Back To The Cottage Of Content
Aug 22nd, 2008 by 'holic
In January I summed up the impending visit to Craven Cottage thus, ‘ I don’t want to be disrespectful to Roy Hodgson’s charges, but this contest is all about which Arsenal turns up in West London’.
Much has changed in the ensuing seven months, but the sentiment remains the same. That day Emmanuel Adebayor had mastery of the skies by the side of the River Thames, and should still be a massive threat to a vulnerable-looking back four of Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, and Konchesky.
The rest of the Fulham line-up is packed with the experience that some will say we lack. Good decent professionals, but in all honesty it will be an early blow if we do not return from West London with all three points.
Most interest for the travelling-not-very-far Gooners will centre around the spine of the side. Mikael Silvestre is doubtful with what I suspect is a very ‘opportune’ muscle problem. The new arrival has not had much chance to integrate with his colleagues and would be slaughtered if he played and the result did not go the right way.
A choice needs to be made between Johan Djourou, so impressive last weekend, and Kolo Toure, alongside William Gallas. In midfield interest will be concentrated on whether or not Alex Song is granted the opportunity to replace Emmanuel Eboue. Up front you have to think that Robin van Persie will return at the expense of Niklas Bendtner, if he has recovered from a midweek trip to Moscow with the Dutch national team.
The ‘holic pound was lost on the opening day. I will persist with that 2-0 prediction, and I will add a little wager on Adebayor to open the scoring for the second year running.
I wish those of you heading there by river, road, or train an enjoyable day. The rest of you who have been unable to secure a ticket can enjoy the contest live on Setanta or, I suspect, a host of streams on the web. It’s a bank holiday weekend in the UK so I will be enjoying much liquid refreshment, probably.
Anyway, whatever you are doing holics’, have a good one.
13 Responses to “Back To The Cottage Of Content”
First drink?
3-0 to the Arsenal
3-1 goes Arsenal’s way. We’ll leak a goal.
Fulham has always been a good away trip.A leisurely stroll down the Fulham Palace Road with three points usually waiting to be taken back to North London.
Last time Alex Song played there he recieved terrible stick from the travelling Arsenal fans so it would be nice if he played well in an Arsenal win.Dont underestimate him.He could turn out to be the answer to a lot of our problems.
Going by train tomorrow.Usually I would drive but,
“ALIENS ATE MY BUICK”.
Evening ‘Holic
Evening all. Well done Mel. At least the first drink doesn’t go to anybody who sits for hours hitting the F5 button.
*You weren’t sitting for hours hitting the F5 button, were you ? 😀
I’ll have a pint of Alton Pride please ‘holic.
Being a newcomer and a bit of an outsider I’m not in on all these alcohol related puns – so perhaps I should have a pint of Old Peculier
No puns R, you appear to be in a virtual bar, which was not entirely intended when I started, I have to say. It has become something of an identifier for the blog though, and in truth my name gives away the fact that I enjoy a slurp as well.
Don’t we all ‘holic.
I also sense that there is mutual respect between yourself and ARSEBLOG so I hope you won’t mind me commenting that I think his piece today was very amusing – could have come from a Blackadder script.
Tonight I am drinking Dark and Stormies.
Gosling`s 151 rum.
Fiery Ginger Beer.
Half a fresh lime,squeezed and muddled.
Lots of ice.
Gosling`s 151 is indeed the King of Rums.
Watching Eddie Kelly on ATV.
Cheers `holic and all.
I stand by the tag on the front of my SUV
DOUBLE WINNERS 2008-2009
No leaking of goals. I see us keeping a clean sheet for a long while; maybe even long enough for MA to be given an award for safe gloves or something that was given to Cech last time out…
Our defense is fired up and need to prove critics wrong!
No excuses, we were poor today.
Second best in midfield, shaky at the back and no cutting edge at the front. I don’t know if it would have made a difference, but it sure highlighted our need for the experienced DM.
The link play was poor, Sagna and Clichy were not at their best. We need Fab back because without him we are getting outplayed in midfield. and mising the killer pass that made the likes of Ade look so good last season.