versus We have an almost fully fit squad and a week for the players to recover. Same old? Mods can you "sticky" it?
With Flamini injured and Arteta out for the Carling game, hopefully Jack and Ramsey will get plenty exhausted for our game coming up too
Depends on Coutinho. If he is ready to start, drop Strtel and go 4 in the back, Henderson in the middle to help neutralize their strength and a front 3 of SAS and Coutinho. If he isn't ready to start, same as the weekend.
A statement win would be fantastic, though a draw would suffice given both clubs' form at the moment. I put nothing past our SAS though.
Coutinho starts and plays 60. Arsenal takes advantage of the space between our midfield and defense, but SAS continue to role, leading to a 2-2 final.
I feel like I'm still hearing a lot of smirks about how we're doing well now but the collapse is just around the corner.
Maybe. I've not really been paying attention, but it seems like we've become the little darlings of NBC Sports Network, and even the pitchforks/torches at the Guardian have been directed towards Moyes. The media in England seems to mirror the opinions of the neutral supporter: either you support Liverpool or Manchester United and hate the other, but you don't support or hate both. Also, love Mourinho/hate Chelsea and love Arsenal/hate Wenger.
I think the press has largely been positive (even Tim Rich of the Independent has been writing about football for a change) but in the electronic media there has been unsaid but implied "this will not last ..."from admittedly biased talk radio presenters who mainly support London teams. Interesting about the Guardian: I think the pitchfork-wielders have briefly been sidelined in readiness for "the inevitable" collapse of Liverpool and resurrection of Man U. Back to the team, I think Coutinho will start from the bench. The only question is whether we'll stick to the three at the back; given that it brings the best out of Suarez and Sturridge, I think we will. We need to make sure that we keep the three in the middle as two easily get over-run as Southampton and Newcastle showed.
Not a game where we can sit back and soak up the pressure. Need to keep the ball more than they do and for that, we must revert to a 4-3-3. And for that reason, henderson has got to start out wide and if coutinho is fit, start him in the attacking mid role. If he isn't, slot in alberto or allen.
This will be our first match against a formidable opponent with 1 center forward and 3 total forwards - which represents a bad match-up for our 3 CBs and 5 defenders. If we were ever going to go back to a 4-2-1-3, this would be the right match tactically to do so. However, the 3-5-2 as been working so well for our attack that it might no tbe best to switch.
Personnel rather than tactical changes, I'd say. We do need to cut out crosses to [mostly] Giroud at source.
It will be interesting to see what Arsenal do...they have four pretty big games in the next two weeks, with the Carling Cup tie vs Chel$ea prior to our matchup, then a UCL game vs Dortmund next midweek, followed by MU. I say we go for the WIN!
Look at how Dortmund played them recently, high pressure, don't let them build from the back at all. Get the ball to Suarez and Sturridge and go for the win. If we play cautious we will f-up at the back and lose.
Press 'em high and hard...like that brilliant south coast side Southampton. Seriously, they work their asses off for Pochettino and it worked well against us for sure.
They have to have an easy game against lower clubs now and then. After MU they have a break before playing a much tougher Southampton currently in 5th spot..