Who's the starting 11 for Arsenal right now???? I have it as this... GK Jens Lehmann DR Lauren DL Ashley Cole DC Kolo Toure DC Senderos DMC Gilberto ML Pires MR Ljungberg AMC Hleb FC Henry FC Reyes I WANT to see the Henry/Reyes partnership again because if he goes to the left which I assume he will then where does that leave Pires? I don't want to see him on the bench either. Plus with Fabregas playing very maturely and Flamini being agressive who is the CM? Without injuries we have very solid depth. I look at the squads. Chelsea 23, Arsenal 21. GK Lehmann, Vieira(hopefully) DR Lauren, Eboue, Hoyte DL Cole, Clichy DC Toure, Campbell, Senderos, Hoyte DMC Gilberto, Flamini MC Gilberto, Flamini, Fabregas, Hleb MR Ljungberg, Flamini, Pires ML Reyes, Hleb, Pires, Quincy AMC Hleb, Pires FC Henry, van Persie, Bergkamp, Reyes, Quincy Also: PLEASE CHRISTIANVAL...........................................................
For the start of the season: Lehman Lauren Toure Senderos Cole Ljungberg Cesc Gilberto Reyes Hleb Henry Subs: GK, Bergkamp, Pires, Van Persie, Eboue/Hoyte It's unfortunate that Bergkamp and/or Pires maybe taking up the space that could be for Quincy, or someone. Pires is just as effective (if not more) off the bench than starting.
On Sunday, I expect the team to be: Lehmann Lauren-Toure-Senderos-Cole Ljungberg-Gilberto-Fabregas-Pires Bergkamp-Henry
This is how Wenger started the Community Shield match. So I agree with you on this line-up. I think we can expect Hleb, Reyes and Van Persie as subs. Personally, I would like to see Hleb to start in Pires' spot, with Pires coming off the bench.
He actually started with Flamini and Fabregas in midfield, but Flamini didn't have the best game and we looked more solid when Gilberto came on. I didn't see enough from Reyes, Hleb or Van Persie when they came on to suggest any of them will start.
Lehman Lauren Toure Senderos Cole Lundjberg Gilberto Fabregas Pires Reyes Henry Subs being Bergkamp for Reyes and Hleb for possibly Pires.
I think that last year we learned that Reyes & Henry upfront is not the best combination as they both drift left and end up getting in each other's way. I'd say: Lehmann Lauren, Toure, Senderos, Cole Ljungberg, Gilberto, Cesc, Reyes Henry, van Persie
Pires scores too many goals to keep him on the sideline. I too like: Lehmann Lauren-Toure-Senderos-Cole Ljungberg-Gilberto-Fabregas-Pires Bergkamp-Henry with Hleb, Reyes and van Persie coming on (although I think all three will play bigger roles by the end of the season). GJ40
Well he did very well scoring those goals coming on as a sub at the start of last season. A year later and he looks more suited for the sub role to me. For the starting XI, I'm going with the lineup I expect to be the normal XI over the course of the season and not necessarily the one we'll start with next weekend. -----------------Jens----------- Lauren--Toure--Senderos--Cole Ljungberg-Gilberto-Cesc-Hleb ----------RVP------Henry-------- Bench:Almunia(), Sol, Flamini, Pires, JAR (he'll get the most time and basically share the 2nd striker and leftmid spots) Others getting a fair amount of time:Cygan(), Bentley, Bergkamp
I love how whenever someone mentions Cygan or Almunia, there is either a sadface, or a wise crack about them!
I want to see something like this: a 4-2-3-1 ......................Henry Pires................Hleb..............Ljungberg ............Gilberto........Fabregas Cole........Toure.....Cambell.......Lauren or even a 4-3-3 ........................Henry ....Reyes................................Ljungberg ..........................Hleb ..........Gilberto..................Fabregas Cole........Toure.........Cambell.......Lauren
If we went to a 4-3-3/4-5-1, it would more likely be: -----------Jens-------------- Lauren-Toure--Campbell-Cole ----------Gilberto---------- ---Fabregas-----Hleb------- Ljungberg-------------Reyes -----------Henry------------
I think perhaps he was thinking if Lehman is hurt or gets sent off. It might be better and safer to leave the net open than to put Almunia in. To Quote Hoosiers: Ref: Wenger, you need a keeper! Wenger: My team is on the field!
I think Flamini will start, so I get (likely subs in parentheses) ------------------------Lehmann------------------------- Lauren-----------Toure-----------Senderos-----------Cole --------------------------Silva--------------------------- Freddy (Hleb)---------Flamini (Cesc)----------Reyes (Pires) ------------Bergkamp (VanPersie)-----------Henry-------- I think the Pires and VanPersie subs are almost a lock, around the 60 minute mark. I think Hleb is probable as well, but around the 70 minute mark. IMO Wenger will try to not run up Cesc's meter too much early in the season.
Doesn't Almunia still have busted fingers? I thought that was one of the issues (well, that and the general suckitude of Almunia's overall game. A perfect opportunity to quote Fever Pitch (loosely): "It's not the broken fingers, Manny, it's the crapness", and the best summation I ever heard on the play of one Manuel Almunia, provided by Cannon, IIRC: "He was a circus out there") that was pressing Wenger to bring in another keeper, in addition to the fact that our main man "Mad" Jens has a little 2 game CL suspension to serve. Busted fingers or not, I fear for our chances in the group stage if we have to trot Manny out there for 10 minutes in the CL, much less 2 full games.... NOTE: Discussing Almunia also gives us the opportunity to bring up the comments of one phishy during the Bolton game last year: "Manuel Almunia: Best keeper in the Prem!". In phishy's defense, he was pretty liquored up by then... If you need verification that it was, in fact, said by phishy, please check in with SurfCam. Cam was there and heard it, weren't you Cam??
Jens Lauren, Kolo, Senderos, Ash Freddie, Gilberto, Fab, Hleb Henry, Reyes Subs: Dennis, Robin, Bobby, Almunia, Hoyte
i'd like to see hleb in the starting line-up, just because of the energy he brings to the team. i'd hate for that to be at the expense of pires though.
--------Henry ------------------Hleb Pires---Gilberto---Fabregas---Ljungberg Cole---Senderos---Toure---Lauren -------------Lehmann Notes: Campbell for Senderos? (both seem dodgy but the experience and physical nature of former is key) Reyes/Henry bad idea for left-wing combination (way they play/hatred) Midfield must be Gilberto plus either Fabregas/Flamini or it's too weak Hleb is best in DB10 role for he can utilise his through-balls Henry can't play as lone striker in 433, he plays from left-wing so would interfere with left-forward and leave you with no-one upfront.
The same as mine except I had Bergkamp instead of Hleb. The reason is that Hleb has played in the wing positions in pre-season. At this moment I think Wenger has Bergkamp, Van Persie and Reyes ahead of him for the second striker spot, regardless of how has played there in the past.
--------------Henry-------------- ---------------Hleb---------------- Reyes----Gilberto------Cesc-----Ljunberg Cole---Senderos-----Toure-----Lauren -----------Lehmann------------------ Subs: van Persie, Bergkamp, Pires, Cygan, Almunia