‘Boro Preview: Theo, Robin & Kolo match fit 14 March, 2008
Posted by lasagnechef in Premiership.19 comments
We need to forget about the Champions League draw for the moment, we play in the Premier League tomorrow, which will be a massive game. We’ve drawn our last three games in the League and we need to get back to winning ways if we want to win this trophy.
We lost to Middlesbrough when we went to the Riverside earlier in the season. So we know that the wont be easy. Anything other than a win tomorrow and I’ll be hanging my head for the 4th successive game. Although a draw against ‘Boro wouldn’t really be the end of the world, the way we’re playing in the Premiership at the moment it would really lower our confidence.
The team news ahead of the game is quite good. Walcott & Eboue are back in the squad. Also, we saw van Persie and Toure return last week but Wenger says that this time they are fully match fit whereas last week they were a little behind. The leaves just Diaby, Rosicky and Eduardo out injured then, things are looking on the up.
For once Wenger’s got a few different options for the starting 11. Apart from Rosicky, we’re back to full strength! So it’s just really a decision of Eboue or Walcott on the right wing. I feel Arsene will go for Eboue, I know I’ve said this thousands of times but Walcott has such a great impact coming on as a sub it’s worth not starting him. With Toure back, Wenger has now got to choose whether to stick with the in-form Senderos, or put Toure straight back into the team. I’d go for Toure but I wouldn’t be worried if Big Phil made the 11.
So he’s how I see us lining up tomorrow:
Sagna – Toure – Gallas (c) – Clichy
Eboue – Fabregas – Flamini – Hleb
Adebayor – van Persie
No real surprises there I don’t think. Hopefully Eboue can behave and just do his job on the wing and Toure will slot straight back in like he never left.
I’m sitting in a box for tomorrow’s game, I’ve never been into club level or a box before so it’ll be good to see what it’s like up there but I know I’ll still always prefer it in the stands! The tickets are from o2 from that competition my Dad entered, part of getting down to the finalist. It’s in the ‘o2 Blue Room’ whatever that means.
Going to have to leave early again I think, I have work to get back for. Maybe I’ll be able to sort out going to work a bit late…
The game kicks off at 5.15 and it’s live on Setanta Sports 1. However you’re following the game, do everything possible to cheer the boys on to victory. We really need three points tomorrow.
Thanks for reading.
Time to burst Benitez’ bubble 14 March, 2008
Posted by lasagnechef in Champions League.11 comments
So it’s Liverpool in the quarter finals of the Champions League. The draw was made this lunchtime and after beating the current European Champions in the last round we now face the five time winners. I would’ve preferred a European side in the draw to be honest, seeing as it’s the European Cup, but I’m not bothered. It means we’re going to have to play the Scoucers 3 times in a week in April. The dates are as follows and it was the news I was hoping praying for:
The first leg will take place at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, April 2. The second leg will take place at Anfield on Tuesday, April 8. Kick-off for both games is 7.45pm (UK time).
Regular readers might remember me saying that I go Skiing on the 9th and I would’ve been in the air if our game was on April 9th; which would of course result in a mental breakdown. Thank God though that we’re playing on the Tuesday night.
I was hoping that we would play the 2nd leg at home because I could’ve then gone to both legs. I don’t think I’m going to make the trip to Anfield though, which is a shame. I could, technically, but it would be cutting it very fine and it probably wont be worth the stress to be honest. However, I am mental and I’m going to look at flight times after I’ve written this…
I’m pretty confident. I spoke to my Liverpool supporting mate straight after we were drawn and he sounded a bit nervous to be honest. We’re top of the league and I’m sure that they would’ve preferred an easier side. We knocked out AC Milan in the last round, which will fill us with confidence, however Liverpool knocked out Inter, which isn’t a bad feat either.
It’ll be a brilliant game anyway. I could carry on writing loads and loads of build up right now but I’m going to save it all for a couple of week’s time. The other draws were:
Arsenal v Liverpool
Roma v Manchester United
Schalke v Barcelona
Fenerbahce v Chelsea
Semi-Finals:
Arsenal or Liverpool v Fenerbahce or Chelsea
Schalke or Barcelona v Roma or Manchester United
So it looks like we could face Chelsea in the semi finals if we beat Liverpool. We owe them a bit of revenge from a few years ago when they narrowly beat us in the quarters. Also, it’s likely to be a Man United vs. Barca semi final, which could mean another Arsenal vs. Barcelona final. Bring it on. God I love the Champions League.
There is a bit of other news about today but it’s team news ahead of tomorrow’s game against ‘Boro; so I’ll save those stories for the match preview which I’ll write later. Until then.
