Fuller Themselves, But Will Stoke Suffer Arsenal Backlash?
Dec 4th, 2009 by 'holic
“It’s also proven that, when you play physical against them, you often win”
Ricardo Fuller leaves us in no doubt about Stoke City’s approach to a rare Saturday afternoon fixture at the Grove.
“Last year, at home, we did it and we won.”
Thank you for reminding us. We had forgotten all about that, hadn’t we? Just to set the record straight I was at the return game in May. Let me remind you what happened.
So to quote Bert Fuller of Hoxton, “It’s also proven that if the real Arsenal turn up it will take a damn sight more than a couple of long throws to stop them from camping in Stoke’s half all afternoon.”
That sums up the two ends of the spectrum for this, the one hundredth Arsenal fixture at the home that Arsene built. Chances are the game will pan out somewhere in between those extremes. Stoke will draw comfort from our three consecutive domestic defeats, while Arsene will have highlighted the fact that Stoke have just one win from seven away this season (with a last-gasp winner at Tottenham, bless ’em!).
The puzzle facing Arsene is quite simple. With Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner, and Theo Walcott all ruled out, who does he think can play up front and help to turn around our recent inability to score goals? On the face of it he has only the option of Eduardo or Carlos Vela. The little Mexican has looked the livelier of the pair in the last week, but I have a feeling the Crozilian will be asked to rediscover his touch again.
I’ll say again, knowing it won’t happen, that I really would be tempted to give Jay Emmanuel Thomas a game up front, just to see if a little height and physicality would give us a focal point around which the truly gifted midfielders could work their creative magic.
The back five virtually selects itself, and we will discover the true impact of Song’s suspension incurred in such a meaningless fashion on Wednesday night. Denilson should deputise. That leaves the four offensive players to support the front man. Is this the time for Rosicky, Nasri, Fabregas, and Arshavin to start in the same side?
If they can get the fast-breaking, crisp-passing game back then this side is mobile enough to create a lot of chances, and there are potential goalscorers aplenty. The uncertainty that has only recently developed makes a correct score prediction a risky business, so the ‘holic pound once again seeks a creative solution to the value bet. Paddy Power offer 16/5 on Tomas Rosicky scoring and Arsenal winning. I’m on it.
If I change my mind I’ll let you know over at Arseblog tomorrow morning. In the meantime I hope those of you that are going have a great day, particularly the crew meeting the new mrs nelly for the first time. One half of my readership in Kos is also over, so I hope the pessimistic forecasts, about both the weather and the potential result, prove unfounded.
Cheers ‘holics.
35 Responses to “Fuller Themselves, But Will Stoke Suffer Arsenal Backlash?”
Heh ‘holic. Lager, lager, lager. Well it will be tomorrow.
Someone is a busy boy.
‘holic,
I’m pretty sure that JET can’t play, due to rules regarding returning loanees. Similar to Nordtveit last season.
Good shout with Jay Emanuel Thomas.
I wouldn’t put my pip pound on it happeneing though.
Oh – how do you scrub a message again?
Which one?
All of my own I think.
Maybe.
Make your mind up, I am all powerful on t’interweb now π
Wacko, I think you will find the circumstances are different. Jay went on a one month loan to Blackpool which was extended to three, and was completed. He is an Arsenal player again. Havard returned early last season having signed a one year loan deal, but didn’t complete it.
It’s good to this it’s not gone to your head π
Feck me I need a new brain/keyboard/etc
I really think you’re right about Jay Emmanuel Thomas ‘holic. Even Jay Simpson at QPR would be a great option if we brought him back. With so many other little players in our side, having someone with physical presence to be the focal point would make a huge difference. I wish we’d tried that approach in our last two games to be honest, at least we wouldn’t be left with a blunt attack. Stoke is not the team you want to play when all your big players are out injured that’s for sure.
Kids, read Pip and remember…
JUST SAY NO!
Nooooooo…..
The ubiquitous ‘holic eh? But you wont be at the game tomorrow, yet Mrs Snail and I will. Typical eh?
Thought your post on the other blog was very amusing, CDLC indeed. Is that the one next door to Alfombras pegajosas?
Anyway, wherever you catch the game, have a good one.
Hope the management is well on the mend too.
Underneath the Olympic Towers, Snail…
Hull, Mancs? Can’t you do one of them?
Hmmm, Hull would be easier to get tickets for, but we’re doing the pre-Christmas travelling that weekend. Manure would be more likely for the date, so I’ll have to see…
JET
JET
JET
I am smelling your cooking and agree. How I wish even Jay Simpson were around. He seems a stronger option as well.
Fair to assume that you are being paid in Mojito’s, or something else?
PAID????
You’ve lost me there, Boston.
Labours of love…
Jay Emmanuel Thomas?? Are you serious?? You must be having a laugh. From the U-18s to 3 months at Blackpool, not even featured in the Carling Cup, and you want him to play up front for Arsenal in the Permier League?
Look, I rate your site and your views, but you’ve obviously been spending way too much time at your own bar!
Maybe Eddie, and if you look again you will see I accept it won’t happen, but don’t ask me to be confident that two out of touch or confidence midgets will get us the points we need until someone more physical is back up top.
Were Diaby fit I would be suggesting him. He isn’t. Who else could we try? There is only one big fella fit, and he is a much better player than you appear to be giving him credit for.
Playing for Blackpool is a pretty good preparation for coming up against the shitkickers of Stoke. Think about it. That’s all I ask.
AW at his press conference today:
“Tomorrow, by coincidence, I am managing my 500th game at Arsenal and I believe I have shaken hands 497 times. I believe that it is a ceremonial courtesy. But the most important is not the ceremonial but the courtesy of behaviour. I don’t deny I am a bad loser but on this occasion I would have done exactly the same if we had won the game or lost the game. I am in accordance with the principles I think are important on the football pitch and I maintain exactly what I said and did. I am used to treating this kind of thing with the needed distance. I do not want to make a fuss. There are incidents on the touchline but you never heard me ever say anything about another manager after the game, in a press conference or after during the week. I maintain exactly the way I behave and do not regret one second of what I did. If the world has no bigger problems than this then it is not so bad.”
Brilliant words by the manager — the cynical, hypocritical thug that is Mark Hughes (who AW has lost to before and shook his hand with no problem) can go to hell.
Also from http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/144020/Arsene-Wenger-fury-at-F-word-Hughes:
AW re Hughes’ treatment of him: βI had no professional courtesyβ
I agree with holic on giving JET a try in this game. Let’s just win, whatever it takes, don’t care how badly we play, just win, ffs!
You’ve changed ‘holic
You were the one who complained about the faint aroma of urine, Jackster π
Jeans and a t-shirt for knocking around the house?
Cardie and slippers, Snail. You know I’m a fossil π
Jay Emmanuel Thomas? Heavens no! He night just perform well enough for Arsene to ditch his January spending plans.
Great call on JET. he would have been useful at Man City and even chelsea. the man is a mountain and can hold the ball up like Kanu! well over 6 foot. those few months at Blackpool taught him a lot about real football. he came back saying his workrate has increased significantly.
At least start on bench and I want to see him start against Olympiakos.
I would like to see Vela continuing in the team. he looks hungry and ready to score. my front 3 to start would be Vela, Arsh and Eddie. JET to come on later!
I am sampling a few glasses of the finest Port tonight. Another over here ‘holic, if you dont mind.
Great double post ‘Holic, when’s the book coming?
I agree with you about Diaby. Had he been fit it woudl have been an interesting/audacious experiment but I think it would be a disservice to JET and the team to throw him in the arena at this point in time. With the kind of home “fans” we have the kid would be mauled if he miscued a shot. Perhaps on an away game…
We have another couple of weeks without Bendtner but in the end it’s not really the point. Everyone in this team can score goals. What we’ll want to see is the bite of a team playing with the determination to win at all costs.
And no more injuries. Why do we have so many injuries all the time in the past few years?
Anyway, doctor told me I should switch to a diet of steamed vegetables and some other unpalatable things which I forgot. Only thing I remember clearly is to drink red wine regularly. I’ll have some willamette valley pinot noir tonight. And not one glass at that.
Marcus: thank you for the quote. That definitively settles it.
Blimey ‘holic, you are keeping yourself busy. I thought you might just copy and paste from this morning…
Regarding Song, I’m not too fussed that he picked up a yellow the other night. His position means the fifth yellow and a suspension was an inevitability, and I think he’s more important against Liverpool, keeping Gerrard in his pocket.
Big day for Denilson tomorrow, I have a feeling he and a few others will rise to the occasion after a few days off.
I think as we are now we need to go back to a standard 4-4-2 and give Snchez Watt a go with Eduard until Bentners return without RVP 4-3-3 wont work unless we had a quick experienced front man like Henry.
I’m hoping to see Eduardo and Arshavin up front with a middle four of Nasri, Cesc , Denilson and either Eboue or Rosicky. Eboue has looked quite good recently and may well get the pick. If Rosicky should start, let’s hope it’s with a firm word in his ear to shape up his defensive work or stay well out of the defensive action.
I expect a packed defense and hope we won’t try to progress solely through the middle with low success ratio back keel flicks. Some width, and let’s get behind their defense, please.
I think a Thomas Vermaelen opener is due. Shoot from the half way line, Thomas.
Enjoy the game ‘Holics. Diaby, Bendtner and Walcott will be back before we know it.
Rather Song miss Stoke, then be available for Mugsmashers.
(I wonder if AW brought Song off at half time against Chavski, as to save him a bit for the Citeh game?)
If we can’t beat Stoke, at home, then this ‘blip’ is getting towards ‘serious’, although the ‘C’ word can’t be used just yet.
Given AW will play the lone striker again, Dudu must score if he has a midfield behind him consisting of Cesc, Nasri, Rosicky and Arshavin!!
Keep the faith.
Ooh, in honour of nelly, i’ll have a pint of Stowford Press.
Mmm…apples.
Morning horse.
I must get some cider in the private quarters and give it a bash again. Or maybe not. Ever smelt anybody who got hooked on scrumpy?
Ugh!
Afternoon all.
Let’s hope the lads can get the ball rolling again today, a nice little winning streak in December wil give us all a bit of confidence going into the new year.
I think that a good result today is more important than a good performance, although both would be welcome ofcourse, most of know that Stoke are great at playing anti-football, so any kind of win will do me fine.
Some excellent multiblogging going on Mr ‘holic, sir.
I’ll have a pint of one of those Cider drinks please barman.
Cheers.