- Jan 1, 2008
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Well it all comes down to this, even if somehow Wigan pull off a miracle and beat the Gooners on their own patch, we still need to take care of our business first and foremost. Above all else, we need to make sure our mentality is dead on - no fannying around early doors, conceding a shitty set-piece goal and then sparking into life, no, we need to get out the traps quickly and really make a statement of intent on this game.
We still don't know the circumstances with Sunderland as yet - they could be safe by virtue of Wigan losing, in which case this should make our task that little bit easier but conversely, a Sunderland that is still fighting against the drop might well play into our hands as they will be nervous as fuck and struggle to make headway, much like Birmingham a few years back.
Team wise, assuming no fresh injuries I want us going with a dynamic first 11 which implies that Huddlestone to miss out although I have a few reservations about Lennon at the moment but i'd like to think he can make his mark in this game where Sunderland are missing key players, none more so than Rose at left back so you feel if there was a game for Lennon to step up, it would be this. In fairness to Clint, he did make a telling contribution in the final third against Stoke and ultimately, he does have a knack of scoring important goals - does this negate his deficiencies though and what he brings as a team? Going against my principles here but I'm going to stick with Clint on that basis but with the firm intention in mind that Sigurdsson will come on in the second half where he tends to flourish.
Bale will of course be our main general threat but an invigorated Adebayor is really making his mark now and will of course be our main focal point in attack.
Churlishly or not, I don't expect Sunderland to test us much in open play or certainly nothing that we shouldn't be more than capable in combating but set-pieces frighten the life out me and if there is one thing we must do is not to give needless free kicks away in our half be it through flying in with challenges rashly or merely clambering into players - see Walker and Dawson.
Line up, i'm going for this;
We still don't know the circumstances with Sunderland as yet - they could be safe by virtue of Wigan losing, in which case this should make our task that little bit easier but conversely, a Sunderland that is still fighting against the drop might well play into our hands as they will be nervous as fuck and struggle to make headway, much like Birmingham a few years back.
Team wise, assuming no fresh injuries I want us going with a dynamic first 11 which implies that Huddlestone to miss out although I have a few reservations about Lennon at the moment but i'd like to think he can make his mark in this game where Sunderland are missing key players, none more so than Rose at left back so you feel if there was a game for Lennon to step up, it would be this. In fairness to Clint, he did make a telling contribution in the final third against Stoke and ultimately, he does have a knack of scoring important goals - does this negate his deficiencies though and what he brings as a team? Going against my principles here but I'm going to stick with Clint on that basis but with the firm intention in mind that Sigurdsson will come on in the second half where he tends to flourish.
Bale will of course be our main general threat but an invigorated Adebayor is really making his mark now and will of course be our main focal point in attack.
Churlishly or not, I don't expect Sunderland to test us much in open play or certainly nothing that we shouldn't be more than capable in combating but set-pieces frighten the life out me and if there is one thing we must do is not to give needless free kicks away in our half be it through flying in with challenges rashly or merely clambering into players - see Walker and Dawson.
Line up, i'm going for this;
Lloris
Walker Dawson Vertonghen BAE
Dembele Parker
Lennon Bale Dempsey
Adebayor