Pontificating Over Roma
Feb 23rd, 2009 by 'holic
‘Ooh ‘holic, that is painful’. You’re right, I would apologise, but now I have your attention, yes?
The upcoming contests with Roma have occupied my mind since Saturday night. The side lying sixth in Serie A, having accrued 43 points from 25 games, stand between a quarter-final berth and the club that lies fifth in the Premiership, with 45 points from 26 games.
Yes, two sides who are just underperforming, but underperforming nonetheless, engage each other in a crucial double-header for them both. The similarities are not lost on either camp, with players on both sides making optimistic predictions that are based in hope rather than conviction.
This is a rare chance for the Grove faithful to witness the talents of Totti and De Rossi in the flesh, but most interest will centre on the returning ‘Beast’, Julio Baptista. There was no real sorrow when he failed to nail down a permanent transfer to Arsenal, but his cup exploits against Liverpool and Tottenham ensured he left with some warm memories, and with just a little appreciation.
Most though will be concerned more with the side put out by the Gunners. The back five selects itself. The front six will be permed from seven. The options are surprisingly many, however. For starters will Arsene Wenger plump for a 4-5-1, his preferred approach to quality opponents, or does he plump for a 4-4-2 and hope for an element of surprise?
My personal selection would allow both options and keep Roma guessing. Pick Bendtner with van Persie and the Dutchman can be used on the wide right of a five, or as a partner for the Dane in a more attacking set-up. Nasri is a given on the left, and a five would be completed by Denilson and Song holding, with fit-again Diaby pushing on. A 4-4-2 could be accomplished by switching Denilson to the right and withdrawing Diaby alongside Song. You will have guessed that I would omit Eboue, far too temperamental for such a critical fixture in our season.
As for the destination of the infamous ‘holic pound, well I don’t mind admitting I’m stumped. The Cardiff replay apart, there is nothing in our recent performances that suggests we can confidently anticipate a crucial victory. Yet we followed up a run of three games without a win by humbling Manchester United in November. At the end of that month we followed defeats to Aston Villa and Manchester City with a triumph over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Inconsistent we may be, but capable of beating anybody we most certainly are.
OK, the pound will be ventured on William Gallas to score at any time, offered at nines by Paddy Power. This is just the sort of vital fixture that he strikes in, and he is overdue a goal. So that’s it. Between that awful headline pun, and this final paragraph, I have been able to persuade myself we really can get the result we need. I’ll wager that feeling doesn’t survive until kick-off!
Cheers ‘holics
Just a quick word to those who have been visiting the drinks with increasing regularity of late. I’m seeing people who have impressed me with their opinions and their reasoning expressing quite differing views and concerns as the season has gone by. It is to your credit that by and large that is appreciated by most on the drinks and the debate remains largely healthy and abuse-free.
Please keep it up. All considered viewpoints are welcome here, and the artificial abuse that occurs elsewhere achieves nothing but to drive a wedge between people of the same persuasion. Thanks all for your contribution.
25 Responses to “Pontificating Over Roma”
G&T, por favor!
ale please.
tough game to predict this one. could be a narrow win for us, but can also see another 0-0, unsurprisingly.
Well in blogs.
Laphroaig tonight I think. Cheers.
Blimey, I suppose I must have some gin in here somewhere. Would you like me to play a few Dusty Springfield numbers as well, blogs?
Pint of cider please.
2-0 Gooners.
Excellent stuff as usual ‘holic.
Anything but the greene king that this kind bartender has just bestowed on me all complimentary like. Diaby could be the wild card for me in this one. Been waiting all evening for your thoughts. Gracias. Was thinking of laying one down on willy myself.
Tequila! 2 or 3 nil to the Gooners tomorrow. Vela on the left, Nasri right, with Diaby and Denilson in the middle with RvP & Bendybus up top… Come on your Gunners!!!
Same as nelly, but 2 pints please. But I’ll go with 2-0 as well.
Hmmm – just a nip of Jamesons for me please ‘holic – no ice.
My Inter supporting mate reckons Roma will give us a game and a half, but he also reckons Manure will fall once more to a Moanhinho wielded European sword.
I reckon I need to start hanging around with sensible people…
I can see a 3-1 win for us. Two early goals and then 57 minutes of not much followed by two late ones. I wont be drawn on the order or the scorer.
I like the sound of your game, snail. Think I will join you in that Jamesons. Actually the Bushmills is on special at Sainsbury at the moment. I’m rather partial to that.
Well excuuuuuse me!
Here I was talking to BTM and TG around 9.30 – a dialogue I suspect you may, in part, be referring to in “Cheers ‘Holics” (and props to BTM and TG by the way) – and looking to see whether I could get that coverted 1st drink.
But no new post; apparently.
Now I find your new best mate Arseblogger @ 9.30 has already raided the drinks cabinet.
I am a fan of the guy but I think that should be 2 cases of Wild Turkey to make up for my disappointment.
say whatever u feel like but eboue is NEEDED not for his antiques but for his pace going forward. vela is a fan’s favourite but not yet ready for a start on the wings. maybe up front. denilson or ramsey on the wing is laughable too for they lack pace and power so they can never get behind their men. without adebayor 4 5 1 is useless because it turns into 4 6 0, u know what i mean. this arsenal team is very poor against any team with 11 men behind e ball but can beat any team that opens up, so i go for a 5-1. i know this takes away all the logic before but this is europe and if arsenal score early they can humiliate anybody but if we concede early then i fancy gallas to get us level in injury time. now you can kill me for wanting to see eboue start.
Would that be Emmanuel “Lovejoy” Eboue you are referring to?
Sod him! And his priceless Ming vase collection too.
I also think Eboue should play. Italian teams struggle against pace. Eboue’s best game last season was against AC Milan at home. Walcott was also instrumental. I would play Eboue Diaby Denilson Nasri with Van Persie and Bendtner upfront. I think the goals will be back tomorrow!
I think it is crucial we do not concede tomorrow night regardless of anything else. We should have both Eduardo and Adebayor back for the return leg and possibly Theo. I would always bet on us to nick a goal over there. Very much like Milan last season. I am looking for Gallas to run the show from the back. Think he has gone from strength to strength since his moment of madness
I would go with the 4-5-1. I do not think we have the creative spark to justify two up front. I think we would have far better balance if we play Diaby behind Bendtner. That leaves RVP and Nasri to play wider with Denilson and Song in the centre. Just think that at the moment that gives us more options as well. Not going to make a prediction as I think we are the most unpredictable side in the league at the moment. It really does depend on which team turns up and what side of the bed they got out of.
However, I will have a nice pint of 6X please, and stick some Weller on the jukebox if you don’t mind.
Keep the faith.
The going is fair and L’Escargot at 3 to 1 with a nip of Jamesons and J. Caeser in the saddle sounds like good odds to me and worth the famous Holic tiber, never mind the famous Holic oner. Think big, Holic!
Romulus and Remus are both on the bench for them this time I hear? Let’s hope we send them home to the rushes with their heads in a wicker basket.
I’m just hoping we score. Not sure the old ticker can stand another “Arsenal nil”. My money’s on Robin to shine through the murkiness that will inevitably be Roma’s defence. Difficult to see more than one, but I think we need a lead for the econd leg, even if Eduardo is going to be back for that.
That was indeed one of the pieces of dialogue to which I refererred, G.
…and BtM, you’ve been inhaling again, haven’t you? Come on. own up. You are amongst friends here 😉
The hallucinogen was our young crustacean friend coming up with a molluscan prediction of pin-point accuracy! “57 minutes of not much followed by two late ones”. Now, that’s the kind of stuff your average Setanta muppet can’t even dream of coming close to.
Not sure we’ve ever had a Snailian prediction before, have we, Holic? My recollection is that he’s been a bit of a lettuce sitter. “Could be 1-1, or maybe 6-0, or even an away draw”. That kind of thing? Always very “crisp” on his orders though. Never a doubt there, barman.
Mind you, he’s not letting it all hang out, giving nothing away on the who’s and when’s of things, just in case you put your tiber on and come back with a shell-full.
Enjoy the game. I’m working again, so tape delay for me.
Is there any malibu left?would like it with some appletizer 🙂
Been thinking bout this game a lot!! The back 5, like ‘holic said, selects itself, but i’m also goin for the 451. bendtner up top, with nasri lurking behind him, denilson and diaby in the midfield a bit further bac, vPersi on the right and vela on the left. now before i get crucified for vela, let me explain – he has alot of pace and can dribble. because he is young i feel he has the audacity to try different stuff. his chipping is really effective, as is his crosses – and bendtner can actually convert them into goals since he is good in the air. vela can be the “surprise” in our package…
go-on then … i’ll take a tequila also .. it’s early but it is my son’s birthday
(i just hope we can improve on the results of his birthday’s past!)
thanks for the honorable mention ‘holic!! keep up the good work.
Garrett and BTM, great sparring with u 😉 Highly enjoyable! Great to know the passion is alive and kicking still … however we feel about things currently…. but yes the red and white blood flows strongly through us all
I’m gonna say 2-0 to the gunners. RVP and Nasri to score. What’s the odds on that ‘holic?
Cheers all, and COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!
If this game ends 0-0, I’m going to need some serious drinking to numb the pain. And sadly, 0-0 would be an all right result for us.
So how’s this for a summation of the Arsenal 08-09 season…
Today when I read the team news and I saw that Diaby was going to be fit to play, I thought: Awesome! Diaby’s playing tonight. That’s great news!
I will have a crate of Fosters holic’. I feel tonight may require me to drink myself til i feel numb!
bendtner has got the first touch of a rapist! nasri has been fantastic so far! that boy is quality
ha ha … even eboue has had a good match so far holic … what’s going on there??
so my prediction is half right so far 😉
(this is what i was talking about garrett – more like it!)
Well I was half right – the wife and I had a pancake each in the first 20 minutes and then I finished the batter off late on – managed to squeeze two out of it – so it was 3-1 in pancakes…
Thought we played really well and on a different night we could have had 3 or 4. I guess Diaby was withdrawn as a precaution, but I thought he had a good game and Eboue blew his chance to be a real hero. With 15 minutes to go though everyone looked really tired – especially Song, who had just come on… the lazy b*gger, jogging around looking like he was hustling for spare change.