Thanks to the midweek league cup - Lamps+Mikel partnership is going to be a non starter. That just increased our chances by 50%. If both sitout and Lamps is impact sub, that is our 95% chance of winning. Few weeks ago, when we are 4 or 5 pts behind goons - I was one of the several blues, who predicted we would be above or within touching distance of the goons this Monday. We have a chance to go 1pt clear. Team I would prefer: Cech Ivan Luiz JT Cole Rambo Oscar Hazard Mata Schurrle Nando Subs: Schwarzer, Willian, Ba, Eto'o, KDB, Lamps, Essien Best would be to stick Andre as False 9 and play Willian instead of Nando. Still believe Nando will have one of those rare day and actually do something. anyone know about Caesar's injury? Guess, this is be best team we have. Rambo needs to sit deep and protect Ivan more. what do you think?
Think that's about as good a team as we could put out. I hope we go for them and don't play a " don't lose" game. They are pretty quick as a team Arsenal, so Cole and Luiz will be key. Hope Jose doesn't instruct back 4 not to cross the half way line, that wrecks all our attack. I think we can roll the Gunners, and expect to finish strongly and get the points.
I ll go along with this, particularly as this will probably be the longest rest between games we've had all season.
cant see him playing Oscar that deep, though I've been calling all season for him to be tried there. Think it'll be Lampard instead of Oscar and maybe Oscar instead of Mata.
Probably be Hazard, Mata, Oscar as they were all rested in the cup. Mata would have played in that if he wasn't going to start Monday.
For me it'd be: Cech Azpi Cahill JT Cole Ramires Mikel Willian Mata Hazard Ba (who is exactly the kind of player to bully the goons defence)
Hi there, first time poster As a blue excited about what we can achieve this season and totally behind Jose...However can somebody please explain the rationale behind playing azpilicueta at LB and leaving both cole and ryan bertrand on the bench (who i must say has never in my eyes played poorly in a blue shirt)?? frustrating to say the least as the balance we seek going forwards could be found by having TWO equally gifted full backs bombing down the flanks i.e cesar and ash, and would give brana a rest as he's played FAR too much over the past couple of years... Apart from that, at this point IMO demba ba needs to start consistently from now on, he seems to be the only striker we have that can provide a platform for our 3 midfield players and far exceeds eto'o and torres' ability to actually be found in goal scoring positions (his ten minute cameo against sunderland is but one example of this) well thats me for now merry xmas guys
Oscar would be great in that position with Rambo. They haven't played not even one game this season in that position, especially given our CM frailities. Both have terrific engine to do it all. No Lamps please. let him be impact sub, if needed. True, Mata starts and that is evident. And, few of you are calling for Ba. All our strikers have had one or two good days in the past 4 months - combined together, that is worse than Altidore's let alone Baby Drog. whoever starts need to put in a shift for us to get something from the goons, tbh think they will! what is better than battering the goons? Welcome Jimmy and hope you have a good time here like we all do. Most of us share your views and have the same questions. Hope the next few weeks answer them. Merry xmas to you too.
Tbf, with Ba, any time I've seen him play this season he seems to have an impact. Wins everything that comes his way which naturally brings others into play. Arsenal hate that type of striker, as Drogba showed!
Everyone but us hate Drog . I get you. Ba wants to prove something and shows hunger albeit getting lesser minutes. Nando lost his worldcup place to Beast & Costa. TBH he has nothing to play for. Eto'o has nothing to lose, to put in a shift or to prove.
Nice first Post Jimmy, like many of us we are completely bamboozled by the gaffers selections. IF they were working, fine, but they're not, and Cole and particularly Bertrand are getting splinters in their bums. Some players have become favourites and play even when they have poor games, others sit on their hands. Not like Jose, and a worrying sign, can't say he's set the world alight this time round. Ba couldn't be worse than Eto,o or Torres so he might as well get a run. Best Xmas gift is to roll the Gunners. Let's hope.
This game is huge no doubt about it and i'm lucky enough to be going to the game! Can't wait! I think we'll get a 2-1 win... Quietly confident... The goons aren't high on form and tbh we have nothing to lose going there
After reading his xmas party with goons, looks like Ash future with us is close to end. and Azpilicueta has healed. Cech Ivan Luiz JT Caesar Rambo Oscar Hazard Mata Schurrle Nando Subs: Schwarzer, Willian, Ba, Eto'o, KDB, Lamps, Essien
All depends on Jose's mindset -desperately need to step up and as we're well overdue a cameo from our frontmen we might get a result.
We need Ba and Mata to play. If Jose has sense he'll deploy Oscar deeper to distrubute and close down Ramsey and Ozil. Ironically Oscar is probably our best shield for the defence in central midfield.
Big game only hours away Pressure and importance increased with Liverpool, both Mancs, Everton, Newcastle and Spurs all winning. Has draw written all over it but hoping we snatch it
goons are one of the teams who will rarely play for a draw. the way I see it - us winning written all over it and hope they don't snatch it!
big game for both of you, normally I'd go for a Chelsea win, but you don't look like the Chelsea team of the last decade, you've been very lucky this season IMO, won and drawn games you should've lost, and Arsenal look a lot stronger. I also think this is the game of the also rans, City are getting better and better as Pelligrini (or however it's spelt) settles in, you two are going to have to improve a lot to take the league
