Let's Just Get This Weekend Out Of The Way
May 1st, 2009 by 'holic
It’s the bank holiday weekend, and I am not back at work until next Wednesday. The weather forecast is half decent. We are at Portsmouth for a proper 3pm Saturday kick-off and the opponents, seven points clear of the drop zone with four games remaining, have little to play for. I should be ready to dance a jig, shouldn’t I?
I doubt I am alone amongst the supporters for whom Pompey is just a game now to be escaped without a confidence-sapping defeat, or any further injuries prior to Tuesday’s massive, massive second leg. Let’s hope that those that are fit, and sent out to play at Fratton Park, are not as distracted as us!
For us the fourth Champions League place is all but secure, and third now appears a distant possibility. For that reason I would certainly start with those who were not in the starting eleven at Old Trafford. Arsene Wenger would not be drawn at the press conference ahead of the game. ‘Sometimes it’s good to play, sometimes it is good to rest players. You will see tomorrow.’
Let me put something out there. With Mikael Silvestre definitely out, and in the managers words ‘will be short for Tuesday’, I would not play either Kolo Toure or Johan Djourou, potentially our only two fit senior squad central defenders for the Champions League semi-final, at Fratton Park. Let me say those words again. The Champions League semi-final. Don’t come back to us after one of them has picked up a knock and say that they should not have played with the benefit of hindsight.
If that means giving debuts to Kyle Bartley and Luke Ayling, then do it. I’ve seen quite a lot of them. Raw and inexperienced they may be, but they work well together, and can only benefit from the experience. Yes, Peter Crouch will cause them problems, but frankly he has caused much their more experienced peers a headache or two as well. We could help them by providing a degree of cover and adopting an attacking attitude to the game.
Denilson and one other, possibly Ramsey could provide the necessary cover. Arshavin must be a certainty to start as the key creator. Wilshere and Vela could give us width and an attacking focus. Up top should be the big man who will not be starting against United. That’s probably Bendtner, but Adebayor should be left in no doubt that if he is required to make an appearance from the bench that more is expected of him than we have seen in the last couple of games.
The ‘holic pound, and not much more, is heading on a draw at half-time with Arsenal to nick the win in the second-half, widely available at 9/2. Don’t punt more than you can afford to lose is good advice at any time, but is particularly relevant to games like this. Anything could happen.
Those who are heading down there, enjoy your afternoon exchanging songs with the usually boisterous locals. The rest of us will once again be chasing the streams, but will have only one eye on the game.
The other will be firmly focused on Tuesday!
15 Responses to “Let's Just Get This Weekend Out Of The Way”
Arsenal will defeat Manchester United on Tuesday 2-0.
Find the best odds. Back it.
I don´t know, I´d much rather like for Ramsey or Wilshere to get to play on tuesday than Diaby. I´m really really pessimistic after the first performance and with our injuries..
Hope we play a 4 4 2 with
Almunia
Sagna Djourou Toure Gibbs
Eboue Song Fabregas Nasri
Adebayor Walcott
if Adebayor or Bendtner are rubbish we could then take them off for Denilson or Ramsey and move Fabregas up. Of course if Van Persie is fit I´d prefer him ahead of Bendtner. I just don´t want Diaby anywhere near the stadium after last game. This is a great starting 11 and Nasri should be able to give Gibbs good cover. I think Walcott as a striker would push their back 4 way back.
Not sure I can agree with Ayling and Bartley – they will bounce around like pins in a bowling alley when they go up for challenges vs Crouch, Campbell, Diop etc.
Would go with this:
Almunia
Eboue Djouro Toure Gibbs
Wilshere Denilson Ramsey Diaby/Vela
Arshavin Bendtner
Bench: Fabianski, Sagna, Emmanuel-Thomas, Randall, Cesc, Nasri, Diaby/Vela
if RVP is fit we just might reach that final in rome although i think we lost it at old trafford by not scoring and yes i am writting about the tuesday game cause i don’t think any one gives a shit about tom.except wenger who will of course start with every key player becausehe thinks we are going to win the epl or something
c’mon arsenal
Given the desperate state of our defense right now, I agree with ‘holic. We simply can’t afford any more injuries, so if it means a really inexperienced back four, then so be it.
I read somewhere that Merida may get a shot. And, let’s not forget our trump card: Bischoff 😉
I think he’ll play a largely reserve side, probably include Arshavin (because it makes no difference to the CL), and give a couple of trials to the youngsters. I think Luke Ayling is ready for a few tests in the cup team, so why not this game. Bischoff has looked pretty handy every time I’ve seen him – and again, about time he had his chance.
In the game, I think we’ll struggle to a draw, maybe 1-1. Neither team has anything to play for, and the only way to give us something to play for would be to play a bunch of kids and just tell them to go for it. Makes about as much sense as the tactics he used on Tuesday!
problem is the manager will ‘rest’ diaby and adebayor and waste walkhot and nasri again. wenger is a coward and he will never has the gut to go for adventure.
sack him before tuesday
Have to agree with you ‘holic, it has to be largely a reserve side tomorrow, mixed with some first teamers who wont feature on Tuesday.
etgoon, it is hard to imagine someone being that stupid with only one head.
Seriously, you need medical help.
No question whatsoever that Tuesday’s game is the priority, ‘Holic and I’m sure by now AW has that team pencilled dans le journal. I haven’t seen either Kyle Bartley or Luke Ayling play, so I’m at a disadvantage there. But, I’d be nervous about blooding them both on Saturday. I’d go with one and play Alex Song beside him (I suspect he won’t play on Tuesday).
Tomorrow for me would be:
Almunia
Eboue, Bartley, Song, Gibbs,
Ramsey, Diaby, Arshavin, Merida, Vela
Bendtner
Then on Tuesday:
Almunia
Sagna, Toure, Djourou, Clichy,
Fabregas, Denilson,
Walcott, Van Persie, Nasri,
Eduardo (or Adebayor if Dudu’s crocked).
Enjoy them both, Gooners. Porty game is on live here on Saturday, then slingbox in Chicago for the big one on Tuesday. My pink specs say “YES WE CAN”.
Interesting thoughts there ‘holic.
I think the best preparation for Tuesday is another win today so I don’t think AW will go for lots of changes but there will of course be some and we’ll have to wait to see what they are.
Perhaps Ramsey will play and Merida to. Eboue and AA are definites. Walcott will also play because he needs games as will Denilson, Song however is doubtful. Bendtner will probably start up front and Vela will also probably start.
We need this win with the run in we have left.
Well well. We’re all trying to second guess AW again. I’ve got 3 words for those who think they can.
NEVER
GONNA
HAPPEN
Just remember, before you berate his team selection, “Wenger knows” 😉
Dear Mr ‘holic. I missed you.
I’ll have a pint of James Boag to celebrate seeing you again in the near future I hope. 😉
Has to be what would be a Carling Cup side today.
Gibbs I’m sure won’t play, he only just made Wednesday. The make up of the back four would be inexperienced to say the least but you can only hope they will benefit from the experience. A fully motivated team of younsters would be better than a more experienced but perhaps not 100% focussed group of senior players.
Adebeyor needs to pull his finger out on Tuesday. Tom Watt said something along the lines that what we may deem as a “couldn’t give a toss” smirk may be a nervous reaction from a player who really seems to be lacking confidence. I don’t know but we have to get behind the boys on Tuesday regardless. Got a hunch game will go to pen’s.
Arsene knows.
JTH
I was within a whisker(well, give or take). Disappointed to see Denilson play today. I think that means Diaby, not Denilson will feature on Tuesday. Pity. Denilson brilliant again today. My MOM.