11 Apr 2025 09:37:14
Hello everyone, just coming out of the clouds after Tuesday evening.
Still have a job to do 2nd leg but we have put ourselves in a very good position just need to remember that Real have the capabilities to turn this around.
I get what Sy was saying about the difference between the memories and winning trophies but Tuesday night was better than the away win in 2006 when Thierry caught them cold better than second half against Barcelona in 2011 better than the 5-1 win in Milan. If we win the trophy that will be the ultimate for me having seen them win 3 doubles a Cup Double and a unbeaten league season but if we don't win that Tuesday night in April when we put Real to the sword is some memory
Take care each and everyone one of you.
11 Apr 2025 10:42:23
Lovely post Billy.
11 Apr 2025 11:52:23
Nice post Billy and let’s put them to the sword and give the cup a new home ?.
11 Apr 2025 12:18:50
I'm with you 100% Bill mate.
I only played amateur football but won a few medals and trophies at that level, I've absolutely no idea where any of those medals and trophies are today but I've still got some fantastic memories games I played in. Wins, losess and draws, goals scored both for and against my own team, the people I played both with and against, all the important stuff
Winning and losing is a very temporary state, but memories can last a lifetime, if we are veey lucky?.
11 Apr 2025 13:34:51
Names on FA Cups and EPL titles last way past all your memories 62. Those medals won’t be lost and in fact of such value that fans would pay an old pro money to have them. You are talking about different levels. Those things aren’t temporary. If anything is - memories are and limited to a lifetime at best.
We have our wins up at the Emirates not great nights. Those great nights are important memories but the memories are far greater value if they led to something.
For me that Alan Sunderland goal to beat Man Utd in FA Cup final to win is a memory that’s in the clubs history and will be forever.
That’s why diversity is great because we all have different needs, desires and motivations. Hence there are people doing vastly different roles for different pay at companies but both probably think they are underpaid and under worked while others wouldn’t want the stress and demands of the high paid job but others love it. I fully appreciate your view and understand the memory piece. For me it won’t be significant if we lose the second half as it’s a pointless win but a great performance.
11 Apr 2025 18:02:49
You are correct Sy, different people have different values and value things and people in different ways.
If we each of us had to choose between being
Man A who lives in a 2 up 2 down with his wife and 2 children, who sweeps the streets for minimum wage but wants for absolutely nothing and is genuinely 100% happy with his life and spends all his free time thinking about how grateful he is and lucky he's been in life
or
Man B who lives in a 7 bedroom mansion with a swimming pool which he shares with his wife and 2 children, who is a self-made millionaire and is genuinely 80% happy, and spends all his free time thinking about how to turn himself into billionaire just like both his neighbours are.
I know which one I'd honestly choose every day of the week and twice on Tuesdays because no one can possibly beat being 100% happy, but what about you Sy?
11 Apr 2025 20:06:39
If I can change 1 thing - multi-millionaire not billionaire.
That’s an easy question - Man B but you knew that. My job is to give my kids and wife the best life I can and set them up as best as possible. If I could do that for their eventual kids - that would be a dream. The funny thing is the other 20% I’d enjoy as it drives me to be better so I’d be 100% happy. I wouldn’t be 100% happy as Man A.
Let me ask you a question - which option :
A. Arsenal finish 2nd for next 10 years and some magical cup runs but no trophies or finals.
B. Arsenal win the league twice plus League and FA cup win. The rest of the time they finish between close 2nd, 4th, 4th, close 2nd, 5th, 4th, close 2nd and 3rd.
I’d take B all day long
Thanks for the interaction…
Mal, anyone else want to join in….
11 Apr 2025 20:46:11
Option A: After six consecutive gruelling 2nd place finishes, Arsenal finally win the league.
Option B: Arsenal sack every manager who fails to win the league in their first two seasons, free-falling from 2nd into the championship within seven years.
I know it wasn't quite the Carabao cup that you had your heart set on, but did you manage to enjoy the spanking of Madrid, Sy?
11 Apr 2025 21:14:24
Yes I did guess you'd take B Sy because most people I've asked that same question take B too.
Personally I don't get why anyone would choose 80% happy over being 100% happy and at peace with themselves and the world around them, surely that's the jackpot in life? But most people do equate happiness with material things but the problem with that is material things seldom keep us happy for long, the thrill of new car soon wears off and we need another material fix, a dream holiday lasts 2 or 3 weeks but then its back to square one looking for the next material fix! Will Newcastle fans still love king Eddie if Newcastle don't win anything for the next 2 seasons?
Anyway to answer your question, I'd rather watch Arsenal play City Liverpool Real and all other top clubs sitting firmly on the sofa for the next 10 years, apposed to sitting on the sofa for 2 of those 10 years resulting in winning the league while hiding behind it for the other 8 years. 2 competitive seasons with silverware and 8 non competitive feels like a very poor exchange for 10 competitive seasons to me mate. But as always to each their own ?.
11 Apr 2025 21:45:18
You made me smile 62! Enjoy your evening and weekend bud.
The fun thing is - the 20% chase would make me 100% happy. I wouldn’t be happy without it. Can’t help it bud - doesn’t make me a bad person and the world ids s better place for having both of us ?.
11 Apr 2025 22:52:00
Fair comment Sy mate, basically your an Arsene part 2 man, as in get regularly thrashed by all the big boys like Liverpool, Chelsea, City, Bayern and Barcelona but win several FA cups, while I'm an Arteta man where we compete head to head with everyone and even occasionally totally outclass some (City and Real this season) but win nothing ( possibly but this season is not finished yet)
Obviously Arsene part 1 meets both our needs 100% but when it comes to either/ or, I'm 100% an Arteta in the here and now and your 100% Arsene part 2 as it was. Like I say mate, to each their own ???.
12 Apr 2025 08:08:52
SW - despite a few digs on live chat: yes I loved the game and was buzzing. Loved seeing us be brave for a change and play forward fast and not sit on 1 nil. Wish the boss was braver like that in epl as we would be champs by now. That’s why I want a number 2 because he has it in him but needs something or one to bring it out as it not natural. Needs to be braver in transfers also.
Option A of course but something needs to change to get there and I don’t want to change manager ever 2 years not every 20 years.
Thanks for the questions - bit of banter is good
Which A or B man were you.
12 Apr 2025 08:13:35
I missed your post SW - sorry for late reply. Wasn’t being rude ?.
12 Apr 2025 10:43:58
I'm an A sort of girl 62 ?
Peace of mind and acceptance have always been important to me.
Regarding our beloved Arsenal, no complaints even if we don't get the results we would love on Wednesday. We are building a team to compete at the highest level with a good honest strategy of keeping the club financially viable.
Obviously I understand that people see the world differently but I have always felt when someone is continually striving for more they can sometimes miss the important things. As I expect you can tell I would be hopeless as a competitive sports person. Lol.
12 Apr 2025 11:51:37
Hi Sally I'm with you all the way ?
If money and material success really made people happy there wouldn't be any angry and outraged billionaires would there ?. When played football I always gave 100% on the pitch but equally always made a point of going in the opposition changing room after the game to congratulate them if my team lost. If you enjoy simply playing the game it's impossible to be a loser, it's only when you absolutely have to win to be happy that you are putting restrictions on your own ability to enjoy life come what may ? ? ?.
{Ed025's Note - Graeme Souness once said.."show me a good loser and ill show you a loser", i tend to agree with him..
12 Apr 2025 12:20:06
Hi Ed025 mate, Souness definitely wouldn't want me in his team.
I remember being in a pub in North London when Rooneys dive brought about an end of the invincibles run and understandably every one includlung myself was outraged that his cheating had cost us, then I suddenly remembered Pires diving against Portsmouth which made the invincibles record possible in the first place and I was immediately OK with life again.
If we can't accept the lows and the highs with equal grace then we are most definitely setting ourselves up for self inflicted and unnecessary misery.
{Ed025's Note - hi G62, yeah mate i dont mind my players being nice...just not too nice.. :)
12 Apr 2025 15:42:52
We could do we a Souness but not sure the boss could handle him.
12 Apr 2025 15:49:29
Sally - there’s plenty wisdom in what you say and i'm sure I’ve missed out on things but I think k the price was worth paying. The club needs attitudes like yours and 62s but it also needs attitudes like mine or they will regress while others improve. It’s cutthroat but the club is part of the community and has a fan base that wants to entertain. The last 5 years of Wengers reign - the board were lazy and lacked ambition. Happy not spending and coming 4th. Someone should have set better expectations for Wenger to meet or exit. The same for Arteta - win EPL or go. We’ve been starved of success we now accept status quo and make excuses. How many attacking players has Arteta released and what did he replace them with? Why no Ode or Saka cover when you run them into the ground as they play every game? Have you learned from lack of Saliba cover? As long as we keep improving then fine but I think the boss needs pushing. While I appreciate he’s set these standards by improving us. But that’s life.
Loved your answer.
12 Apr 2025 16:00:52
I think when I retire or turn 60 my attitude will change 62 as I will need to chill and calm down. Hopefully I develop the skills you and Sally have ?❤️.
12 Apr 2025 20:08:58
In your own time Sy mate, as Baz Lurhmann said in his sunscreen song " the race is long, and ultimately it's only ever with ourselves"