Again we meet the scousers … but this time with a semifinal place at stake rather than 3 wonderful points.
The game is in Anfield so its going to be tough for sure. And considering Wenger will most probably rest key players the boys will really have to step up big time. At least there will be some motivation for them.
Personally I dont really care if we go out at this stage. If the kids can pull through then great, but if they cant then whatever. As inconsistent as we are, our main objectives this season are: top 4 prem finish, champions league, FA cup ……. and lastly league cup (as bonus for the kids). So this should be a nice runout for the likes of Traore, Hoyte, Connolly, Denilson, Walcott, etc.
I expect our team could look like this:
Almunia
Hoyte - Djorou - Senderos - Traore
Flamini - Song - Denilson
Walcott - Baptista - Aliadere
With a possible bench of: Poom, Connolly, Hleb, Merida, RvP
I think Liverpool will also field a weaker side than normal, because no sane manager will risk player injury especially with the holiday games ahead. So our boys might have a chance if they try hard enough.
Prediction: Whats the point predicting. We all know it can go absolutely anyway.
Goodluck Gunners! Do us proud!
Gooner for life!
17 Responses to “Liverpool (Carling Cup)”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
December 18th, 2006 at 7:51 pm
Hope it is a good game,whoever they send out.
December 18th, 2006 at 8:32 pm
doesn’t matter who plays, every player worthy of wearing the Arsenal crest on their shoulders tomorrow night MUST get stuck in and give it 100%.
I don’t want to hear another bs interview from Wenger saying he’s proud of the squad’s performance when we only play hard for like 10 minutes and abscent for the rest of the game.
even if we are going thru a second season of transition, not putting in the effort is no excuse.
December 18th, 2006 at 10:32 pm
Also, the official Arsenal site makes it look like Rosicky is very likely to play in this match.
December 18th, 2006 at 10:42 pm
Seeing that our league hopes are OVER…
and that our current form means the CL run of last year is VERY unlikely to occur again this year…
I think it means the match is more important than just running some kids out there. It might be our best chance at winning a trophy.
I hope at the very least we mix in some veteran players.
Is Lauren available? Rosicky gonna play? Baptista to start?
I don’t like our chances, because I think Liverpool will field a stronger team than us… but I think we CAN win the match. Its been that kind of year, when you expect the unexpected.
December 18th, 2006 at 11:41 pm
I agree with u on this one stag. I m interested to see if AW would field a stronger side. The Carling Cup may not mean too much to the club from the finanical point of view, but fans love to see their team winning trophy.
Man Utd has changed their position last year and really went for it even when it was the Worthless Cup, consider not too long ago they opted to drop out from the FA Cup, time changed.
Will Wenger do the same? As Stag pointed out, we really got nothing to lose. Premiership title seems like beyond me, and to secure the top 4 finish I don’t think it’d be a problem. So why not (go for it)?
But if AW does field in a weaker side, I don’t think it’s all because of him being pig head. I believe AW has made a promise to his second tier to grand them a chance in the Carling Cup at the beginning of every season.
Wenger is a manager who’s very loyal to his players, when u consider even Anelka, Cashley the likes after they left, they slammed everybody but Wenger.
So personally I believe Wenger would still stick with his second tier. On a positive note though - it’s really NOT MUCH a DIFFERENCE be it he rests our KEY players or not. As far as I’m concerned, our key players this seasons are - Henry, Cesc, Gilberto, Toure and Gallas. Two of them already out injuried anyway.
As for Cesc, Gilberto and Toure, they have been playing an awful lot of games this season (last season as well), I think it’d be good for them to have a rest, particular consider in a longer term if we advance further in the Champions League, we simply can’t afford losing anyone of them.
I don’t think we need to be too downhearted of our chance though. This season what I worry more is when we are TIPPED to win, we usually blew it. And when nobody gave the lads a chance, they somehow prevail.
So u r right stag, expect the unexpected.
December 19th, 2006 at 12:53 am
as much I would like Arsenal to win, but this cup means nothing to me and to many other fans. This cups worths something like the FA youth cup or FA women cup.
I’d like see the kids or the reserves do something ..then I will be happy. I am not expectiong Lehman, Cesce and Toure to play. And they need rest …
December 19th, 2006 at 1:18 am
Andez, I think you are spot on. I think this cup could/does mean a lot to the young ones, and, as you suspect, AW’s commitment (I agree is likely) to his Carling squad is more important than anything.
And, as a supporter, I don’t dismiss this cup - it means something to me.
When the young ones win this competition,
we’ll call them the Carling Darlings!!!
December 19th, 2006 at 7:06 am
our league hopes are over but we have not yet secured a top 4 spot. if we do badly in the holiday games we will be out of the top 4.
wenger HAS TO rest our main players…this cup is far more worthless than top 4.
December 19th, 2006 at 7:09 am
” … and that our current form means the CL run of last year is VERY unlikely to occur again this year… “
come on stag, stop shouting outta your hips……u know very well that this is december and the matches are at the end of february.
u want to make crazy predictions about our CL chances like u did last year?
this team has proven that it can cut it in europe no problem. its the prem we need to sort out.
December 19th, 2006 at 7:23 am
If we get through, we have to play a two-legged semi-final. Based on last year, AW will field a strong team for those games. It will add to the fixture congestion which our team has shown it can’t handle. So I don’t mind going out tonight. I would prefer to concentrate on winning the FA Cup tie at the same place.
Having said that AW has named a strong side - Toure is included!!! No Djourou or O’Connolly, so I guess Toure will play.
December 19th, 2006 at 8:02 am
Toure is playing? In that case I will revise my 4-0 defeat to 2-0 defeat. Rosicky is playing and Lauren? Make that 2-1 defeat. Aliadiere is playing? Make that 2-0 defeat.
December 19th, 2006 at 8:28 am
By the way, has anyone else noticed that our Carling Cup teams are no longer dominated by reserve and youth players? Tonight’s team has only 5 who haven’t played in the first team - Denilson, Traore, O’Cearuill, Merida and Randall.
That’s because most of the youngsters are already in the first team. That, more than anything else, highlights the young nature of Arsenal’s first team.
December 19th, 2006 at 8:39 am
If Liverpool play at a their high anfield pace they could kick our ass, but I’m expecting a low-key game which only gets going near the end. If Liverpool don’t turn up we could beat them because when we are relaxed- as we were against Everton and WBA- we can put a 1-0 niller on anyone.
Couldn’t really care a less if we win or not so it will be good to look and judge this strange team we could put out. Lauren, Rosicky, Baptista, Merida? Could be an intriguing brew, although it will most likely be a disjointed mess. Good fun either way.
December 19th, 2006 at 8:58 am
Disjointed mess is more likely. Too many times this season I have looked at the teamsheet and been optimistic only to have been let down by players who simply aren’t used to playing with eachother.
December 19th, 2006 at 10:12 am
Connolly is out on loan, that’s why he isn’t included in the squad.
December 19th, 2006 at 11:20 am
If you feel confident about us in the CL based on what you’ve seen…
thats YOU.
I don’t think I can see anything encouraging based on what I’ve seen.
December 19th, 2006 at 1:15 pm
Game called off due to fog. Oh well.