Derby Preview: Lets smash ‘em 27 April, 2008
Posted by lasagnechef in Premiership.trackback
Now I don’t want to get too over confident, once apon a time I wrote a headline: ‘The Hammers are in for a hammering‘ and we lost 1-0. However tonight I’m just hoping we can put on a good show for the travelling fans; which I will be one of! It will be my last away trip for a long time so I jumped at the chance to go. I actually missed the home tie so I’m looking forward to seeing Derby County live for the very last time.
It’s been a terrible campaign in the top flight for The Rams; they have been the whipping boys of the season conceding an incredible 76 goals! They’re currently on 11 points at the moment and all they have to play for now is that unwanted record of lowest points gained in a Premiership season. Ouch.
We beat them 5-0 when they came to The Grove, Adebayor bagging a hat trick. Not much has changed since then and I wouldn’t be surprised if something similar happened again. I think it’s fair to say that if we don’t go and pick up 3 points at Derby then we really have to be embarrassed.
We might not have much left to play for, but we should still be fielding a half decent side. I mentioned the other day that it is still mathematically possible for us to win the league so maybe we should just win these last few games…just in case.
I think we’ll play a few of the non-regulars though. Wenger’s already hinted that Fabianski will play and he mentioned that he might rest some of the players involved in Euro 2008, which is quite frankly ridiculous. It’s hard for he to guess what side Wenger’s going to go with but if it were up to me I’d pick something like this:
Toure – Gallas – Song – Clichy
Eboue – Fabregas (c) – Gilberto – Walcott
Bendtner – van Persie
Apart from the captaincy…I think that line-up is quite possible. I think Song, Gilberto and Bendtner should all get a game, all simply to see how they could play a part in next season’s campaign. I think Walcott definitely needs to start, whether up front or on the wing I see no reason why he shouldn’t be in the 11. It would be nice to see Adebayor play, I bet he’s still hungry for goals.
Both Derby and Arsenal’s positions in the league are pretty much sorted now anyway; they’ll come 20th and we’ll probably finish 3rd. So really, it’s all about pride now, there’s nothing to lose. However, I’m expecting a top performance from whoever plays, and that they give everything for the 90 minutes. It would be nice to see a few goals too but I would compromise that for just a great display of football.
I’m heading up north after lunch, should be just over two hours drive. We’ll find a nice little pub, and get to the game. In a way, it’s nice that we’re not in the title race, the game will be played with a smile and we haven’t got to deal with the pressure of our results. At the end of the day, all I’m looking for is just a good day out.
Someone said earlier that we could’ve won the league tonight if things had gone our way. Oh dear. Match report to come ASAP but I’m going to be quite busy over the next few days so just hang in there. Thanks for reading.
If you didn’t know already, the atmosphere at the Grove is a bit lacking, so a couple of us Arsenal bloggers started a “Bring Back the Noise” campaign to start getting it louder again. So I had an idea. I am thinking of making t-shirts for the campaign, on the front they would have the “Arsenal, we love you” song lyrics on them and on the back it could have a cannon or something else goonerish and the words “Bring Back the Noise.” If we got enough people to wear them to the games we think it might help everyone that wants it to be loud at the stadium to recognize each other. If this is something that would interest you, please let me know because we are trying to figure out how much interest there is. I can send you a preview of the shirt if you want, just message me on here, leave a comment, or email me at Arsenole@arsenole.com.
i think it’s a good idea so please let me know if interested!
For more on Bring Back the Noise check out:
http://le-grove. co. uk/bring-back-the-noise/
http://www. arsenalnews. net/comments/38266/bring_back_the_noise_update_thoughts_on_loyalty_and_the_leaky_blues/
http://arsenole. blogspot. com/2008/03/fifa-really-hate-martin-taylor-walcott. html
Arsenal to win 12 – 0 tonight and to win the league on goal difference will be a befitting way for the season to end me thinks.
I have been doing the maths since cos I never give uo till it is mathematically over.
You want Asenal to smash them but why but no Ade.He will terrify Derby.I have no faith in Bendtner who has disappointed every time he has started a game.He will only be here next season if Ade leaves because they hate each other and cannot play together.Gallas is captain and should stay so unless he cant get a place in the side.He has been our best CB this season
Ade is just 3 short of the magical 30 goal mark with 3 games left. Surely he will start and get 1 of not 2 goals nearer to that tonight. VanP needs a goal as does Theo. They deserved it against Reading so i hope all 3 start and get on the scoresheet
Ade will terrify Derby. When he dances Ade terrify’s his own children
so this is what we have got to look forward to next season, no hleb and flamini and we wont be buying anyone as retention is the name of the game in arsenes world. We ae the only team this season to make derby look good, and dont give me any of that “end of season kickabout”stuff, …………………………….goallllllllllllllllllll ! 2-1 but weve still been pants! even if we win this match 5-1 we dont look like a team capable of doing much next season. Wenger said on setanta that money is tight and is now using the credit crunch as an excuse……yet more bullshit to keep the fans off his and the boards back!
gifted 2 goals that my nan could have scored!
chill the fuck out we won 6-2.
We dont need no strikers for next season. they all showed thier quality in todays match. i know its only derby but all 4 strikers scored classy goals. best was probably walcotts. if we had eduardo it probaly would have been 10-2.
great game!
As i said in an earlier post Ade would destroy Derby,he would have got 6 if he started,Bendtner is just not in his class.
Derby Scored Twice. I used to be Flamblam but from now on my name here will be Derby Scored Twice.
We cannot defend to save our lives.
Song and Djourou are not the answer. We need to spend every penny we have on one or maybe two centre backs and a top keeper. Fabianski looked a bit short and the one thing we don’t need right now is a small goalkeeper to go with our small centre backs.
Sol was a giant and since he went we’ve been left with short and fast Gallas and Toure who both need to play alongside someone bigger and more commanding.
Wenger has a blind spot.
Hleb can go if he wants. No matter how skillful he is, he cut inside too much and he can’t finish. Too much gravy, not enough meat.
Flamini is a bit of a letdown.