I'll see your Defoe and raise you a Sandro please log in to view this image He posted it tonight. No solid confirmation the photo was taken today though...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandro_Raniere "Sandro warming up for Tottenham Hotspur in 2010". He also said something about concentrating on his recuperation, unfortunately.
Yup, that's why I recognised the pic, knew I'd seen that ridiculously awkward and unnatural pose before... I was thinking more John Wayne than Forrest Gump though... please log in to view this image
Piskie has started a "best Arsenal & Spurs combined XI" discussion in their arsenal match thread. Thought I'd see what team you guys would choose? Still thinking about mine. It isn't looking good for arsenal if I'm honest.
Roo - It depends how to do this. If you did on current form then the team would be different to the best overall of the last couple of years. Going on the latter mine would be: Lloris BAE Kaboul Koscielny Sagna Cazorla Wilshere Dembele Bale Defoe Walcott I have missed Sandro out and I want him to be in there but if I leave Wilshere out I would be accused of Spurs bias. As has been mentioned a lot of the players are equal and an argument can be made either way. It's a bit silly to do this really but the interesting thing is now how many Spurs players you could argue for that team. 5 years ago you'd struggle to get more than 2 in the team. Really getting nervous for this game. If paying some money meant we would definitely win then I would definitely do it. It's worrying how much I care about this match! Not enough to fight over though like the hard man Arsenal87.
Yeah that's what I think! I imagine him being quite short as well, he defiantly suffers from something, maybe it's short man syndrome?
Would want to fit in Cazorla, Wilshere and probably Walcott, but after that I would be hard pushed to prefer any current Goon. Sagna over Walker on present (season) form perhaps but that would be it. CB-wise, I would pick all ours (including Willy G) before I would consider one of theirs!!
G*llas is a woeful defender. Koscielny is very good though, Vermaelen poor and Mertesacker bang average.
Bloody hell!!!...Tony Gale on his SSN roundup has just given us compliments allround and given us to beat Arsenal.
Sagna has been utter ****e this season, he shouldn't be anywhere near a combined team...ask any Goon, even the perennial rose tinted Piskie would admit that.
Did he go 10 seconds without criticising Chelsea as well? If so, the men in the white costs will be stood outside Isleworth ready to collect him.
I'm struggling, as I'm just going to get accused of being biased, when I'm genuinely trying not to be. Jack, I'm trying to look at performances over a couple of years, as it's so easy for people to only think of the last few weeks. - Just like everyone is currently doing with Bale calling us a 1 man team. - which is disrespectful the superb form of players such as Lennon and Sandro this season. (to name a couple) Relayer, those names you mention are the ones i'm trying to get in there too. ok. Lloris ( no contest there for me) Sagna (based on quality over a number of seasons, despite current form) Kaboul (best defender out of all the options at both clubs) Vermaelen (Close between TM and JV. Although i don't think TM's had the best of seasons, he's been quality in the past. Also, it's only JV's 1st season) BAE (Again, no contest) Sandro (picks himself. Best Defensive Midfield player in the league this season before his injury. - And Arsenal don't have a DM.) Dembele ( Strength, Pace, creativity, close ball control, always retains possession. He and Wilshere would work best together, IMO Wilshere ( Intelligent, hard working, great passer and very dynamic. would work best with Dembele. Bale (picks himself) Podolski (best alternative left sided option to allow bale to play the central "free" role.) Walcott (chosen over Lennon as he's got the versatility to play as a striker.) Very very difficult. No place for Cazorla either. - As good as he is, I could only choose 3. Same for Lennon, he's been quality this season, but Walcott goes in due to his versatility.
see, this is where you've gotta take CJ's point into consideration. Vermaelen has been quality in the past, but he's not had the best of seasons IMO. Sagna has been top quality for a number of years. Everyone is too quick too write someone off when they aren't having the best of seasons. (not saying you are DL, just can example)
Arsenal legend Alan Smith picked his Arsenal/Spurs team in the Telegraph today: Lloris Walker Caulker Dawson BAE Cazorla Wilshere Dembele Walcott Defoe Bale My team: Lloris Sagna Kaboul Vertonghen BAE Sandro Wilshere Walcott Cazorla Bale Podolski
