European Cups, Domestic Cups and Internationals Thread 2015/16

Paully D wrote: »

O'Shea on after 55 minutes for Sunderland, Kaboul off.

What do you take from that? Who is guaranteed a start in the Sunderland defence and who is sitting on the fence? Van Aanholt a cert I assume, Jones and Matthews hard to call. O'Shea, Kaboul and Brown the 3 fighting for 2 spots in the centre?

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

Lens should provide the vision that Sunderland side have lacked. ☺

Hahaha I see what Jeremain

CSF wrote: »

What do you take from that? Who is guaranteed a start in the Sunderland defence and who is sitting on the fence? Van Aanholt a cert I assume, Jones and Matthews hard to call. O'Shea, Kaboul and Brown the 3 fighting for 2 spots in the centre?

Honestly mate I really have no idea. Everything you've said there is everything that us Sunderland fans are playing guesswork on too. I would be surprised if O'Shea didn't start mind, I think I'll just chance it. The only reason I think he didn't start today was because he had started all the other friendlies and the other two needed minutes.

CSF wrote: »

Lens to be Sunderland's top scorer this year?

5, maybe 6 goals should do it.

Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Ramires, Willian, Hazard; Remy

Subs: Begovic, Zouma, Mikel, Oscar, Cuadrado, Moses, Falcao


Arsenal: Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Ramsey, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Walcott

Subs: Martinez, Debuchy, Gabriel, Gibbs, Arteta, Iwobi, Giroud

No Costa, no Giroud.

Honestly I'm thinking about going back to the drawing board now with a week to go.

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

2nd last day of my holiday have kept my brownie points till today. Off to the pub for the afternoon now for the match. You lads without kids don't realise how lucky u are.

Have been building then uo myself so going to watch it too.

manual_man wrote: »

the trolling has begun..

honestly though i can see both Costa and Giroud starting next week. respective managers just not risking them in this game of lesser importance

I can too but the last thing I need on gameweek 1 is to be sweating on starting line-ups. May be better of just going with Kane or similar who is guaranteed to play with no question marks whatsoever.

For those of us planning to go without Hazard, this Costa news is a disaster. If Costa doesn't play it leaves me with no obvious captain choice.

Could upgrade Fabregas to Hazard but would scupper my 'Aguero plan'

Back to the drawing board!

Paully D wrote: »

I can too but the last thing I need on gameweek 1 is to be sweating on starting line-ups. May be better of just going with Kane or similar who is guaranteed to play with no question marks whatsoever.

yeah i get where you're coming from, i have both Costa and Giroud but i think i'm just gonna take the chance both will start next week. I'm fairly confident they will

finnharpsboy wrote: »

super goal by the ox

Haven't lost your speed off season :-)

manual_man wrote: »

Have to disagree with you there. Giroud suits Arsenal as a striker imo. With Welbeck out injured Wenger is protecting Giroud ahead of the all important prem opener I think. Up to now Walcott has been used very sporadically as a striker, mostly when other strikers have been injured or in games of little or less importance

I'm not saying he's aheadof Giroud. But he's in the striker bracket. Walcott can play up.front alone or play off Giroud. Wenger been talking along those lines for a while...

But when asked about the England international's best position, Wenger answered: "It's a good question because it's a complicated answer. I think in all the three positions.

"If you ask him where he loves to play, I believe that even he will say that it depends a little bit on the period. Sometimes he prefers left. When I've played him on the left, he likes it as well because if he makes a good run he can score goals as well.

"In his ideal world, he would like to play with a strong guy next to him, a player who is very strong physically, and play off him. 

"He's not an aggressive striker, he's a mobile striker. He's the striker who lives from the quality of his movement and the speed of his movement."

manual_man wrote: »

Walcott's not a bad player. Wenger likes him as part of the squad. Dunno if those quotes are recent but Wenger wanted him to re-sign so it would make sense. If we consider Giroud nailed-on, it comes down to Walcott needing to oust one of Sanchez/Ozil/Cazorla to get in the starting XI. I just can't see that happening. As a short-term punt with Sanchez not ready, sure, but after that i'd have severe reservations

That's from last week. I hope he can keep a place and don't think it's out of the question. If sanchez wasn't out i wouldn't be risking him.

2 - Theo Walcott has only made 2 passes in the 1st half against Chelsea, one of them providing the assist for Arsenal's goal. Efficient.

Opta on twitter

finnharpsboy wrote: »

theo's work done for the day giroud on

Doesn't fill me with confidence.

azpi off zouma on

I miss Remy!!

Mr.Prodston wrote: »

How's Ramsey playing today? I might be tempted to go that direction for my Arsenal player.

None of the Arsenal mids standing out. Fabregas has been the best of the FPL prospects i reckon. Hes been even more.involved if anything since Oscar came.on and he dropped back to the double pivot. Coquelin had him well marked before that.

JM "I don’t know if Costa will be available. He was training [we thought he would be ready] but this AM he was feeling uncomfortable" #CFC

Groundhog day.