Figured I get this one early - lots to talk about. Away at ManUre BST: 12:45 (EST 8:45) TV: ESPN 2 in the States, which means Ian & Macca. Time to exorcise some demons. They kicked the living crap out of us in last year's fixture, and now they have RVP. Usually, I'd be tickled pink with a draw. But, I'm still basking in the glow from the Reading match, so what the hell? Let's get a win, boys! Of course, other than Giroud, none of the Reading guys will see the field for this one, but let's hope that our 1st teamers will be inspired. So happy that Jack and Sagna will be playing in the one. C'MON YOU GUNNERS!!!!!
8-2 Arsenal. Realistically, With our recent league form a draw would be a fantastic result. Can't see the c1 cup having any boost really, since no one in this game, aside from Giroud and possibly Theo, will have really played in it. But i'd also be happy if we started Frimpong and just had him ride van cuntry the whole match.
Will miss the second half as our Open House prep at school calls. But will be up for the 5:45 kickoff.
A bit of a dilemma.....watch it live and risk having my entire day ruined from the start or, record and watch later and drink my sorrows away...... I too would be ecstatic with a draw but not overly optimistic on that happening. I do like MilesW's idea though of letting Frimpong run wild and share his "special brand" of physical play with Old Whiskey Noses finest players!
Imagine RVP scored hatrick & kisses Man U badge? GOD!!! that will kill me. Seriously we shouldnt have let this guy go. If he was in this team we would have easily be # 1 by now & big chance of winning PL + CL + FA + Capital One....
According to AW No Szczesny, Gibbs and naturally no Diaby. Clearly AW accidentally killed Chesney and this is the worst cover up of all time.
Honestly, I do not think Mannone has done too bad of a job. Not perfect but Schz wasn't perfect his few games he played either. This could be our seasons defining moment!! We need to be physical with RVP. Lay on him (cleanly) every chance we get to keep him off his game!!! Make one of their other players try to beat us.
Same here. Mannone isn't as good as Schz but he isn't that much of a downgrade at this point. Don't think he would be anything of a differnce between a win and loss with Manu anyway.
I'll probably be watching this one through my fingers. The good thing about the whole RVP scenario is that we have defenders that have practiced against him for years so... they should know his tricks, right? Giroud up top. Theo on the right. I'd love to see what Cazorla could do in a more advanced role on the wing, but I'm guessing he'll slot in behind Giroud with Arteta and Jack in the midfield. I'm guessing Ox or Podolski on the left wing. I would prefer not to see Santos out there, but I"m thinking I will. COME ON YOU GUNNERS.
The positive is that our defenders know how RvP plays and will do a better job than most other teams out there. If they play a 4-4-2, I honestly believe we have a chance as our MF is far superior even with injuries. As I have said before, I think they will pick on Santos. I'd also play Gerv up top. His speed and trickery will cause trouble for their CBs. We need some real width too. I'd play Theo. Mannone Sagna-Mert-Verm-Santos Arteta-Ramsey-Cazorla Theo-Gerv-Poldy
Don't think Theo starts on Saturday after 120 minutes on Tuesday. Same lineup as last week, methinks: Mannone Sagna - BFG - Verm - Apocalypse Andre JFW - Cazorla - Arteta Ramsey - Giroud - Podolski Podolski had better get back and help more than he's done in the last couple of weeks.
our left flank is gonna be attacked hard by rafael and valencia. santos and podolski have got to be alert the whole game. this is gonna be our trouble area for sure.
.......................mannone........................... sagna. merstesacker. vermaelen. santos. .............cazorla. arteta. wilshere.............. ....chamberlain......................podolski...... ..........................giroud.............................. subs: martinez, koscielny, jenkinson, ramsey, eisfeld, walcott, chamakh. the team pretty much picks itself, bar some might choose ramsey over chamberlain, but for the rw it has to be chamberlain for me. keep ramsey for cm cover later. if it wasn't man utd i may have put young meade on the bench for lw cover. he's got a fair few assists in the u21 league and looked fine to me the other night but man utd is a huge match.