Apr 15
No excuses, no sour grapes, just respect.
Chelsea knocked off the Bundesliga and La Liga leaders to get to the semis. Liverpool knocked off the Italian League leaders. Both teams earned their way to the semis.
Holland has put a team in both the Champions League and UEFA Cup semi-finals. A Portuguese team is in a European semi-final for the third straight season. Kind of makes those “we need to go out a buy a big name” arguments ring a little hollow.
I’m not going to go into a big “here’s what Arsenal need to do” rant. There’s nothing wrong with acknowledging the hard-earned success of others. That’s what classy teams, and classy fans, do.
17 Responses to “Giving Credit Where It Is Due”
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April 15th, 2005 at 7:25 am
Xactly!
April 15th, 2005 at 7:28 am
Well said Rick..
That is what I was trying to say yesterday instead of all the cheap shots against Chelsea. As I said Liverpool did something we have being trying to do for the pass 7 yrs.
The best article soo far by a semi sports reporter can be found in the Times. Liverpool with all their problems played football without excuses. Chelsea as much as some people loved to hate them have played as a unit.
If you loved football like I do you respect teams not sour comments about them. Of course if they cheat you say it but so far Chelsea have done their talking on the field regardless of what the manager says.
As you rightly wrote, What have teams like PSV and Liverpool hasn’t. Go figure folks.
The Excuses stop here, off to Wales watch the boys in Rec and White.
What have Arsenal and United done this season apart from excuses? The blame Chelsea culture is killing the Arsenal.
April 15th, 2005 at 7:31 am
Totally agreed that ON the pitch, Chelsea deserve everything they have acheived. Lucky? Sure, but good teams tend to make their own luck.
Liverpool. Well, as for their fantastic run to the Semi-Finals of the Champion’s League, Bravo. Well done.
However, is it of any use? If they lose to Chelsea, OR even lose in the Finals, and do NOT secure 4th place in the league… they are out of the Champions League next year, and could lose their most influential star in Steven Gerrard. I think they would trade 4th in the league for a loss in the Semi’s 99 times out of 100.
You need star players. You need a good draw. You need the luck of the bouncing ball. You need to be solid and deep and play your best football IN the tournament. Chelsea and Liverpool have done an amazing job in the CL.
I am happy to see Ronaldinho’s STUPID remark that all 4 English teams would be out prove to be idiotic bluster, as Spain watches 2 teams from the BEST league in the world in the Semi’s.
April 15th, 2005 at 9:05 am
True, dat. But I refuse to give too many props to Chelsea. No sir. They had every advantage financially and played dirty at every turn. Their organziation is based on lies and hate. They will lift the cup, and no one will care outside of the Blues fans that will be giddy like silver-spoon children.
Their lads went out and did it, but not like Liverpool has. Its a disgrace to Pool that they are mentioned in the same breath. Did Rafa force a ref to retire? Did he get a two game touchline ban and a trip to the quarters for lying through his mind-effing teeth? Did he have a trillion dollars to buy his way there? No, no, and no.
Others may disagree, and thats cool. But don’t try and convince me that whatever silverware they lift this year won’t be tainted from its dangling price tag and crap tactics. Come on Gooners, they effed with us and it may have helped hurt our streak! I would shake the hand of every player they have, but the lot in the suits couldn’t hold Wenger’s jock for ten seconds.
April 15th, 2005 at 9:50 am
Stag:
“I think they would trade 4th in the league for a loss in the Semi’s 99 times out of 100″
You are joking? What would be the point of trading that? If they did that every year they’d never win the competition.
Liverpool find themselves in a Champions League semi-final against an English club. A club who was lucky to beat them in the League Cup final, as Chelsea had completely run out of ideas until Gerard headed it into his own net. Liverpool have a great chance of making it, and once you’re in the final, who knows? The ref has an off-day, the opposition have an off-day, you get lucky?? I would swap where Arsenal are NOW to be in Liverpool’s position. 4pts behind Everton is nothing with 18pts to play for.
April 15th, 2005 at 10:16 am
I agree with you in that the “postion” they are in is an outstanding one. I actually will root for them.
However, if you could see into the future, and you KNEW they were going to either lose in the Semi’s or lose in the finals… and NOT get 4th place, then what would you do?
If they don’t make the Champion’s League next year, they are in alot of trouble. It is a financial windfall to be in the CL. And they could lose their best player.
Leeds United made the Semi-Finals of the CL. They didn’t get back to the CL the next season. They are DONE. (for financial reasons)
Again, I agree that Liverpool are in a good position… but its a precarious one as well. They have made the Final 4. They could lose and lose out on the CL next year.
Long term… they’d be far worse off.
April 15th, 2005 at 11:39 am
What if you could see into the future and Liverpool won the champions league and came 5th? They are 3 games from qualifying by winning the tournament.
The fact is that Liverpool ARE in the semi’s and they are only 4pts behind Everton for 4th spot if they get knocked out, I’d trade that anyday for Arsenal’s current position.
Liverpool also have a pretty decent team when all their players are fit. I can see them making a resurgence if they can keep Gerard. They have a potential front 6 of Kewell, Gerard, Alonso, Riise, Morientes & Cisse, which on its day is better than what Arsenal have in my opinion. They also have a better defence and a more tactically astute manager.
Even if they don’t make 4th and get knocked out by Chelsea they have a very bright future.
April 15th, 2005 at 12:36 pm
Agreed, credit must be given where it’s due.
Liverpool’s case is interesting for that manner.
So many inconsistent games, and all the hoopla about Gerrad leaving if there is no Champions League football. Let’s not forget their injuries.
I think Cisse’s loss was quite big for them. That guy was impressive for Auxerre but never fitted well in Liverpool. I remember once there were rumours that Arsenal were going to sign him.
I never ever thought that Liverpool would be able to go to Juventus and come back with 0-0. Juventus are the team that is associated with 1-0 wins. Keeping them at bay was something. In the past, Juventus has faltered away from home quite a bit. A few years ago when the media were on Arsenal’s case for having a poor away ECL record, Juventus had a much worse away record than us. But at home, they managed to get by. Quite something.
And Sporting’s comeback against Newcastle was something. Just goes to show again, a few minutes can undo an entire season’s effort. I just hope that Newcastle take their frustration out on ManU this sunday.
April 15th, 2005 at 12:43 pm
Argh. I have to reply to my own posting. I used the word ’something’ too many times. Apologies for lack of better language usage
April 15th, 2005 at 1:11 pm
While I agree that Liverpool have alot of talent, and I like the players they possess, I don’t think that their front 6 are better than ours. No way.
Lunjberg, Vieira, Gilberto, Pires, Henry, Bergy (Reyes).
I’d take that 6, healthy against any team in the world.
April 15th, 2005 at 3:35 pm
Ah, who cares?. We all doing this on the sly from the office anyway
April 15th, 2005 at 3:42 pm
or something.
April 15th, 2005 at 4:50 pm
I’m pleased for Liverpool because I like them - is there anyone who doesn’t? - and they’ve done brilliantly in the face of numerous injuries without ever whingeing at all. I’m not pleased for PSV, however. They’re a team I strongly dislike for their racist supporters and rough, unimaginative football and the manager who presumably cheated or connived in the cheating in the last World Cup. (Also I really like Lyon, who remind me of us.) Do I want Liverpool to win the whole thing? Oddly no, because I don’t think they’d be worthy winners, though they may well be in a season or two. Chelsea would be worthy, unfortunately - I say this through gritted teeth. I guess I’m now rooting for Milan because they’re the quality article; also because I put a pound on them at the beginning of the season.
April 15th, 2005 at 5:52 pm
After watching Lyon run Bremen into the ground, I thought they would be all over PSV. In the first game, they really should have finished more of their several chances against PSV. They do play nice attacking football, and it’s nice to see Wiltord among the goals again. I think winning their 4th league title in a row will mean nothing because they have faltered in Europe again. They do have some really good players who would look better in an Arsenal jersey
April 15th, 2005 at 5:58 pm
LUCK is another factor.
There’s a footbal and life after CL.
You’ll be the first people to fire on those team when they go out as your doing with your own team.
I don’t care about what they do, and I’ve got nothing to say of them.
My team is not Chelski or Liverpool and I am sick of speaking more about other team than Arsenal on a supposed “ARsenal’s fans sites”.
Every day, Cheslki’s beautifull, Fergie’s god, Magath is an angel, sell this change that, this after any CL games on this site.
Give us a break.
April 15th, 2005 at 11:03 pm
Did they fouled the goal keeper to score the winner at the end when they were out and helpless ?
I don’t think the success of others teams necessarelly means our failure.
I am not like an inter’s fans who think fater spending 520 millions EUROS in buying 118 players in 10 years that they’ve got a divine right to the CL.
Being a fan is not about winning trohpies.
It’s about loving a team with PASSION without any condition on its success or defeat.
April 16th, 2005 at 6:23 am
I think they have a lot of quality, and at least they have a real chance of winning some serious silverware and recognition in europe. As danny sez they are 3 games away from winning the CL. i am sure they will be title contenders next season, so i dont think they’re in a leeds united kind of position. they’re going to give us a very close game at highbury.