Man Utd Preview: Tactical ‘injuries’? 15 February, 2008

This past week or so the only news coming out of the club has been bad; every couple of days or so we hear about fresh injuries. Today Wenger’s said we’re down to the bare bones and of course there were new names that are a doubt for tomorrow’s game against Man United. Arsene says Adebayor is struggling with a ‘muscular injury’ (?) at the moment.

All these injuries were a nuisance but I got to a strange this week were I found the whole thing just hilarious. However today I’m at the next stage. I’m starting to think it’s too bad to be true, I mean it’s a bit far-fetched isn’t it? I’ve heard some people raise the point that these players aren’t actually injured but Wenger is saying they are for a number of possible reasons: 1. To shock United and name a good side with ‘injured’ players. 2. As an excuse so if we lose there is something to blame it on. Or 3. Give an excuse to the fans so that they don’t moan when it isn’t a full strength side announced and if Man United were to win, their victory wouldn’t give as much of a psychological edge.

I don’t think no.1 would be true, even Alex Ferguson isn’t that stupid and whatever our team plans are that won’t in the slightest way change that team Ferguson is going to pick. No.2 is an option, I don’t really see it necessary for Wenger to do though. However gets knocked out of the FA Cup tomorrow, there will be a silver-lining to their defeat; it’s one less competition to focus on as you’d have to say the other two are far more important. I think number 3 is a quite likely option though, I always thought this year that Arsene would field a slightly second-string side for the FA Cup, and I think that has always been his plan. However he will have been thrown a little when we were drawn with Man United some weeks ago.

I feel that the ‘injuries’ to the likes of Clichy, Flamini, Fabregas, Adebayor are non-existent or so slight they would never normally be mentioned. As for Sagna, he isn’t playing for personal reasons but when it’s Arsenal vs. Manchester United you’d expect the players to want to play and that would be that.

Maybe I’m looking into it too much, but don’t be surprised if loads of players make a miraculous recovery for either this match or our next one, against AC Milan.

Right I’m going to guess the team, I’m going to have to make some sort of a logical judgement right now as to whom I think will be ‘fit’. I know the team won’t be 100%, that’s pretty much all I have to go by. So this is what I think:

The announcement today that Adebayor has a slight muscular problem says to me: “Ade is going to start on the bench but we need an excuse so fans don’t wonder why he’s not playing.” He’ll be joined on the bench, I think, by Fabianski, Gilberto, Senderos and Gilbert.

Whatever side Arsene does put out, they’re going to give everything they have to send us through to the next round of the cup. It will still be a great game to watch. I’ve said before that whoever loses this, it won’t be the end of the world. However I’m still going to want us to win and if we do it’ll be fantastic.

It’s a 5.15 kick off tomorrow, so make sure you’ve sorted out where you’re watching it. Me, I’m fucking working. This is not going to stop me watching it though…I’m just going to be getting paid whilst doing it. Hurrah! Anyways I’ve got to shoot off now, but thanks for reading and enjoy the game. Match Report to come either tomorrow night or Sunday. More likely Sunday…you lot know what I’m like. See ya.