Hello everyone.
So, tomorrow we face Fenerbahce in the first leg of the qualifier. The first game will take place in Turkey and that gives us a tiny edge. It's not for obvious reasons only, it also gives us some breathing space, should something go wrong, and we'll have to grind out an acceptable result. Then, we'll bring in a few players like mad, play them against Fulham, allowing others to rest and recuperate and try turning up with a better game plan for the second leg. Unlikely scenario, but we have to bring in players in the next twelve days, and the earlier we do this, the more chances we have to actually sign someone.
Regarding team news, there seems to be only one serious blow we've suffered three days ago. Oxlade-Chamberlain has badly injured his knee in a collision against Luna, tearing his ligaments. He is out for a minimum of four months. Now, that's a real blow. He seemed to have a very important role to play in this squad. Wenger even chose the Ox over a fully fit and able Podolski in the first game, so it's obvious, the boss was counting on him. He's been easing Oxlade into action for two seasons now, allowing him playing time, whenever possible. The Ox was even ahead of Gervinho in the pecking order. I know, Gervinho was never very good, but he did seem to find some consistency last season and, everything aside, he was at least a hardened pro (don't laugh). And now Oxlade is knackered for four months, maybe more. Really sad. The quickest of recoveries to him.
This injury leaves us definitely short on the flanks and that's something, that needs adressing. Only three players can fill in there: Podolski, Walcott and Cazorla, with the latter not looking sharp at all at the moment. So I guess, we'll see Podolski and Walcott start.
Apart from the Ox, everyone who's played against Villa should be available and that's a relief. There was also something of a surprise, when the manager said, Monreal has returned to full fitness earlier, than expected. So we do have some options, from which to choose the starting eleven (surprise, surprise).
I don't think, there'll be a lot of changes from the squad, that lost to Villa on Saturday. Should Sagna and Gibbs be fully fit (and it seems that way), they'll start. Monreal doesn't seem ready yet, while, as much as I like Jenkinson, Sagna is our first choice right-back for a reason.
Apart from the obvious "Podolski-for-Ox" change, I think the manager has to consider a goalkeeper swap. I didn't like at all what I saw on Saturday, when it comes to Szczesny. He conceded a penalty, didn't look convincing on crosses and there was that moment, when he went full Almunia, playing far outside the penalty box. I say, chuck him, get Fabianski between the sticks and see, how the elder Pole fares. He did have a very good stint last season, starting with a convincing display against Bayern and had he not injured himself again, he may well have beem our first choice goalkeeper now. Arsene should give him a try, in my opinion.
All in all, the task at hand doesn't look easy, espicially after that horrendous display during the weekend, so I think the players will have to give it a real push, if we're to get a good or, at least, acceptable result tomorrow. It pains me to use the word "push", when it comes to these players, because it is obvious, they never put the foot off the gas, something they have proved last season. This group of players will give everything for the shirt and seeing them struggle is unbearable, when it could have been avoided, had we strengthened the squad during the summer. But for now, at least, we have to do something to get by without additions and the burden of responsibility is once again on the shoulders of our tried and tested seniors. Fingers crossed, everything falls in place and we beat Fenerbahce tomorrow night.
In other news, we have made a bid for Cabaye. I don't know much about him and at this point we don't really have the luxury of being selective. The bid was confirmed by Pardew today, who said Newcastle did receive a reasonable offer for the Frenchman, and this offer was the reason the player wasn't involved in yesterday's clash. Quite why the manager (Pardew) went so public about this offer, beats me, but at least it's nice to hear, we are trying to make things happen. Hope this one goes through.
One last thing. I'm not sure, there'll be a blog tomorrow, because the match is held late in the evening, so no post-match review for certain. Should anything of note pop up between now and tomorrow's evening, I'll report it in. If there's nothing, then there's nothing.
Until later
So, tomorrow we face Fenerbahce in the first leg of the qualifier. The first game will take place in Turkey and that gives us a tiny edge. It's not for obvious reasons only, it also gives us some breathing space, should something go wrong, and we'll have to grind out an acceptable result. Then, we'll bring in a few players like mad, play them against Fulham, allowing others to rest and recuperate and try turning up with a better game plan for the second leg. Unlikely scenario, but we have to bring in players in the next twelve days, and the earlier we do this, the more chances we have to actually sign someone.
Regarding team news, there seems to be only one serious blow we've suffered three days ago. Oxlade-Chamberlain has badly injured his knee in a collision against Luna, tearing his ligaments. He is out for a minimum of four months. Now, that's a real blow. He seemed to have a very important role to play in this squad. Wenger even chose the Ox over a fully fit and able Podolski in the first game, so it's obvious, the boss was counting on him. He's been easing Oxlade into action for two seasons now, allowing him playing time, whenever possible. The Ox was even ahead of Gervinho in the pecking order. I know, Gervinho was never very good, but he did seem to find some consistency last season and, everything aside, he was at least a hardened pro (don't laugh). And now Oxlade is knackered for four months, maybe more. Really sad. The quickest of recoveries to him.
This injury leaves us definitely short on the flanks and that's something, that needs adressing. Only three players can fill in there: Podolski, Walcott and Cazorla, with the latter not looking sharp at all at the moment. So I guess, we'll see Podolski and Walcott start.
Apart from the Ox, everyone who's played against Villa should be available and that's a relief. There was also something of a surprise, when the manager said, Monreal has returned to full fitness earlier, than expected. So we do have some options, from which to choose the starting eleven (surprise, surprise).
I don't think, there'll be a lot of changes from the squad, that lost to Villa on Saturday. Should Sagna and Gibbs be fully fit (and it seems that way), they'll start. Monreal doesn't seem ready yet, while, as much as I like Jenkinson, Sagna is our first choice right-back for a reason.
Apart from the obvious "Podolski-for-Ox" change, I think the manager has to consider a goalkeeper swap. I didn't like at all what I saw on Saturday, when it comes to Szczesny. He conceded a penalty, didn't look convincing on crosses and there was that moment, when he went full Almunia, playing far outside the penalty box. I say, chuck him, get Fabianski between the sticks and see, how the elder Pole fares. He did have a very good stint last season, starting with a convincing display against Bayern and had he not injured himself again, he may well have beem our first choice goalkeeper now. Arsene should give him a try, in my opinion.
All in all, the task at hand doesn't look easy, espicially after that horrendous display during the weekend, so I think the players will have to give it a real push, if we're to get a good or, at least, acceptable result tomorrow. It pains me to use the word "push", when it comes to these players, because it is obvious, they never put the foot off the gas, something they have proved last season. This group of players will give everything for the shirt and seeing them struggle is unbearable, when it could have been avoided, had we strengthened the squad during the summer. But for now, at least, we have to do something to get by without additions and the burden of responsibility is once again on the shoulders of our tried and tested seniors. Fingers crossed, everything falls in place and we beat Fenerbahce tomorrow night.
In other news, we have made a bid for Cabaye. I don't know much about him and at this point we don't really have the luxury of being selective. The bid was confirmed by Pardew today, who said Newcastle did receive a reasonable offer for the Frenchman, and this offer was the reason the player wasn't involved in yesterday's clash. Quite why the manager (Pardew) went so public about this offer, beats me, but at least it's nice to hear, we are trying to make things happen. Hope this one goes through.
One last thing. I'm not sure, there'll be a blog tomorrow, because the match is held late in the evening, so no post-match review for certain. Should anything of note pop up between now and tomorrow's evening, I'll report it in. If there's nothing, then there's nothing.
Until later
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