RSSDays of no Cesc appear over. And not too soon.
DISPENSING with Senderos makes some sense.
With Gallas, Toure, Silvestre, Song and Djourou (assuming he now stays), we are not short of centre-backs. You can argue we are short of quality, but with every due respect to Big Phil, I’m not sure he adds a huge deal on that front.
I’d still like a big stopper. I doubt loaning out Senderos will make that any more likely.
The five centre-backs we now have, is actually two more than a year ago, when loaning Djourou left us with just Kolo, Gallas and Senderos.
I was fuming at the time. We had left ourselves hugely exposed to injury misfortune for no good reason. It is a similar, if even more acute, situation in midfield at the moment.
On Senderos I probably sit half way between those who wonder why on earth Arsene persisted with him for so long and those who see him as the second incarnation of Tony Adams and Franco Baresi rolled into one who has been sinned against by dark forces.
There is, also, the argument that if AC Milan want him, he can’t be that bad. True, but some of the same people who say that are probably the same people who say Fergie would not have sold us Silvestre without knowing what he was doing.
I’m not sure you can have it both ways.
Now is the time to get behind the team. The Twente game is not a formality but is really important.
The Emirates will not be full by the sounds of it, which will no doubt set some tongues wagging. I suspect the explanation is partly a lack of star signings and partly everyone being a bit choosier about which games they spend their money on in these tougher economic times.
The man from Gunnerblog expects a weakened team tonight. I can’t remember such a thing happening in the past despite comfortable first leg leads and I’d be surprised to see it tonight, given the price of failure.
The fans must get behind the team and I trust the majority will.
As for transfers, Arsene will have a lot of microphones stuck in front of his gob this week and he will do everything possible to provide an answer without actually saying anything about what he is doing. It’s all guff so don’t get upset by it.
We, as fans, must firstly wait to see what does happen between now and September 1st. Then we must wait to see the upshot on the pitch, whatever happens. Three games in is no time to be making sweeping judgments.
And yes, the return of Cesc is very welcome.
27 August 2008 at 9:07 am
Silvestre joined us simply because United needed to save money on his contract.
He wasnt going to get in ahead of Rio and Vidic, yes…. but surely he is better cover than the completely unproven children United have filled their bench with this season.
The bottom line at United is the bottom line. They have £800m of debt and some massive balloon payments to address (the next one is next summer… expect a certain sausage coloured forward to leave). They have bought NO ONE… and sold teenagers to Barcelona and beyond.
Money talks, Silvestre walked. We were prepared to pay Silvestre money that United simply do not have. Teenaged Brazilian twin fullbacks are not real cover, no matter what hype the United press department are trying to build.
27 August 2008 at 9:17 am
“The man from Gunnerblog expects a weakened team tonight.”
all we’ve got is a weakened team.
Even McClaren might be able to take advantage.
27 August 2008 at 9:25 am
This transfer window has been a strange experience. Nobody has really brought in players without selling first and clubs whose players are in demand are not confident of being able to purchase adequate replacements.
This really has nothing to do with tonight’s match. Just thought I mention it…
27 August 2008 at 9:41 am
3 Games in is enough time to start making sweeping judgements considering the three games that we have played!!
We were lucky to win 2-0 against Twente first time out, We again won 1-0 to West Brom (No offence but we should roll them over and had it not been for Johan s clearence off the line we would probably not have won that game) and our final game against Fulham and we lost!! Imagine if we had to play Chelsea and Man U as our 2 first games, they would have rolled us over. It’s fine to say we have injuries but thats why we buy players to have a SQUAD of players to dip into so that injuries are not a problem. We don’t have a big squad with have a play school. We need at least one (Defence midfield) signing, without this we have no chance. Cesc is back, brilliant but does that mean that without this one player (God forbid if he were to get injured) then our hopes would be gone. In essence us saying that means that our entire season rests on the shoulders of a 21 year old! Enough said i think.
27 August 2008 at 9:50 am
Sniff
What you’re saying is that the merry-go-round has not started yet, and it is getting late. I agree.
27 August 2008 at 10:42 am
Drop Greedy and play Theo upfront.Play Song and Gallas as CH”s.Cesc must not start he needs a 20 min run out.
Where is the DM Wenger promiosed before the 2nd leg.Maybe he is too busy!!!!!!!!!!!
27 August 2008 at 11:04 am
Is the game with Twente televised? I can’t seem to find it anywhere.
27 August 2008 at 11:58 am
i believe the game’s on bbc three tonight for some inexplicable reason
27 August 2008 at 12:32 pm
You’re right, thank you.
27 August 2008 at 12:59 pm
Let’s hope we sign at least one player before the window closes. It’s a long time since I felt so little confidence in the squad at this stage of the season. We just don’t have the back up in midfield to cope with any injuries. I really can’t see Arsene going into the season without at least one midfield signing. Fingers crossed he won’t.
27 August 2008 at 1:32 pm
I think phil was the only decent CH we had in the air, not so good on the ground. I think it is a shame he is going. he needed Toure with him when he was playing, as he had the pace that Phil lacked
Everyone has been talking about Gallas’ mistake on Saturday, but surely a cross into the 6 yard box is the ‘keepers?
I still think that RVP is not doing it up front and needs to be dropped - I cannot remember his last effective game. I would play Vela and Bendtner up front.
With Cesc back partnering Denilson or Ramsey, we should be fine in CM tonight, but we need cesc again on saturday, so should only get 1 half tonight. I would also consider putting Song in CM to see how he gets on with cesc
27 August 2008 at 5:05 pm
So glad I’ve seen a blog that’s kept a sense of perpsective about the start of the season. Never thought I’d see the day but even Arseblog has become a haven for doom-mongering. We have lost ONE game and people are losing their minds, questioning the manager and the very principles that have brought us a brand of football that has been the envy of Europe for over a decade.
The main bone of contention for everyone is centre midfield. Right, so first choice partnership this season will see Diaby take Flamini’s place. If Diaby should stay fit, he will be a superb central midfielder. He’s gained a lot of first team experience over the last couple of seasons and I think it’s very harsh to label him a sicknote after the horrendous injury he suffered. His technical skills are far superior to Flamini’s, and he’ll add a new dimension offensively with his close control and shooting power.
So we got rid of Diarra. Everyone said he was surpus when we signed him anyway and his inability to be patient for at least one season justified his sale.
Gilberto was embarassingly over the hill. His passing and control could occassionally be sublime but was more often ridiculous, and although he could read the game and head the ball, he had become very limited.
People should get a f***ing grip. One more experienced midfielder would be great for security but a first choice partnership of Fabregas/Diaby looks amazingly potent. After that we have Song and Denilson who have amassed a good amount of league experience. Bear in mind that it’s unlikely both will be needed, with one coming in more often than not to supplement Cesc or Diaby. Then we’ve got Ramsey, Bischoff and don’t forget Rosicky and Nasri are also comfortable in there.
I guess the saying ‘you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone’ rings true, because once Wenger leaves, it will be a slap in the face for people who are now taking his wisdom for granted.
27 August 2008 at 6:09 pm
anybody have any links to watching the game on-line?
27 August 2008 at 6:26 pm
Wenger: We will “certainly” sign a central midfielder before the return game with Twente. Yeah, right.
27 August 2008 at 8:06 pm
I’m sorry Ad,I have no idea how you think Cesc/Diaby will be so potent.Yes,he has good control & a decent shot but he’s also positionally very poor, can’t tackle & doesn’t work hard enough to fill the ‘Flamini’ role. He’s a luxury player in my opinion & given the lack of size/strength/defensive ability of our wide players I can’t see how he would help the situation. (apart from his height defending set pieces which would be welcome.
27 August 2008 at 11:34 pm
Another one for the list
(Wenger) On central midfield…
“I think Denilson had a good game tonight. We have as well Aaron Ramsey - for me he will be a very good player - and we have Alex Song and we have Abou Diaby. Even Nasri can play central but we have to see.”
cheers
27 August 2008 at 11:35 pm
Apologies. two posts too slow.