DJS

I was hoping someone would pick up on that...

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I'd agree with you, because it was fairly clear that by that stage, Arsenal were running on an empty tank and mentally, they were gone. But that was mainly because it was Arsenal, they just dont seem to have that strength of character to come through the adversity and turn it around, against the odds. Stick Man Utd or Chelsea in that same position though, and would you still have been convinced that they were gone and out of it? I dont think i would've done.

If i remember correctly (and please correct me if i'm wrong), didnt the trio of them each have to face each other still (or two of them anyway) before the end of the season? Under such circumstances, there still would've been a chance IMO. Obviously the odds were stacked against it, but it wasnt as cut and dried as that, i dont think.

Those results, if they did indeed put them out of it, did so more because of Arsenal's own fragile mentality, rather than because of the situation they were in points-wise. Had it been Man Utd or Chelsea that suffered those defeats at that time, and were in Arsenal's league position, either of them would have quite probably still recovered to win the title. Arsenal didnt, IMO, largely due to their 'bottle it' frame of mind. Too inexperienced, lacking leaders...whatever you call it, Arsenal to me, dont appear to have a strong enough mind-set to recover easily from such defeats at an important stage.

Hehe...i see. It's going to be a loooong summer

Top post, that. As i've said, i dont think rafa gets everything he can out of the tools he has to work with. We *could* win the title, we'd need a bit of luck, but that's the same of any title winners. I happen to think that part of what's stopping us lies within the decision making process of Rafa, with regards to what he already HAS at his disposal, as opposed to what he decides to do in the market.

It's a bit of a grey area, open to interpretation. They were one or two results away from topping the table, werent they? And we certainly werent. Whether that's 'in the race', as i say, is down to individual interpretation.

I'd actually agree with you there fella. I'd also add one thing though, which i think we have far more than you do, and that's mental strength and character. Your lot seem to crumble at the first sign of adversity which, if i was an Arsenal fan, would infuriate me.

Without wishing to make you think that i too have a tiny mind, if we're to just say 'oh well, we shouldnt be up there with them anyway because they spend more' then what's the point? I'd argue that Madrid and Barca were also favourites and more likely than Valencia to win La Liga, but Rafa overturned those odds on two occasions. Overall, i'd agree that we've a more uphill task than the mancs or chelsea, of course and consequently, i also agree that it's harsh to 'expect' us to win the title. I do, however, expect us to never face the slightest possibility that the likes of Everton, Villa, Citeh et all, could catch us and this season just gone, it looked a realistic prospect at one point, albeit one that never (thankfully) came true at the end of it all. Point being, we're capable of being 'in' the race going into March or even April, IMO. We dont, unfortunately though, get the best out of what we have in terms of our squad/team. (Having said that, to basically halve 2006-2007's defecit is a good achievement). If we now buy more average £6m as opposed to say two TOP players (in the ilk of Nando and Mascher), then we'll be undoing all the good work again.

For me, the question is simply, under rafa, do we perform to the best of our capability? Does he get the best out of what he has to work with? I couldnt say that i'm 100% convinced, but equally so, i recognise that there arent many who'd get more out of our squad than Rafa has. IMO however, Mourinho would... *scarpers*

I'm not on here as much as you are, so i'm not too sure...what's making you weep?

Precisely.

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I know we're going to be (allegedly) playing in a new stadium a few years down the line, but Anfield holds so many memories and is so characteristic of the club that the prospect of them playing their home games there makes me feel sick. And yes, i know they played there before we did, but still.

Heh...indeed. Although, given his track record of balls-ups in such a short space of time, i bet a lucrative stadium share could, all of a sudden, be of interest to Hicks.

not at all. It's too close to the truth, more like.

Naturally not. Some nutter, who spends his days masquerading as a regular, down to earth Liverpool fan, on the other hand... Not nice, sure. Would you be able to rule it out 100% though?

They managed to somehow wangle about £6m for Kieran bloody Richardson, so i wouldnt be surprised if one of fergie's ex-buddies popped up with a nice bid. As for us, i really cant see rafa signing a 'superstar' this summer, it's rare that he goes down that road. And £6m for Pennant will never happen. Unless it's US buying him, after having sold him for £2m the year before.

Was discussing this with someone this morning and we concluded that if Hicks sanctioned the sale, some nutter actually *would* kill him. For a passing moment, it almost seemed like an acceptable trade-off...

I think i would've felt better if Hicks, with his history of lying, said that Torres was off. As for Torres' comments though...

You only find out that young players are good, if you throw them in. Where would Wenger be if he hadnt given his kids a chance to play? Plessis might not be very good to begin with (he was immense at Arsenal) but he'd learn as he went and get better over the course of time. But the only way he'll improve is by being tested at a higher level than reserve team football. I firmly believe that if you have faith in the player, the 'sink or swim' theory can apply. Throw him in and see. I'd do the same with Nemeth too, few games here and there and see how he gets on.

I thought it was because ENIC are minted.

Might be mistaken but didnt they sign him a while back and simply loan him back to his previous club? I'm pretty sure they havent JUST (or are ABOUT to) sign him, i thought it was done a while ago.

I agree he has certain attributes which are useful, but without some kind of attacking cutting edge, or pace, clinical finishing, good touch or power, he's not really an attacking asset for us.