there financial records just released showed they made an operating profit, yet they didn't spend any money in January.
Wenger is a terrific manager, but in what sports world is someone consistently rewarded in spite of not winning any trophies?
A draw would be really good. The extra fixture would put more pressure on Arsenal, but we could easily absorb it. This could impact on there league campaign and help us to overtake them.
ReplyDeleteOr like people have been saying about our game a draw. Then they lose the next game and because of game congestion lose out to the league too while getting nothing in Champo. That would be preferable.
ReplyDeleteIf someone would offer me before the start of arsenal game last week, two wins and a loss from these three games, Id definitely would take the two league wins and fa cup loss. Of course as a fan I want to win any game even in pre season, but that would be my choice. We know the cl is the priority but fa cup should be there too, as its the only realistic title we could win, with even better chances now chelseas out, so its only city as a top team left there, could be a massive opportunity for us if we beat arsenal. Lets hope we do something but I wouldnt want a replay, it would affect the league games, could get more injuries and slip up in cl race. Either win or lose.
ReplyDeleteCan't see Arsenal fielding their strongest team - won't mean it will be a weak team or easy game, but you can count on a bunch of guys getting rest. If they want to have a chance against Bayern, they have no choice but to rest key players. Win for us or draw is the likely outcome. No result is bad really, if we lose then they are stretched playing more games in the cup too.
ReplyDeleteDoubt they'll get past Bayern, but last year they came pretty close, so it's not impossible. Also City getting past Barca is a doubt, which doesn't fare well for the PL, Chelsea on the other hand have to be favorites against Gala, and Tottenham favorites against Dnipro - then they have a nightmare run of games in March, Chelsea, Arsenal, South Hampton, then Liverpool - they'll fall behind the pack at this point.
I think we can win both the cup and the league, but if it's not Liverpool, Arsenal would be the second favorite.
United are not even in the conversation and there are 12 games left!
How the hell would it not make sense to anyone straight away, especially after reading your definition???
ReplyDeleteDude, when the title race is as open with this, with a lot of teams needing to take points off each other, the title-winning points required this year will IMO definitely be lower than average.
ReplyDeleteF@#$.
ReplyDeleteit will be tight tomorrow. the only thing to get a hiding tomorrow will be the fans wallets.
ReplyDeleteI hope so mate and at times I believe so. I have at times been banging the look "at everyone's fixtures in march" drum a few times but right now I may be on a football comedown. The elation of the Arsenal game has gone, the tension of the Fulham game has left a slight bitter taste in the mouth and rather than thinking of what we have done right I have considered what we ave done wrong.
ReplyDeleteHaving said all that I believe it is possible but not with 80 points. I think we need at least 10 wins. That is two wins to get ahead of Chelsea and equaling the eight they will most probably get themselves. Or equivalent points.
kenny kenny kenny please share those drugs ur taking around we could all use them
ReplyDeleteOh well, no shame if we don't win the league...
ReplyDelete