The Only way is Up? - The Gooners match thread

[Beefheart]

He was f*cking immense away at Wigan. Less so at Brum.

I do believe he's a slight improvement though. Can still be a trundler, but competes better in the air. Its an on balance better.

He was good away at Fulham in the cup as well, against Everton when he came on after Knight got injured, and at Old Trafford. The first two being clean sheets, and he can't be faulted for the goal conceded against the scum.

Basically, I've seen enough of him to feel that he's a definite improvement on Knight.

[chaddy_bwfc]

Let's face it, we all know knight and robinson will start on saturday. But I think Coyle MUST keep this new formation. I didn't see the game on Tuesday but from the sounds of things it was a lot more solid and took a lot of pressure off of the back four and from what I heard on SSN villa's only real attempt on target came very late on.

If he plays the same formation on saturday I think Coyle is likely to stick with his usual lot instead of keeping people in that did well on Tuesday. I reckon this will be something very similar to the team we put out saturday.
------------Jussi---------------
Boyata Cahill Knight Robinson
-----Muamba----NRC---------
Tuncay---M.Davies---Petrov
------------SKD----------------

[thebish]

Benayoun out, really hope we get a result Coyle's selection will be interesting. Really hope Wheater starts

they can't have broken him already can they??? they're just like those rich, careless kids who break all their new toys within days of being given them....

[chaddy_bwfc]

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... _own_good/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Even the Bolton News are calling for Zat to be taken out of the team for this weekend, and SKD.

[BWFC_Insane]

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... _own_good/

Even the Bolton News are calling for Zat to be taken out of the team for this weekend, and SKD.

Not the Bolton News but John McGinlay!

[Lord Kangana]

Well he's talking sense. We're on a hiding to nothing down there anyway, so its as good a time as any to shake it up.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

If he plays the same formation on saturday I think Coyle is likely to stick with his usual lot instead of keeping people in that did well on Tuesday. I reckon this will be something very similar to the team we put out saturday.
------------Jussi---------------
Boyata Cahill Knight Robinson
-----Muamba----NRC---------
Tuncay---M.Davies---Petrov
------------SKD----------------

Brave move to play Tuncay on the right, after last week. Surely Eagles did better there in his half, and also impressed on Tuesday. Tuncay could play behind the main striker, although that would feel more like a split-striker 4-4-2 (not that there's a vast amount of difference between that and 4-2-3-1). Besides, that position would be the most suited to M Davies's skillset, he could drop back to bolster midfield and he has done well at Arsenal before.

But the bigger issue is the centre-forward.

[TKIZ!]

I have a nagging feeling that we're going to play to Mertesackers strengths on Saturday, in the same way we do for Hangelaand every season.

Anyway, I'll guess........

--------------------Jussi------------------------
-Steinsson--Wheater----Cahill--------Robinson---
-------------NRC---------M.Davies---------------
-Eagles--------------------------------Petrov-----
-------------Davies-------N'Gog-------------------

We'll get Merte-sackered if we play that side on Saturday. Walcott usually runs riot against Steiner

[TANGODANCER]

John McGinlay makes the case for Knight and SKD taking a step back and a breather. Put that way it's difficult to argue, but in SKD's place the rules need to change a bit if we don't play him. N'gog, according t the commentary, won little or nothing in the air against Dunne and Collins, midweek, so the striker finding goal-kick bombers down the middle have to give way to a bit more creative attack from midfield, whether it be Jussi or Bogdan supplying them. It's daft to think Arsenal are going to be anything but hard work because we know they're all about passing and possesion. Unless we restrict that possesion and have some of our own, and keep them away from our box, and get a few clever through balls to N'gog other ways than two feet above his head, we might as well just resort to "bang it up to Kev".

Change the man, change the method, is all that'll work. Drop the "defend to the death and hope to hit them on the break" and hassle and take the game to them for a change. It's worked often enough against Aresenal in the past.

[Tombwfc]

I have a nagging feeling that we're going to play to Mertesackers strengths on Saturday, in the same way we do for Hangelaand every season.

Anyway, I'll guess........

--------------------Jussi------------------------
-Steinsson--Wheater----Cahill--------Robinson---
-------------NRC---------M.Davies---------------
-Eagles--------------------------------Petrov-----
-------------Davies-------N'Gog-------------------

We'll get Merte-sackered if we play that side on Saturday. Walcott usually runs riot against Steiner

I didn't say it was the team I'd pick, just my prediction for what it'll be, although I would play Steinsson just because I think he's better. I'd play Boyata at centre half, but that'd probably be enough to send Wheater over the edge and start headbutting ice-cubes again.

I've said before that I think the difference between the two is negligable, but I do think Wheater will get his chance. I wonder where it leaves us (and him) if he gets completely exposed against both Arsenal and Chelsea.

[thebish]

just for completeness' sake....

"I am a huge admirer of Arsène Wenger, I have come up against him many times and there will be no tension. Arsène Wenger is one of the best managers in world football, and always will be. But we have to accept football is a game of opinions and criticism comes along the way.

I feel he is the perfect fit for Arsenal, though, given their history and tradition and the way they have evolved over the years. Yes, they would like a trophy, but look at the players he has brought to the club.

Maybe if he had the same resources as other managers of the biggest clubs, you would see an Arsenal side with different personnel."

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I do think Wheater will get his chance. I wonder where it leaves us (and him) if he gets completely exposed against both Arsenal and Chelsea.

Is this the Andranik syndrome in reverse? Bloke's 24; he doesn't need protecting, our goal does. If he's the best man for the job - and you have to say, something's going terribly wrong and although Knight is a leading contender for terrace scapegoat, he's also been far from perfect – then pick Wheater.

[Hoboh]

All I have to say about this game is the way to beat a 6'6 hulk of a German is not in the air!

[Armchair Wanderer]

All I have to say about this game is the way to beat a 6'6 hulk of a German is not in the air!

We'll still have a go at it!

[HMX]

Oh, nice. Tickets can't be bought on the gate.

[Abs]

All I have to say about this game is the way to beat a 6'6 hulk of a German is not in the air!

Funny enough it is...Davies will beat him in the air. But I would love to see a footrace between Davies and Mertesacker, just to found out who is slower. If Davies lose this foot race, he should retire cause he will become officially the slowest player in the league

[a1]

Funny enough it is...Davies will beat him in the air. But I would love to see a footrace between Davies and Mertesacker, just to found out who is slower. If Davies lose this foot race, he should retire cause he will become officially the slowest player in the league

has robbie blake packed in ?

[Wandering Willy]

If it's a straight line the Sack will win.

Any turns involved and Davies may edge it.

[Gooner Girl]

I'm getting nervous. Gutted i'm not going

[Abs]

Funny enough it is...Davies will beat him in the air. But I would love to see a footrace between Davies and Mertesacker, just to found out who is slower. If Davies lose this foot race, he should retire cause he will become officially the slowest player in the league

has robbie blake packed in ?

Robbie Blake isnt someone who plays in the PL, he's just a name on paper right now. Anyway I really hope you dont play Ngog, for some reason that guy have played well against us few times. As long as I dont see Ngog and Kakuta, Im delighted