Kids to play tomorrow? Not quite, an Aquilani revelation of sorts and predictions
Its Carling Cup time! The trophy that no big club wants to win, but if they win it they’ll be happy to gloat about it anyway. Visions of Mourinho celebrating back in 2007 when they beat us in the final still make me sick.
Rafa’s red revolution received a massive boost when they humiliated Utd on Sunday. That coupled with our own relative capitulation in our match suddenly makes this a more intriguing contest. It no longer seems to be a routine thumping of Liverpool like it was back in 2007.
I’m not sure how much Sunday’s results for both teams influenced Wenger’s thinking in terms of selecting tomorrow’s line up. Perhaps it has, perhaps it hasn’t. What is certain though is that Nasri and Fabianski will start.
Nasri’s return is much-needed. It will lead to a much more competitive midfield who mostly apart from Song were beginning to show signs of taking it easy. Fabianski’s start is not surprising as he has not played any games. Should he have a good game, I think Wenger will most likely throw him in forthe next match as well. As I hinted at in my previous post, the goalkeeping merry-go-round looks set to continue I’m afraid.
Joining them if you read what you believe from a questionable source of photo editing will be Eduardo, Bendtner, Vela. Rambo gets his mandatory Cup start as does Silvestre and Senderos. Traore’s injury means Gibbs comes in. That leaves Gilbert as Right Back and Coquelin in defensive midfield. The latter if he delivers becomes a candidate worth thinking about in January when Song goes to Africa for a month or so.
Kids XI? Not quite but it nevertheless looks a solid, solid team that should do the business. To me that is how we should play the Carling Cup. A blanket of experience sprinkled with a few of the very best youngsters. Curiously, Gilbert falls in the latter as a result of his 3 seasons on loan. It is a shame Wilshere won’t be involved himself due to injury but we have to be patient with Jack. Very patient.
I don’t know what players Liverpool will use. There is the near certainty however that Torres, Gerrard won’t be involved. A firing Benayoun should also be rested. Which means that at some point we will see that Italian replacement for Alonso, Alberto Aquilani. Talented but a frequent visitor to the treatment room. The Rosicky of Liverpool?
I didn’t know much else about him but suffice to say my cousin a Liverpool die-hard fan, said he was Alonso but quicker. I suppose when you play £20 million for player who is injured for the first 2 months or so, he better be good. Interestingly, Aquilani turned down the chance to join us when he was younger. And I just noticed that later on in the post that very article shoots down my cousin’s assertion.
Sky’s love for our fringe players is most welcome, illustrated by their decision to telecast this game LIVE. Leave your pre-match thoughts whether it be squad selection or tactics or predictions. I’m going with a 3-1. Yes, the clean sheet woe will carry on unfortunately.
This is a pretty good analogy (I think). The fact that we’re able to bring Vela into play alongside Eduardo (remember their link up play in a previous round) is great. The same can be said of Gibbs in terms of his ability to attack down the left. I’m sure too that, whether he’s staying or going, it’ll be a chance for Senderos to prove his worth. I only hope Silvestre is up to the task. Throw in the likes of Merida and/or Randall and/or Wilshere and it could be fireworks. Go go go!
Yep lots of left footed players. If that is the team that will play there is a lot of creativity. No Wilshere though. He is injured.