One would've assumed that for every Arsenal team of the past 10 years or so, though, and they never really do seem to get that much better. They're perpetually young, perpetually exciting, and perpetually failing to put away opponents. 300 chances per match and about 1 goal has been their motto for years.
True, though in fairness their 'invincibles' team was pretty neat (though they stole the name, from the *much* greater Milan team of '94). At some point Wenger seems to have decided to go all out and create a youth production line, or perhaps he just lost the plot entirely - it tends to happen to managerial rivals of Fergie, just look at Kevin:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXpUdBlRZe8[/youtube]
Luv it. Shame it all went tits up for him after that
Seriously though, Wenger is batshit crazy and has successfully culled his squad of players >26 anos. He also either refuses or isn't allowed to spend money, still no idea which despite wasting a lot of time trying to find out. The dude just needs to buy an experienced and competent keeper, '' center back and a Flamani replacement maybe. (Song has looked a lot better over the last couple of seasons though).
I'm interested to see what the effect of the UEFA Fair Play Rules will be on football. Probably best to evaluate that in 10 years or so. It's a step in the right direction, but I'm afraid these rules will be easily circumvented via clever financial constructs.
Same, though from United's perspective it won't be easy. Even so, it will be a lot easier for us to adapt than many other big clubs, Chelsea prime example.
Going back to the (real) Invincibles. The other day I was considering the best team of my life time; the current Barca team is definitely up there, so is the United '99 team - though we weren't as defensively decent or minded as the Barca team and lacked a Messi figure. The winner for me would have to be the Milan team from 90-94 (well to some degree from ~86-, but that was before my time). They won four seria a's on the trot, and in 94 won the CL as well - without loosing a game in either competition, conceding a ridiculously small amount of goals, and scoring a shed-load. What a team! Easily the best back four football has ever seen: Tassotti - Barasi - Costacurta - Maldini plus a wonderful attack including Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit, Michael Laudrup (one of the most underrated players ever IMO; he was on the same level technically as Zidane) and van Basten (though injury and botched operations had ended it for him by '94, a farewell game was held for him at the San Siro, by the end of which Capello was in tears - a fact I feel aptly illustrates what a player Marco was).
The '94 final was a truly epic match, Milan vs Barca. The Barca team then was bloody good; Stoichkov and Romario formed the best striker partnership in the world (one could argue that the fabled RO-RO pairing eclipsed it soon after). Despite this, Milan would probably have been the favorites as they were monsters in Europe (they dicked Real Madrid 5-0 the season before iirc), however they had a lot of crucial players missing - the legendary Franco Baresi and his right hand man Costacurta were not present, meaning Milan were out both their centre backs against the best attack in the world. Maldini had already proven himself a great defender, but at this stage he was only in his mid twenties, yet to peak and still completely in Baresi's shadow. He started the game at centre back, despite playing as a left back for nearly all his career so far. Everyone assumed Milan were in for a bashing and Maldini would be raped by the Bulgarian. Everyone was wrong. Maldini put in one of the greatest performances ever witnessed on a football pitch and completely nullified both of them. Milan won 4-0. Both Stoichkov and Romario left Barca the following season. And the greatest left back the game has ever known became a defensive legend, at the age of 26. His son will probably be the captain within a decade.
Don't know where that came from; I have a bit of a complex when it comes to Milan - awe/resentment, mostly inspired from the only match I've ever been to abroad. Milan - United, champions league semi final 2007, San Siro. Christ, I remember that night like it was yesterday, still sends shivers down my spine thinking on it. We were well on our way to overthrowing Jose's mercenaries in the league, we had just annihilated Roma in the previous round (7-1 bitches!) and had managed to scrape a 3-2 win at Old Trafford against the Milanese. I genuinely thought we would take them apart at the San Siro - illogical I know but I had a hunch. Probably inspired by our epic away game against Zidane's Juve in '99. I was wrong, really wrong. We had about 8 defenders out injured, fecking Heinze was playing at centre back (unlike Maldini, he sucks arse there). It was one of the most horrible nights of my life. A thunder storm lit up the Milanese sky with coruscations of blue and white light. 80,000 Milanese chanted 'Forza Milano' with all their lung capacity. The San Siro shook. Kaka stepped forward. We got smashed apart. It was like I had been watching something beautiful being constructed all season, only to it destroyed before my eyes it a rather memorable way.
I should probably never go to a United CL game again; whenever I do we seem to loose - often in a rather awesome fashion. In fact, I've only been to 3 CL games, the first was versus Madrid at our place. We had lost the first leg 3-1 over there so we had a difficult task ahead. Once again though, I had a hunch we would knock them out. Once again, I was wrong. We played well, scored four against them. All was perfect, accept for Ronaldo. Our defense just couldn't cope with him and I watched in disbelieving horror as he scored a hatrick against us, knocking us out. You don't come to Old Trafford and score a hatrick - you just don't. He did though, and when he left the pitch every last person inside the stadium stood and applauded. Bastard. Unlike the Milan game, this didn't depress me - I felt a bit privileged I guess. It's not everyday you get to Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Zidane and Figo with your own eyes. Zidane and Figo didn't do a lot really, not that it matters - The Fat One at his best was as good as any striker ever. I saw that 'best' with my own eyes and all I can say is 'holy feck'. The third CL game I've attended was less memorable, a boring, 1-0 loss of no consequence to Besiktas.
Funny, when ever I go to a league game we always trounce the opponent.
EDIT:
300 chances per match and about 1 goal has been their motto for years.
They have improved somewhat in that area since they got rid of Hleb, whose modus operandi - in all circumstances - was to pass the ball, preferably to Cesc. He did it well in fairness, however his play in the final third was very limited in character and seemed to be assimilated by the rest of the Arse. They are a fairly good attacking outfit as things stand, they have got worse defensively though.
