Soccernet Preview Skysports Preview NUFC Official Site Preview Let's just hope there is not a repeat of this fixture from last year. Shearer, Butt, Carr, and O'Brien still out. Elliott and Johnsen are back from injuries to give us more defensive depth. If I was Graeme Souness, I'd start this team: ........................Given Hughes.....Bramble....Elliott....Bernard .......................Bowyer Dyer....................................Robert ........................Jenas(c) .............Kluivert......Bellamy Taylor played well last week, but I would rather have a more experienced defender in there against Chelsea. Kick off: 12:45 pm in England; 7:45 am ET live on Fox Sports World
The tackling out of our midfield (apart from Robert, of course) has been impressive-- Bowyer, JJ, and Dyer are really putting Chelsea under pressure, and have won a lot of balls off them. JJ is really on fire, playing like a true captain. Our touch has let us down a few times, but the commentator seems to think that's due to the pitch. Apart from the hideous mistake by Bramble and Ronny J (thankfully, Gudjonsson turned the gift down), I actually think we look surprisingly good. So far.
If Bramble gets one more minute in the first team, Souness has to go. He's nothing but a ball-watching hump. Thx, Jay!
That was when I turned the tv off. I guessed 5-0; not too far off. It's really a shame, because we played a very, very good first half. We were up so high until the goal was scored, and then our emotions just crashed-- it's understandable to be disappointed, but these are adults, for pete's sake. They need to be able to control their emotions more effectively. On a totally different topic, I've been meaning to ask why Bellamy wears a different kit (his shirt never has a collar) than the rest of team ever week. Is that even legal?
Yeah, the boy has many problems, but lack of effort certainly is NOT one of them. He can be counted on to run his legs off week in and week out.
Yes, I think that Kluivert is a waste of space. When he looses the ball he just walks around. Ruud on the other hand runs around like, well a horse or something.
I think a more apt comparison is to Bergkamp. Like Kluivert, he's a very intellectual player (for want of a better word)-- they both see the game very differently from those around them, and tend to play several steps ahead in their heads. When they're on, they're both absolute magicians. Also, neither is exactly the sort of player to really get stuck in to a tackle. It took Bergkamp some time, but he has adjusted to the speed and power of the Premiership and despite his age is a key to the Arsenal team; I honestly believe that, given the chance, Kluivert will do the same.
I didn't even apply for a ticket to this one, in spite of it being a local game for me. My reasons? Worst accommodation for visiting supporters in the Premiership; Most expensive tickets in the Premiership; Certainty of an absolute humping.