If you didn't know, we have now qualified for the Europa LDV League for next season, which means, if we are to take this tournament seriously, that new players will be coming to Aston Villa and if we are to hope for this to be done seriously, it should happen quite soon.

But this post isn't about banging the drum, it's about looking at the additional fixtures we are going to have on our plate next season.

The format is a little different to the old UEFA Cup and there are 160 teams that will take part from 53 countries. To get to the final we will have to play an extra 49 games over the season and then the final itself is over four legs in four different countries with final show piece match taking place in Greenland, weather permitting.

Okay, I'm joking about those two last bits, but this really is waste of a tournament, much like it's older brother. The Champions League should be about Champions, this tournament should be about the best of the rest and when you consider they'll be seven teams from a league of twenty making it into Europe, it does, albeit make the season more interesting, make the whole thing just a bit undervalued. Maybe waste of a tournament is too strong a word, but I suppose a necessary stepping stone.

The format is actually quite complicated to work out because there are so many teams that are going to enter. Regardless of where we finish now though, we will enter the tournament at the play-off round.

Twenty-four teams are eligible to play in the play-off round. Also entering at this stage are the 35 winners from the previous rounds along with the 15 losers from the Champions League 3rd qualifying round which will equate to 10 champions and 5 non-champions from their respective countries.

If we win the home and away leg of the play-off round, to be played in August, then we will enter the group stages, which will mean a further six matches, between September and December this year.

The group stages will have twelve groups of four teams and this is where the defending champions enter, thirty-seven teams from the play-off round and a further ten teams from the Chumpians League play-off round.

We are nearly, or actually, if we get through this, at about half way and where it starts to get serious.

If we come first or second in our group of four teams then we go into the 'final phase' with a round of 32 teams home and away, the winners go into a round of 16 teams home and away before we get to the quarter finals, the semi finals and then the final, which will be held at the HSH Nordbank Arena in Hamburg, on May 12, 2010.

So, we know where we are going to enter this tournament now and we know we are going to finish in the top six, it really is season over, but I think that should be taken as a positive. Play this kids; rest Webcam, Carew, Gabby, Petrov, Barry, Milner and Friedel and bring in the kids and more experienced squad players that maybe haven't had as many chances to play as they would have liked.

If he makes those wholesale changes, chances are it's not going to effect where we finish in the league and if the decision is made it frees up time for Martin O'Neill to concentrate on getting his new players in. If he does that and we see those kids gain some much needed experience and give them a real chance to stake a claim, I fancy all of us would accept it.

Just an option, one that will probably not happen and he'll spend all his time dealing with the first team and not giving them a rest when he can, but still, I think one that would be interesting to see and would certainly allow him time to concentrate on the six or seven players he needs to get in.

For more information on the Europa LDV League, click here and apologies for skipping between Champions League and Chumpians League - I've not yet fully decided what I'm going to refer to it as, although I'm favouring Chumpians, only because it really isn't about champions.

Comments (64)

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Ramon Maklouf said:

... Bit negative Damian. I thin Europa is good but I can't see why MON would want us to enter it again other then consistency? We made ourselves look like fools this season and we are payin for it.. I agree that MON should mix it up but he won't. It is a shame though, because I'd love to see the likes of Gardner and Guzan get a run. I think they are quality but people slag em off cos they never get a chance. Don't think many people would appreciate me telling them they were shocking at their job because they never that got the big contracts because their director always gave it to a 'select' group.. Bad analogy but you get the idea... I hope.. UTV!

Comment 1, made on May 05, 2009 at 2.46 pm

Matthew Clark said:

... Hmph. I don't think he'll rest anyone. What on earth would he be resting them for? Next season is far too far away to rest players for. Is there any info on prize money for the Europa League? The only way it'll become 'relevant' is if its worth more money than the UEFA cup.

Comment 2, made on May 05, 2009 at 2.50 pm

hitman83 said:

... I can see maybe NRC, Sidwell and Heskey and maybe even Clark get a game or two, but it's important for our progression and finances to finish in 5th

Comment 3, made on May 05, 2009 at 2.54 pm

Dave J said:

... He won't be resting anybody Damian - he'll be putting is best team out for three more matches to try and finish 5th. For one thing that would be a few more quid in the bank but more importantantly I think it's psychologically important to improve on last season - in terms of points and places if we can. I agree completely about the Europa League. The format is findamentally flawed, completely long winded and financially not particularly lucrative............but it is a necessary sstepping stone and I would far rather have qualified for it than not. However I don't see us spending big this summer for a variety of reasons that I have mentioned before so my real worry is that we will be faced with a similar situation to this year where the squad is not capable of playing all the extra games that this competition demands. I so hope I'm proved wrong on this but simple economics tells me otherwise.

Comment 4, made on May 05, 2009 at 2.58 pm

Mark said:

... This tournament is an embarrassing joke and I personally will boycott it.

Comment 5, made on May 05, 2009 at 3.01 pm

Paul Egan said:

... Re: Europa - I don't like the name change and I don't like the fact that CL losers enter the competition, but other than that I'm fine with it. Hopefully we'll give it a good go this time. Re: Team Changes - I hope he puts his best(ish) team out and goes for 5th with a higher points total that last year (61pts +). As Hitman83 says, I'd like to see Reo-Coker, Sidwell and one or two of the youngsters like Clark or Albrighton get a few games, but I don't think we should just send out the kids - let's go for 5th!

Comment 6, made on May 05, 2009 at 3.12 pm

Anthony Laud said:

... 5th/6th doesnt really matter. I hope he tries a few things over the last few games. firstly tries out players like sidwell, reo coker gardner etc and decide if they are in his plans for next season. maybe give the fonz a full prem debut for vital experience.

Comment 7, made on May 05, 2009 at 3.19 pm

Andy Goodread said:

... Maybe let the kids and second string come on as subs for a lenghty period if we are winning but keep the momentum if possible. Not too many kids though, did you see them against QPR or in Europe? Not good enough! Europa is all good Europe experience if MON can take us up a level but i cant understand the Champions League losers coming in. If you lose in a competition its tough luck, you're out. Sounds like a cop out in case one of the big boys has a bad day. Gives them a bit of extra cash so they can maintain the status quo for next year. UTV!!!

Comment 8, made on May 05, 2009 at 3.38 pm

KeithC said:

... Maybe the way for MON to alleviate this fixture glut is by doing what Wenger does-- go with the kids in the League Cup, and use the senior squad with the normal interseason changes (injuries, suspensions, etc.) for all other competitions. The first team gets rested, the reserves get first team experience, and in the end, the team can grow from within as well as in the transfer windows (and, for once, we can maybe sell young English talent without places in our side for about what we buy it for).

Comment 9, made on May 05, 2009 at 3.43 pm

Smyth said:

... I reckon we were good enough to win it this year if we'd taken it seriously.

Comment 10, made on May 05, 2009 at 3.46 pm

David Tyler said:

... If I were a fan of Hull, I'd be a bit gutted if we played the kids against Boro and Newcastle. If Boro/Newc draw next week, we may send both down in the match we play them and not fielding strong teams in such games could lead to trouble for us. Take Wham - if the selection of a player can be the reason a team goes down, the non-selection of key players must also have the same potential effect. I'd also be a bit fed up as a Villa fan, to be honest, especially the last game, when we should be looking to applaud all the players who have done well in helping us realise (what will hopefully be) 5th place. The major difference between this and last year is that our 1st competitive match will be much later and hopefully that will mean us having the squad fitness to give a good account on all fronts, provided we see some new faces in summer. From what Damian says above, 8 matches gets us to last 32, another 9 matches to win it. I think we played 12 this year so given when we were knocked out, the maximum workload is the same but starting off with a decent break, plus perhaps better quality training for the new guys. Mind you, I'd like to see a good showing in the domestic cups too so I guess that means major investment in quality AND depth

Comment 11, made on May 05, 2009 at 3.49 pm

David Tyler said:

... Ah, I'm loving the blog logo

Comment 12, made on May 05, 2009 at 3.56 pm

DavidC said:

... We should be aiming to win it just like we should any competition we enter. We've never won it before, and that is a crime for a club with a history as glorious as ours. And finishing 5th matters. On-going, year on-on year progress. Thats what we want to show. And besides, we deserve to finish 5th. We defintely are the 'best of the rest' - Everton push us close, but I'd point to the fact we edged them in the league fixtures between us.

Comment 13, made on May 05, 2009 at 3.59 pm

KeithC said:

... And I'm also tired of the canard that, in not bringing Barry, Milner and Young to Moscow, O'Neill capitulated. He still started what has been our "full strength" back line for the match, and it was that back line that shipped the goals. The front six, which were entirely reserves, did their jobs with aplomb (especially Salifou, who is for whatever reason getting some pretty unfair stick from the support on this site and others [the guy cost MON a pack of crisps, and has performed at least as well as Sidwell to date], until he picked up a knock), and were quite equal to the task.

Comment 14, made on May 05, 2009 at 4.00 pm

Paul Egan said:

... I'd like to see a good showing in the domestic cups too so I guess that means major investment in quality AND depth True. We've seen it take it's toll on us this year. Competitive Games Played Last Year: 41 Competitive Games Played This Year: 58 That's almost a 50% increase in games over last season, which puts our achievements into perspective when you consider that our squad was basically the same size when transfers and injuries are taken into account. If we are to progress to the latter stages of the Europa and do better than the early rounds of the domestic cups, we'll need a lot more in reserve and that's on top of our need to bring in the quality to close the gap on 4th. MON is going to have his work cut out this summer!

Comment 15, made on May 05, 2009 at 4.01 pm

Paul Egan said:

... ... Sorry, should have been 55 for this year - a 34% increase.

Comment 16, made on May 05, 2009 at 4.03 pm

Damian said:

... TheMachine You are the first to notice ... Thanks and they'll be changes to it one day soon - we're basically leaving it to decide on the best font to use .. we will get used to one and the other will go, but it won't be the same font in the shield as the site .. still, some changes soon.

Comment 17, made on May 05, 2009 at 4.10 pm

Smyth said:

... We've miss Laursen's captaincy. Who gets the job next season if Laursen is forced to retire? Assuming that Barry goes.

Comment 18, made on May 05, 2009 at 4.14 pm

colm tarpey said:

... What does the LDV stand for or am i the first loser to fall for the LDV vans trophy reference? It's good times for being an Aston Villa fan and as a club, we should'nt enter a competition unless we want to win it or if it actually does the club some good ( refering to what Keith C said about following Wengers riff) Keep the push for 5th going this season and use that as a sign of intent for attracting new talent in the summer. Am getting the transfer window bug already!

Comment 19, made on May 05, 2009 at 4.17 pm

Smyth said:

... Damien May i suggest Trajan?

Comment 20, made on May 05, 2009 at 4.17 pm

David Tyler said:

... Good stuff Damian, perhaps get your voting buttons out for some punter feedback? PaulE, well put... on reflection, we'd have had to play more games this year to get to final than next year. Delago - I guess that depends on who comes in. For me captain would be between Van De Vaart, Schneijder and Cannavarro

Comment 21, made on May 05, 2009 at 4.22 pm

Damian said:

... Harleystaggers Yes, you are teh first to fall for it .. Delago I'll have a look at it .. TheMachine We might be taking a vote on the new shield/header logo .. soon

Comment 22, made on May 05, 2009 at 4.51 pm

David Tyler said:

... Hmmm, was just pondering... Man U v Arsenal tonight - you really suspect that could go either way. And to be fair that was broadly the case before the first leg, not just a function of it being 1-0. Now I know this is harsh on us but if we qualified for CL, I couldn't see us a) getting to the semis next year and b) if we did, we certainly wouldn't be given the same chance that people natural feel Arsenal have against Man U. Yes, I know we did well against both teams in the league this year but I certainly wouldn't have high confidence on that stage. I think we need to develop a little more before we're ready for that. Well, I for one am over the "not coming 4th" thing!

Comment 23, made on May 05, 2009 at 5.06 pm

Damian said:

... I know it's in London but I can't see any other result other than United winning tonight .. will be a good match too .. or should be.

Comment 24, made on May 05, 2009 at 5.21 pm

DAMIEN REYNOLDS said:

... Arshavin has made a huge diferance to them because they realy have pushed on since january' I think we should have made a signing like that.

Comment 25, made on May 05, 2009 at 5.27 pm | url

gregdavillain said:

... i like da shield too, fancy shit!!! anyway why bother rest the players they're gona be going into their summer hols and we wanna try n cement 5th to show progression. Its gona be hard we have 2/3 bottom three to play who'll be fightinh for their lives and maybe a bit too hard for da youngsters, although i appreciate your point on blooding da youngsters but we'll see em in pre-season. neway jsut wanted to say im glad we're back to winning ways feels great again!!

Comment 26, made on May 05, 2009 at 5.39 pm

DAMIEN REYNOLDS said:

... I would like to see Guzan start now i think he deserves to and would bring him on a bit aswel for next season.

Comment 27, made on May 05, 2009 at 5.53 pm | url

kieron said:

... Im loving the logo. Would be a mint badge for the shirt!!

Comment 28, made on May 05, 2009 at 6.10 pm

Mike F said:

... Agree Guzan should start. Need a star somwhere on the logo- how about in the middle of the crown??

Comment 29, made on May 05, 2009 at 6.13 pm

David Tyler said:

... I agree Damian, I think Man U will score, which might be decisive. Discovery - yep, he's been great for them. I know their good run had started by the time he signed but he has been a major part of them pushing us aside. I must admit, I thought it would take him time to settle - plus the Russian season was long over when he came - but he's shown his quality, more's the pity.

Comment 30, made on May 05, 2009 at 6.13 pm

RayK said:

... Agree with DavidC, finishing 5th matters as we need to show potential signings in the Summer that we are 'best of the rest' - which we clearly are. If MON feels that in order to win the last few games he needs to make a few changes due to (for example) tiredness of some players then fair enough. But to make changes now just for the sake of giving a few of the squad players a run out would be a mistake in my opinion. MON has seen the players day in, day out across the season and we've played plenty of games this season for MON to take a look at a few of the squad players if he really wanted to. I don't think a couple of games at the end of the season is going to change MON's opnion. If we had 5th place guaranteed then I'd definitely play the likes of Guzan, Clark, Delfouneso etc.

Comment 31, made on May 05, 2009 at 6.13 pm

tom said:

... can i say something which might get a few people's backs up... when MON banged on for two seasons about getting into europe, and then doing it, he didnt THEN decide he couldnt be arsed. it was only AT THE TIME when he decided that it was best, bearing in mind the squad size, the games coming up, the early start to season and importantly that it was 1-1, and we were therefore, technically, losing that MON decided to give the kids a go in Moscow. And I for one, AT THE TIME, was behind the decision. unfortunately it was a horrendous decision which backfired catastrophically in 4 horrible minutes against stoke. but hindsight is a wonderful thing eh! I only say all this 'cos some people seem to be suggesting that MON never had any intention of trying to win the UEFA cup, or at least are forgetting all too easily the circumstances in which he made the choices he made. oh and as for this summer, we won't spend big, not £50-60m again anyway. But this summer, unlike other transfer windows under MON, we must spend WELL. very very well. Eg, if hypothetically micah richards is £12m or raul albiol is £8m and we have our choice of the two, flush the "buy english" policy down the pan. we don't have the money to keep it up while at the same time buying the quality we need

Comment 32, made on May 05, 2009 at 6.49 pm

tom said:

... ps - yes lets go for broke and get 5th. i absolutely despise everton

Comment 33, made on May 05, 2009 at 6.50 pm

Mike Carter said:

... Why do you despise Everton? I like them, and not just because they are the oppostive of Liverpool. They have a cracking squad and if any team is going to break the top 4 (excluding us), it will be them. Not Man City or Spurs. I'd put my hand up at the moment and say their squad is probably stronger than ours.

Comment 34, made on May 05, 2009 at 6.56 pm

tom said:

... i have 2 mates that support em, one's alright but the other thinks they're gods gift to football. bangs on about however many years of top flight football like its the greatest achievement going in football (dont get me wrong, it is impressive like, but not THAT impressive, not as impressive as, oh i dont know, winning the european cup ) and he just dismisses the villa as still bein the borin club we were for admittedly quite a while before Randy & MON. and he's just so loud & OTT when watching 'em - watching MOTD he jumps up & down/screams/sighs like its live at every chance even if he knows full well it finished 0-0. other than that i think its just that they wear blue.

Comment 35, made on May 05, 2009 at 7.15 pm

John Clark said:

... I say play on for 5th, full strength. I agreed with MON's UEFA move. Unfortunately, such moves often backfire, and this was a textbook case in point. In retrospect, how we fell off in the league, I wish we'd tried to with the UEFA after all. But, perhaps MON knew full well that committing to UEFA would've had an even bigger impact on our final league placing, meaning, he wasn't really strategizing for fourth, but worried about falling out of the top half.

Comment 36, made on May 05, 2009 at 7.18 pm

David Tyler said:

... tom - I agree with your 1st post, but not your Everton bit. At equal risk of getting people's backs up, for me it i the Stoke result that just killed us and I think the Moscow decision actually was to some extent an irrelevance - or even for 85 minutes looked like the right move, for the reasons you say. It was just the way we blew that game. I think belief completely disappeared then - on the pitch and around the ground. That said, like Damian says, it's up to MON to ensure that he avoids having to make that decision again

Comment 37, made on May 05, 2009 at 7.31 pm

tom said:

... dont worry - my everton hatred is a personal thing.

Comment 38, made on May 05, 2009 at 7.39 pm

Jimbo Daventry Villa said:

... There are a lot of negatives on here tonight. I don't think anyone would be calling it a joke if we went and won it!

Comment 39, made on May 05, 2009 at 7.52 pm

adam said:

... wheres le shaven and his amazing insights gone

Comment 40, made on May 05, 2009 at 8.27 pm

Daniel Wilson said:

... wheres le shaven and his amazing insights gone He's probably watching the mighty Arsenal wipe the floor with United

Comment 41, made on May 05, 2009 at 8.39 pm

RayK said:

... Don't worry Tom, I have a similar hatred of Liverpool, a hatred long before the Fat Spanish waiter turned Barry's head. I think its just Scousers. As for the Europa LDV tournament it is a complete joke - a potential extra 50 games in a season!!! There is no way we can hope to try and break into the top four and win this. I would personally use the tournament to mainly play our squad & reserve players and only call upon the first team regulars when the competition gets tougher. That way the likes of Guzan, Clark, Albrighton, Gardner and Delfouneso play a higher standard of competitive football than the reserve league, and are more ready for Premiership matches when called upon.

Comment 42, made on May 05, 2009 at 9.31 pm

Mike Carter said:

... I did say the only thing Arsenal fans would be able to boast over us would be a higher league position, we all knew they wouldn't win any cups. Personally I don't see how they can call themselves a "big 4" team after they've been utterly humiliated by another a true member of that group over the course of 2 legs.

Comment 43, made on May 05, 2009 at 9.33 pm

RayK said:

... Wenger is certainly paying the price for letting some of his stars go over the past 2-3 seasons (and for not getting Asharvin sooner) - but they have either won the Premier League or finished runners up in seven of the last ten years.....

Comment 44, made on May 05, 2009 at 9.41 pm

David Tyler said:

... RayK - I think Damian was using a little irony to make the point. Getting to the final will be fewer games then we'd have played this year if we went all the way.

Comment 45, made on May 05, 2009 at 11.02 pm

Mike Carter said:

... Bit of a misleading stat though really isn't it. Including this season, they haven't finished in the top 2 for four seasons.

Comment 46, made on May 05, 2009 at 11.03 pm

Anthony Laud said:

... vivavilla they are a big 4 team a - cause they consistently finish top 4 and qualify for the champs league which again they have this year b - they have won the premier league 3 times 2nd most c - they have won numerous cup comps over the last 15 years d - they conistently get to the quarter finals and beyond proving they are in the top 8 clubs in europe. just get over the fact that we arent challenging them for 4th. the minute they got all there players back it was clear we couldnt live with them. they had 11 players out at one point for a few months and most for longer. can you imagine if we had that injuy crisis - would you be coming on here saying we shouldnt call ourselves premier league. cause at best we would be 17th and we certainly wouldnt have come close to winning any cup games Arsenal have spent far less money than us for the last 3 years and yet we still arent close to them and wont be next season either. the gulf int the difference of our squad and theres is huge

Comment 47, made on May 06, 2009 at 12.52 am

Nick said:

... My prediction of Arsenal not winning anything for another year has come good. Although that prediction is probably equivalent to saying West Brom would go down or Manchester United would do the double over Stoke. They did the double on stoke right? And I highly doubt Guzan is going to start because of that iron man streak the other Brad has going on. Or any other backup for that matter, it is clear MON wants 5th place. We need a major improvement in performance if we're going to get anything against Fulham. Our extremely poor play against Hull put me in a depression that im still getting out of.

Comment 48, made on May 06, 2009 at 9.16 am

DAMIEN REYNOLDS said:

... Tonebone, I would'nt say the gap between us and Arsenal is huge, just 10 pionts in the league, we are curently 10 points ahead of Spurs and Man City, i would'nt say the gap between those two teams and us is huge.

Comment 49, made on May 06, 2009 at 9.22 am | url

David Tyler said:

... Discovery - I agree. Our slip against Stoke gave them belief and evaporated ours. I really think 8 points (as it would have otherwise been) would have been a major test for them. I take the point that they had terrible injury issues but I am certain they'll finish with fewer points next year in what will be perhaps a 5 way tussle for 4th. Unless they sign Gareth

Comment 50, made on May 06, 2009 at 9.40 am

DAMIEN REYNOLDS said:

... Maybe we let them have barry if the give us Wallcott

Comment 51, made on May 06, 2009 at 9.54 am | url

vogra said:

... Im not overly bothered if we finish 5th or 6th, lets play some of the young guns we've got for a couple of games......but play the big players last game of the season so we can relegate them mug offs Newcastle..

Comment 52, made on May 06, 2009 at 10.45 am

DAMIEN REYNOLDS said:

... Vogra i agree the only way O'Neill wil find out about the kids is to play them in the league,

Comment 53, made on May 06, 2009 at 10.57 am | url

TechnoTurkey said:

... No way will we put out a weak team/kids for the rest of the season. We, the fans, paid to watch some rubbish this year (I was in Hamburg), and deserve the best possible football to watch. This means the first team genuinely trying to win matches. MON would be aware of the effect on fan moreale if the season ends with three bad results. 5th place is progress, 6th is standing still, neither the manager nor the board would want this. Don't forget we get more money for 5th than 6th as well. Usually agree with you on most things Damien, but not this one!

Comment 54, made on May 06, 2009 at 11.13 am

Anthony Laud said:

... Arsenal will def not be weaker next year. last year they got 83 points and came 3rd (4 points off top) and this year if it wasnt for there injury crisis they would have been much the same. look at there list of attacking options. adebayor, van persie, walcott, arshavain, rosicky, nasri, vela, bendter, fabregas etc - its arguably better than all the other top 4 - they just need to get conissitency and the extra experience from this year and they will be challenging for the title again! we missed our chance simple as that. yes the diff is 10 points but it would be far more but for there injury crisis. lets be realistic how many of our players could get in arsenals team. 1 or 2 if that! i would say the gulf is pretty huge!

Comment 55, made on May 06, 2009 at 11.20 am

RayK said:

... TheMachine - yes, you're right. Cheers Damo! VivaVilla - if you don't think Arsenal are a top 4 side given their PL record over the last 10 years not sure what we (or any other team outside the top 4) need to do in order to be considered a top 4 team. Vogra, Discovery - I know 5th or 6th doesn't make any real difference in terms prize money or qualification for Europe, but finishing 5th would allow us to say that we are best of the rest and that may make the difference when it comes to signing players in the Summer, especially if we're competing with Everton for those signatures.

Comment 56, made on May 06, 2009 at 11.23 am

Michael said:

... snazzy logo damian, very classy, perhaps a classy typeface to go with it such as 'edwardian script', but that might be too fancy for a footy blog, another clasic font would be 'johnston' or 'johnston sans' its the one used on the london underground. the font you have used inside the logo looks good, just the font you have used next to it is a bit square and pixelated around the corners. as for the remaining games, i said the other week that it would have been good to cement 5th place with a few games to go so we could give our youngsters a few competetive games and enable players to play in the correct positions (gardner and coker in central midfield). id like to see guzan given a go but will be a shame for friedels consecutive appearance record finish. but now id still rather finish above everton so hopefully we can play a young team against newcastle on the last day.

Comment 57, made on May 06, 2009 at 11.45 am

Damian said:

... mickey86 we are working on the font now .. we've tried quite a few but we've not found one we really like yet .. but it will be soon

Comment 58, made on May 06, 2009 at 12.07 pm

Mike Carter said:

... Tonebone, what they've done in the past counts for jack when we're talking about the present. Arsenal aren't a big 4 team because they won the Premier League a few times 5 years ago, that success is long gone now. Like I already said - they haven't finished in the top 2 for 4 years and they haven't won a single trophy in that time which automatically rules out your argument. They're a big 4 team based on how they're doing at this moment in time, which in my opinion is not that great. They got absolutely thumped by United in both legs and they've never looked like title contenders all season long. Unless Wenger recruits well in the Summer, there's every chance they'll be there for the taking again next season.

Comment 59, made on May 06, 2009 at 12.23 pm

RayK said:

... This is such a stupid argument but... - Arsenal have finished in the top four in each of the last ten Premiership seasons. - They will finish 4th this season. - They also have a 60,000 seater stadium which they regularly fill. Its the second largest in the PL and bigger than Stamford Bridge or Anfield. They are a top 4 team. Can we talk about Villa again now please?

Comment 60, made on May 06, 2009 at 1.13 pm

David Tyler said:

... tonebone, = they do deserve to be up there and yes, their squad is str... oh, yep, good point RayK. let's get back to Villa

Comment 61, made on May 06, 2009 at 1.35 pm

ryan said:

... MON needs to put out his best team for the last 3 games but he also needs to give the fringe players a few games and work out if people like Sidwell, Gardaner, NRC, Shorey, Salifou are in his plans for next season cos i dont think there going to hang about if he keeps them on the bench up the villa

Comment 62, made on May 06, 2009 at 1.36 pm

Fatkevs said:

... We have what shit negative tactics deserve Mon on 74 minutes calls his players back on 85 sam with 10men urges them forward w****r

Comment 63, made on September 26, 2009 at 4.49 pm

FatKevs said:

... Badger Up to three judges are typically present at ringside to score the bout and assign points to the boxers, based on punches that connect, defense, knockdowns not just the views of a few commentators enough said

Comment 64, made on November 07, 2009 at 10.20 pm

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