betterman

What do we want? Instant gratification! When do we want it? Now..... Let's give the lad a chance, it's ridiculous and pointless rushing to judgment.

The centre backs do get a lot off set pieces alright, I conveniently overlooked that. Like I typed in some thread somewhere tonight though it's about time our f***ing centre backs stepped up to the mark and stopped looking like sluggish lightweights. I stand by the Fabregas comment though, he really is key to that team ticking or not.

True, but this current Arsenal team don't seem to have that ability out wide, mainly due to injuries to be fair. If Fabregas is kept quiet, and Arshavin to a lesser extent, you're a lot of the way there. Probably the way a lot of Arsenal fans view playing us, just put in the two big names from our team. Easier said than done. Think we'll win and Gerrard will look like himself again. Then we'll beat Wigan 10-1!

I'd be very happy if we cancelled out Fabregas, because if we can we'll probably win.

Ya, it's highly unlikely alright.

Is the job of his and his like not to make a ridiculous prediction about a player based on the prevailing ill considered (or not considered at all) opinion of the ignorant masses? His opinion was formed before the game you can be sure and he will have seen whatever he wants to so that he can justify it. After 75 minutes of his first start following a serious injury I just can't wait to see him fit and - please god - in the team with Gerrard and Torres. Having them all on the field for al of five minutes gave me a small bit of hope for the future! Thought Stevie looked a bit more like himself tonight too. Good call to play him I'd say, though we won't know 'til Sunday.

I'm not waffling or if I am it's not an attempt to. He's starting. I'm delighted he's starting and hope he gets on great, but he could also end up being hauled off after 20 minutes. My essential point (just for you) is that I'm sure Rafa wants him to be fit and contributing more than any of us do so I'm not so quick to say he was obviously fit for action and just not (for some other reason) being given a game.

Much as I appreciate your sarcasm, that's not what I'm saying, it's what you've inferred. If you actually read what I said it was that I don't have a clue what shape he was/is in and I reckon neither does anyone else on here. I also said earlier he should have been playing if fit, but I'm just not as sure as you seem to be that he is. It's entirely plausible they brought him on and then felt he wasn't up to it yet - it happens. Or it's based on very close scrutiny of his fitness regime with his long term fitness at heart. But those arguments are as much guesswork as yours really.

I've already said if he's fit he should be playing. But you just don't know what the story is with him, do you? If this thread has proven one thing it's that no-one here knows why he hasn't been playing/if he is fit/unfit/being protected/in fact made of glass. Let's just hope he gets his game tomorrow and plays well (or at least survives).

But Mascherano is not that type of player and won't become one either. His passing is largely good IMHO, I'm not expecting him to open up defences. He does his job and generally does it well. Then we have Lucas alongside him, offering practically nothing. When we had Alonso I don't remember Mascherano's passing being an issue. But until Aquilani is fit Lucas is (sadly) the best we have to offer and he gives it his all to be fair, but he's limited and never going the player we'd all love him to be/hope Aquilani will prove to be.

I agree with most of what you said, but that bit doesn't stand up for me. Same was said about Blackburn. Leaving aside that lumps weren't kicked out of players in either match, unfortunately football is a contact sport and he's as likely to get kicked tomorrow night as any other. Who are the right, gentle obliging team to start against? When you're fit you're fit, end of. It's time to be getting on the pitch and getting match sharp. (I'm not saying he is/has been fully fit, because no-one on here knows, just that he can't be wrapped in cotton wool for fear that he might get kicked by some supposedly 'dirty' team)

Fair shot on him and good finishes off both feet. Does he take any/many dead balls?