Man Utd Preview: Tactical ‘injuries’? 15 February, 2008
Posted by lasagnechef in Cup Games.trackback
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:
Hoyte – Toure – Gallas (c) – Traore
Eboue – Fabregas – Flamini – Hleb
Bendtner – Eduardo
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.
—————Lehmann—————–
-Gilbert—Hoyte—Gallas—Traore-
———-Flamini—-Gilberto———-
–Eboue——–Hleb——-Eduardo–
—————Bendtner—————–
idlespec, I like the formation, but I suspect it will be toure in for hoyte and hoyte in for gilbert.
Is Alex Song fit though? He wasn’t on Arsene’s sick list.
If he is OK, I would go with 4-2-3-1, with Song and Flamini in front of the back four. The rest depends on who is going to be made available, tactical injuries aside.
I would lock Gilberto up in a cellar under the Grove, so that there is no temptation to let him get on the field.
Would expect Toure to start as wenger has said all week he has Toure and Eboue back. he will want to give Toure a run out before the Milan game as well.
I dont know whether I would start with Hleb or if I do I dont know that I would end the game with him. he is the one I am most worried about Fergie wanting to injure. Flam, who is also rated as doubtful, is the other player I want to protect ahead of Milan.
I dont expect to see this but I might pick:
—————Lehmann—
Hoyte—Toure–Senderos—Gallas
Eboue- Cesc—Gilberto—Traore
——Eduardo–
——Bendtner—–
the big drawback would be Gallas at LB, which is not something I would normally want to do as he would be up against Ronaldo.
But would expect Traore to start at LB with Hleb ahead of him.
interesting comments,i was waiting to see the travelling team before i made my comments about the squad.
firstly i dont think Wenger would bother travelling with hamstring injured players because they cant run at all can they and we are bout speed and u better believe against manUre there is going to be a lot of running.
With all of Ade,Sende’,Flanster and Clichy travelling i think we will see a team like this…
_______________Mad Jenz
Eboue____Toure______Gallas____Hoyte
______________Gilberto
_______Fabregas______Flamini
Hleb_________________________Eduardo
_____________Bendtner
Bench:Fabianski,Sende’,Gilbert,Troare,ADEBAYOR
the drawbacks will be the fullbacks esp when Saha comes on and they start crossing all those balls into the box.but i feel we have to have Flamini in the mid we need his energy and if Cesc and Hleb are in and on form then we have a good chance……
I AM A CUNT
Lehman.
Eboue- Kolo- Gilberto-Gallas.
Song- Flamini.
Eduardo-Fabregas- Hleb.
Bentner.
4-2-3-1.
Yeah, lasagnechef something is going on here…
I don’t know what, but we will see tomorrow…
adebayor needs to start, if not come on early (around 50 mins in) coz i don’t really see any1 else scoring. if we lose this game man utd will gain a lot of momentum and gain a pshycological advantage in the league, I expect it to be:
GK: Jens
RB: Hoyte
CB: Toure
CB: Gallas
LB: Traore
RM: Eboue (hopefully not though, I’d like tomas or theo to play)
CM: Flamini
CM: Cesc
LM: Hleb
ST: Bentdner (Hopefully ade)
ST: Eddy
Bench: Lukasz, Gilbert, Song, Gilberto, and Ade
ST:
4-4-2 is best..its totaly dummy to play bendtner in front alone ..w’l get nuthin..gilberto shud b in middle no matter how will need him to hold on if we shall lead the scoreline..
its
–Lehmann–
Eboue–Toure–Gallas–Hoyte(/sub:Traore)=c whus havn better day!!
flamini–fabregas–gilberto–hleb
–Eduardo–Bentdner–(Edu shud b more upfront of bentdner, bentdner plays supprting role quite well,while edu is clinical)
Hleb can always help defend againts ronaldo..the player doesnt have to stay at same position whole nite rite…lolzz..its beter if they move aroun..the key to win this game is good defending and exceptional marking of tevez,ronaldo and rooney.. man u is no better that everton without them
4-0
fucks sake hoyte is fuckin shit. i didnt mind arsenal losing by the odd goal but 4 fucking nil that takes the piss worse that the 5-1 tottenham oh well whos on top of the table
and connollys agent i agree
Ok. It was 4 bt i thnk God there weren’t more. Gilberto, traore, lehmann… What r they doing at arsenal. If th spurs game didnt do it mayb this will. Wenger, BUY proven players! Quaresma, villa and the like. Sell th above three and eboue and bendtner. Fuckn buy playerz. Thats all n oh, they were only 4!!!