I've chucked that into the thread, cheers. You guys know more about your boys than I do! Who do you rate highest out of him, Djourou and Squillaci?
Mad, I thought Djourou looked good when he played last year, (haven't seen him much this year). Still a bit young to be first team, or just not good enough?
So, Routledge or Dobbie for this game? I reckon it's got to be Routledge again just to guarantee a bit more possession. Dobbie has his part to play this season, but I don't think starting against the Gooners is it.
I don't know why but I've got this gut feeling Dobbie will get the nod. He wasn't that bad against Man City away, and Routledge, while he's done well, hasn't exactly set the world alight as of yet, whereas Dobbie hasn't had much of a look in, and I feel for him. He was probably our most important player (Fabio excluded) towards the end of last season, and if he'd have started the first 3 games for us he'd probably be in the Scotland squad at the moment...
I know what you mean about him not having many chances, and also about Routledge not setting the world on fire, but I think against Arsenal we want to concentrate on keeping the ball, not scoring. Dobbie is perfect to create something out of nothing, but is not the best at 'keep ball'. His touch in tight areas lets him down too often, and his pass completion percentages are too low (haven't checked the stats, just a guess). I guess we will know Bucks' intentions once he names the team, because even though they play the same position, they offer very different things to the team.
I'm not liking this recent about turn in your attitude atcham, it has to be said! Why the sudden change in approach!? I don't remember any bad blood between our two teams, why make some? Anybody think anybodies performance in the international game affects the weekends game at all? Anyone heard of any niggles picked up etc?
I think apart from the goal, Ash and Neil Taylor had great games. Particularly Ash though. He dealt with most things with ease, and was awesome in the air, which has been his biggest improvement this season. I can see them both being full of confidence going in to the Arsenal game.
Good to hear! I tried to stream it but the internet is too slow out here! It's basically a sim card in a box, and while I find technology like that amazing, it's not that reliable. No Arsenal players on display for England last night, but one for Wales! Ha! Also, remember when Ash first signed? I don't know whether my memory is failing me, but I'm sure I have memories of being terrified any time the ball was up in the air when we first signed him. He's improved so much as far as positioning and aerial strength go, it's incredible, and as he said recently when he happened to walk past the garage he was working in while playing semi-pro, "you can do anything if you put your mind to it and work hard enough"* *or something similar. I forget the exact wording.
I'm aware of that I think Capello messed up putting Lampard back in. Parker would have loved the competetive nature of the game, but Lampard was a passenger by all accounts. He doesn't always like getting his kit that dirty! Edit: I suppose... England won, so there's only so much he could have messed up, granted...
This international break has been great for us. You get to face: RVP coming from great goalscoring form. 4 goals in one game. Park coming from great goalscoring form. 4 goals in two games. Arshavin coming from a great performance against Ireland, despite the lack of goals. Ramsey from scoring in one game and winning MOTM in the other. Szczesny from one of the best goalkeeping displays in recent times. Oliver Kahn called him World Class. Arteta has had time to settle into the club, what with having no international calls he can happily train at Arsenal. Rosicky from an encouraging performance for the Czech Republic. Alex Oxlade Chamberlain from 6 assists in two games, one of them as a sub. Frimpong in all his denchness. It's going to be a good match though. I just can't see you having enough to beat us at the Emirates.
Oof. I keep hearing great things about Szczesny, and I had heard about last night... was he really that good? Sounds like you're landed for the next 10 or 15 years if he's as good as he's been looking. Hopefully we'll hang onto Vorm and he'll continue to impress. You guys are odds on favourites for a reason. Both teams play to 100% and you should win... but football is a funny old sport eh.
