It's the day of an Arse-Pool evening kick-off. Usually, the cause for much excitement, eager anticipation and nail biting. But not quite so today. Maybe because it's the Carling Cup. Maybe because we really have no clue what's going to happen. Maybe it's because we know we've got an infinitely more important game to play on Saturday, and maybe it's because we've sucked the last two games. Who knows.
In terms of a starting 11, Le Boss has set forth those available. Let's see. Fabianski, Silvestre (yay...), Senderos (yay!!), probably Gibbs, Bent Nick, Nasri, Eduardo, Ramsey, Coquelin, Vela, Merida... not sure where the defence is going to be actually. Oh well. If we win, we win. If we lose, we lose. History has shown that good Carling Cup run or not, there's really no relationship to runs in the games that matter.
Funny how as I go through this little peeved-ness with the Arse, we read this little bit of supposed news on Nick Hornby getting all disillusioned with Arse:
Emirates as being ''better than Highbury, but not as good, if you know what I mean.'' Yes, I know what you mean. Really. But I think these things take time. Highbury was special. As a small ground, it was really unique, and unlike anything else in the top leagues. Old Traffor is special, and so is Anfield, but it'll take quite a bit of time before we get there. And nothing helps better than nice memories of big games and trophies, which we really haven't had yet at the Emirates.
Which brings us to Hornby's point that the Emirates has been ''unhappy place. We really need to win a trophy." Exactement. Nothing can be more unhappy than getting whipped at home by Man U in a Champions League semi. Or letting a two goal lead slip against Spurs with 5 minutes to play. I think I've mentioned exorcisms before, and the Emirates needs a big result in a big game for a trophy soon to exorcise these little unhappy memories.
Finally, there's some news on ole Manuel Almunia. Go figure. Yes, it's nice to have some competition among three dudes for the top spot, but as Le Boss recognises, he will have to decide soon. Either way, perhaps the green jersey is somewhere we need some reinforcements in come January. Can't we like find a Peter Schmeichel somewhere? Any of the three right now aren't exactly Champions League or league-winning types if you asked me.
Blurgh. Enough of this dreary talk. What we really need now are a couple of nice, solid 1-0, 2-0 victories. None of this 6-2, 3-1, 4-1, 1-1-, 2-2 games filled with little bits of defensive inadequacies.
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