The Arsenal Game

[DoomMerchant]

The point is, that anything can happen in these situations & usually does. It hardly ever just runs smoothly for one team.

This is our biggest one off game since the Cup final. If we don't believe we can win it, or we think we're out of the title race, Arsenal will turn us over & I'll tel you what will happen next; the rags will drop fucking points & we'll realise we just spunked the title because they told us it was over.

eggsackly.

what will mancini be telling the players now? how do you get them to avoid the noise that's impacting all of our conversations? sure, they are professionals, and are used to media bollox...but this is a total pressure cooker.

One game to save our lives. Will Mancini work them up to a foaming-at-the-mouth, rabid dog rage to get out and show something or will he be cool as an "esss normull" cucumber and think his tactics will win the day?

im interested to see if he comes out swashbuckling at the end of the week and gets a little salty. His team needs to see him emblazoned with a thirst to win this title if we have any hope.

Well he's won most of the big one off games in recent times.

This is an intriguing one because in theory this is a normal game of football away from home against a side which is trying to beat us, rather than just trying to fuck us over and get whatever they can. They are in the best run of form for ages at home, at full strength & favourites for this, so it could actually be that a solid, mundane, early days Bob performance is required, at least initially.

Where we take the edge off them, impose our game & then kill them off, like the cup semi v rags. The important thing is not to panic & to be ready to change tactics quickly if whatever we start with doesn't work.

Personally, I would like us to keep it tight, with Silva on the bench, play our slow boring passing game, hit them on the counter, then if we're not in front, chuck the fucking kitchen sink at them for the last 30 mins, perhaps withn Silva. We know how to score doing that now so it's not that risky to hope for a late goal or two.

jesus fuck...i thought we were making progress together in this detente...you and me.

OD and CARL will loose their minds and stalk you if they read that you are harkening back to the "Cantcini" days when our setup was so that we "cant" lose, but reality became that we also "cant" win when we need it most.

i feel like we need to fucking throw hell at these bastards from the get go, press, get the ball, and put it into the back of the net.

Who's with me?

cheers

[Original Dub]

jesus fuck...i thought we were making progress together in this detente...you and me.

OD and CARL will loose their minds and stalk you if they read that you are harkening back to the "Cantcini" days when our setup was so that we "cant" lose, but reality became that we also "cant" win when we need it most.

i feel like we need to fucking throw hell at these bastards from the get go, press, get the ball, and put it into the back of the net.

Who's with me?

cheers

Double high five and chest thing.

[DoomMerchant]

jesus fuck...i thought we were making progress together in this detente...you and me.

OD and CARL will loose their minds and stalk you if they read that you are harkening back to the "Cantcini" days when our setup was so that we "cant" lose, but reality became that we also "cant" win when we need it most.

i feel like we need to fucking throw hell at these bastards from the get go, press, get the ball, and put it into the back of the net.

Who's with me?

cheers

Double high five and chest thing.

i so wanna give you a pat on the ass right now.

cheers

[Original Dub]

i so wanna give you a pat on the ass right now.

cheers

Fuck pat, its you I want.

[DoomMerchant]

i so wanna give you a pat on the ass right now.

cheers

Fuck pat, its you I want.

what are you wearing?

[Ted Hughes]

Andy Gray is just describing how the secret of 'greats' in sport is often that the opposition are beaten before they face them, so they can still win even when not at their best. He mentioned Tiger Woods (pre troubles) on the last day etc & is talking about how often v Barca, people play the shirts rather than the team in front of them & how important the psycholgy is.

Sounds strangely familiar.

Can't think where I've heard someone say this before..

[feedthegreek]

Andy Gray is just describing how the secret of 'greats' in sport is often that the opposition are beaten before they face them, so they can still win even when not at their best. He mentioned Tiger Woods (pre troubles) on the last day etc & is talking about how often v Barca, people play the shirts rather than the team in front of them & how important the psycholgy is.

Sounds strangely familiar.

Can't think where I've heard someone say this before..

scum only need to draw 1 game when we win a game at the same time and were right back in it.so if its on sunday so be it we then beat arsenal and were 3 pts behind, with them at ours, ok so theres more games than those 2 but thats the scenario can someone hold them to a draw i think so.

[Swales4ever]

Arsenal v Manchester City (Sunday, 16:00 BST)

Manchester City's title bid is teetering on the edge so a trip to Emirates Stadium is the last thing Roberto Mancini needs.

Mancini has a dilemma - does he do what he probably would do under normal circumstances which is to pick two holding midfielders, look to stop Arsenal playing for an hour and then go and try to win the game?

Or, with this essentially being a must-win fixture, does he go toe to toe with them from the off.

Either way, I cannot see City getting anything. Their players have lost their way badly in recent weeks and there seems to be a realisation among the players that they are going to finish second. It is very difficult to change that mindset at this stage.

For them to have any chance in north London, they need every single one of their top players to have a great game, but that has not been happening for a while.

Defeat for City here would effectively mark the end of the title race. Did I think it would end so soon? No, because I thought City would be better in the last couple of months of the season.

Failing to land the title, and finishing the season without a trophy, will inevitably mean there is speculation over Mancini's future but, unless Jose Mourinho or Pep Guardiola fancy the job then I don't see the point of changing.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City

my confidence is peaking at sky heights, now.

[kinkylola]

anyone who says we have no chance and must rely on blind faith alone is a fool at best, and most likely a rag sympathizer. They have to go out and win those games, no game is a foregone conclusion or why would we even play them?

It's fucking pathetic. I would not want any one of you on a sporting team with me, you've already given up ... and worse you have started making up reasons why they will win it. It is really sad to see from grown men.

We have to go out and win every game for the rest of the season. We take it a game at a time and focus on winning that game. Then the next one. There is no point in caring what other teams do, because our goal is clear. That's all we can ask of our team, and if we do that we are in it with a shout.

One game at a time. Stop being such melodramatic losers and get behind your team.

[Edd209]

I agree that I win at Arsenal will put us back in with a shout. But in reality we are playing probably the best side in the country right now, and our form is mid table. But let's hope Sparky can get something at the rags. It's not beyond the realms of impossibility that. QPR scrapping for everything and I fancy them to nick a point?

[Tokyo Blue]

Anyone remember Dennis Bailey? Hallelujah!

[phips]

I' gonna guess that Mancini goes with:

Hary
Richards Vinnie Lescott Clichy
Barry
Nasri Yaya Silva Balo
Aguero

I think he has to start Lescott..there's no more time for him to rest. We NEED him on sunday.
Same with Aguero....he HAS to play. I dont think we can even wait until the 60th to bring him
on. The 50-65th should be when Tevez comes on.

I'd like Mancini to play Milner instead of Silva and Tevez instead of Balo but I dont think he will.
His quotes about Silva's form as of late and how he expects it to return just doesnt make me think
that hes gonna rest him....same with Balo, Mancini's comments about not giving up on him and
whatever makes me think he'll play him.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Just looked at our goal difference compared to the munchens....its only 1 goal in it .. that's incredible how they have got that back..we were like 12 goals ahead a month or so ago.

We need to go all out and attack against Arsenal....they will score against us...lets just score 3 past the cunts and hope QPR nail the scum.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

There's a difference between optimism and blind faith. There's also a difference between being a pessimist and realist. In all likeliness united won't drop anything against qpr. They might but come on, how many of you seriously expect them to? We are far more likely to drop points to arsenal. I'm not being a negative sod, it's just being realistic. Another thing is that people seem to ebe taking it for granted that we'll beat united. I'm not saying we can't or won't win the league but looking at our respective fixture lists it's unlikely.

[Original Dub]

There's a difference between optimism and blind faith. There's also a difference between being a pessimist and realist. In all likeliness united won't drop anything against qpr. They might but come on, how many of you seriously expect them to? We are far more likely to drop points to arsenal. I'm not being a negative sod, it's just being realistic. Another thing is that people seem to ebe taking it for granted that we'll beat united. I'm not saying we can't or won't win the league but looking at our respective fixture lists it's unlikely.

It certainly is unlikely. So was the 1-6.

I like unliklies.

Welcome to reality. Thought we lost you there for a while when you were "100% sure".

[Green & Blue]

I would just like to add that i really wish Mertesacker was back for this one.

[brite blu sky]

There's a difference between optimism and blind faith. There's also a difference between being a pessimist and realist. In all likeliness united won't drop anything against qpr. They might but come on, how many of you seriously expect them to? We are far more likely to drop points to arsenal. I'm not being a negative sod, it's just being realistic. Another thing is that people seem to ebe taking it for granted that we'll beat united. I'm not saying we can't or won't win the league but looking at our respective fixture lists it's unlikely.

But football defies all that doesn't it. That's the catch that makes it addictive. Reading stuff on here recently it seems that most have forgotten that and been overtaken by their expectations and now cannot enjoy the fight any more. The Arse game is crucial, tbh it is now the biggest game of the season. Win, Lose or Draw it is going to be one of the games that helps define this team. If we stay in this fight then all the next games are going to be the same. Imo that is enjoyment unparalled since the late 60's fighting at the very top. Every pass, every tackle, every movement is going to be watched with an intensity bordering on hysteric. Isn't that why we watch football to experience that level of right here right now insanity?
Well City are right there, this team has brought the fans right into the white heat. I can't believe there are fans flaking out all over the fucking place just when it is getting exciting... this team is learning on the job, the next games are crucial to that, they don't have the experience and have to get it somehow... well this is how.
If they don't do it, there is no need to go awol, the team has improved no end from last season and this fight to the end will make the team and give them the experience they lack, there is no other way, enjoy it for what it is. Pride in Battle

[Swales4ever]

There's a difference between optimism and blind faith. There's also a difference between being a pessimist and realist. In all likeliness united won't drop anything against qpr. They might but come on, how many of you seriously expect them to? We are far more likely to drop points to arsenal. I'm not being a negative sod, it's just being realistic. Another thing is that people seem to ebe taking it for granted that we'll beat united. I'm not saying we can't or won't win the league but looking at our respective fixture lists it's unlikely.

there no need they drop pts just against QPR. they only have to do once within the end of the season.
providing that we'll do our job, which include - mainly - beating them at our own by a couple that, in turn, means + 4 GD.
everyone happy, including PRAGMATIC CARL.
fingers crossed, chin up and full support to the Lads, plenty of time to moan over the summer...

[Swales4ever]

I would just like to add that i really wish Mertesacker was back for this one.

sensible one... :-)

[Ted Hughes]

There's a difference between optimism and blind faith. There's also a difference between being a pessimist and realist. In all likeliness united won't drop anything against qpr. They might but come on, how many of you seriously expect them to? We are far more likely to drop points to arsenal. I'm not being a negative sod, it's just being realistic. Another thing is that people seem to ebe taking it for granted that we'll beat united. I'm not saying we can't or won't win the league but looking at our respective fixture lists it's unlikely.

But football defies all that doesn't it. That's the catch that makes it addictive. Reading stuff on here recently it seems that most have forgotten that and been overtaken by their expectations and now cannot enjoy the fight any more. The Arse game is crucial, tbh it is now the biggest game of the season. Win, Lose or Draw it is going to be one of the games that helps define this team. If we stay in this fight then all the next games are going to be the same. Imo that is enjoyment unparalled since the late 60's fighting at the very top. Every pass, every tackle, every movement is going to be watched with an intensity bordering on hysteric. Isn't that why we watch football to experience that level of right here right now insanity?
Well City are right there, this team has brought the fans right into the white heat. I can't believe there are fans flaking out all over the fucking place just when it is getting exciting... this team is learning on the job, the next games are crucial to that, they don't have the experience and have to get it somehow... well this is how.
If they don't do it, there is no need to go awol, the team has improved no end from last season and this fight to the end will make the team and give them the experience they lack, there is no other way, enjoy it for what it is. Pride in Battle

This.

It's incredible that so many fans arses have gone at the 1st sign of a fight.

I could understand it if we'd already lost to Arsenal, but to give up before the game has even been played is truly gutless.

My worry is whether that attitude of defeatism has spread to the players. They are usually in tune to the general mood of things & have had the rag media going at it full steam ahead since they got a lead (yet strangely enough saying the opposite when the situation was reversed). They will know that a lot of our fans have also written them off & I just hope they have more balls than some supporters or Arsenal will cruise it.