The unfortunate truth is that without Ozil, Mertesacker and Podolski, we're hardly able to field our best team.
Already getting in the excuses early for failure before the season has begun eh? The silver lining of the cloud of a loss against City would (hopefully) be Wenger pushing his efforts a bit higher to get the central midfielder we clearly need. I don't really care what the result is as long as we're not embarrassed. A win would be great. A loss but with a promising performance would be acceptable. An embarrassment would be not on.
With all due respect, the adults are talking here. No pointless statements mentioning "excuses" please. We're missing some important players. Our best team can't be played. That's a fact.
a) There's no respect there whatsoever. b) Saying the 'adults are talking here' is completely contradictory given it's it's the sort of insult a juvenile throws around It's also a ready-made excuse for if we lose. Stop lowering your expectations.
No, it isn't. Just because you've grown accustomed to morons throwing it around when they want a childish argument doesn't mean it always is. Someone makes a statement about how we must field a full strength team, someone else says we can't do that because we're missing some important players (factually true), and you respond "you're already making excuses huh? Excuse-maker". Somebody. Said. Something. Factual. "Excuses" is the kind of thing kids throw around at each other because they're not smart enough to respect each other's viewpoints. Again, you may not have meant it like that ... but that's how it came off. It was not an adult thing to have said and didn't at any point have any relation to the fact which was stated. Yes, there is respect there, otherwise I wouldn't have said it. I've given you the respect in assuming that you're not a juvenile and that you simply said something juvenile without thinking.
True, though some would say with Nastasic, Sagna and Dzeko ready to play in those spots ... it's not exactly a disadvantage. Time will tell, anyway.
I'd really like to hear one instance in the history of mankind where one adult has said to another adult, "excuse me, the adults are talking here" in a respectful way... At no point did anyway say we should field a full strength team. Read back. They said play our best team. ie. best team available to us. Veiled accusation of me of being a child again and not smart enough eh? It's not an adult thing to have said that you were making an excuse (or a fact that was being used to excuse potential failure)? You what? You've made an implied accusation of me of being a juvenile a few lines up. Anyway I'm arguing for the sake of it because I'm bored.
I think the Charity Shield is a sort of in-between situation. We will field our "Best" side, because we want to win, but no one at any club is going to risk an injury by playing a player that isn't fit. So if Sanchez is still short of fitness, he may not play. If it hadn't been a World Cup year, there would be no excuse for that, but as it is we have players that are definitely not fit and some that may not be fit. We will just have to see. I don't think though that there is anything here that indicates the dreaded lack of ambition, or anything like that, it is just solid coaching and protecting your players for what is a long season.
I was addressing it to those saying this was some glorified pre-season friendly which is wildly off the mark. We are playing our direct competitors so we field our best side (barring injuries of course!) and then aim for a win. Anything else would be foolish.
Our best team is a full-strength team. No, it isn't. Again, you said juvenile things. Whether or not you are a juvenile is not determined by that. You're not making a great case right now though. No point in talking about this. The only thing that matters has already been said.
How is it not a glorified friendly? I akin it to the emirates cup except we play less teams. Its a pointless trophy that none of us care about? I am by no means saying play the kids or play a purposefully weaker team. But for example I would rather give someone like Sanchez, Debuchy, Giroud 45-70 mins to get them that much more match fitness before the actual season starts. I am saying prioritise the players getting match fit over the game itself. The game in consequence to the season doesn't mean that much (unless we get destroyed). We beat a really strong city tam 3-1 last year in pre season and it made no impact on our season. I feel the same about this.
Its a season starter where you can show how close you are to finishing preparations and to show your intent. Even though the Charity Shield isn't a coveted trophy, any top team would not like to lose it. As i've said in one of my previous posts, Man U under Fergie never took this lightly and always made it competitive and aimed for the win. Apart from winning bragging rights, you also show the best team in the land and the others you mean business.
Anyone else think we should start Sanogo on Sunday? Should be full of confidence. Check this Sanchez and Sanogo linking up in training... https://vine.co/v/MV7mbrwY61g
Whoever is fit should start and from watching the Emirates cup, Sanogo looked good and Giroud looked unfit.
we need to win this game , this is no pre season junket . This IS the first game of the season and we need to set the tone for a flying start . No more lame ass first 25 minutes. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH..! If we play well and lose it wont be a disaster . But if we are lukewarm , that will be very worrying.
As of right now City appear to be 8 players short in their squad, so they wont be playing their best team! https://www.clubcall.com/manchester-city/pellegrini-minus-eight-for-gunners-1735590.html
Sagna not fit? That's surprisingly considering he didn't get much playing time at the WC. Who are they going to play at RB without Sagna AND Zabaleta?
