Lovebitesandeveryfing
Well-Known Member
Given that it looks increasingly likely that Vinny’s season is going to be a complete wash-out, and that Samir Nasri won’t be back either at any point in the season, in these circumstances, it doesn't seem reasonable to expect the team, or even the squad, to carry four competitions on its shoulders. We're well in the hunt for the league, whatever the media, with their long-standing Arsenal love-in, may think. We're still very much in the CL. I'd be very disappointed if we didn't get to quarter-final stage. Semi-final is not beyond us. And we've got a tough, but doable semi-final against an Everton team that should be performing better than they are, but which nevertheless has had some surprisingly poor results recently.
I never thought I'd find myself thinking this, because it's a competition I still have a lot of respect for, for all sorts of reasons (memories of Nelly Young and Yaya Touré, being at Wembley in 81, etc.,…), but I for one wouldn't actually be too sorry if we went out against Norwich in the Cup. If you look at our fixture list, it's just mad if we stay in all four competitions until into March. I just don't think it can be done. On the other hand, if we go out, it clears spaces for players to rest from time to time, and makes success in the other three competitions that much more likely.
Team? We can still put out a decent team, though, and rest vital players. I'd be thinking something like this:
Caballero
Zab (Maffeo if Zab still not quite fit) Otamendi Demichelis Clichy
Delph Fernandinho Fernando
Roberts Bony Iheanacho
Rested: Hart, Sagna, Mangala, Kolarov, Yaya, Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling, Aguero, Navas. That is not a joke team, in my opinion, it's still respectful of the opposition, and the fans that are making the long trip down, but still gives much needed breathing space to key players.
I never thought I'd find myself thinking this, because it's a competition I still have a lot of respect for, for all sorts of reasons (memories of Nelly Young and Yaya Touré, being at Wembley in 81, etc.,…), but I for one wouldn't actually be too sorry if we went out against Norwich in the Cup. If you look at our fixture list, it's just mad if we stay in all four competitions until into March. I just don't think it can be done. On the other hand, if we go out, it clears spaces for players to rest from time to time, and makes success in the other three competitions that much more likely.
Team? We can still put out a decent team, though, and rest vital players. I'd be thinking something like this:
Caballero
Zab (Maffeo if Zab still not quite fit) Otamendi Demichelis Clichy
Delph Fernandinho Fernando
Roberts Bony Iheanacho
Rested: Hart, Sagna, Mangala, Kolarov, Yaya, Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling, Aguero, Navas. That is not a joke team, in my opinion, it's still respectful of the opposition, and the fans that are making the long trip down, but still gives much needed breathing space to key players.