arsenal

[Stevie H]

so who the hell starts this one then? kuyt up front on his own away at arsenal is a non-starter isn't it? would much prefer to see him back in his role on the right of the three/five. depending on who is fit for the left-back slot, i'd hope to see:

 

reina

arbeloa

carra

agger

dossena/aurelio/insua

mascherano

alonso

kuyt

gerrard

riera

 

and christ knows who up top. one from keane, babel and ngog. think i'm inclined to hedge with keane really, if only for his experience.

 

worried about this one to be honest, arsenal tend to make chances against anybody and though they might have problems at the back, we're not that well set up front to take advantage of them. were torres fit i'd really fancy us for three points, without him. . ? don't know.

[Swagger]

I'd love to have Torres back for this, but unfortunately it seems that we'll have to do without him again. At least Aurelio should be OK.

 

I'm not usually in favour of Keane leading the line, but for this game I would go for his experience rather than for Babel or N'gog.

 

Reina

 

Arbeloa Carra Agger Aurelio

 

Kuyt Alonso Mascherano Riera

 

Gerrard

 

Keane

[David Hodgson]

I'd love to have Torres back for this, but unfortunately it seems that we'll have to do without him again. At least Aurelio should be OK.

 

I'm not usually in favour of Keane leading the line, but for this game I would go for his experience rather than for Babel or N'gog.

 

Reina

 

Arbeloa Carra Agger Aurelio

 

Kuyt Alonso Mascherano Riera

 

Gerrard

 

Keane

 

Babel has to lead the line. There's no guarantees with him, but he proved he could do it at Chelsea. On paper he has all the attributes required.

[Stevie H]

Babel has to lead the line. There's no guarantees with him, but he proved he could do it at Chelsea. On paper he has all the attributes required.

that might be the way to go, since none of the three is particularly good at holding the ball up so maybe we sit deeper, invite arsenal onto us so that they can't get behind our lines so easily and hit them on the break? that case babel's pace might be worthwhile.

[McBain]

Can see it being Benny Hoon on the right, Riera left, Gerrard behind Dirk

 

I dont see Rafa suddenly changing his mind about Keane

[Knox_Harrington]

Dirk should play right mid.

 

Anyone of the brainless up top.

[sean]

Babel for me, has pace and strength and though he does frustrate at times he's got the greater cutting edge with a ball at his feet.

Yossi just doesn't do it for me, far too light and indecisive to boot.

[Stevie H]

dirk on the right would give clichy far more trouble than yossi would. particularly in terms of link up with arbeloa.

[Knox_Harrington]

dirk on the right would give clichy far more trouble than yossi would. particularly in terms of link up with arbeloa.

Dirk bosses the life out of Clichy.

[Stevie H]

Dirk bosses the life out of Clichy.

i'd have riera and aurelio looking to hit kuyt's head at every opportunity, coming in late bringing clichy with him.

[Knox_Harrington]

i'd have riera and aurelio looking to hit kuyt's head at every opportunity, coming in late bringing clichy with him.

Absolutely. Ninety minutes Dirking it up is how we'll win the game.

[psl]

Dirk should play right mid.

 

Anyone of the brainless up top.

 

Molby?

[Murphman]

so who the hell starts this one then? kuyt up front on his own away at arsenal is a non-starter isn't it? would much prefer to see him back in his role on the right of the three/five. depending on who is fit for the left-back slot, i'd hope to see:

 

reina

arbeloa

carra

agger

dossena/aurelio/insua

mascherano

alonso

kuyt

gerrard

riera

Hyypia?

 

and christ knows who up top. one from keane, babel and ngog. think i'm inclined to hedge with keane really, if only for his experience.

 

Rafa hinted at this a couple of weeks ago, a long shot like but....

[David Hodgson]

that might be the way to go, since none of the three is particularly good at holding the ball up so maybe we sit deeper, invite arsenal onto us so that they can't get behind our lines so easily and hit them on the break? that case babel's pace might be worthwhile.

 

I really think he's the key. given the caveat that he has to play well. Ngog is too raw, and Keane and Kuyt simply not quick enough to play the loan striker role away from home. It's a classic position which only someone with pace can be tuly effective at (Rush, Owen, Torres).

[David Hodgson]

Howsabout this :

 

-------------------Reina

 

Arbeloa------Carra----Agger------Aurelio

 

Gerrard-----Masch-----Alonso-----Riera

 

-------------Babel----Keane

[Stevie H]

I really think he's the key. given the caveat that he has to play well. Ngog is too raw, and Keane and Kuyt simply not quick enough to play the loan striker role away from home. It's a classic position which only someone with pace can be tuly effective at (Rush, Owen, Torres).

he'll need to grow a pair of testicles between now and sunday.

[honourablegeorge]

Is Aurelio fit?

 

I don't fancy Dossena for this one at all.

[Montse]

I reckon Keane would be well up for this one with his Spurs connections

[Stevie H]

Howsabout this :

 

-------------------Reina

 

Arbeloa------Carra----Agger------Aurelio

 

Gerrard-----Masch-----Alonso-----Riera

 

-------------Babel----Keane

you'd leave out big game player kuyt in favour of the keystone cops?

[Swagger]

Howsabout this :

 

-------------------Reina

 

Arbeloa------Carra----Agger------Aurelio

 

Gerrard-----Masch-----Alonso-----Riera

 

-------------Babel----Keane

 

That's not a bad team, but is pure fantasy since Rafa has moved on from putting Stevie on the right.

[Magic8Ball]

I remember Houllier saying he didn't go in for Keane when he was at Coventry as Keane's style was too similar to that of Owen ... (ok neither can play up front alone, other than that ) TOSH !!

 

Keane has shown himself to be limited, just as Owen has and that's where the similarity ends IMO. Keane cannot play other than with a striker that holds the ball up for him, neither Babel or Torres will do that. So if Keane plays it has to be with N'gog or Kuyt and the main striker.

 

For the record I think Keane and Owen are in some ways opposites, Keane can have reasonable build up play but woeful finishing and Owen no build up play to speak of and good/great finishing - now if we could only splice them together we'd have a good partner for Torres. Sadly that's the case with several of our players, they're too limited.

[David Hodgson]

you'd leave out big game player kuyt in favour of the keystone cops?

 

Yes. I don't think he's playing well at the moment, and I can see him doing the 'impact sub' bit at Highbury, or whatever they call it.

[Swagger]

Keane has shown himself to be limited, just as Owen has and that's where the similarity ends IMO. Keane cannot play other than with a striker that holds the ball up for him, neither Babel or Torres will do that. So if Keane plays it has to be with N'gog or Kuyt and the main striker.

 

Disagree.

 

Keane formed a great partnership with Berbatov, and I think that he can form a great partnership with Torres. He is best with strong partner who is played in a more advanced role. His partnership with Kuyt, however, does not work, as they both tend to drop deep.

[Stevie H]

Yes. I don't think he's playing well at the moment, and I can see him doing the 'impact sub' bit at Highbury, or whatever they call it.

don't agree at all. for one we won't got 4-4-2 away at arsenal and for two kuyt's proven himself one of our best big game players. no way would rafa start two flakes up front away to arsenal to the weakening of the starting XI.

[Abbo]

Kuyt starts right hand side for me, need to stop Clichy attacking down their left. I'd give Babel a go through the middle.

 

Is Aurelio fit for this ?

 

Hopefully Masch will find his form on Sunday.