In our next 2 league games, we face two top 4 rivals, the Champions City, and Chelsea who sit at the top of the league. I was wondering what everyone would do with the defence for these 2 games? Mind you, we have a mid week European game coming up, and a Capitol One Cup game in which I suspect everyone will be rested. So what would you do? Would you keep the same back 4, or would you make some replacements? Personally, I'd give both Mertesacker and Gibbs a rest on Tuesday, and put in Kosh and Santos. For the City game, I'd make only 1 change to the current defence, and replace Jenkinson with Kosh at right back. For the Chelsea game I'd prefer the same as well, Kosh for Jenkinson at right back. I'd feel more comfortable with Kosh at RB in these big games over Jenkinson, remember, Kosh, can play at RB, he's not out of depth there, nor uncomfortable in comparison to Vermaelen at LB who just doesn't fit that position at all when he's had to cover it. Even last season when Kosh had to fill that role for us, he did a good and reliable job at the RB position. Once Sagna's back, we will have a top quality defence if they can keep this up. The best RB in the league, and in my book, TV and Kosh easily make the top 5 CB's in the league, with Merte not far behind at all based on his recent performances, would put him right up there in the top 10 CB's in the league right now.
I'd rest the entire back 4 on tuesday, save them for Citeh. Why change what isn't broken? If you take away goalkeeping errors, we still haven't conceded.
No way to rest the entire back 4 on Tuesday, we don't want to take the Manunited route and played a severely weakened team in Europe only to get knocked out. We should rest some of the back 4, but no way should we rest them all! As for change what's not broken, Mancity, and Chelsea, pose a much much different and tougher challenge to what we have been faced with so far.
Kyle you Donut. How does not changing what isn't broken, equate with changing the entire back 4 ? ? ? I agree with bringing Kos and Santos in, but I'd rest Mert for Kos and I wouldn't play Kos at RB. I think it will be a good game for Jenkinson to get experience in.
I meant it wouldn't break it for the citeh game. We'd keep the current back 4 (jenks, Mert, Verm, Gibbs) for the citeh game, and play Yennaris, Koscielny, Djourou and Santos against Montpellier.
I think Kos will come back (replacing Mert) on Tue and will keep his place against ManCity if he plays well.
How can you start that defence in the Champions League against the French Champions? Yenaris? Djoure? No way!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't under-estimate the group stages of the UCL, Manunited did that last year, and were knocked out as a result. Seriously, if Wenger started that defence, and we put on a terrible defensive display, you'd hang him for putting out such a weak looking defence compared with the very strong defence we do have at our disposal.
I would put Mannone in goal against City and Chelsea and use Szcez against Montpellier to see if he doesn't improve his erratic form.
Montpellier - Chensey, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Kos and Gibbs. Man City - Mannone, Kos, Mertesacker, Vermaelen and Gibbs. Coventry - Mannone, Yennaris, Djourou, Miquel and Santos
Not Sure about that, unless Cheesney has a poor game, I'd keep him against City. Also, I think Gibbs should be dropped against Montpellier, bring in Santos, and keep a pairing of Kos and Verm against City, because they'll play it a lot more ball on deck Keep Jenkinson at RB against City as well, he's done well and deserves it, so overall I'm hoping for something like Montpellier: Cheesney, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Kos, Santos Citeh: Cheesney, Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Kos, Gibbs Coventry: Mannone, Yennaris, Djourou, Miquel, Santos
Not sure about Santos away to Montpellier. Gibbs does not need a rest, he did not play during the international break. So I would keep him for the next two games. On Chensey, I do think he will start the next game as Wenger is not going to be harsh enough to drop him for one mistake, but I also feel that he might not have the best of games and therefore Mannone will get his chance against City. On Jenkinson, maybe I am still scarred from his last performance in Manchester.
On the contrary I think we should stick with Mert and Verm for City... why change a winning formula although I see what you're saying. Keep in mind that City have some big and powerful players in the shape of Balotelli and Dzeko. Verm can handle Aguero and Silva.
On Carl Jenkinson, Please Forgive and Forget as am sure hes learnt his lessons no matter how harsh it was..
