English League & European Football [2nd Apr - 8th Apr 2010] **spoilers**

drunkenmaster said:
Wengers no rotation unless you've got a broken leg
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That's certainly not what I've witnessed from him this season, Arshavin got benched for no apparent reason in a game earlier this season Birmingham, Sagna has occasionally been overlooked in favour of Eboue, Diaby doesn't always start (e.g. game at the weekend), Rosicky is in and out of the team (16 starts and 13 sub apps this season) etc. Eduardo is probably a good case in point actually, by your own admission he isn't playing games in a row, just being thrown in for games here and there, i.e. rotated.

Anyway going back to the sharpness, the problem is that plenty of other players come back from long term injuries and deliver the goods, he keeps picking up niggling injures (as one might expect) and really looks a totally different player now. Patience is a commodity top clubs can't afford when we are talking Champions League quarterfinals, most players get their sharpness back through playing reserve fixtures, a sub appearance or two and then a couple of games in the first team.

I'm not saying I want shot of him but at this stage of the season we can't afford to be carrying any passengers, irrespective of what the reason is. For me the team should be something like:

...................Almunia
Sagna...Campbell*...Vermaelen...Clichy
......Eboue.....Denilson.....Diaby
......Rosicky*...Bendtner...Nasri

Fabianksi
Silvestre*
Eastmond
Walcott*
Eduardo
Vela
Merida

*Rosicky is rated 50:50 for tonights game, so I'd swap for Walcott if he's not fit. Likewise Campbell will only start if fit according to Wenger so Silvestre on standby.

As you can see from the bench we're a bit short on numbers in terms of holding midfielders, Denilson has never really convinced me in that role, and it's never been what Diaby is about (in spite of the tiresome comparisons with Vieira).
 
According to certain papers (and its on the Man Utd site), there is a chance Rooney could play on Wednesday, although I'd say its very unlikely.

I'm going to watch the CSKA vs Inter game before the Arsenal Barca game later on, Sky guide says something about a plastic pitch? Is the CSKA Pitch Astroturf or something?

Will be nice to see Akinfeev playing against Inter, especially as it looks like he'll be coming our way this summer as a replacement for Van Der Sar.

Great week of Football coming up regardless :p (Provided United don't go crashing out to the Germans :()
 
Robboftw said:
I'm going to watch the CSKA vs Inter game before the Arsenal Barca game later on, Sky guide says something about a plastic pitch? Is the CSKA Pitch Astroturf or something?
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Certainly was when Utd played there earlier in the season:)

Even with Fabregas missing Arsenal have a huge chance tonight - creativity is going to be the biggest challange with Fab and Arshavin out I would guess

I guess the biggest battle will be Sol vs Messi (if its even a battle with it being weighed so much in Messi's favour from speed alone)
 
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So chuffed we have been promoted back to the premiership.

I think this season has been a massive turning point for Newcastle, no more big spenders on so called "big named" players ruining the club....

The players and manager deserve a huge amount of credit. Where to begin, Chris Hughton ... No one really expected him to be manager really.. but he has certainly won over every nay sayer, including me. To be honest we never looked like not being promoted. Unbeaten at home and only 4 defeats so far, what a season it has been considering we have been crap since 2003/2004.

Even mike ashley deserves some credit.

I hope next season people write us off like most people did for the championship and we actually do well, why not? there are a few dump teams in the premierleague now, mid table should be possible

Anything above 10th/11th is a bonus
 
What to the gunners around here think about walcot, should he start or come off the bench? Abidal is back so i don't think he would be as effective as having maxwell. Then again he moght play cb in place of puyol. I would strongly advise arsenal to book sol in for a hip replacement as he might need one after the match:D
 
elmuzzy66. said:
What to the gunners around here think about walcot, should he start or come off the bench? Abidal is back so i don't think he would be as effective as having maxwell. Then again he moght play cb in place of puyol. I would strongly advise arsenal to book sol in for a hip replacement as he might need one after the match:D
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WE havent got much of a choice have we??..seeing as quite a few of our brilliant players are currently injured.

Personally doesnt bother me if he starts or comes off the bench...i just hope he can create or score a goal if he does play...at the moment we havent got much of a choice in all honesty.

Same goes for Campbell...sure hes slow on the turn but hes strong physically so hopefully he will have a good game although i think if hes up against Messi...Messi is going to rip/shred him to bits...hoping that Messi has a quiet game again.

It will be nothing short of a miracle if we do beat Barca tonight but sadly cant see it but in all honesty i wouldnt mind so much if we did get beat...Arsene did say earlier today that Barca is the best side hes ever played against and seen.
 
The Arsenal one looks much less scary though.

Half way comotose now, hoping to get to the point where I feel nothing for the game and hopefully forget most of the raping I'm about to witness

I thought Messi against Sol would be a disaster and now it's Silvestre. He's more mobile but is pretty woeful at CB, caught out of position all the time and hardly an imposing figure
 
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I think people are under estimating Bojan/Pedro, those 2 started at the weekend and had good games! Should be enough to run a make shift defense ragged.

Still have Xavi the play maker on the pitch and the defense isnt really that shabby either Marquez/Milito are capable and Abidal is decent.

I did read Iniesta would start but it appears not, seems he is fit though and capable!
 
jakeke said:
The Arsenal one looks much less scary though.

Half way comotose now, hoping to get to the point where I feel nothing for the game and hopefully forget most of the raping I'm about to witness

I thought Messi against Sol would be a disaster and now it's Silvestre. He's more mobile but is pretty woeful at CB, caught out of position all the time and hardly an imposing figure
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I'm pretty much there already. Know it's going to be a pilladging so may as well watch the spectacle. The odds were always against us anyway but with just so many injuries well..
 
Good luck Arsenal - go out there and play the best attacking football you can , sit back and try to defend all night and you will be murdered (apart from needing to win the match / get at least 3 away goals to go through)
 
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