The importance of being positive

Over the last few days I've seen a lot of Arsenal fans overreact. It is understandable. The start to this season has been, well...underwhelming, to say the least. Bar a couple of games we haven't really been able to show anything approaching good form. We very obviously lack last year's defensive solidity and even a remarkably in-form Sanchez and all his goals haven't been able to make up for our defensive shortcomings. Our less-than-persuasive efforts have cost us a lot of points already and can cost more still if we don't find some rhyme or rhythm to our game. And we should do so quickly.

However, there are very few voices of reason among our fans. Most seem to think a simple solution to our problem exists, like sacking the manager or adding a few more bodies to our squad. I'm not sure THERE IS a serious problem to start with, but I'll get back to that in a bit.

Let's try and analyse the prevailing point of view first. For a quite obvious reason we cannot buy anyone right now: the transfer window is closed. However, would a couple of players solve the problem immediately? It's hard to know what can happen, of course. Sanchez and Cazorla have both bedded in instantly, but Ozil, for example, is still adapting. And remember how atrocious Koscielny and Mertesacker were in their respective first seasons? And now they are first-choice centre-backs, having formed a formidable partnership. So there's no guarantee that a couple of new faces will hit the ground running, however world-class they are. There's also the problem of trying to glue together a lot of new players. We already have Sanchez, Welbeck, Debuchy, Chambers and (to an extent) Ozil. Three of these four start when fit and they haven't played together an awful lot to begin with. And now think we add another midfielder and a centre-back to the mix. That means five new faces in one squad. Imagine how Mertesacker will feel playing with Debuchy and, say, Hummels either side of him. All three are, without doubt, pure quality (two of them are reigning champions, for God's sake), but don't you think it's too much for Mert to handle? If we add a DM we all want so badly on top, Mert will have to coordinate three new faces.

As for sacking Arsene, it can have an infinitely more detrimental effect on our squad. Just like the players, a new manager will need time to know how things are done. He'll also have to make do with the same group of players, at least till January. And serious squad overhaul is unlikely even then, because a) our transfer budget is not a bottomless pit b) very few quality players will be available mid-season. And fewer still will be an upgrade on the existing ones.

All this talk about a new manager is based on the assumption that there are available pros on the market. Not just pros, again, guys better than Wenger. Now, whatever you think of the man, he's among the very best managers in the world. Even the most brainless pundits won't deny that. And all managers worthy of their high status are settled, under contract from other big clubs and are just as unlikely to want to change places in mid-season. And do you want to see a less-proven manager at our helm? Martinez, Rodgers (ha), Clement?

There is one more thing to take into account before we buy anti-Wenger banners and go to the Emirates waving them: there's no guarantee that even a world-class manager will bring about instant success. Look at van Gaal and all the money he's wasted. Look at how Pellegrini is losing control of the situation. Look at how fabled Martinez, Rodgers and even Klopp underperform and ask yourself a simple question, hand on heart: do you really want to put the fate of our Club in the hands of a mercenary, however classy he is? Would you rather swap a guy who's totally devoted to this Club for an unknown and maybe even (God forbid) unproven quantity?

That's why I think we should look at the situation differently. In a very insightful article I've read over on Positively Arsenal the writer expresses an opinion (which, needless to say, I find not only possible, but also quite probable) that the current Arsenal is a transitional Arsenal. An Arsenal, which is in the process of changing mentality from viewing fourth as a trophy to challenging for major honours.

The writer likens this team to a golf player, for whom the process of getting from 16 to 12 strikes is easy, from 12 to 8 harder, from 8 to 4 is doable, getting it under 4 strikes is extremely hard. This last step requires a complete change of approach and, before the results get better, they get worse. Some slip back into the familiarity of their 4 shots and return to their initial approach. These will only challenge for honours, but will eventually fall short every time. Does this ring a bell?

From what it looks, we are pursuing another scenario. We want to really have a go at trophies, not just challenge and fall short again. And this, as I've just illustrated, requires a new strategy. A 4-1-4-1, Sanchez in the middle, Ozil on the left, this can all be a part of the plan. Arsene's plan.

There was a phrase I didn't pay much attention to at the time I heard it. Before the Cup final last year, Arsene was asked what his goals for the next three seasons were. The answer was predictable, yet, coming from Arsene it didn't sound like talk for the sake of talking. It sounded like a promise. What did he answer? "I want to win the Champions League and the League Title."

So I'm going to take sides with Geoff, PositivelyArsenal and TheArsenalHorse and I'll do this for two reasons. First: these guys, unlike moaners that have crawled out of their holes, have valid arguments to support their theories. Two: I'd rather be upbeat for the next three years and be dissappointed in the end than have it the other way around. Being optimistic by default just makes your life so much easier.

I'm also going  to take a last stand with Arsene Wenger. I believe that he really does have a plan, a project and that he, as a man of his word, can deliver on his promise. I'm going to give Arsene the time he deserves to put his plan into action. If, in two-and-a-half years we'll still be fighting for fourth without these two trophies to show for it, I'll admit I was wrong. I'll admit Arsene Wenger was wrong and that his time is up, that he should step aside and give the chance to someone else. If, however, he delivers on his promise and retires with the dignity he deserves a lot of people, like Piers Morgan, will look very stupid indeed.

Until 2017 I'll back Arsene to the hilt. And I think all our fans should do the same. It'll be much easier for Arsene to implement his plan with at least the support of those, for whom this Club means something more than just a Club. Those who really care for Arsenal.

I hope that when 2016-2017 season is over, we'll get to say "Pity, that there's only one Arsene Wenger".

Until later

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)

Swansea 2-1 Arsenal: lacking backbone

For the second time inside a week I don't know where to start and what to say. I suppose I should express my condolences to a number of people, starting with Arsenal fans. Those who stuck with the Club for the last ten years are the definition of a fan. Devotion through the good and the bad (mostly bad), backing the team home and away singing their hearts out. Those who, despite feeling angry, disappointed and let down, continue to support Arsenal.

I think the mere fact of being an Arsenal fan speaks volumes about your personality, about your traits and priorities, about your values. There was even a joke, which went like this: "If you find a woman, who supports Arsenal, marry her. She'll never leave you if the going is rough, she won't desert you even if you're not successful for a long time, but she'll worship every your achievement and milestone".

I also think that supporting Arsenal should long have become an official excuse for any strange behaviour or mood swings. "Why have your skipped the class?" "Arsenal lost" "Why didn't you hand in your written report?" "Arsenal lost" "Why did you murder the cat?" "Arsenal lost". Sounds as good an excuse as any. Maybe better than most.

I also want to express my deep sorrow to Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck. The boys have worked their socks off, given everything and it wasn't enough to get the three points. Watching Alexis cry made me, too. I don't cry often. I prefer kicking furniture or shouting at people. Yesterday, seeing Alexis's let-down and sad face made me weep like a little girl. Jack and Alex, meanwhile, had it in them to go and thank the away fans for their support.

I also feel sorry for Arsene Wenger. Yes, you've read that right. On a purely human level, I feel for the man. You have to be dead inside not to. He's a human being, who is put under immense pressure right now. From the media, the brainless pundits like Savage, from the fans. I'm glad I haven't seen the post-game press-conference. From what I've heard, the boss looked completely lost. And he has kids and a wife to go to, he has to carry on. As you may remember, Arsene turned 65 not long ago.

He very obviously doesn't have the answers to our second capitulation in the space of five days. He laid some of the blame at the players' door and, while it's understandable, they are not solely at fault.

Is Chambers all that guilty for producing a bad display? The guy is 19 and played in every game, bar Hull. That makes it 17 games already, only three appearances from the bench.

That fact that such a young and talented boy is played out of position also doesn't help. Chambers is much more of a CB, than a RB, it seems, so I'm not at all inclined to skin Calum based on one bad performance, during which he didn't play in his preferred position.

The same goes for Monreal, apart from the "one bad performance" bit. The Spaniard is out of his depth, something he himself admitted to earlier in the season. He held his own stoically against Bony, but you can't realistically expect a 5'9 feet tall Nacho to do the same against a 6+ feet Gomis. I'm not blaming him for losing that headed duel. Rather, I'm much more interested in where Mertesacker has been.

I'm also very interested in our shape prior to their equaliser. The goal itself was magnificent, there's no denying that. No wall or goalkeeper could have saved that, so hats off to Sigurdsson for a marvellous strike. But could this strike have been avoided? I think it could have and I see two ways of how it could have been accomplished.

First: Ramsey and Flamini should have been switched on when the attack broke down. Both were caught very high up the pitch, left out of the equation early in the build-up and this lead to a dangerous attack. Second: Gibbs shouldn't have allowed Barrow to get that far. I don't have any issue with the foul itself, I'm just saying it should have been committed further up field to prevent a dangerous free-kick. A yellow is a yellow anywhere.

Some of the other manager's decisions also baffle me. Why not play Bellerin at right-back from the outset? He's a right-back, unlike Chambers, while Chambers is a centre-back, unlike Monreal. Bottom line is this: why Chambers wasn't subbed when it became clear Montero was getting the better of him? Or, at least, why did no one shield Calum, why nobody helped him out?

But don't let my criticism of the defenders fool you: it was a collective failure, not the back-four one. Flamini and Ramsey tried to help (the Welshman finally played much closer to the defense), however they fell short when it mattered most. Wilshere and Walcott came on, but did so five minutes late. At that point we were already down by a goal.

Sanogo was the final straw. The absurdity of that sub almost equals Coquelin for Giroud a couple of years back. Remember that game? We were drawing Aston Villa and Arsene decided to protect the point instead of going for all three. The irony is, I think we've lost that game.

Yet we also cannot pin all the blame on Wenger. It's a vicious circle. But the Frenchman ultimately doesn't run around or kick the ball himself. He cannot directly influence the proceedings by physically being on the pitch.

Did he really instruct Flamini to bomb forward when we conceded that unfortunate free-kick? Highly unlikely. Did he order six of his players to remain at the other end of the pitch when Montero and Gomis stormed upfield to grab the winner? I don't think so.

For the first time in my memory an Arsenal side performs worse than the sum of it parts might suggest. Much worse. We have a very good squad, yet we're unable to deliver.

And the problem isn't only the lack of proper personnel or the walking wounded. It isn't the experience, cause we have plenty experienced players, like Mertesacker, Flamini, Monreal, Sanchez. Something is badly wrong with the mentality, the way we approach games. Arteta spoke about it before the Anderlecht game, Mertesacker mentioned it now.

We have now surrendered most points from winning positions in the league: 9. Meaning we would have 26 now, just three behind Chelsea. As it is, we sit sixth, having garnered just one more point than United and just three more than Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton, who we've all considered laughing stock. Until now, that is.

And the solution? The only reasonable one I can see is making this team work with the manager we have. Changing managers mid-season is nigh on impossible, cause no one is available (no one better than Wenger, bottom line) and it can also be potentially risky. A new guy will need time to settle in and we need points now. So Arsene should try and make this team play and stay in charge at least till the end of the season. And then we'll see.

That's it. Long two weeks of misery and self-reflection ahead. I'll be back with you when I find the time and something worthwhile to write about.

Until later

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)

Swansea preview: do the basics right

Hello everyone.

We face Swansea at Liberty Stadium tomorrow and it will be our last game before the Interlull.

Injury update

And this Interlull could not have come at a better time. This two-week break will allow us to get back some of the walking wounded. I'm mostly talking about Olivier Giroud (who starts training next week) and Serge Gnabry (though it's hard to fathom how the German might make even the bench). Debuchy also shouldn't be too far away, if only not ready right after the international break.

The most grim (and, potentially, the most damaging) piece of news is that Koscielny isn't close to full fitness:

“He has not started running outside so you cannot think he will be available in two weeks’ time. Then, you have to see how he responds to going outside and running. He is not there yet anyway. He cannot run. He will not be available for three or four weeks.”

Given the dearth of options at centre-back (a deficiency we couldn't have solved during the summer. Oh, wait...) and the simple fact that Arsene doesn't trust Bellerin to start games, we'll have to muddle along at least till Debuchy returns. And before that happy moment we'll have to play the minimum of four games (Swansea, United, Borussia and West Brom), in which (surprise!) we'll have to garner points. With Monreal at centre-back. Brilliant. Don't get me wrong, I think the Spaniard is a very good defender, who, at the start of this campaign, had a strong run in his preferred position. But Monreal is very obviously struggling in this new and unfamiliar role and given the quality of the opposition coming our way, it may prove very costly indeed.

The situation is further exacerbated by Arteta's absence. Fortunately for us the Spaniard has suffered only a grade one hamstring strain and thus will only miss two weeks. UNFORTUNATELY for us, he's set to miss tomorrow's game, which means we'll most definitely have little to no organisation in the middle of the park.

However, Theo is ready to start games, while Wilshere is available once again. With that sorted out, a guessing game is in order.

The back five

I'm starting to consider just copying and pasting this part from my previous posts, cause nothing is changing. Debuchy and Kos are out and Bellerin doesn't have the trust of the manager. Oh, Ospina is also out, for whatever this piece of news is worth. This means the same back five as against Anderlecht. A daunting prospect, considering how it collapsed along with the rest of the team in the last half an hour, but there's nothing we can do to change it. Apart from slapping Mert in the face for losing two aerial duels, one of which lead to their equaliser. Moving on.

The midfield

With Arteta out, Flamini well below par (just let him leave when his contract expires at the end of the season and buy a proper DM. The second bit should be done in January, preferably) and Ramsey having completely lost his head, I suggest a Wilshere-Cazorla base.

Both players are very good going forward through the middle, and both have the legs and the energy to track back. Cazorla, as a more experienced guy, should be able to organise the midfield. Definitely better than Ramsey or Wilshere.

However, I have a sinking feeling Ramsey will start once again, presumably alongside Jack. Arsene's quite public urge for Ramsey to get back to basics before the Anderlecht game was ignored by the Welshman and for that alone I'd drop Ramsey without giving it a second thought. But I'm pretty sure AW will do no such thing. So I expect Aaron to start and the only thing I can hope for is that he will do his job properly this time around.

Further up field it should be Sanchez once again. The Chilean is one of the few up to scratch right now:

"He was one of the very few who was at his level. He was involved in the three goals. He was one of the two or three players who were at their level."

Five goals in three games and one hell of an impact through the middle. Alexis definitely should play, he's about the only one who works his socks off for the team. However, if he scores and we still won't win I won't hold it against him if he personally slaughters every one of his teammates.

The attack

Welbeck is set to start up top once again, though I have a hunch it will be his last start in quite some time if he doesn't score. With Giroud back in training next week the Frenchman will definitely be viewed worthy of a couple of starts, especially since Welbeck looks exhausted. If, on top of that, the Englishman also turns out to be useless in front of goal (for now, at least), Giroud can start right after the international break.

The flanks are, once again, less obvious, but so what? We need quality, not quantity and right now we are not getting the most out of our flanks. Oxlade is good and works hard, but Cazorla is far from impressive on the other side. That's one of the reasons I'd prefer to see him shifted back inside, though I'm pretty sure it won't happen. At least tomorrow.

If, however, by some miracle, it WILL happen, then Walcott is the obvious replacement. Theo on the right, Oxlade on the left, Welbeck centrally. And Alexis under the striker. Imagine the pace.

The main problem right now, however, is not at the attacking side of the pitch. We need to sort our defense out, if we don't, we'll continue to drop points.

The verdict

Stability, we need defensive stability:

"It all has to harmonise well from the build-up through the back, and after, getting you to find the players who have the quality to give a good ball. After that as well, the guys that can make the runs and finish."

The main reason why I think Arsene persists with Monreal is that he wants a stable back four. We enjoyed a very good spell last year because we fielded a consistent defensive unit, which coincided with Ramsey walking on water. This time around the balance was disrupted early on when Debuchy went down in a heap against City and then when Kos's condition needed lengthy treatment.

So the manager had a choice: play Bellerin every three days in the hope of him making the grade, or give Monreal a run at centre-back. Both options weren't ideal, but we can only blame this situation on ourselves. We were incredibly lucky not to suffer a lot of injures at the back last season, this time it didn't work out. And so we have to adapt.

Honestly, I don't know what to expect of the game anymore. I'd really like us to put in a shift at the back, like we did in 2012-2013. Yes, it wasn't particularly pleasant to scrape out wins by a one-goal margin, while holding on for dear life in stoppage time, but at least we got the job done.

This defensive focus was also down to us not having the personnel to thrive up front. We didn't have Ozil, Welbeck and Sanchez back then and had to find other ways to win games. We just couldn't be these slick guns a-ho guys and thus adapted. Now there's no need for such conservative performances, but we have to start somewhere to get back our defensive solidity. The end of 2012-2013 campaign can serve as a blueprint.

That's it for now. Keeping everything I can crossed for a win tomorrow and then the Interlull will provide us with a breather.

Until later and c'mon you Gunners

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)

Arsenal 3-3 Anderlecht: a bloody mess

"This game is of utmost importance to our hopes of qualifying. Win, and we almost certainly ensure an early passage into the last sixteen. Anything less can be quite damaging."

That's what I said before the game. However, not even in my worst nightmares could I have seen such a scenario.

After almost two full days I have calmed down a great deal, but my blood still boils when I think of that game. So I'll break my review in points, as I don't feel like writing a usual review. This was by no means an ordinary game.

The brilliance of Alexis Sanchez

The Chilean was directly involved in all three goals, and that in itself is saying a lot. He set up Welbeck for the penalty, smashed an unstoppable volley for the second and won the crucial challenge to release Oxlade for the third. All three goals were of Sanchez's creation and have, once again, come as a result of the enormous amount of work the Chilean puts in. Every Arsenal player and, probably, the manager, owe him an apology for this result.

The defense

Atrocious. The worst I've seen us defend in quite a while. Probably since these big away losses last year. On the one hand, it's surprising. Probably our best defensive display happened not so long ago, ironically in the game against Chelsea.

On the other, it's not that surprising. With Chelsea we had Koscielny fit and the centre of our defense looks much, much better when the Frenchman plays alongside Mert. This time Monreal partnered the German and produced one of his worst displays.

Even at 2-0 up I felt the game wasn't put out of Anderlecht's reach. They broke time and again down the middle and the absurdity of Monreal staying much further up field than is required of a defender was further compounded by Ramsey's weak display.

Aaron seems obsessed right now.Obsessed with scoring goals. He desperately tries to replicate his last year's form, neglecting his defensive duties. His all-round game suffers as a consequence. The Welshman forgot we don't need a goalscoring Ramsey, we need a hard-working one:

"A midfielder is a player who defends well, attacks well and keeps his priorities right

 He's not a goalscorer, so he has not to be obsessed by that. I just want him to do his job well. The goals are the consequence of the quality of his game. I don't believe that he has to be obsessed by that.

He's running after consistency. He's one of the players who has been very efficient last season."

Ramsey is not impressive at all at the moment. He's consistently below-par and I think he should be dropped against Swansea for the returning Wilshere.

The conceded goals

Yes, Vanden Borre was offside for the first goal. Miles offside. Yes, his penalty needed to be retaken because some bloke or another ran into the box before the initial shot.

But so what? The fact remains: we've let a three-goal lead slip. Which is inexcusable against any opponent in any competition under any circumstances, let alone at home against Anderlecht in a crucial game:

"We cannot afford to make that many mistakes and to concede three goals after we went 3-0 up. It's just not good enough. I'm very disappointed - we missed a great opportunity to finish the job today. It's not good."

Arteta's words. And a bit more:

"Even with the first goal, you have a two-goal lead at home and we know what we're playing for. It was a massive day for us to finalise the group stages, and we need to analyse the mistakes and what happened in the second half, because it's not at the level required at this club."

Personally, I consider one of the main reasons of our draw is Arteta himself being subbed. We had no choice - he pulled a hamstring - but the Spaniard at least kept the midfield organised and ticking. He mopped up the mess left behind by Ramsey several times during the first half and thus losing Arteta equalled losing probably the most important on-pitch player. Flamini, who came on, had a disastrous night. Really, I'm not sure why the Frenchman is still at the Club. He's not at the level required. Why are we tolerating mediocrity? And please don't tell me there are no better DMs available. Because there are. The same Tielemans would do a better job.

The aftermath

Apart from Twitter being flooded by angry and disappointed fans, there are far worse repercussions to this draw.

Firstly, we basically lose all chances of qualifying from the top spot. Borussia is five points ahead of us with two games to go and only a miracle can gift us the first place. Looking at how the Germans perform in the Champions League, I'm not counting on one. Moreover, I think they completely deserve their first place.

Secondly, there's a mathematical chance of us not qualifying at all. It is highly unlikely, cause for this scenario to pan out we need to lose both remaining fixtures while Anderlecht win their respective games (Borussia away is one of them), but it's not out of the picture completely and this worries me. We should have at least solved this problem on Tuesday's night.

And finally, that little bit of confidence we've built up after three consecutive wins is now gone. Smashed to pieces. We'll need to start from scratch and by that I mean a win against Swansea away. No easy task.

There's all the usual talk of picking ourselves up, learning lessons and so on, but the genuine fear I have right now is, if we don't strengthen central defense and midfield in January, we can be in for a very long and muddy campaign.

Until later

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)

Anderlecht preview: first let's qualify

Good evening.

It's Anderlecht tomorrow and a win will (barring Dortmund's loss to Gala at home) guarantee us a place in the last sixteen. But firstly, of course, we need to win.

Arsene's press-conference has already taken place and the boss has given the injury update. There are no new injures from the game against Burnley (thank God), though there's also a downside: Wilshere will not be involved tomorrow night. The Englishman is down with an illness and should be fine for the weekend, but he's out of the equation for now. So let's try to figure out the squad Arsene may put together.

The back five

Don't think we can expect any changes here. Szczesny in goal, as usual, and the same back four. Chambers was outstanding on Saturday, Monreal seems to be adapting quite quickly to his new position and, finally, AW just doesn't have the trust in Bellerin. So the same it remains until Koscielny's return. Which shouldn't be too far away.

The midfield

There were a lot of moans from Arsenal fans before the last two games regarding the Flamteta axis, however, I have stumbled upon an interesting and quite possible explanation for this. To put it shortly, both our holding midfielders covered the full-back positions, which allowed Chambers and Gibbs to spend more time attacking. And we've seen what an impact they can have further upfield.

Nonetheless, I still think we don't need that kind of caution against Anderlecht at home. Bottom line is, Flamini was far from impressive on his last outing, while I'm pretty sure Ramsey can do a good job covering for Chambers or Gibbs. As you may recall, he has played at right-back against Sunderland in 2012-2013 after one Koscielny (I think) was sent off. So I'd play Aaron from the first minutes. He has the legs to work in both attack and defense and is much better than Flamini in one sense at least. Arteta should complete the base of our midfield.

After talking up Sanchez in the number 10 role, I think it's only logical for the Chilean to continue there. He has been terrifc under the striker in the last two games and this kind of energy may bring about errors from Anderlecht.

The attack

Welbeck should start once more. With Giroud still out, Sanchez busy wreaking havoc in a deeper position and Walcott still not at his best, Danny is our only viable option. Notice the word "viable". I'm not excluding Poldi or Sanogo from making an appearance in that central position, but both are far from convincing there, though for different reasons. As for Campbell, I have given up on the idea of him playing. He'll be lucky to make the bench tomorrow, let alone start in a lone forward position.

On the flanks we have a wealth of options. Oxlade, Cazorla, Posolski and Rosicky can all start there, with Walcott bound to make an appearance if things go well. If it was up to me, Rosicky and Podolski would start. Poldi had a fantastic impact from the bench in his last two appearances (scored a winning goal against Anderlecht too), while with Rosicky it's easier. The Czech didn't play a lot and Cazorla's form should open the door for Thomas.

However, we all know how Wenger trusts his players to come through the bad patches by regularly giving them playing time, so I won't be surprised to see the Ox and Santi get the nod again. Good thing is, we have options and these are good options.

The verdict

This game is of utmost importance to our hopes of qualifying. Win, and we almost certainly ensure an early passage into the last sixteen. Anything less can be quite damaging.

But I don't think we can expect anything less than a win. We have found some kind of form, balanced the defense and the attack better and, with all due respect, it's only Anderlecht at home. We should, by all accounts, take the three points.

Elsewhere, Arsene has given his thoughts on the new seeding system:

"I think yes [it is a surprise], because the logic is not respected. Logic for me is when you play in Europe, you should be judged on the results in Europe."

I've already given my thoughts on the matter, but I'll say this again: national championship is one thing and European tournaments is another. Clubs are sufficiently rewarded for winning the title. A greater number of their games is aired next year, giving the clubs more income from TV rights, they get a one-off (huge) payment and a cup to go along with it. And almost the same happens with the winners of the Champions League, bar, maybe, television rights.

Assuming Liverpool won last year and the system was introduced immediately, what would have happened? Liverpool in the first pot. They would have got a weaker group. And now look how they struggle. I'm not sure they'll make it out of the group, what good will it have done to allow them an easier passage into the knockout stages, if they are clearly not up to scratch?

Of course, they didn't win the league, so all of this sounds highly hypothetical. But I'm not talking about one team, rather about a concept.  Imagine Zenit or Juventus in the top pot. They are good teams, but Zenit has only just qualified for the last sixteen with six points (an all-time record), while Juve was overpowered by Galatasaray altogether.

Giving too many opportunities to lesser teams devalue the competition. So UEFA needs to think before introducing major changes. It's them who'll ultimately lose money, and money seems to be the only thing they care about.

That's it for now. Here's for the win tomorrow and I'll be back with the customary review.

Until then

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)