Next : Arsenal Away

[halnone]

I hope Nasty plays.

agree. He's incredibly confident on the ball and has shown better positioning than Lescott.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

Dzeko has to start for me. Much better on the counter attack and less likely to get sent off.

The game we won in the league cup came from him springing a counter and away at west brim this season he finished one. Arsenal hold the ball well and a counter attack is a great way to hurt them as we see regularly.

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

I'd prefer Lescott in at the back. Not sure between Dzeko or Balo.
But the main thing is to be positive rather than look terrified to come out of our own half as we usually do at Arsenal.
Their supporters must wonder how we won the League when we look about as adventurous as Stoke with an injury crisis, when we roll up at theirs.

[aaron bond]

As Dzeko has been scoring a few recently, I think he's earned his starting place for this game (assuming Aguero isn't fit). Although I think there's a good chance Balotelli will start, following his cameo against Watford and the friendly match last night.

In defence, Lescott has to start. He didn't deserve to lose his place in the first place and since he's been back playing, he's been very good. Whilst Nastasic has potential and is composed on the ball, his regular inability to win a header and the fact he almost always is beaten in a one-on-one situation means we need more experience in such an important game.

[Cit.revenge]

almost agree with Ted [difficult not to. usually].
But I'd stick with the recent blend of 4-2-3-1, certainly with Dzeko CF and Tevez roaming deep. only puzzlement [and HUGE regret] is that ineligibility of Nasri. I suspect that Bob will use Jimmy Jaw to fill that void, with Javi Garcia alongside Bazza on the holding... but I much hope not. Fluidity and speed of circulation, directness on our passing and move, as recently seen, will be the key.... and definitely Garcia is not great at it, so far.

What about betting on Mario for one of the roaming three position, for the sake of keeping Milner alongside Barry?
Thoughts, please?

just to help the understanding of my language barrier.... :-)

----------------------------------------Hart
Zabaleta----------------Kompany---------Nasti-----------------Clichy
-------------------------Milner--------------Barry-----------------------------
Balotelli-----------------------------Tevez-------------------------------Silva
-------------------------------------Dzeko----------------------------

This is exactly my fear Garcia and Barry, Yaya is so important when the ball is to be transferred to the second half and always when your opponent presses on our half Yaya and Barry carried the ball to the second half with his incredible strength and technique, Yaya is knew to haul two players on the back i do not know if Garcia can replace him. What I'm afraid if Bob put Milner on the wing and with Barry and Garcia at the back, will the two be able to withstand high pressure that Arsenal will play from start in the absence of Yaya to putting pressure on the back line. I also liked that Milner plays with Barry at back, but in the absence of Nasri i do not know what Bob can do , I do not think he will play with three strikers, so we'll probably see Garcia and Barry but who knows, maybe Garcia surprise us this time.
By the way Happy birthday David.

[Original Dub]

It is a shame aguero is out. Last season his movement against arse away was near perfect. It was just the wrong pass everytime and he got no service.

With the right pass, he would have had four one on ones.

I agree with the majority... Balo up top with silva and tevez behind. Before we let him go we have to give him a chance as the focal point of the attack instead of him dropping back and wide.

Leave that to the workhorse.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

I have to say in genuinely stunned by the majority wanting Balo to start.

Last seasons performance there, combined with him doing 2/3 of fuck all this season is enough for me.

What is everyone else seeing I'm not?

[Original Dub]

I have to say in genuinely stunned by the majority wanting Balo to start.

Last seasons performance there, combined with him doing 2/3 of fuck all this season is enough for me.

What is everyone else seeing I'm not?

He wasn't the focal point of our attack there last season.

Tevez can operate as a lone striker as we all know but then we rely on silva to do all the creating and that is too much on him in such a fixture.

No yaya, no nasri, no aguero.

Silva and tevez behind a player that can play the line. I really don't see a better option and I'm far from Balo's biggest fan.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

He wasn't the focal point of our attack there last season.

Tevez can operate as a lone striker as we all know but then we rely on silva to do all the creating and that is too much on him in such a fixture.

No yaya, no nasri, no aguero.

Silva and tevez behind a player that can play the line. I really don't see a better option and I'm far from Balo's biggest fan.

Dzeko scores more goals.

Yeah he can be clumsy, but he's far more likely to stock it in the net

[london blue 2]

He wasn't the focal point of our attack there last season.

Tevez can operate as a lone striker as we all know but then we rely on silva to do all the creating and that is too much on him in such a fixture.

No yaya, no nasri, no aguero.

Silva and tevez behind a player that can play the line. I really don't see a better option and I'm far from Balo's biggest fan.

Dzeko scores more goals.

Yeah he can be clumsy, but he's far more likely to stock it in the net

Yeah you make a good point. I want Balo to start and I dont really know why. I dunno what it is about Dzeko but seeing his name in the starting line up just doesn't fill me with confidence.

[Ted Hughes]

He wasn't the focal point of our attack there last season.

Tevez can operate as a lone striker as we all know but then we rely on silva to do all the creating and that is too much on him in such a fixture.

No yaya, no nasri, no aguero.

Silva and tevez behind a player that can play the line. I really don't see a better option and I'm far from Balo's biggest fan.

Dzeko scores more goals.

Yeah he can be clumsy, but he's far more likely to stock it in the net

Yeah you make a good point. I want Balo to start and I dont really know why. I dunno what it is about Dzeko but seeing his name in the starting line up just doesn't fill me with confidence.

I would start Dzeko, but purely out of fear.

He doesn't deserve to be anywhere near the team after his performance v Watford.

Balotelli looked about 30 million quid better than him when he came on.

Re the Yaya situation. We absolutely should not be so reliant on him. Every single player in our midfield, plus Tevez, should be taking it in turns to drop into deeper positions, take the ball from the donkeys at the back & play pass & move, to bring the ball out. Sometimers several should be doing it at once. Sometimes they do, & they can all do it when they try.

Last season the Yaya business was a complete myth anyway.

We were already turning to crap before he went away, losing 2 and drawing one of the 3 away games, unable to score v packed defences at WBA & Sunderland. Then we lost Vinny v the rags & had that piece of wood in place of him in the cup games v Liverpool. We lost at Everton & couldn't score whilst Yaya was away, but Yaya was back for the defeat at Swansea where we couldn't score. Then we lost at Arsenal & couldn't score.

Yaya was an excuse for us being shite in the middle of the season & totally unable to score away from home. When Tevez returned at Stoke, it gave the team a boost, Yaya started to find a bit of form, we won a couple of away games when Tevez played (Bob dropped Tevez for the defeat at Arsenal) & Yaya got a couple of big goals.

Prior to that, Yaya played in most of our worst, most insipid defeats, where we played exactly as we have been doing in some games this season. Imo, if we are that team, we will get nowhere near the title with or without Yaya. If however we play as we can, we won't miss him.

We were as bad with Yaya in the side as we were when he left & we can be just as good without him as we are with him. It's dependant on th whole team playing to their ability, not one man.

[Mark Garrett]

He wasn't the focal point of our attack there last season.

Tevez can operate as a lone striker as we all know but then we rely on silva to do all the creating and that is too much on him in such a fixture.

No yaya, no nasri, no aguero.

Silva and tevez behind a player that can play the line. I really don't see a better option and I'm far from Balo's biggest fan.

Dzeko scores more goals.

Yeah he can be clumsy, but he's far more likely to stock it in the net

Yeah you make a good point. I want Balo to start and I dont really know why. I dunno what it is about Dzeko but seeing his name in the starting line up just doesn't fill me with confidence.

I agree with you Lee, I really am amazed by how many fans on here want Balotelli to start on Sunday! Have people forgetten his behaviour last week, his performances this season, his lack of work-rate, his general attitude and that he is a possibility of getting sent off?! Surely he has to earn his place in the starting line-up and Dzeko deserves a run in the side as he scores goals, performs when he has his opportunities from the bench, doesn't cause problems for the manager etc.

A fit and firing Balotelli of halfway through last season and I may be inclined to change my mind but what he has produced this season, it seems a no brainer for him to be not selected from the start for this match.

[Pretty Boy Lee]

I agree with you Lee, I really am amazed by how many fans on here want Balotelli to start on Sunday! Have people forgetten his behaviour last week, his performances this season, his lack of work-rate, his general attitude and that he is a possibility of getting sent off?! Surely he has to earn his place in the starting line-up and Dzeko deserves a run in the side as he scores goals, performs when he has his opportunities from the bench, doesn't cause problems for the manager etc.

A fit and firing Balotelli of halfway through last season and I may be inclined to change my mind but what he has produced this season, it seems a no brainer for him to be not selected from the start for this match.

So I'm not alone at least.

Ted, I didn't see Watford, so can't say much there, but even in the highlights in screaming pass before the young lad scored. Made a great run and Balo ignored him.

[Ted Hughes]

I agree with you Lee, I really am amazed by how many fans on here want Balotelli to start on Sunday! Have people forgetten his behaviour last week, his performances this season, his lack of work-rate, his general attitude and that he is a possibility of getting sent off?! Surely he has to earn his place in the starting line-up and Dzeko deserves a run in the side as he scores goals, performs when he has his opportunities from the bench, doesn't cause problems for the manager etc.

A fit and firing Balotelli of halfway through last season and I may be inclined to change my mind but what he has produced this season, it seems a no brainer for him to be not selected from the start for this match.

So I'm not alone at least.

Ted, I didn't see Watford, so can't say much there, but even in the highlights in screaming pass before the young lad scored. Made a great run and Balo ignored him.

Perhaps, but Balotelli played passes, one twos with Tevez, took men on, & encoragingly SHOT, when he came on. Dzeko did absolutely fuck all and casually flicked the ball to their defenders more times than Balotelli ever has. If Mario had turned in the same performance, it would have been carnage on here.

[Cit.revenge]

I agree with you Lee, I really am amazed by how many fans on here want Balotelli to start on Sunday! Have people forgetten his behaviour last week, his performances this season, his lack of work-rate, his general attitude and that he is a possibility of getting sent off?! Surely he has to earn his place in the starting line-up and Dzeko deserves a run in the side as he scores goals, performs when he has his opportunities from the bench, doesn't cause problems for the manager etc.

A fit and firing Balotelli of halfway through last season and I may be inclined to change my mind but what he has produced this season, it seems a no brainer for him to be not selected from the start for this match.

So I'm not alone at least.

Ted, I didn't see Watford, so can't say much there, but even in the highlights in screaming pass before the young lad scored. Made a great run and Balo ignored him.

Perhaps, but Balotelli played passes, one twos with Tevez, took men on, & encoragingly SHOT, when he came on. Dzeko did absolutely fuck all and casually flicked the ball to their defenders more times than Balotelli ever has. If Mario had turned in the same performance, it would have been carnage on here.

Edin had better season so far but i think Ballo will start game , Edin had three game in row and Bob need Ballo to start score and get in form to catch up with rags , is there any chance Aguero can be fit to play ? We need this win.

[Ted Hughes]

I agree with you Lee, I really am amazed by how many fans on here want Balotelli to start on Sunday! Have people forgetten his behaviour last week, his performances this season, his lack of work-rate, his general attitude and that he is a possibility of getting sent off?! Surely he has to earn his place in the starting line-up and Dzeko deserves a run in the side as he scores goals, performs when he has his opportunities from the bench, doesn't cause problems for the manager etc.

A fit and firing Balotelli of halfway through last season and I may be inclined to change my mind but what he has produced this season, it seems a no brainer for him to be not selected from the start for this match.

So I'm not alone at least.

Ted, I didn't see Watford, so can't say much there, but even in the highlights in screaming pass before the young lad scored. Made a great run and Balo ignored him.

Perhaps, but Balotelli played passes, one twos with Tevez, took men on, & encoragingly SHOT, when he came on. Dzeko did absolutely fuck all and casually flicked the ball to their defenders more times than Balotelli ever has. If Mario had turned in the same performance, it would have been carnage on here.

Edin had better season so far but i think Ballo will start game , Edin had three game in row and Bob need Ballo to start score and get in form to catch up with rags , is there any chance Aguero can be fit to play ? We need this win.

I can't see Aguero playing, unless his injury has been deliberately exaggerated just to fool Wenger.

Even if it's not a hmstring tear, just a strain, we would be risking his season if we threw him in that quickly.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I am confident Aguero won't be fit to play so it will be interesting to see how we set up for the game.It would be unwise imo to sit back and invite Arsenal on to us so I would hope we do have 2 strikers from the start even if one is Tevez and he plays a deeper role.

As for which striker I don't think it matters as long as he plays well.Either could be a success or a failure but we can't have the failure version.The key will be how well we control the middle of the park without Yaya.

[Cit.revenge]

I agree with you Lee, I really am amazed by how many fans on here want Balotelli to start on Sunday! Have people forgetten his behaviour last week, his performances this season, his lack of work-rate, his general attitude and that he is a possibility of getting sent off?! Surely he has to earn his place in the starting line-up and Dzeko deserves a run in the side as he scores goals, performs when he has his opportunities from the bench, doesn't cause problems for the manager etc.

A fit and firing Balotelli of halfway through last season and I may be inclined to change my mind but what he has produced this season, it seems a no brainer for him to be not selected from the start for this match.

So I'm not alone at least.

Ted, I didn't see Watford, so can't say much there, but even in the highlights in screaming pass before the young lad scored. Made a great run and Balo ignored him.

Perhaps, but Balotelli played passes, one twos with Tevez, took men on, & encoragingly SHOT, when he came on. Dzeko did absolutely fuck all and casually flicked the ball to their defenders more times than Balotelli ever has. If Mario had turned in the same performance, it would have been carnage on here.

Edin had better season so far but i think Ballo will start game , Edin had three game in row and Bob need Ballo to start score and get in form to catch up with rags , is there any chance Aguero can be fit to play ? We need this win.

I can't see Aguero playing, unless his injury has been deliberately exaggerated just to fool Wenger.

Even if it's not a hamstring tear, just a strain, we would be risking his season if we threw him in that quickly.

So we will not risk it . But this game is so important , we are really unlucky with so many injuries i do not know what we'll have on bench, even that shite bad luck with Nasri ridiculous red card.

[Cit.revenge]

I am confident Aguero won't be fit to play so it will be interesting to see how we set up for the game.It would be unwise imo to sit back and invite Arsenal on to us so I would hope we do have 2 strikers from the start even if one is Tevez and he plays a deeper role.

As for which striker I don't think it matters as long as he plays well.Either could be a success or a failure but we can't have the failure version.The key will be how well we control the middle of the park without Yaya.

Agree never let what was a Newcastle let them , huge possession and too easy access to 30 meters from goal, Swensea played great against them, pressing them immediately and close wings and watch for 1-2 plays.

[london blue 2]

Kompany and Zabs should comfortably nullify walcott and podolski, the concerns are Arteta wilshire and carzorla, if those guys get time and space we'll be up against it.