Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Double post

Double post today, we'll start with the one that I meant to put up yesterday and move on to todays.




Well, it's transfer deadline day, the deadline is in about an hour and a half and there's nothing doing. It doesn't surprise me that nobody's coming in, it does surprise me, however, that Senderos seems to be staying. Big Phil remaining at the club eradicates any need for cover at center back as he makes it 5. He'll likely duke it out with Djourou for 3rd choice, but considering the way he's been handled by the club it seems likely that Djourou will hold down his spot as first off the bench at the back.

Chamack isn't coming in and so it's like the old days, the invincible days, where we would let a couple players go and bring in 1 or none. In the past year we've brought in Sami Nasri, Andrei Arshavin and Thomas Vermaelen. We've let go of Gilberto Silva, Mathieu Flamini, Alex Hleb, Emanuel Adebayor and the former King Kolo Toure. In stepped Song and Denilson, Bendtner and Vela too. We look good and deep with attacking riches and a wealth of defenders, 5 center backs, 3 left backs and 2 right backs. We have a room full of midfielders too and have a small army of left footers, probably more than any team in Europe with Vermaelen, Silvestre, Clichy, Gibbs, Traore, Merida, Eduardo, RvP, Carlos Vela and Jack Wilshere and if I remember correctly Fabianski too. We could have a team made entirely of left footers, it'd be great to see against some shit team like Portsmouth or something wouldn't it, surely there have been teams made up of entirely right footed players, how would it look if there was a team of left footers? Hilarious I would imagine.

Our only area of possible concern is that there is no real cover for Song. He'll be gone in January for the African Cup of Nations and will miss key matches, with only Denilson as a possible replacement. We all know that they are two very different players and rather compliment each other, as opposed to being like for like. Should he get injured then we're in real trouble. Should he miss 5/6 league and cup games in January and miss 5/6 other games through suspension and injury, we're looking at 10/12 games he could be missing. That's around 1/3rd of the league campaign. Missing Song in the big games could be the difference this season so we'll have to hope he stays fit and that Camaroon go out early in the ACN. Likewise we'll be missing Eboue during the same stint so we'll have to hope for Sagna to go injury free in that spell, although you have to imagine that one of our center backs could cope at right back if needed.

Right then, let's hope that nobody picks up an injury playing for their country this week so we can come back on the 12th and do the business at Eastlands.

See ya,

Highbury86


Right then, that was that, now to today's ever more relevant blog. The previous blog is trite and so I'll examine the squad slightly further. Our goalkeeper situation is what it is. Almunia is no world beater as I've said before, but I suppose he's sufficient enough to win trophies, if Victor Valdes can win the treble, we can at least win a little something. In reality there aren't too many world class keepers around. Van Der Saar is excellent, as are Buffon and Casillas and that young Russian keeper is quite good if I remember correctly, but other than those guys and probably a few others I've left out, I can't really think of any. This would make bringing one in super expensive and we all know that we'll never splash cash on a goal keeper.

Our fullbacks are looking good. When you look at the collection we have, Gibbs/Traore, Clichy, Sagna and Eboue, we've got to have the best full backs in the league, possibly Europe.

Gallas and Vermaelen are looking excellent in the center of defense. I watched the full Celtic second leg last night as it was aired again and bloody hell was Gallas good. Vermaelen was excellent as well but Gallas was just outrageous. It's awesome to see him on that kind of form, the kind of form that made him a top 5 world defender at Chelsea.

If Vermaelen and Gallas can keep this up and show up in the big games as they already have against Celtic and Man U, they'll be one of the best center half partners in the league. Behind them are Djourou, Senderos and Silvestre. I think Djourou is very capable and will deputize well when needed, and he's sure to be between injuries and suspensions.

Our attacking midfielders need no scrutiny. Song and Denilson, who is somewhat in between defensive and attacking, are doing a great job protecting the back four, but behind them there's nothing doing. We have no player to come in for Song, Denilson could against the bulk of the league but in big games you have to think We'll miss him.

Upfront likewise doesn't need to be checked out too much. We are potentially fucking deadly. We have endless combinations with endless dynamics. And we have tons of pace. I think a front 3 of Vela, Eduardo and Walcott is even faster than Henry, Messi and Eto'o. Perhaps the fastest ever front line.

Fantastic as they are they're going to have to start scoring some goals.

Are we good enough to win the league? Yes of course we are. We've seen that we're looking much better than Man. U, despite the loss. We've built some good momentum and look a different team, a title challenging team. We have as good a chance as any of the big four.

OK, that's the squad, now onto other things. Cesc looks set to play for Spain even though they only need a point from two matches against Estonia and Belgium to finish at the top of their group. That's a little annoying for me. I understand wanting to play for your national team, represent the country, rack up the caps and all that, but I don't understand playing on the tail end of an injury when there are important league games to be played.

Rosicky might be playing for Czech Republic, he says that he's 100% fit, so hopefully he'll play in that game and get through it without another injury. When he and Nasri come back we'll have depth and quality in depth that will really go a long way to helping our cause. We all know Rosicky's quality, the potential of which we'd like to see more of when he returns. Nasri should have improved over the course of the year and will hopefully be comfortable enough in the league and it's pace to dribble like he did in France.

Well, that'll be that I guess. Talk to you soon,

Highbury86

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