Rovers V. Arsenal - Cup - Dec 18 [R]

[Jilleen]

Rovers V. Arsenal
Tuesday, Dec 18
KO 15h Eastern

Setanta Sports is airing the match live. Pre-match starts at 14h30.

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It looks like Arsenal will be playing a completely different set of players than that which played Chelsea on Sunday. Good for them! I am slightly disappointed, however, that I will have to miss the *theatrics* of Fabregas (who incidentally is expected to be nominated for an Oscar this year)...

[Parrothead FC]

can't be too positive about this based on current forms... even with them rolling out a b squad.

[Jilleen]

A pre-match article... (http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=485459&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=%27His+signing+looks+like+a+good+bit+of+business%27)

Recent forms - all competitions (from Arsenal.com):
Blackburn L D L W L L
Arsenal L W D L W W


Last five meetings (from Arsenal.com):
[PL = Premiership / League; FAC = FA Cup]
PL, 19-08-2007 Blackburn 1-1 Arsenal
FAC, 28-02-2007 Blackburn 1-0 Arsenal
FAC, 17-02-2007 Arsenal 0-0 Blackburn
PL, 13-01-2007 Blackburn 0-2 Arsenal
PL, 23-12-2006 Arsenal 6-2 Blackburn

[BlackburnRover]

I'm really looking forward to this one, the drive up there through rush hour, the lovely weather, the blistering form we're in....

I wish I'd have just watched it on Sky :(

Then again, if we win it'll be the best night for a while ...

[Jilleen]

Rovers Out - Emo and Treacy (suspensions)
Hughes said he is using pretty much the same group as Saturday's defeat to Wigan. I hope that includes a start with Benni on the bench, but I am doubting it. *sigh*

Arsenal Line-Up (from Arsenal.com):

2 Abou DIABY (Age 21)
6 Philippe SENDEROS (Age 22)
8 Lassana DIARRA (Age 22)
9 EDUARDO (Age 24)
15 DENILSON (Age 19)
17 Alex SONG (Age 20)
21 Lukasz FABIANSKI (GK) (Age 22)
26 Nicklas BENDTNER (Age 19)
30 Armand TRAORE (Age 18)
31 Justin HOYTE (Age 22)
34 Kieran GIBBS (Age 18)
36 Mark RANDALL (Age 18)
40 Vito MANNONE (GK) (Age 19)
41 Gavin HOYTE (Age 17)
42 Fran MERIDA (Age 17)
43 Nacer BARAZITE (Age 17)

Is there a Brit at all in this line-up?

[JohnHolmesJr]

We need this one.

Really feeling low right now. Thikn I might even go somewhere and watch the match to pick up my spirits.

[Jilleen]

We need this one.

Really feeling low right now. Thikn I might even go somewhere and watch the match to pick up my spirits.

But what about me???

Seriously, though, there are lots of streams for today. And, we usually do quite well against the big teams, although I am not so certain of our past record against the big teams' reserve squads.

If it makes any of us feel any better, on many message boards the Arsenal fans are *very* nervous about winning tonight with their second (or third???) team. Having said that, if we do lose, our lads will be absolutely mortified.

[Miles Brasher]

Rovers Out - Emo and Treacy (suspensions)
Hughes said he is using pretty much the same group as Saturday's defeat to Wigan. I hope that includes a start with Benni on the bench, but I am doubting it. *sigh*

Arsenal Line-Up (from Arsenal.com):

2 Abou DIABY (Age 21)
6 Philippe SENDEROS (Age 22)
8 Lassana DIARRA (Age 22)
9 EDUARDO (Age 24)
15 DENILSON (Age 19)
17 Alex SONG (Age 20)
21 Lukasz FABIANSKI (GK) (Age 22)
26 Nicklas BENDTNER (Age 19)
30 Armand TRAORE (Age 18)
31 Justin HOYTE (Age 22)
34 Kieran GIBBS (Age 18)
36 Mark RANDALL (Age 18)
40 Vito MANNONE (GK) (Age 19)
41 Gavin HOYTE (Age 17)
42 Fran MERIDA (Age 17)
43 Nacer BARAZITE (Age 17)

Is there a Brit at all in this line-up?

Both Hoytes, Randall, and Gibbs

[mintone]

Rovers Out - Emo and Treacy (suspensions)
Hughes said he is using pretty much the same group as Saturday's defeat to Wigan. I hope that includes a start with Benni on the bench, but I am doubting it. *sigh*

Arsenal Line-Up (from Arsenal.com):

2 Abou DIABY (Age 21)
6 Philippe SENDEROS (Age 22)
8 Lassana DIARRA (Age 22)
9 EDUARDO (Age 24)
15 DENILSON (Age 19)
17 Alex SONG (Age 20)
21 Lukasz FABIANSKI (GK) (Age 22)
26 Nicklas BENDTNER (Age 19)
30 Armand TRAORE (Age 18)
31 Justin HOYTE (Age 22)
34 Kieran GIBBS (Age 18)
36 Mark RANDALL (Age 18)
40 Vito MANNONE (GK) (Age 19)
41 Gavin HOYTE (Age 17)
42 Fran MERIDA (Age 17)
43 Nacer BARAZITE (Age 17)

Is there a Brit at all in this line-up?

Gibbs, Randall, and the Hoyte brothers are all Brits.

Good luck today. I see you winning 2-0:(

[JohnHolmesJr]

Man, Gunner fans all over the place.

They show up in the strangest places.......

We appear to be in a no win situation. It must be nice having such deep teams. That is our major problem , depth. If we had only won the last 2 games. Oh well time to wax Arsenal.


I do see lots of streams. But the Cold Drafts call my name. They taught me and say come on over have one or two , even if you lose you will still have us beside you.

Strangely, I will be way outnumbered by gunner fans but who cares that is the fun of it.

[Jilleen]

JohnH: Rovers Radio started up its pre-match show. Check your PMs.

[JohnHolmesJr]

I decided to stay home and watch the match. The traffic is madness.

The ale is just as cold at home.

[SMUPlayer]

ESPN Gamecast is on... I'll be "watching" from there.

[Jilleen]

Official Rovers Line-Up

Brad, Warnock, Samba, Nelsen, Sav, Rocky, Betns, MGP, Reid, Dunny, Derb.

Subs: Brown, Khizaniwhatever, Mokoena, Benni, Roberts.

/* I'm glad to see that Benni isn't starting. It is also reassuring to see Roberts in the line-up; perhaps he has taken back his transfer request! */

Official Arsenal Line-Up

2 Abou DIABY (Age 21)
6 Philippe SENDEROS (Age 22)
8 Lassana DIARRA (Age 22)
9 EDUARDO (Age 24)
15 DENILSON (Age 19)
17 Alex SONG (Age 20)
21 Lukasz FABIANSKI (GK) (Age 22)
26 Nicklas BENDTNER (Age 19)
30 Armand TRAORE (Age 18)
31 Justin HOYTE (Age 22)
34 Kieran GIBBS (Age 18)
36 Mark RANDALL (Age 18)
40 Vito MANNONE (GK) (Age 19)
41 Gavin HOYTE (Age 17)
42 Fran MERIDA (Age 17)
43 Nacer BARAZITE (Age 17)

[Jilleen]

Hughes will be interviewed within the next 10 minutes on Radio Rovers :cool: .

MGP is on right now :) . Wow, has his English ever improved since coming to Blackburn -- Brad's English is much better now, too!! :D

[JohnHolmesJr]

Chavster has the game also.

[Jilleen]

I'm hooked up with an asian TV Ants... I'll switch over to the link you sent me at half-time.

[JohnHolmesJr]

Here we go again.

[Jilleen]

Dive!

[Jilleen]

Is anyone other than Samba playing defence today :rolleyes: ????