Will Pep Talk Distract City On Monday?
Dec 19th, 2015 by 'holic
The Saturday games are already a memory and it’s time to look ahead to a match which will decide who is second in the Premier League at Christmas. Leicester opened up a five point gap at the top winning by the best of five at Goodison. Their supporters will be praying for a draw. That would leave us four points adrift but still in second place? I would take that but think we have the ability to grab all three points on Monday.
Manchester City may arrive distracted if reports today are to be believed. Pep Guardiola is said (by German broadcaster ZDF Sport) to be taking over from Manuel Pellegrini at the end of the season. Quite what effect that would have on the current City manager and his charges would be anyones guess. Pellegrini’s focus was not in doubt in his pre-match press conference which of course proceeded the news today, although he was hesitant to put too much importance on the fixture.
“It’s not a decisive game as after this we have to play 21 games more. It’s important to try to be the best team from the first round, to play against a team with one point more. It’s a game of six points, to win three and to take three off a rival. We must consider Leicester, they are still top of the table.”
They are however expected to be lifted by the return of the impressive Sergio Aguero and David Silva. Not so lucky are Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, Fernando and Mrs Nasri’s little boy, all ruled out by injury. Expect Joe Hart to start behind a back four containing a couple of familiar faces at full-back. Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy should flank Otamendi and Mangala. Their two shields are likely to be Fernandinho and Delph. They have a potentially dangerous trio of Silva, De Bruyne, and Sterling playing alongside and behind either Aguero or Bony.
Arsenal may be similarly lifted by a possible return for Alexis. Mikel Arteta too could return to the squad, but the long-term injured, Jack Wilshere, Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck, Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky remain in the Shenley infirmary. There is no reason to expect that we won’t go with the same starting eleven that chalked up consecutive wins on the road at Olympiacos and Aston Villa. Alexis to be summoned from the bench when the situation dictates, perhaps?
Arsene Wenger, unlike his counterpart, emphasised the significance of a good performance and result on Monday night.
“It is a massive game. When we play at home you want to win because we are ambitious and we feel we have the chance to come out in a strong position after Christmas. It will be a very tight game because if you look at the numbers since the start of the season, offensively and defensively the numbers are very close. Manchester City has huge individual potential with David Silva and Sergio Aguero coming back and so we will need a top, top-level team performance.”
The ‘holic pound
It was in January when we went to City and ended a dire run in big matches with a disciplined 2-0 triumph. We have followed that up in two big matches at home and away against their neighbours, and against Chelsea in the Community Shield. The punt on Monday will take that as a form guide.
The bookies have Arsenal ahead by a nose in the result markets. Score wise too they see little differences in the most likely scenarios. Favourite is a 1-1 draw at a best of 13/2. They then go 17/2 on my tip, 2-1 to the Arsenal, and 19/2 on 1-0 to the Gunners. That was my head talking, but I have also had a daft idea swimming around my empty bonce all week that we might see an end to end goalfest so I’ve got a cheeky back-up pound on 4-2 at 66/1. I know, a fool and his money etc..
For those going I hope the projected showers do not materialise and this teeshirt weather remains. As it is an evening game in Christmas week (thank you Sky Sports for not giving a monkeys about the fans again!) I will assume the position behind the sofa.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
106 Responses to “Will Pep Talk Distract City On Monday?”
We’ve definitely upgraded on those two full backs, titles or not.
We’ve sold them:
Adebayor 28M
Toure 15M
Nasri 25M
Clichy 8M
Sagna 0M
And with the 76M we netted bought Ozil and Alexis! The ods on that happening were higher than 66-1. I think you’re on a winner at 4-2, Holic! 🙂
Good one H
I cannot see many goals in this game.
City have only scored 7 away from home,but against that,have only conceded 6.
We have only scored 11 at home,and 6 of those have come in 2 games.
Neither side will want to lose,and i wouldn’t be unhappy with a draw.
Be interesting to see how they line up,but i cannot believe they will play all 4 of their attacking elements in Aguerro/Silva/Sterling and De bruyne.
But you would expect them to keep it tight,and play on the counter.
In our favor is City do not have a great record away against us,but our vulnerable defensive midfield area does worry me,but with so many injuries,the Boss has very little choice.
Rambo may have to be instructed to curb his forward forays to offer some help to Flamini.
Congratulations to Leicester for continuing to defy the odds,and to being the first team in EPL history,to have finished bottom at Christmas one season,then to finish top the next. !!
Cheers H.
I think this should be a good measure of where we are at. I feel pretty confident about us putting in a performance- although, of course, when playing against individuals as talented as theirs are then bad things are always possible.
Leicester played well earlier but for my money they got quite lucky with a couple of handball decisions not given, one at both ends. Manure are just a joy at the moment. LVG definitely doing worse than Moyes in my eyes.
I’d quite like Pep to take over from Arsene. I hope he doesn’t end up at the oilers. Unless his arrival blocks Paddy in some way and all their development of him backfires as he returns home and leads us to glory over a Pep-lead City. I could live with that.
Then again I hear that Flamini can do anything he wants. Maybe he could discover the fountain of youth and give Arsene a sip. Then he could just stay forever. Yeah, I’d like that.
To continue H’s theme of fools and their money…
I reckon Gibbs to score last.
🙂
Showers, monkeys, goalfests and pussy galore and all that is just behind the sofa. May the match itself bring half the excitement of your preview, ‘holic. 😀
(The pussy galore may have been just in my perverted mind but that’s the only thing!!!)
Good preview with Pellegrini’s quote, a man with integrity and dignity which is quite rate these days in equivalent positions at top clubs. City are no Barca but like most I’ve been looking forward to this game with the same confident outlook as Clive.
For those interested an excellent Arsene interview regarding stats and their use: http://www.arsenal.com/news/features/20151219/-statistics-can-cheat-you-
When a manager suggests a match won’t be decisive it’s a dead giveaway he’s thinking negatively. Give me AW’s ‘massive game’ summation any day. It is. successive losses for $iteh and the wheels could start parting company, even with Aguero back. And we are just the team to do it.
4-2 might be a tad optimistic though, but 3-1 could be close. And any win will do without incurring injury.
Does TR7 have his own room at Shenley? Or has he simply taken over the Diaby suite? Of all our injured I can’t help thinking the influence of that baby-faced dynamo has been the most missed over the years. If we could just get him on the field for the last few minutes of our Prem, FA Cup or CL winning moment of the season…
Oskar
Massive fixture.
4-2?
1 nil to the Arsenal.
Will do nicely.
Good work H. Very interesting and comprehensive view of the game. I think 1-0 to us will be the result with Alexis coming off the bench to score from an Ozil assist.
I note that Welbeck is after all out until ‘ at least ‘ February’ with bruising to the bone. To all intents and purposes that’s the season over for him and necessitates action in January.
Very sad to hear of the death of Jimmy Hill. I met him on a plane once. The term ‘ gentleman’ would be very apt.
I went to the Amex today to see Brighton get muller end by Boro. On this evidence Boro will be champions and Brighton will fall like a stone- I was very unimpressed.
Nice preview, Holic. I’m going with 3-0 to the Arsenal.
Well summarised Holic. This is a difficult game to predict – both teams came hurt you when on song. However, City’s back 4 on Monday are not a good set and they give away poor goals. On this basis 2-1 seems best guess – a win of any score will be a great result.
This could be a stalemate,imho.Arsenal must not fall into the trap of
attacking all the time. MC will probably opt for a counter and with Aquero it could be dangerous.
As for Pep,can he win 99.99% of the time?Mathematically it aint possible unless its in Germany/Spain/Holland where the top sides can win most of the time unlike the epl.
The rd fans are accustomed to winning. When the winning run stops,they better get used to the idea that the epl is a more level playing field and they have no divine right to the epl title.
Even if they were to get rf in acaretaker basis,I doubt he can make much of a difference.He better enjoy his retirement.
Excellent preview, Holic !
2-1 would be a fantastic result given the continued absence of our central midfield. We will need Alexis back I think, but Joel Campbell has yet to let us down at all and will certainly work hard in both halves.
Time for Giroud to take advantage of Kompany’s absence.
TTG,
Welbeck’s problem sounds more like a condition than an injury to me. Nine months out with bruising to the bone ?
Must have been some whack ……
Bath, any thoughts ?
So the papers are full of Mourino taking over at OT.Nothing can be further from the truth.Even if Mourino takes over can he guarantee MU start winning and winning like in the old days of rf.If not he could be axed asap.
Get real .The days when MU can lord it over ,are over.When the winning stops as rf found,you have to move or be sacked.
I his ope UEFa after the Blater/Platini clique gone,the playfair with regard to financial restrictions come into force again.It would be boring if its always the same teams contesting the finals using their megbucks/euros.
Fine preview Guvna.
Like several wise drinkers above, I expect a tight affair and 1-0 to the good guys would be a perfect result.
Here’s hoping that Rambo and the Flamster can have their defensive instincts to the fore and they prevent Silva having a free rein.
And great post in the last drinks Esso. Wise words. Drink on the bar.
Is it that time of the year again when VanBalls lives up to his name…and drops his pants?!!?!
😀
Sorry Trev, I overlooked your question. I am afraid that it’s well outside my expertise. I think you are correct when you suggest that it has become a ‘condition’. Presumably there was sub periosteal harm atoms that had to be removed. If not naturally resorbed this can ossify which can clearly be problematic for an athlete if close to a joint. I would guess that there now is some recurrent haematoma, necrosis, inflammation or chronic infection at the site of the original injury and subsequent surgery. All guesswork based on wisps of 40 year old memory of ‘Bone Pathology’.
Darn spill chucked.
Harm atoms (rather inventive really) = haematoma
Good preview ‘Holic!
Interesting match tomorrow night – all 3 results possible, but I’m hoping that home advantage and an opportunity to get at a sometime vulnerable back 4, might work in our advantage. I like the sound of 3-1 to us with Ollie keeping up his recent good run.
As for the Welbeck injury, even by Arsenal standards, it’s got to be right up there as one of the most ambiguous of recent times. He takes a whack at the end of April (though perhaps even then it was more the last straw in a deteriorating condition), but the decision to operate is only taken in September, after 3 months of pre-season and after the transfer window closes. Correct me if I’m wrong, but does Wenger’s latest bulletin on Welbeck essentially say that the surgery hasn’t been successful as the ‘condition’ has returned? Can we trust a Feb return, or will there be a statement in late-Jan pushing Welbeck’s return back another month or two? I’m usually fairly pro Wenger’s careful transfer activity, but as we can’t rely on Danny, I think we’d be taking a huge gamble on Ollie and Theo (particularly the latter) staying fit and in form till the middle of May. A striker is right up there with a CM as a must-need in the Jan window now I think. It would be a shame to see injuries prove the biggest cause of any failure to land the league this season.
Off to have a few ‘harm atoms’ this afternoon now….
Good preview, Guv’nor. I’d take 2-1 in a heartbeat. Got to win all your home games. Both sides have the firepower to score a hatful, but I think Clive is right that this will be a close, low scoring game. It might not be a ‘must win’ but equally it is a ‘mustn’t lose’ for both sides.
bath@20: rather liked ‘harm atoms’. In layman’s terms, your diagnosis is that Welbeck’s done, right?
RIP Jimmy Hill. I hope all the £100,000+ a week young stars of today understand what they owe him for breaking the maximum wage and the moneybags paying those salaries for Jimmy Hill’s part in transforming football into a media business. A transformative figure and a man of integrity and decency to boot.
So, Ancelotti to replace Pep at Bayern for next season. Can’t blame him for avoiding the UK, and Manchester, in particular, like the plague. Timing suggests that it won’t be Pep to Arsenal, though.
Matt@8: thanks for the link. Most interesting interview, especially AW’s prediction of the diminishing importance of a manager’s judgement in the coming 20 years.
Also interesting for two pieces of language; his description of the DM as a ‘tactical position’ and his use of ‘technical’ — a word he is always using — to encompass judgement, decision-making and experience as well as skill and expertise.
Trev, bath: Just been reading up on ‘harm atoms’. Seems it can take from 3 weeks to 2 years to recover from bone bruises. You just know at which end of the range an Arsenal player will lie.
harm atoms
brilliant ?
cheers bath
and let’s not forget
jimmy hill’s pop career , ned
i have the single
gave it a wee outing yesterday
Good Old Arsenal indeed , jimmy
R.I.P.
Watford are putting the Bindippers to the sword. Klopp out??
TTG. Watford looking good. Klopp, not to mention Slaven Bilic, may have missed his true career calling. Professional wrestler is what I was thinking for the pair of them.
Klopp reminds me of Freddie Blassie, an American pro wrestler of a few (or more than a few) years back: http://www.wrestlingmuseum.com/images/photos/blassie-freddie02.jpg
Blassie’s exploits were described on my black and white TV when I was a youngster by none other than Dick Lane, whose Wikipedia entry credits him with the initial use in sportscasting of the phrase “Whoa, Nelly.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Lane_(TV_announcer)
Maybe “Whoa, Nelly” is what Klopp ought to say to his players in his half-time talk?
Cheers, bath,
Interesting response, thanks.
You would seem to agree with what I was thinking in that there must be some degree of necrosis or permanent bruising. The latter can happen when tendon or ligament insertions become chronically inflamed. If not rested in time, or for long enough, the bony tissue essentially softens and cannot form a solid anchor point for the tendon / ligament.
That leads to further inflammation and injury to the insertion site, which is a difficult to impossible cycle to get out of.
My own knee replacement operation was a case in point. Rather than risk detaching the patellar tendon from the tibia, exactly because they do not heal well, the surgeon sliced the whole tibial tuberosity off, fitted the new joint and then wired the two tibial elements back together.
That last paragraph is only intended as a practical example of the sort of problem Welbeck may now be struggling with. It doesn’t, in itself, explain how the initial injury / condition arose. Presumably it was something that occurred after he joined the club as such damage would otherwise have been obvious on X-Ray.
I love “harm atoms” by the way. ??
The players must be breathing them in by the billion at Shenley.
The harm atomosphere ??
Could be on to something ……..
Trev@29: the question is who’ll be back for first-team action first, Danny or you?
cba@26: indeed. Rose to the dizzy heights of no 16 in the charts. Probably a good job the lads didn’t give up their day jobs, though….
For younger ‘holics:
https://youtu.be/QUncUQn7P20
Five teams from the Big Smoke in the top eight now (and the ninth going down in flames).
Ned, sadly it could be me !
I have a very deceptive turn of pace these days – I’m a lot slower than I look !
?
Indeed, RIP Jimmy Hill.
It’s a real shame that having done absolutely everything else in the game JH didn’t also go into football administration. His integrity, ingenuity and unlimited enthusiasm stand in stark contrast to the foetid style of the grandees of FIFA and UEFA.
Good old Arsenal should be sung tomorrow evening in his memory.
Bath/ Trev
Thank you for your insights into Welbeck’s woes.’ Harm Atoms ‘ will soon find its way into the lexicon of football medical jargon. When I read it I just accepted it as a term that was new to me!
If haematomas were formed does this suggest that the surgery may not have been optimally performed? And vitally does it suggest that poor Danny may have a career- ending situation here?
Despite the emergence of Joel Campbell I suggest an injury to Giroud could derail our season given Theo’s fragility. I understand Sanchez was spotted at training today but given our financial reserves I think we might stretch to Chicharito if he became available, or Ighalo if we could prise him from Watford
Today’s game is the first time I have seen him play but Ighalo must be on the radar of all the bigger clubs and from what I saw I rate him higher than Vardy. He is younger, faster, stronger, and overall just looks better. Vardy is more in the category of Charlie Austin, not to knock either one of those two.
TTG, it really is not my field. My comments were based on my memory of the Pathology of bone injuries that I last studied as an undergraduate. Normally bruises are removed by cellular digestion but bruises under the tissue layer lining on bone surfaces can become converted to bone especially if the bone surface is damaged as bone creating cells can migrate into the bruise (haematoma) and lay down bone to replace the haematoma. This is helpful if the bone has been broken and forms a cuff round the broken ends that stabilises the broken bone and ultimately promotes fusion. It’s natures way of healing fractures. Provided the bone alignment is ok and the break is stabilised (that’s a skill that humans have had for millennia) the bone heals. In time the bone is remodelled to smooth out the cuff but this takes years.
Like many natural processes eg inflammation, immunity and cell growth, this process can become unhelpful in the wrong context. I believe the original problem was a ‘bruised knee’ so it was close to a joint. There was a long period where it was hoped no surgery would be necessary. Presumably they expected the bruise to be re absorbed as normally occurs elsewhere in the body and probably usually does with minor impact injuries. Clearly this did not occur and interfered with physical activity. An attempt may have been made to remove it which would not necessarily be simple. I don’t think it is likely to be surgical error that the haematoma may recur or that symptoms in that area do not resolve.
Who knows if it will affect Danny’s career? It’s not going to help it for sure. We can only hope that this ‘setback’ is temporary and he makes a full and speedy recovery.
Phil Jones says the mood at Manchester United is not as glum as it was under David Moyes.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/35147047
Wonder if he will still think the same way in a few weeks’ time after tried, true and tested glum has set in.
bt8 is right, comparing Vardy to Austin, last season’s wonder striker. Vardy is enjoying a dream run and looking the part now, but at 28 years old where has he been? And how much longer will he deliver in the very best company now he’s a marked man? Mahrez is the Leicester player we should be looking at, not Vardy. Just 23 and the perfect opposite wing balance to Alexis, imo. Yes, that means I rate him ahead of Theo. 🙂
Oskar
…maybe that was a bit unfair on Theo. I was considering Theo’s fragility in preferring Mahrez.
Oskar
Oskar, Congratulations on your inspired selection of Mahrez as Wellington Booters captain this week. He has so far accounted for almost 2/3 of your team’s points BUT that has not been enough to hold off the charge of Oxlade Soup Ladlers who as of today passed up Booters in the Goonerholic You Ropey League table. Ladlers had been stuck in bottom of table obscurity until the last couple of weeks and had been considering a name change to Guaranteed Obsolescents since sacking the manager turned out to be a practical impossibility. 😉
More inspired than when I had Theo as capt week after week, bt8. That put me way down the list and right out of contention.
Congrats on your upward progression. Until OG gets a hat trick tomorrow anyway. 😉
Oskar
Time we gave someone a spanking.
3-0 to the good guys.
UTA.
Looking forward to tonight, games against Man City have been rather entertaining affairs lately. The 2-2 home game last season was an absolute cracker with both teams also hitting the woodwork apart from the goals they scored and both teams chasing the winning goal right up until the last kick of the game. The away game was of course a much less open affair but as we won, it was of course very entertaining anyway 🙂
blattini
ha ha !
Blatter – either he’s got more front than Selfridges or totally delusional
( more likely both ). It’s taken time but good to see the crumbling of the FIFA fiefdom.
Looking over at the Bridge of Sighs, maybe Gibbons was being prophetic when he wrote the Fall & Decline of the Roman Empire 🙂
@CBA
HAHA…Blatini!
Most definitely on the rocks!
😀
I just sense a draw, hope and pray for a win. Two teams offensively brilliant, defensive vulnerable. The difference will be the midfield, fernando/toure vs flamini/ramsey will be the decider. Can our boys curb their natural tendency of going forward or will the city boys play on that factor.
Debruyne and Sterling offer the threat on the wings specially sterling against bellerin for our bright spark at right back hasnt been at his best since his come back.
Arsenal need to play this not with the gung-ho approach but more so measured. I would love the replica of the ettihad performance but at home i sense us trying to go all out attack initially atleast, ala the united game.
Aguero will start but i do not see Alexis doing so. He may be off the bench but as rightly said by a few here, Campbell has done enough to start. I expect the same 11 as the last game and hopefully we have enough composure to get the result.
Uply
I watched a little of Blatter’s speech at the gym. He’s a pathetic little man who tried to invoke the memory of Nelson Mandela in his defence. Frankly they’ve got them on this charge but in governance terms you could drive a bus through their operation. It’s corrupt , inefficient and self- serving but with the FBI involved they are swimming with sharks and the Swiss authorities will move quickly if they see the ‘ Swiss brand’ being defamed. He is yesterday’s man who just can’t stop clinging to the trappings of office.
Thanks for that drink Bath. For a bloke who doesn’t know a lot about the subject you sure know a lot about the subject. My knowledge is greatly increased
In case you had any illusion about the FIFA/UEFA investigation being about sanitizing both organizations here’s the list of candidates to succeed Blatter: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_FIFA_Extraordinary_Congress. To sum it up:
2 middle-eastern royals
1 south-african “businessman”
2 FIFA Blatter-clones insiders
As expected none of them ever shot a football in their lives.
One of the Blatter clones is also the UEFA favorite to succeed Platini should he fail in the FIFA race.
Vinay, please!! Let’s not be ‘avin any draw talk around here. 3 points please!!
Good article by Martin Keown today about Kompany and City’s defensive pairing options, also including his assessment of the title race.
TTG.
That’s weird. Why did Blatter give his speech from a gym?
Oskar, Giroud hat trick you say? Booters delight if so, not to mention mine. 🙂
I thought I’d take a punt this week to try to recoup some points. I went with Captain Benteke.
Klopp didn’t even start him. His team lost 3-0. Shows what he knows.
GSD. 🙂
My captain scored 2 points. Shows what I know…
Cat Cech : http://i.imgur.com/zhAGw73.gif
Come onnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!
😀
Good find BB
Come on Arsenal!
COME OOOOOOON!
streams for those in need http://www.livefootballol.com/streaming/english-premier-league/21-12-2015-arsenal-manchester-city.html
nervous. no flow at the moment.
boosh.
DeBuyne attacking our corner flags!!!!
HAhah!
😀
Switch the wingers over please.
Theo Theo Theo Theo Theo Theo…….
yeahhh!!
Get in here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GET THE FUCK IN!
Alexi…….THEOOOOOO!!!!
GET IN!!!
100th THEO Goal!!
What a strike Theeooo!!! COYG.
here=there ha ha
14th assist for Mesut too!
Girooouuuuddd !!!!
Oh Giroud u beauty
:* OG
THE-o….GIrouuuuddd!!
GET INNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNn!!!
Through Hart’s wide open legs too…!
😀
wow, what a quick, sweet goal. perfect use of mangala…
Campbell superb….as hard working as Alexis!
So, 2-1 or 4-2 then? 😉
7-2.
Our goal differential v. Leicester and City combined. Not a bad number. 🙂
That was an odd half. More of the same please, only with the same number of goals shared. Ta.
Looking good so far.
Not gonna get carried away though. This is a very cat and mouse like game. I do like the look of our shape when we haven’t got the ball though. Disciplined.
COME ON ARSENAAAL.
Joel has had a good game, should have hit that for a 3d.
84 x2
another chance spurned.
wwe comes to the grove!
we could be out of sight.
well played, Joel.
fish God, I love you.
feeling like cba here, less oddly witty, though.
fuck. but gives the guv hope.
Shit, Yaya scores. 2-1. Ramsey spurns a fine chance to score and Bony almost scores at the other end. Don’t panic Arsenal. Need to hold on for 3 points.
well played, theo.
yes!!!
well in, holic!
Yeah. We did it!!!!
What an emotional roller coaster towards the end!
We should have been well away but hey that what its all about!
I had a bet on 3-1
Merry fucking Christmas 🙁
Brilliant win though. Nail bitey but a very good three points.
yes!!
Three points is all that matter and the lads did not disappoint!
Come on Arsenal!
You can come out from behind the sofa now, ‘Holic.
It wouldn’t be Arsenal to close out an easy 2-0 win.
Just added a few new pairs of underpants to the Christmas wish list.
Another holic pound for the Guvs. Very very crucial win.
But still I don’t understand why Campbell and Ozil being replaced. Both replacement (gibss and ox) didn’t add much to our game
Leicester, watch out!
Ambydex – probably since the Christmas schedule is very demanding and you need to rest your players a bit here and there to keep squad as fresh as possible.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I so want believe this is our season. Long a ways to may but with gritty performances like this we surely have more than the usual mathematical chance. I want to believe!!