The 9 fixtures he is set to miss could look as follows: Newcastle (H) Man City (A) Oldham (H) Man City (A) Stoke (H) Bolton (A) Man City (H) Wolves (A) Spurs (H) If the ban starts a little later then he could miss: Utd (A) Everton (H) Arsenal (H) I have noticed numerous of pundits saying that we will struggle without him, but for some reason (probably just a hunch of sods law) I can see us getting over our scoring problems with him out of the squad. I can't see us buying anyone in Jan until the final 1/3 of the transfer window. When Lucas first got injured I said that I would rather it be anyone else as I think his presence would be missed more, now we will be missing both. How do you guys think we will cope? Edit: Saurez has now been banned for the Newcastle game. And his ban may not kick in till mid January.
The Carling Cup games are a blow and the League against them. Some real tough games in there where we need our best playerrs. Hopefully StevieG will be match fit for then and we brung in a decent striker.
I'm in agreement, i think it might just be a good thing for us. It's very much the Luis Suarez show at the moment and maybe it'll allow some of our other signings to step out of his shadow. At the end of the day Suarez has brought at least part of all these things upon himself so maybe it'll do the club good to have him out of the spotlight briefly and remind everyone that whilst we're all on the defensive at the moment there is football to be played.
Those City games may be where we miss him the most, but what a chance if I am Andy Carroll to start scoring and showing I can lead the line, if he doesn't take this then something is def wrong with the boy.
Yeah his ponytail and his feet Two scenarios I can see here: a) We can't score whilst having 20 chances per game so the chances dry up and we never score again b) The team adjust and cope (as we have to the loss of Gerrard) and so when Luis comes back he's just like a new signing. If the first scenario occurs then we can be pretty sure Carroll will have been given a run of games and failed. For the second to occur we can be pretty sure Gerrard has stepped up to the plate and our wide men and Carroll have started to click (or we've signed someone who knows where the fecking goal is). Time now to see if this squad is good enough to cope and can unite and fight for the shirt and their teammates
There are a few names you can mention but who Kenny will buy is another question...I have no idea. Also I think it is imperative we buy someone to replace Lucas for the season who can also play alongside him next year. Someone like Benega or M'Villa.
The 8 game ban will start once the written reasons for the ban have been released. And there is also the 2 weeks in which we can appeal, which is an option that will be taken. With this in mind, the absolute earliest the ban will begin is the middle of January (and this isn't even taking into account the reception of the appeal, which will delay it even longer.) The bottom line is he won't miss any of the City games.
We'll obviously still need to buy in January though, because the chances are he will serve some length of ban at some time (knowing the FA, it'll be the CC final if we get to it.) But I'd be looking at fixtures late January and into February as the ones he's likely to miss.
Who do we play up top against Newcastle, will Kenny put Carroll in the firing line and how does everyone think he will respond.
I think without Saurez in the final 3rd we will be completely different. Might see some more crosses and service carroll is used to. Plus with Saurez...you could tell that opposition defences were extra disciplined and tight to try and stop him...might be a bit more slack now. Or am I being too hopeful?
I think we'll go more traditional 442 with Carroll and Bellamy up top. Might help Carroll out actually
The way I keep going on about how we will play without Saurez is making me actually look forward to his ban. Let's hope I am not wrong.
