We’ve Passed This Way Before – Not Hull’s Favourite Jimmy Ruffin Track
Feb 19th, 2016 by 'holic
The FA Cup may be under attack as the ‘powers that be’ ruminate on the possibility of ending replays, and switching the competition to midweek fixtures. However they should note the sense of anticipation felt by the supporters of the clubs that remain in the competition for this weekends fifth round. The old girl survives and remains treasured as second only to the Premier League championship in the domestic pecking order.
The Arsenal, unbeaten in the competition since this weekend three years ago, have had yet another favourable home draw, giving fuel to those who conveniently forget that on our way to winning the last two Finals we have beaten Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton, and Manchester United at Old Trafford. The third consecutive meeting with Hull City, who came so close to beating us in the 2014 Final, looks a more comfortable draw this time.
Both teams will utilise their full squad with important matches to follow, but that won’t diminish the intensity of the contest. Arsenal will start David Ospina in goal and may rest Petr Cech completely. It would be a surprise to see Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal, Aaron Ramsey, Francis Coquelin, Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, and Olivier Giroud start on Saturday lunchtime. The spine of the side will surely be preserved for our date with Barcelona.
The back four may be Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, Calum Chambers, and Kieran Gibbs. Before last Saturday I might well have been more worried about the inclusion of Chambers alongside the skipper, but as listeners to this weeks A Bergkamp Wonderland podcast will have heard the young man impressed in the second-half against Leicester and should be rewarded with a start this weekend.
January signing Mohamed Elneny is in contention for his second start and may well be partnered with Mathieu Flamini. Ahead of them the options are many. Alex Iwobi has probably earned a third crack at replacing the mercurial Ozil, but the wide roles and central striker will have prompted much thought by Arsene Wenger. Fit again Danny Welbeck grabbed the dramatic winner last Sunday, but he could find himself on the left wing with Theo Walcott offered another opportunity to deputise for Giroud after his equaliser against Leicester. That would leave Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joel Campbell hoping for the nod on the right. The boss is in no doubt that the side he selects will be properly prepared.
βThe team is up for it, the team has a united spirit and the team is ready for a fight. We are ready to deal with uncomfortable situations and find a solution to them.Β You want to take care of the momentum because youβre quickly in a loss of confidence if you are not careful. The best thing you can do as a manger is to prepare with the needed resolute attitude that keeps this momentum alive.β
Steve Bruce faces similar issues. The visitors boss was quite open about the wholesale changes that he will be making. The Championship leaders are seeking a return to the riches that the top flight has to offer and that has to be their priority. After being pipped by us at Wembley in 2014 they had the misfortune to draw us at the first hurdle last season.
“Making changes is the only option I’ve got. After Arsenal, we play again on Tuesday and then Friday so I have to make sure we’re fresh enough to compete in those games as well.”
The ‘holic pound
I have been hitting the post of late but hopeful that the side we put out will have the ability to weather any early ambition from the visitors and eventually pick them off with pace and precision of passing. I have put the pound on 3-0 to the hosts at 21/2, so expect it to finish 2-0 or 4-0! If he does start in the centre I might well have a back-up pound on Theo Walcott to score two or more at 8/1.
That’s it for now. A ever I hope we put on a performance for those going to the match. I am keeping my vocal chords in shape for Barcelona and will join the huge television audience, hopefully not from behind the sofa for once.
Have a good one ‘holics.
56 Responses to “We’ve Passed This Way Before – Not Hull’s Favourite Jimmy Ruffin Track”
“Holic, on Saturday night, looking forward to the Tigers listening to Jimmy Ruffin’s biggest hit — “What Becomes Of the Broken-Hearted?”
Brave, Holic, betting on a clean sheet.
Have you forgotten that a certain Mr Dean is reffing tomorrow ?
Reffing useless, no doubt. ?
Indeed I had, Trev π
Bruce is back and this time it’s personal… again!
A preview to get the footballing juices flowing Holic, many thanks .
As I said this morning I am much more interested in winning this game than the Barcelona game. The Barcelona game is a prestige friendly as far as I’m concerned and I hope we acquit ourselves well but I think that team are next to unbeatable over two legs and better than when we played them before so painful though it is I’ve written off our chances in that one.
It will be incredible to win the FA Cup three years in a row and we will be one match from Wembley if we go through tomorrow. Bearing in mind my pessimism about Barca and because he needs games I’d like to see Coquelin paired with Elneny with Iwobi playing in the hole. Danny might be looking at minutes on the pitch tomorrow.
We could look to hopefully give a pretty complete rest to Cech, Monreal, Ramsey, Koscielny , Sanchez, Ozil and Giroud or Theo tomorrow. Hopefully our starting Xl will have enough to beat a weakened Hull who I expect to see back in the Premier League next season.
I think 3-0 is a decent bet but we need to start scoring early. It’s a habit we’ve got out of.
Hull will surely consider Tuesday’s Championship match more important than this one, since returning to the Prem is a more important goal for them than an FA Cup win, not to mention a far more attainable one. In fact an FA Cup run is probably the last thing they want right now.
Consequently I expect them to rest key players, which should make it easy enough for whatever Arsenal team is selected. Although even if they don’t rest anyone they will surely be thinking ahead to Tuesday.
This is a game for Elneny to start, possibly alongside Coq, with JC and Danny on the wings and Theo at CF until the game is safe (HT?) then OG. Something like: Ospina, Cal, Per, Gab, Gibbo, Elnino, Coq, JC, Ox, Danny, Theo/OG. Maybe even play Flambo at FB?
Just what I’d do of course, so don’t bet on it! π
Oskar
I hope the referee is welcomed to the Emirates with a cacophony of jeers, boos and songs referencing his dubious parentage and compulsive, solo sex life. The man is totally unfit to officiate and spoils the game for players and fans alike.
Tea with honey please barman. I’ve got to keep my vocal chords in shape for Hull City and Barcelona both. π
Mike Dean is a northern wanker and a northern banker.
Great picture of Alexis, Giroud and Welbeck.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160219/arsenal-train-ahead-of-hull-city-match
Kris Olsson, now of Midtjylland, on the Manchester United “performance” yesterday:
http://www.football365.com/news/midtjylland-man-man-united-play-a-little-slow
That sense of anticipationβ¦ I only know we’re at home because the new Gooner dropped through my door today and I had no idea what day, what time and what channel our game was until I looked it up!
A sorry state of affairs.
@10 bt8
Olsson β a former trainee at Arsenal-
π
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We shouldn’t rest too many players.. but Ozil and Alexis should have a break..!
Hopefully we get a more comfortable game around this time.. and the ref won’t be more of a C… than he normally is!
Cheers H!
Mike fucking Dean! Dear God! Still we managed to overcome one total incompetent last week, here’s hoping for similar.
Pretty sure its first time Dean’s had anything to do with us since that fiasco at the bridge, for which he was publically humiliated when Gabriel’s card was rescinded. Should be grateful for small mercies I suppose. Was at his absolute cunty best in his 4th Official role at Citeh last week, so I reckon he was limbering up to give us another absolute pasting.
We shall see.
Greetings ‘Holics,
Nice preview. Spot on TTG @5, however, I’d want to be a lot more cautious with the scoreline depending on who makes up the front three. I’d go for a 3-1 to the Arsenal. Like the Guv’nor, my vocal cords are lubed and lying in wait for Barca.
Good preview, as ever, ‘Holic.
Between Mike Dean and resting half the defence, conceding a goal doesn’t seem inconceivable, so AD’s 3-1 seems more than possible — and available a 13-1 for those so minded.
Another early kick off means my ticket is elsewhere. I blame the ref. Le Coq needs games so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him play a part. I blame the ref for that. I would also expect to see Elneny feature strongly. It will be nice to have someone not afraid to shoot from outside the box. I blame the ref.
Note to the FA. Leave the FA Cup alone. Start making changes and it will start to dimnish in value. I blame the ref for that.
Time to stop looking for scapegoats and man up. Time to look at ourselves if things don’t go to plan and to deal with it. We can’t sit and proclaim that we are genuine title contenders and not think we can beat Hull at home. Go in, get the job done and look forward to Tuesday. Simple really.
Fine preview Guvna.
Sadly like Trev and Ned, I can’t see us keeping a clean sheet with a reshaped defence and that weasel as referee.
Apart from his 4th official role last weekend (presumably corroborating Atkinson’s view of the Drinkwater assault) it is indeed the first time since his disgraceful performance at the bus stop that we have had to suffer his lack of objectivity or could it even be, bias?
Here’s hoping we have a team capable of beating 12 men.
Here’s to hoping we have 11 men still on the field at the end of the game as well…
π
“So expect to finish 2-0 or 4-0” I’ll do that most happily, sir! Could you possibly add a “no new injuries clause” to that do you think?
I’m not sure that we’ll see changes as wholesale as you hint at, Holic but I am hoping to see Calum Chambers get another start. Very talented young man. Wasn’t so long ago that I was hearing that he “could only play RB” and he’d “never ever be a CB or DM”. Thought it was bollocks at the time, still think it’s bollocks.
Enjoy.
Welbeck, Elneny, Chambers, Gibbs, Ospina, Koscielny,Per, Flamini, Campbell, Iwobi, Walcott.
Whole lot of changes.. but team still looks strong.. and Fresh!!
π
Cheers for the preview Guv’.
Personaly I think Alexis needs minutes to play himself into form. I agree with Steve T that Coq could probably benifit from a run out too, but doubt he’ll be risked. If Elneny doesn’t start then I will question why we bothered to recruit him.
Ospina didn’t do too much wrong in the last round, made a few nice saves too, he still scares me shitless though every time a cross comes into the box or we have to face a setpiece anywhere in his vicinity. The only downside of having a keeper like Cech is that you really, really miss him when he’s replaced. It’s not just Ospina ofcourse, Cech makes most other keepers look inferior.
Still, this is a game where the fringe players, the bench warmers and those returning from injured must get their chance, it is up to them to force themselves into the managers plans for the remainder of the season. Time to step up lads. A place in the quarters await.
COYG.
Cheers H.
Esso @14. I can’t believe that you have the bottle to bring up the referee’s performance as a factor in our loss at the bridge. You need to grow a pair mate. It was clearly nothing to do with him and I can’t believe you even brought him up. Your scapegoating is indicative of the sickening culture of blaming others for defeats that exists amongst Arsenal fans. I think it is despicable and I shall shake my little fist at you!
Wait. Where am I? Have I gone too far? I can no longer see reasonable concerns as anything other than whinging and I have resorted to scornful sarcasm to show how clever my point is…
So now who do I blame?
4-1. Four different scorers for us.
And Mike Dean to score their consolation with a last minute diving header. You heard it here first folks!
@24 GSD
The Ref!
Game hasn’t started yet and I’m already on the lookout for ‘Hindsight’ brought to you by Howard Webb…
π
Cheers Holic.
Good opportunity for many of the squad to get a meaningful game under their belt. They should be playing for the win and also give the boss positive selection issues for the remaining games of the season. I like the look of the guvna’s 3-0 but any score and no injuries will be the best result.
Hull have also selected a second team but note there are a couple of bone crunchers to be wary of. Of course our favourite ref will clamp down on rotational fouling / dangerous tackles………only if perpretated by us π
COYRRR
Hull boss Steve Bruce thinks replays should go…
“I would be in favour of scrapping replays. No one loves the cup more than I do but if we draw today, I don’t know where we would fit it in…
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Well you had better lose then don’t you Brucey?!
Up The Arse!
π
Handball!
COme On!!
Mike Dean strikes early by missing arm ball in the box.
Ohh… Iwobi…. unlucky!
COME ON~!!!
Hull had absolutly no intention other then to keep their whole team behind the ball.
Can we please crank it up a gear in the second half?
Come on you redsss.
At home against a Hull team that have very little intention of attacking. Do we need two holding players in midfield? Time to be a bit more adventurous.
Lots of the ball, some good chances but we need to be more clinical. Impressed with Iwobi and his contribution so far.
Lots of empty seats it would appear.
COME ON!!!!!!!!!
A good 67 minutes under his belt for Welbeck. Still don’t get why we are playing both Flamini and Elneny.
Kos a lucky boy. Needs to keep his head or he won’t see out the 90.
Commmmmmmmmmmmme On!
Credit to Hull.. they held on.
We were crap today but as Steve T says we can blame the ref!
Well defended Hull. It just wasn’t happening for us. I think the subs actually made us worse. Poor Alexis is struggling.
Not the end of the world, but does annoyingly add another game in what is already a packed schedual.
Play the second stringers in the replay…
Really like Iwobi and Campbell is just as hard working as Alexis.
Another fixture is the last thing we really need right now. Hull did defend well but we need to be better than that in front of goal. I still struggle to get why we needed two holding players on for the 90 minutes? 24 attempts and no goals against Hull? Not sure Barca will be quaking if they have watched that.
On to Tuesday night. Lets hope we are a lot sharper then.
KSN@39
?
Hull’s goalie was inspiring.. really kept them in it.
Any other day and we would have got a goal or two..
Good news is no one got injured.
I like the replays.. give our second stringers more chance to play and impress.
Campbell and Iwobi would start in any other team. And Gibbs and Chambers should get games. Welbeck needs a few more games to get that extra sharpness.
Barca will be a good match! If we can keep our defence as tight as Hull did.. we may just surprise.
π
He made two good saves, the rest were routine, most were straight at him. We only have ourselves to blame for not scoring, we are poor in front of goal this season, there’s just no getting away from that fact.
We must be like the wolf pack.. not the six pack!
π
@45 H2H
Agreed.. our finishing has really been poor the past few games..
Alexis has not found his range since coming back yet..and the rest is the usual story.
Still 2 good saves is 2 goals.
π
Not happy with that. At all.
Alexis way off form, you could see the desperation dripping off him, almost nothing came off for him. Feo is Feo, always has been, always will be, I see no reason to say anything else, he’s on one of his patches. OG has gone seven games without a goal too, worrying indeed. Only bright spot upfront today was Welbeck.
Barca machine marches on..Suarez just scored again…
I think Alexis needs games… he’s just coming back after all.. he usually would have buried that free kick.
If only Welbeck used his physical stature like Giroud.. he would be first choice!
And there you have it. Brother Holland @45 hits the nail as hard and as squarely on the head as is physically possible.
The quality of our finishing is absolutely awful. We make very average goalkeepers look world class.
Suar
Just in from the game. Damp weather and damp squib of a performance.
In truth we came close on a few occasions and despite an occasional flap from Ospina, we never looked likely to gift them a goal until a jittery last few minutes.
Not a performance to inspire either fear in any opposition let alone Farca or confidence that we are capable of grabbing this Premiership.
Where, oh where will we find that fox in the box?
Meanwhile I blame Mike Dean for both the miserable weather and global warming.
After being stuck on the tube and queuing in the rain I have arrived home and haven’t back drunk. There isn’t much you can say about that. We lacked penetration badly today. That was nowhere near Hull’s best side and one starter for them was 16.
Their goalie was decent but he didn’t have to do much that was spectacular.
We really do have to wonder again if Theo will ever find a consistent run of top form. He was very poor today as was Campbell. Young Iwobi is a real talent but today wasn’t his day. He needs a bit of patience as he is going to be very good indeed. In midfield I thought Elneny was very tidy, he fits our team pattern well. He wasn’t helped by Flamini playing way ahead of him most of the time, to very little effect. I also liked the contribution of Chambers and Welbeck looked lively if needing the game. But although our subs strived hard, Alexis is currently nowhere near his best , Giroud gave them some problems and Ox still fails to take the chances that come his way. Giroud set him up beautifully at the end but he shot wastefully wide.
Hull were very well organised, very unambitious and probably needed the draw less than us. A pretty anodyne day at the Home of Football
Some highlights and reactions from the match:-
http://www.espnfc.com/english-fa-cup/story/2811398/hull-hero-eldin-jakupovic-i-was-lucky-to-stop-free-kick
http://www.espnfc.com/arsenal/story/2811477/arsene-wenger-arsenal-fa-cup-replay-against-hull-not-ideal
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