For the first 30mins tonight....

[floyd the barber]

seriously, for the first half hour our movement,passing and all round play took me back to the days of Barnes,Beardsley..etc,etc

 

You could tell the lads were up for the game and really wanted to put on a good display, yet after the pen we lost our way somewhat and slowly crept back into our shell..

 

After the pen it became a strange performance from us, not from lack of effort more from an eager to please perhaps, Riise for example was horribly inconsistent with his passing and kewell had the strangest game ive ever seen....Starting with his hair flying about, he tied it bk and showed us how to put in a decent cross, how to put in a horrible cross, how to beat a man, how not to beat a man, how to get the ball stuck under your feet, how to unstick the ball from under your feet, how to sky the ball into the kop...etc,etc

 

 

Sissoko MOM for me, really was superb, best game from him since the trip to japan.

 

 

Also would it be worth using garcia up front for the manc game, he certainly has that natural instinct to creep into areas and grab a goal..

[Guest Red Death]

Good post. I think we are a tired team at the moment...despite our performance last night. Gerrard was much improved from the JJB, though I still think he is carrying a niggle.

 

I don't think Garcia should start against the Mancs....I think he'll be saved for the Benfica game, though it is probable he'll be on the field against United at some stage. Luis is another player who will have to be nursed through for the rest of the season with his injury. I think Crouch will start against Manchester, and probably Djib Cisse. Kromkamp will get a run I feel, and I would not be suprised to see Agger in the starting eleven, nor even Traore.

 

You were right about Kewell....blew hot and cold all night. The bicycle kick was sensational, and there are not to many in world football who would get a save out of the keeper with that sort of cross. The next minute he was making errors you wouldn't see from someone playing in a park game.

 

Momo was my man of the match.

[Guest Kev]

Good post. I think we are a tired team at the moment...despite our performance last night. Gerrard was much improved from the JJB, though I still think he is carrying a niggle.

 

I don't think Garcia should start against the Mancs....I think he'll be saved for the Benfica game, though it is probable he'll be on the field against United at some stage. Luis is another player who will have to be nursed through for the rest of the season with his injury. I think Crouch will start against Manchester, and probably Djib Cisse. Kromkamp will get a run I feel, and I would not be suprised to see Agger in the starting eleven, nor even Traore.

 

You were right about Kewell....blew hot and cold all night. The bicycle kick was sensational, and there are not to many in world football who would get a save out of the keeper with that sort of cross. The next minute he was making errors you wouldn't see from someone playing in a park game.

 

Momo was my man of the match.

 

If Garcia is fit then I would play him. This would mean Gerrard moving back to the centre where he is at his most productive.

[Guest westang]

I think Crouch will start against Manchester, and probably Djib Cisse. Kromkamp will get a run I feel, and I would not be suprised to see Agger in the starting eleven, nor even Traore.

 

I'm not sure about playing Crouch as last time he was completely controlled by Ferdinard and Brown.

 

Kromkamp should get a game as he cannot play the Benefica game. Finnan is doing great but perhaps a rest could help keep his great form till the end of the season.

[Guest Red Death]

I think Luis is best against 'European' style teams...of which Arsenal is certainly one: I would be surprised to be honest if he started against United, especially given his injury. At the end of the day Champions League football shades it in importance over the FA Cup...getting a result away against Benfica should be our priority. That's why I think our most natural goal scorer won't start against United.

 

If Gerrard comes back into the centre then Cisse might start on the right. Gerrard and Alonso are due a break at some stage soon...problem is we've looked rudderless when Alonso isn't on the field, and Gerrard is our best player, so they won't be rested in the same game that's for sure.

[floyd the barber]

The lad had a good game, but some of his passing was, as usual, woeful.

 

he has just turned 21, still learning the game and at the moment is he is in the side to do the dirty work...which he does well..

 

His passing will definetly improve, how can it fail not to when he has alonso alongside him every week..

[Guest sniffer]

seriously, for the first half hour our movement,passing and all round play took me back to the days of Barnes,Beardsley..etc,etc

 

You could tell the lads were up for the game and really wanted to put on a good display, yet after the pen we lost our way somewhat and slowly crept back into our shell..

 

After the pen it became a strange performance from us, not from lack of effort more from an eager to please perhaps, Riise for example was horribly inconsistent with his passing and kewell had the strangest game ive ever seen....Starting with his hair flying about, he tied it bk and showed us how to put in a decent cross, how to put in a horrible cross, how to beat a man, how not to beat a man, how to get the ball stuck under your feet, how to unstick the ball from under your feet, how to sky the ball into the kop...etc,etc

Sissoko MOM for me, really was superb, best game from him since the trip to japan.

Also would it be worth using garcia up front for the manc game, he certainly has that natural instinct to creep into areas and grab a goal..

 

Sorry but you're totally wrong about the 87-88 season. Didn't remind me of that at all. The 87-88 side would have camped in the Arsenal half at the kop end the last 45 minutes and they would have won by more than one goal. Oh, and you think Lehman was busy last night! He would have known what 'busy' was in the 87-88 season.

 

he has just turned 21, still learning the game and at the moment is he is in the side to do the dirty work...which he does well..

 

His passing will definetly improve, how can it fail not to when he has alonso alongside him every week..

 

Fabregas is only 18 and his passing is five times better than Mo's. But he doesn't tackle much

[Knox_Harrington]

Sorry but you're totally wrong about the 87-88 season. Didn't remind me of that at all. The 87-88 side would have camped in the Arsenal half at the kop end the last 45 minutes and they would have won by more than one goal. Oh, and you think Lehman was busy last night! He would have known what 'busy' was in the 87-88 season.

Christ we're in agreement again.

 

In order to compare to that side we need a genuine ball carrier (which Kewell isn't), a genuine number seven (which Morientes isn't) and an out and out goalscorer firing on all cylinders who can hold the ball up (which Fowler isn't yet and only if EVERYTHING goes for him will he become one again and Morientes isn't either).

 

Having said that we are still moving in the right direction.

[Stigger]

Sorry but you're totally wrong about the 87-88 season. Didn't remind me of that at all. The 87-88 side would have camped in the Arsenal half at the kop end the last 45 minutes and they would have won by more than one goal. Oh, and you think Lehman was busy last night! He would have known what 'busy' was in the 87-88 season.

Fabregas is only 18 and his passing is five times better than Mo's. But he doesn't tackle much

 

 

Maybe that's why he said the first 30 minutes reminded him of the 87-88 season, not the whole game?

[Guest Ian K]

We played quite well for the first 30 mins, but anyone claiming it was reminiscent of 88 was probably born in 89.