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Is football just a game?

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"I'd rather play the kind of football we play and not win trophies,” said an Arsenal fan recently on Five Live’s 606.

“In 12 months' time it won't matter who won the FA Cup. We'll remember how good we felt and the great games we watched."

Is he right?

The Gunners have undoubtedly been entertaining this season and had, at one point, threatened to carry all before them. However, for the third year running Arsene Wenger and his men ended the campaign trophyless.

Five Live phone-ins would suggest Arsenal fans seem content with watching the “art and poetry” on display at the Emirates and regard trophies as a bonus.

But can watching your team play with panache and flair ever compensate for missing out on silverware? After all, if football is not about the winning then why keep score?

David Ginola, a member of the Newcastle side dubbed “the entertainers”, believes winning is all important.

“You need to be entertaining but it is a team game and the team wants to win. Winning a trophy is the primary concern for any footballer," he said.

As ever, we would like to hear your thoughts.

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comment by theking847 (U8758323)

posted May 12, 2008

The thing is, history says Portsmouth were the dominant team in the early 20th century. It wont say (unless you read into it in detail) that they were in fact the 'hardest' team ever created, a euphemism for 'ran after opponents and kicked them repeatedly'.

The same will apply for arsenal. PL histry will say-
2007: Manchester United
2008: Manchester United

probably not-
2007: Manchester United
2007: Manchester United*

*but arsenal played very attractive football that season.

It should though, eg.

England 1-2 Argentina*

*but one of the goals was A BLATANT HANDBALL!!!

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comment by theking847 (U8758323)

posted May 12, 2008

what i said above, a possible explanation for Sam Allardyce......

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comment by YojimboTheRam (U11943672)

posted May 13, 2008

It's about both. But they rarely go together - that what's make the Brazil side of the 70s and the like so appealing.

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comment by maldiniforzamilano (U10650478)

posted May 13, 2008

England 1-2 Argentina*
*but one of the goals was A BLATANT HANDBALL!!!
=========================================
still dragging the same dead horse are we.
you make a good point (with regards to history) but again you totally miss the point of teh article. it is saying do fans of the beautiful games disregard history. and chase beautiful football. i personally prefer trophies to be won and a bit of beautiful football in between (regardless of who the opponents are, which is why i support milan)

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comment by FeedmeFlumps (U8189591)

posted May 13, 2008

Its utter nonsense that anyone would take attractive over winning football. If you can combine them both as Man U did this season but that is fantastic but I would quite happily take Newcastle grinding there way to 38 1-0 wins (I know its not gonna happen) and the league rather than numerous 4-3 defeats, victory is always sweeter than defeat..

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comment by pinnicleoffruit (U1785882)

posted May 13, 2008

yes football is just a game. People take it very seriously, chant with extreme passion, cry when things go wrong.

It is a shame that every decent fan doesnt support our country like they do a sporting club and perhaps it wouldnt be in such a mess with so much violence on the streets. People are proud of their football clubs, but our streets are full of terror.

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comment by bold_no_justgnohere (U10987159)

posted May 13, 2008

oh dear!!!pinnicleoffruit ---but our streets are full of terror----- you my friend have been reading to many newspapers. We all have read about said unsavoury incidents but this is a football debate. OH NO TERROR. give me a break.

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comment by SuperStrikerShivam (U13288305)

posted Nov 27, 2008

lol, what a loser!

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