Midweek: Something on Nothing

Four games still to go, and the scapegoating has begun. Besides that, not much else in the news.

Oh yes, except though, some twit who thinks that Reading could be the first team to beat Arsenal at the Emirates this season:

"We seem to do well against Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea - usually running them close - but unfortunately for us we haven't done that against Arsenal.

"If there is ever a time to do that it's now because we badly need to."

I don’t even know who he is, and he may be right, but I’d say that odds are slightly against him.

Let’s see…Reading’s games after ours are with Wigan, Spurs (at home) and Derby. Reading realistically need 3 or 4 points to stay up. If Coppell had any sense, he would see that his points are elsewhere. Reading will therefore go into the game intent on defending as far as possible, with some small hope of a lucky draw. By doing so, though, I think they’d put themselves in the position of a comfortable 4-0 win for us.

Back to the scapegoating. Lee Dixon suggests we ditch Mohawk Billy. I must say I agree with him. Look at it this way. I don’t think Billy has another good season left in him. Wenger could go a long way injecting some new (and stronger) blood in the team. His gum chewing and crying are getting tiresome. Mum would’ve given him a time-out for his little fit at St Andrews. So out he goes.

There’s also this piece on Gilberto. Kinda sharp, to the point, and to some degree, some truth therein. He’s been patient on the sidelines, but for the games he started, he has not done the deeds. The two worst games of the season could’ve been our whippings at Old Trafford (FA Cup) and White Hart Lane (Carling Cup). Who started in the middle of the park? Gilberto. Precisely the games for him to stand up and provide the spine. (Come to think of it, was Denilson’s last game for us the one with Spurs, and where he got substituted early?)

So there again, I think I would have to agree too. Gilberto will probably go, and largely by his own volition.

Finally, poor Senderos is reportedly in need of therapy. I don’t blame him. He really did slip on Hyypia’s goal, and while Torres was great, it was sad that Senderos again was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The main beef on him has been his inconsistency. Yes. But I’d argue that he’s a pretty good squad player to have in reserve, for the odd FA Cup and Carling Cup game. Or the league game where we can rest Toure. For the Champions’ League, sadly, despite his great service in 2006, he may not be up to it.

As of now, then, it seems we may/should lose the services of Gallas, Gilberto, and if the press is right, Flamini and Hleb. If so, and considering Rosicky’s chronic issues, then we’ve got some real issues to be looked into in midfield. Add to that Eboue’s chronic retardedness, then we reeeaaally have to start thinking. Methinks Eboue would fit right in for a Carling Cup third round game against Rotherham or something.

So, that’s it for today. Why can’t Saturday just come quick??? But before that, let’s see what happens at Goodison on Thursday. *snigger* *snigger*