Wenger is a dork

You're totally out of touch with the majority of football fans. The Champions League should be for just that, the Champions of each country. The competition has been devalued by letting every team that got anywhere near the top of their league in. The motive might be suspect, but the sentiment is spot on.

 

As much as it pains me to admit it, I agree with Wenger on this one (though I had to see the replay - I didn't see it when it first happened).

 

I think the points are:

a) Wenger waited until he finally won the EPL again before offering his "advice"

b) Wenger is trying to wind up Fergie on the day of United's qualifying match

*yawn*

 

I at least agree with the sentiment of making the CL for champions again, or at the most two combatants from a league (unlike the current four, and a possible maximum of five under very special circumstances). It's no promise that it'll be the "best teams against the best teams," which is what Wenger says he's looking for, but at least it would be an actual Champions' League. Right now there is no CL, only the Big UEFA Cup and the Little UEFA Cup.

I can also warm up to the idea of a "league" if the number of participants were held to 16 (champions only, never likely to happen). Considering how many matches the CL finalists have to play (17), it's not too much different if you don't have home & away legs; each matchup would just have one leg, alternating between home and away. That league would be very captivating to watch.

Wenger's solution of a league with only nine or ten teams is pretty silly.

 

Any solution with less games, means less money. So you can forget about shrinking the competition by a wide margin, if at all. I'm not saying that's good for the game, mind you....

 

I agree with Wenger's sentiment that the CL should be limited to champions only, but for Wenger to only advocate for it while he holds the EPL trophy is unbelievable. He's happy to reap the rewards when Arsenal qualify for the CL through the back door. Typical Frenchman.

 

I think he's just trying to wind up good old spits.

 

Maybe he made the comments because UEFA are going to revamp the competition. Here is another article on it:

http://www.soccernet.com/england/news/2002/0827/20020827afceurope.html

 

Personally, I have no problems with Man U advancing, despite the embarrassment factor. Has anyone noticed Manchester's horrendous record in weekend games immediately following one of their CL games?

 

He DID say something to the effect that it doesn't matter if its Arsenal or Man U on the outside, only champions should be allowed in.

 

I think the issue is that he found "enlightenment" only after being the reigning champion. It would mean more coming from Houllier for example.

 

In the case someone wanted to do a CL with only the best teams, this should include: 4 from Spain and England, 3 for Italy and Germany, two more to complete 16 to choose from the best among France, Holland, and Turkey...

 

Does Arsene honestly expect Arsenal to win the EPL every year? Will they win it every year? Well duh, no. He isn't just rubbing it in because he and ManU are already in the CL this year, and next year (or whenever these changes would occur) they're not.

 

How do you figure that? Just because he is being quoted as saying such now doesn't mean he didn't feel that way 1, 2, or even 3 years ago. He made the response because UEFA are about to revamp the Champions League format.

 

He he he ... yeah - just because he said this, it obviously has nothing to do with his true beliefs and everything to do with Manchester United. Because Wenger has always shown himself SOOOOO amenable to the petty games Demento likes to play in an effort to convince himself of his own brilliance.

That's the problem with Man Yoo fans - you can't talk about football with them in any real sense because everything is measured by the lamentable standards of their own club and manager when it comes to the future and nature of the game.

 

I've pretty much lost interest in the Champions' League. I followed it last year because my then "hometown" team made a Cinderella run to the final, but otherwise I think they've made a terrific competition much less interesting - just to appease the G14.

I think they should go back to the old system. If the G14 starts to bitch and moan, then let them break away and form their own league, but shut them out of all domestic league competitions. Let's see how long people remain interested in the G14 when they're playing each other every week. I think you'd find that after a few years, they'd come crawling back to their domestic leagues - a whole lot poorer and with a much better grip on reality. And in the meantime, the domestic leagues would be much more interesting without Bayern, Man Yoo and Real Madrid winning all the titles.

And if anyone from UEFA is reading this, I'd like to say: For the love of God, bring back the Cup Winners' Cup!

 

And this is the problem with Liverpool supporters. Despite having more titles and Cups than United, they suffer from an inferiority complex of the highest order. Maybe it has something to do with United catching up quite quickly over the past few years...

 

hehe...if Wenger or anyone else had said this (and people have in the past, plenty) when ManU were the league champions, then you would be agreeing with them.
I have no problem with the CL becoming a champions only event. It would cut down on the number of games, thus reducing wear and tear, and it would create a more cutthroat atmosphere. But b/c that would cut down on money, it will never happen.

 

I think everyone here realises that Arsenal will not be playing in the Champions League every year if Wenger's plan was put into practice, obviously including Wenger himself. So what are you arguing about?

The question remains, do you support having the Champions League just for the Champions of each country? Would this make it a better tournament? I think it would and would love to see it. When it was only the champions going into the European Cup, it still didn't stop me watching the games, whichever English representative was involved.

 

Well, I think we'd all agree that it would be better for the game, but since it would include less money, it'll never happen.

 

Re: Re: Wenger is a dork

ROFL!! My original comment adds up to a statement borne of an inferiority complex??

HAHA! Okey dokey. Me, inferior to a "Man Yoo fan". Arf.

You know the drill, my plazzie little playthings. The only reason you brought this up is because you think there was an implied slight upon "your" beloved club. You know it and everyone else knows it, which is why everyone else on this thread is just taking the piss out of you.

As to the substance of his comments, he's half-right. The "Champions League" should be for champions only. Liverpool, United and Newcastle should this season be in the UEFA Cup. They could, in actual fact, rename it the European Cup, given that that competition now more accurately represents the original format.

 

Re: Re: Re: Wenger is a dork

What a load of crap. "This is why you can't talk to Man Yoo fans, they're all blah blah blah" is what I was responding to. And my response was to the Liverpool supporters who are currently obsessed with Manchester United - you're more happy when we lose, than when you win - you like your boring as hell football - etc. I don't think anybody doubts that Arsene's timing led to the speculation of motive - in this case: Manchester United's Qualifying Match. I also don't think many people doubt that this is how he truly feels, most people probably agree (including Houllier and Ferguson probably). it's just that it more than likely won't happen cause of the money issue.

And you are definately an arrogant cnut besides. Cheers.