Steaua Preview: Lehmann and RVP back! 11 December, 2007
Posted by lasagnechef in Champions League.trackback
I wasn’t really looking forward to tomorrow night’s game, I thought it’d be a negative side and we’d probably end up losing. However today Wenger said it wont be a bad side, he say’s he’ll ‘find the right balance between not losing and keeping a strong team.’ Arsene also says it’s 50:50 whether we win the group or not.
However the big news was the return of three players. Jens ‘Absolutely Mental’ Lehmann is set to start with Robin Van Persie and Abou Diaby returning back to the squad. We don’t know whether or not those two will start but Arsene suggests they’ll probably make an appearance.
“You will see Jens Lehmann in goal tomorrow. This was decided three weeks ago so it is independent of anything else. This man is super-professional and an example for everybody.
He [Van Persie] is OK. He will be in the squad tomorrow. I have not yet made a decision if he will start but he could play some part. The other players who were out before are still out except Abou Diaby. He is in the squad and maybe he will play a part in the game.”
Good news. This pretty much means that Van Persie will play against Chelsea. I’m hoping Flamini makes it back too; it doesn’t look so promising for Fabregas and Hleb but we’ll see.
This is an interesting development in the Lehmann case. I thought he’d played his last game for Arsenal but could he be staying at the club after all? Last time Manuel got a run in the side Jens came back even stronger. Let’s see what happens this time.
The team is really hard to guess with Wenger saying it’ll be a mixed side but here’s my complete guess:
Hoyte - Senderos - Gallas (c) - Clichy
Eboue - Diarra - Gilberto - Walcott
Eduardo – Bendtner
I think Bendtner and Walcott have to start, whatever position. I think this could also be an opportunity to test the Senderos/Gallas pairing ahead of Toure’s departure. I don’t really know who would go out on the left wing; it could be Eduardo, Van Persie, Walcott, Diaby, Denilson or even one of the reserves.
We need Slavia Prague to do us a favour against Seville for us to be able to come top. We need to better Seville’s result is Prague for us to finish the group 1st. There’s some tough opponents in the second round waiting for those who come runners up so it’d be great to avoid them. It doesn’t really matter though; we came top last year and went out to PSV in the next round. If we’re serious about this years campaign we need to beat the top teams anyway. If we come top, I want Celtic, if we come 2nd I want Barca.
I’m quite looking forward to tomorrow now. Enjoy the game.
Yeah, i agree. Wenger Might give Eboue a break and start Walcott on the right and Rosicky or Diaby on the left… we’ll see.
I really hope walcott and bendtner start. It also sounds like
van Persie will play some part!! Im so relieved hes finally back!
Can’t wait for the game!!
hard to call the starting 11 here. who knows what wenger is thinking. cant see Gallas starting this one or Clichy in fact. I think the back five all need a game off.
and if he plays Gilberto and Diarra together i swear I will walk out…a and then curse and come back in again.
agree with gazzap — if I see Gilberto and Diarra partnered in midfield, I’ll switch the channel (I’m writing from NYC).
Amazed at the Lehmann news. Wow.
- - - - - - - - Lumpkins
Whoyte? - Song off - Sen-DOH! - Trackore
E-dive-ue - Nonberto - Diarrhea - The-One
- - - - Battybent - E-do-blink-o
You get it?
———————Lehmann———————–
—-Hoyte—-Gilberto—-Senderos—-Traore—-
———————-Diarra————————
——–Walcott—-Denilson—-Diaby————-
————-Bendtner—-Eduardo—————–
That’s the team that will probably feature. Am not sure about Diaby though. The thing is since Hleb and Flamini are out Rosicky wont be risked.
Maybe Gilberto in Diaby’s place and Song in defence.
———————Lehmann———————–
—-Hoyte—-Song—-Senderos—-Traore—-
———————-Diarra————————
——–Walcott—-Denilson—-Gilberto————-
————-Bendtner—-Eduardo—————–
I wouldn’t mind seeing song. he’s been pretty interesting to watch in the carling cup games. not bad at all. I wonder what he’ll be like against real teams.
as for eduardo, I hope he plays AS A STRIKER. he’s simply not a winger. slavia prague proved that.
I reckon Nic will be up front with Theo. Start Edu on the bench and let him come on for last 30 mins or so.
Id also like to see Song at CB again, it seems that it may be his position in Wengers thinking. Will Wenger rest all of the supposed starting back 4 for Chelski game? Its too difficult to guess his intentions. Personally id play a strong as possible starting lineup and win the game, then rest players.
Start with…
Jens
Sagna Kolo Gallas Clichy
Eboue Denilson Gilberto Rosicky
Bentdner Theo
But it will probably be more like
Mad Jens
Hoyte Song Senderos Traore
Eboue Gilberto Diarra Rosicky
Bentdner Edu
Or maybe somethimg like this :-
Thomas the tank engine
Spiderman Optimus-Prime Skelator Wolverine
Big-Bird Pocoyo Peppa-Pig La-La
King-Rolo Count-Duckula
That team would beat your beloved Tottenham eh Blog Head
Deise,
Accrington Stanley could beat my beloved Tottenham at the moment