21 Mar 2018 23:19:03
It's often debated which is the strongest league the premier league or La Liga.
Wouldn't it be brilliant as part of the pre season friendly season if both leagues went head to head
With prem champions taking on Spanish champions 2nd v 2nd,3rd v 3rd all the way down to 20th v 20th.
Im sure lots of neutral countries like China USA Australia would be more than happy to host the games and it would add a bit of competitive edge to the traditional pre season money spinners and I'm sure fans of teams like Huddersfield Burnley ect and their Spanish counterparts who don't normally get to be involved in European competitions would really enjoy it too.
Thoughts please people's?
Believable0
Unbelievable0
![]()
{Ed0333's Note - Will never work. Owners would never relinquish the autonomy to take their teams where the money is in pre season.
21 Mar 2018 23:47:18
Fair comment Ed but all the same it would be interesting and entertaining and you never know if a big enough sponsor got behind it one day it might just happen.
Agree0
Disagree0
{Ed001's Note - it pretty much happens already, there are usually matches between teams from the two countries on their pre-season tours in neutral countries.}
22 Mar 2018 08:13:25
Yeah I understand that Ed001 but just thought it would be more interesting if bragging rights were up for grabs.
Who knows it might become a yearly event with the German or Italian league taking on the winners the following summer, I'm sure tv would buy into it especially if it was every other year in between world cups and the Euros.
Agree0
Disagree0
22 Mar 2018 13:46:02
Personally, i would only change the names of the two European comps. The formats, qualifying and everything else, i think is ok. It shouldn't be called the champions league because its not for champions but at least it is some form of qualifying regular European footbaall for all the teams in both comps.
Agree0
Disagree0
21 Mar 2018 13:16:48
If ever a player was taking a chance running down his contract it's Jack Wilshere with his injury history.
Obviously I hope it doesn't happen and he has a great world cup and career where ever it is but what if he picks up another long term injury and is out of contract?
Obviously the bloke ain't skint and I'm sure he could walk away from football tomorrow and be financially secure but it would be extremely tough out of contract and out on his own if he did pick up another bad one.
Believable0
Unbelievable0
21 Mar 2018 14:13:22
There’s an offer on the table I think g62. So I don’t think he’s taking a risk.
Agree0
Disagree1
21 Mar 2018 14:45:00
Firstly, as you state he probably has already accumulated considerable wealth and may have insurance against career-threatening injury.
I believe our offer was poorly constructed as it is insulting to offer a lower basic wage to a top player in his mid-20's.
His injuries have generally been impact injuries, which have healed, opposed to recurringsoft tissue injuries. He looks one of our best players and a suitable salary should be offered and we should try and tie up Ramsey as well. If we were to lose the pair, plus Welbeck and Bellerin over the summer, the rebuilding of our threadbare squad will be even more difficult.
Agree1
Disagree0
21 Mar 2018 15:43:15
Good replys lads and like you say RG we are not so flush with talent that we can let any of our best players go willingly.
Personally I think Belerin is gone in his head already and Aaron pretty much the same unless something was to happen at Arsenal to change his mind like a new manager arriving.
What's Aaron 27? Time to challenge for top prizes is running out for him.
Danny? No disrespect but where would he go? Would any of the clubs above us want him, it's us or possibly Everton if they are interested in him other than that it's a step backwards for Danny if he leaves.
Agree0
Disagree0
21 Mar 2018 16:17:33
I just don’t understand why footballers get so much stick for injurys! I can understand prospective clubs been cautious when buying a player with a lengthy injury record but at the end of the day they are employees and they have been injured at work. If you got injured whilst carrying out your job and your company said you can return to work but we are going to pay you less then you wouldn’t be very happy. Now I don’t understand the terms of employment and how these things work in football. Are footballers paye or self employed? Or something else? Should imagine ed01 will have the answer.
Agree1
Disagree0
21 Mar 2018 16:25:05
I think all said players are keen to leave because either they want a change of manager or because of the last window and ozil, fancy a big pay rise. From my point of view, are they worth the extra? Would we be better freshening up manager and players?
For me its a big YES to the latter.
Agree1
Disagree0
21 Mar 2018 16:25:30
Sorry I accidentally wiped my reply just as I clicked submit. Footballers are PAYE.
Agree0
Disagree0
21 Mar 2018 16:35:31
As Ed says Sanogo footballers are employees but on fixed terms of employment so when there contract is up both parties are free to renew or end the relationship or negotiate higher or lower wages ect.
If an employee was off sick repeatedly at any every day company the company would understandably be cautious when deciding whether to renew and on what terms and players like all employees will always consider their options too once a contract is coming to an end.
Agree0
Disagree0
21 Mar 2018 16:56:54
Cheers ed. G62 there’s a difference between calling in sickies and been injured whilst at work. If they are then that’s why they get paid. most Fans always say that it’s a joke that they get paid when certain players are on the treatment table a lot . I’m sure jack wants to stay and is playing hard ball because I can tell you there will be clubs interested in him and will have a bigger wage packet than we have offered ready if the get him on a free. I can see Man City or pep been very interested in him. Jack would improve vastly under pep.
Agree0
Disagree0
{Ed001's Note - insurance usually covers wages while a player is injured, not the clubs.}
21 Mar 2018 17:38:21
Sanogo I don't disagree Jack would benefit from working with Pep and on a free he would be an asset to city even if on a lower wage and shorter contract that had he never had injury problems. Yes Jack was injured at work but his obligation to us and us to him is coming to an end and if Jack had never been injured and was England's first name on the team sheet and in the running for premier league player of the year I'm sure he'd be wanting something close to Mesut wages to stay but that's not how it is mate.
He wants to think himself lucky for Mr Bosman because without him
Arsenal could offer Jack whatever they wanted and he'd have two options take it or retire.
I know you really like Jack Sanago mate but the club can't ignore his injury record completely that would be negligent but mind you the club have set a president with Caz and co in the past on that score.
Agree0
Disagree0
21 Mar 2018 17:50:22
The club won’t let him go and jack doesn’t want to go! It will get sorted out I’m sure.
Agree0
Disagree0
21 Mar 2018 07:27:54
Aside from the financial benefit, I have enjoyed the EL this season compared to the CL, where we often seemed to play the same teams.
I belive that the CL should only feature 2 teams from the top leagues and one team from more minor leagues. The EL would be better played by the teams finishing 3rd and 4th in the major leagues and those finishing 2nd in the minor leagues, without Any teams joining the competition as a prize for failure in the CL.
The CL group stages have been reasonably predictable, with the strongest teams more often than not going through and the last 16 weeding out the weaker teams that have managed to get through the group stage.
Rant over! Thoughts fellow gooners.
Believable2
Unbelievable0
21 Mar 2018 09:21:48
I think they should give cl to the first 3 teams and give the 4th spot to the fa cup.
It would make the fa cup a lot better.
Agree0
Disagree0
21 Mar 2018 09:24:58
The europa league is our standard whether people like it or not in the champions league we are simply partisapants but in the Europa we are challengers.
A bit like Newcastle, in the premier league they are always swimming against the tide but in the championship they are a huge fish and secretly it's got to make a change for their fans to be winning most weeks in the championship apposed to constantly struggling in the premier league.
Newcastle fans want to be a premier league force and Arsenal fans want to be premier league and champions league challengers but deep down inside both sets of fans know there is not the will from. within their clubs for that to happen.
At United City Chelsea being the best is everything while at Spurs and Liverpool champions league qualification is enough for now it won't be forever as both sets of fans ultimately will demand that Klopp and Poch deliver real title challengers if not titles themselves within 5 seasons of being in charge and if they don't the fans will want a change of management.
At Arsenal it's become acceptable for our manager not to challenge as long as we take part in the champions league but that bubble has burst and the next manager will be under the same pressure as Klopp and Poch is from Spurs and Liverpool fans from Arsenal fans.
Ultimately our time in the Europa league will turn out to be much more of a benefit than a hindrance.
Agree0
Disagree0
21 Mar 2018 10:14:36
On the format for champions league qualification I'd love to see it changed but it's not going to happen unfortunately.
If only champions qualified we at Arsenal would never have lost our ambition but because of top 4 gaining access to Europe's elite competition it allowed Arsene and Arsenal to invent the 4th place trophy which inadvertently became enough for our club and manager plus most players and fans.
For Arsenal football club top qualification has ultimately been our undoing without anyone realising it until it was too late.
I used to think it was a stepping stone to bigger things but it became a destination for us and I for one am glad it's over.
Agree0
Disagree0
23 Mar 2018 15:48:33
4th place is locked in now for us 4 spots guranteed no matter what.
Agree0
Disagree0
21 Mar 2018 06:12:35
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 21st March 2018
Believable0
Unbelievable0
