I’m worried about Saturday… 29 November, 2007
Posted by lasagnechef in Arsenal News, Premiership.trackback
One loss and I’m a nervous wreck again. Seville was a game we could afford to lose and I even said before the game that it didn’t matter. Now I’m doubting us and thinking how badly we’re going to do over the winter. Aston Villa are in good form and we have to travel up to them on Saturday. I’m going to this one, haven’t been to many away games this season so when the opportunity came up I couldn’t say no. But now I’m scared.
We will also be without quite a few of our best players, in fact you could say that the missing Hleb, Fabregas and Van Persie have indeed been our best players this season. So yeah, Clichy, Fabregas, Hleb and Van Persie are all set to miss the game. Thankfully they’re all slight problems and we could see them all return in our next game, the ever optimistic Wenger even believes we could have one or two back for this game. But I doubt it.
So it looks like another mix and match squad and I have to say I’m slightly worried. If the performance is like the one in Seville, then we will be in trouble. We’ll have Gallas and Adebayor back though, they’ll help. Then I guess Traore will get another chance at left back. The midfield and attack could be anything…pick 6 names out out Gilberto, Diarra, Denilson, Rosicky, Walcott, Adebayor, Eboue, Flamini and Eduardo. Wenger’s gone with a 4-5-1 a few times recently but if it were up to me I’d go with 2 strikers of Eduardo and Ade with Walcott and Rosicky coming round the outside on the wings. Then Flamini and Diarra in the middle.
The creativity of Cesc will certainly be missed; maybe Denilson could attempt to fill his shoes? However, it’s not worth risking Fabregas in this one game if he has a problem with his hamstring, the player himself hopes he’ll be back. Hleb too will be missed and I don’t think we’ll see him for a couple of games yet; hopefully Rosicky can play his role.
I’ve got that nervous/exited feeling that you get with a Man United, Chelsea or Tottenham game. I’m looking forward to going, but hopefully it won’t be a long journey home after the first defeat of our season.
In other news, Arsene Wenger believes that Almunia is nearing a international call up for Spain. Le Boss has also been talking about when Carlos Vela eventually gets his passport.
I’ll write up a proper match report tomorrow. Hopefully there’s some good news about those injuries. Thanks for reading.
I AGREE WITH YOUR TEAM HOWEVER IT WILL BE 4 5 1 WITH EBOUE AND GILBERTO, TOUGH GAME, NOT A GOOD TIME FOR NO FEB/HELB/RVP, ON ARSENAL.COM IT SAID RVP IS ALONG WAY OFF
Settle down. Sevilla are better than Villa and our established back 4 will return. It’s an entirely winnable game but despite that I think a return of 6 or 7 points out of our next three games would be reasonable.
Our form in December and January last season was phenomenal and I see no reason for it to deteriorate this season when it appears we’ve progessed in every department
Calm the feck down mate.
Not a lot of teams could lose their three best players and others and still field as good a team as that.
– - – - – - Almunia
Sagna – Toure – Gallas – Clichy
Eboue – Diarra – Flamini – Rosicky
– - – Ade – Bendtner/Edu
Of course, he may swap Bendtner for Denilson/Eduardo (switch to 451_
I know exactly how you’re feeling. I didn’t really care about Sevilla and I’m not worried about some wholesale collapse in form or confidence.
But I AM nervous about Villa because of Cesc. Quite simply, that kid knits the whole offence together while Gallas does the same at the back.
I would suggest one change from your “pick from these” team selection.
Lord, forgive me for agreeing with Myles about anything, but…
For once I think he’s got the right idea, which is to play Rosicky in Cesc’s role and let him pull the strings in the middle. Since Flamini seems set to return, how about this:
Almunia
Sagna Toure Gilberto Gallas
Eboue Flamini Rosicky Walcott
Ade Eduardo
(I’m assuming Clichy can’t play and that AW would rather use the experienced Gilberto and move Willie out of position than put so much pressure on Troare. I’m also wondering if Diarra can play LB if needed. We do have plenty of flexibility since Flam can be used at LB with Diarra or Gilberto as the holding midfielder. The logic up front is that Theo can be a handful cutting in from the left and I’d rather have Eduardo playing alongside Ade rather than on the wing — as he didn’t help out defensively very well in that role in Seville.)
Isn’t is amazing how things just looks SO much better when Cesc is in the middle of things?
Final thought: I was on the side of not wasting money on a striker in January since we’re bringing along Bendtner, Theo, Eduardo and soon enough, Vela.
But this stretch without Robin proves how vulnerable ANY team can be without its top scoring threat. Wenger said he might spend the money on ONE player in the winter if it could be critical to winning something.
Now I think it is. Buy Anelka, boss. I guarantee you that if we don’t, Fergie will — and this title chase is going to be a close-run thing, so…
I’d rather WE get that crucial goal somewhere along the road.
Enjoy your trip to Villa. Hopefully our nerves will be happily settled after the game!
We cannot buy another striker unless we are going to sell one. If we sign Anelka I suggest we sell two.
Its the same with a centre back.
Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of signing Anelka, biting the financial bullet for half a year and then moving him on during the summer.
And I WOULDN’T be suggesting it, I suspect, a year from now. It just feels like we’re a season away from being deep enough up front to withstand the long-term loss of somebody like RVP.
A year from now, Theo might be scoring for fun. But at the moment, we come to this crunch of games and a veteran, professional predator would be really valuable for the short term.
Since it’s not a “forever” deal, we could even overpay a bit if necessary, knowing the money’s coming back soon.
Basically, I want to “borrow” a scorer. If Adriano were fit and mentally sound, he’d be perfect.
Cheers!
But that’s short term-ism at the expense of what could be 6 months of crucial development. I don’t think it’s worth it in the long term for the short term gains, which are hypothetical at best, and Wenger seems confident that Eduardo will be settled by January, and I personally think he’s coming along very nicely.
How long is Diaby out for? It’s a shame we can’t call on him because he’s mostly done very well when he’s played. Denilson can hold his own though, but I do hope Rosicky plays centrally.
I think we will be selling Senderos, Lehmann, Gilberto and a striker (you cannot have Rvp, Edu, Ade, Vela, Theo and Bendt)
That will free up the squad but we seriously need to stop getting injuries
i’d take a draw…
it could go either way and will definitely be a cracking game. if our finishing is sharp we can win it but if we don’t take our chances i can see a slip up.
Definitely 4-5-1 no doubt about it i’d go for
———–Almunia
—-Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Eboue Diarra Denilson Flamini Rosicky
———–Adebayor
Walcott Gilberto Hoyte and Bendtner to keep Jens company
This is a big game.
p.s. Senderos is a pile of wank
I’m also a little nervous about Saturday but one way or another it will give us a great indication of how far this team can really go.I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts Gilberto on Saturday. Without Fabregas we might need his cool head. Looks like they might be without Agbonlahor which isn’t a bad thing. Thank f*ck that Gallas is back. I feared Senderos may have had another ‘episode’ against John Carew. He really is the danger man.
I must admit Cali Steve, you make a good case for the return of Anelka. Even sparked a little day dream! But it all sounds a bit too simple. Therefore I can’t see it happening. I think that this transfer window we need to see the return of Djourou and hopefully (fingers crossed!) Modric. But if Wenger wants to lay down a marker and display to the world his purchasing power, we need togo after Micah Richards.
But who am I kidding? Wenger spend big money??
One can only dream.
I reckon it will a hard game for us especially after the loss at Seville, Villa are a good side as well lets not forget that their position in the tabkle speaks for itself. They will try and come at us like Seville did and I thank god that our back four will be ready to take the challange. I agree we shoulds play two strikers Ade doesn’t do well being there on his own. Denilson should really start looking at the game like Fab, he has a lot to prove still the young brazilian.
I think game will prove our togetherness, and we will get something out of the game, i hope…
my team
Almunia
Sagna, Kolo, Big Willy (my hero) Gael/Traore depending on fitness
Theo, Flamini, Diarra, Thomas
Ade & Bendtner
subs – Dudu, Dennilson, Gilberto, Gibbs, Eboue
also, definately need a ch in Jan -
i cant wait for the game but at the same time,um jus going mental..we need to win/draw this game but some how i feel if we grind out a win then this december thing might go well for us..the good thing is going away when we have injuries co that way we dont have the impetus to attack..
i prefer a 4-4-2 fprmation but with all the playerrs that have tried to link with Ade it hasnt worked ie Walcott,maybe its time for Eduardo,but after Bendtner showed what he can do mid week i dont see why him and Ade cudnt try to work a partnership,and those two at set pieces could come in handy,so i think i will go with a
__________________Almunia
______Sagna___Toure___Gallas___Traore(Clichy)
__________Diarra____Flamini
__Eboue(Walcott)__Rosicky__Walcott(Eduardo)
____________Adebayor
but thats jus my stab at it,with two defensive midfielders we have an extra man to cover wide attacks and also can have Flamini spring forward into attacks which i know he can do.
and this way Eduardo doesnt have to worry bout helping out Traore/Clichy with the defensive work
My team selection, if Clichy is not involved.
Almunia.
Sagna-Kolo-Gallas-Flamini.
Eboue-Diarra-Denilson.
Rosicky.
Ade- Eduardo/Bentner/Walcott.
4-3-1-2.
Could be worse we could have been forced to play senderos
all these tricky formations look great and sound great, but seriously, every time wenger has tried to get funky with his formation, the team’s looked lost at sea.
and when will he simply play eduardo as a striker. he’s a good player, but he’s no winger.
Relax, a win is guaranteed.
Safrongoon / sophie,
Both of you two shut the hell up, you talk out your asses and your noses are massive. I dont want to hear one more peep out of the pair of you.
Right, who wants tea?
I wud like 2 get in touch wit SOPHIE cos she has always impressed in her simple and short informative expressions
okeba isaac newton,
Fuck off weirdo, Sophie aint for sale. She’s an extremely busy lady what with her seven kids and all.
I might be able to help you out though. I’ll pat you on the head for a tenner?
CHILL!!!!!!!!!
GO TO THE GAME AND SING YOUR HEAD OFF!!!!!!!!!
The main problem with Seville game was the back four…
This time, we are going to have 3 of our 4 bad asses. I believe that this alone will settle a lot of issues for this next game. Related to this topic, during the January transfer market we NEED to buy a replacement for Senderos. I know we have Song, but we a replacement for this season not in two years. Wenger isn’t getting laid as much as he used to for some reason and we need to free up Senderos’ time. That is the only reason I can see Wenger plays him vs Song all the time when Senderos is just not doing that well. Enough said…
Other than that here is my team…
Almunia
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy(Traore)
Eduardo(Eboue) Flamini Fabregas(Rosicky) Rosicky(Eduardo)
Adebayor Walcott
GO ARSENAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
blog head is in need of some kinda psychiatric intervention coz his seriously losing it!!!!!hahahahaha
Ryan, Blow me.
Casicky,
I bought some kettle chips the other day. Sea salt & Balsamic vinegar flavour. Then I bought a selection of dips, including guacamole. It was one of the best eating experiences of my life. I enjoyed eating them crisps with them dips almost as much as I enjoyed eating Ryans mums pussy.
Believe it or not, there are more important things than football.
Check out my blog at http://www.extrapreneur.wordpress.com
Blog Head
Maybe you can take Senderos’ place as Wenger’s ass pillow, so that we can sell him. Fag gay-wad. Why don’t you say something meaningful. Fag
no, extrapreneur, no there isn’t.
fuck off nicely
Oh yeah, we are going to have 4 of our 4 bad asses.
I am scared and Eboue isn’t doing for me. Also, we need a 4-4-2.
Almunia
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Helb Flamini Rosicky Eduardo
Adebayor Walcott
bendtner definately needs a start because he played a good game against sevilla, so maybe it will be like this
Almunia
sagna- Toure- Gallas- Traore
Eboue- Flamini- Gilberto- Rosicky
Ade- Bendner
Clichy is in…
Gilberto has been playing like shit, even though I love him…
You have a point on Bendtner, but he is just too damn tall to be partnered with Adebayor. I think we have to pick between the two.
We will get a CB in January, and what will we do next season with so many strikers if Mputu signs for us.
Ade, RVP, Dudu, Vela, Theo, Nick, Mputu.
Too many of them.
Players out – - – Lehmann, Gilberto ?, Senderos.
Almunia (squad v villa)
Sagna Touré Gallas (C) Traoré
Walcott Diarra Flamini Rosicky
Adebayor Eduardo
Come on you reds !
WELL i just typed in im worried on google because i am my mum has gone out and im left home laone