by bigmick » Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:19 am
Well not for the first time we are in a situation where we have made one of these qualififying matches considerably more difficult than we ought to have. I think Arsenal beat these 7-0 or something a couple of years back (although it may have been somebody else) and we really ought to have gone over there and won comfortably, putting the thing well and truly to bed. As it was of course, due to not being sufficiently wound up/ambitious/in the groove we were on the night by all accounts lucky to get a draw. One of these days we'll do it sensibly, or we'll not need to win our last three group games and unnecessarily put ourselves under pressure.
If we take Rafa's words as read and assume he's not a liar (which would seem to me to be the sensible thing to do) then Gerrard is carrying a minor injury and could really do with a rest. Encouraged though I am by the fact that we now seemingly accept that replacing Gerrard with Bolo Zenden does infact weaken the team a bit, this would seem to be the ideal game in which to give him that rest. Financial considerations will be at the forfront though, and he'll probably have to play which is a bit of a shame.
Given that, (the fact that we aren't going to rest anybody who actually makes a difference to how well we are going to play) then it makes sense to me to play the strongest team and not only try to win it, but try and play well too. As we haven't actually established that strongest team yet, or indeed any rhythm whatsoever, the "strongest team" though is very debateable. My current take is this:
The goalie picks himself, but we really do need to get the centre halves sorted. I don't really mind who we go for, but lets get them sorted because it is impossible to build a defence around two centre halves which change every game. This is an absolute basic of team selection, and we've changed them in each and every competitive game so far. I know some people quite like rotation and all the various theories that go with it, but I'd be interested to read any on the notion that changing them as often as we have is a good idea.
At right full-back Arbeloa needs to pull his finger out of his erse but gets in because Deggen is beyond help, while at left full-back Dossena worries me. I've seen him twice now, and he worries me because I don't think he's good enough. Now I know it's early (and certainly too early for any manager to admit he's shelled out 7 mill on a bit of a dud) but I hope Dossena either proives me wrong sharpish, or Rafa bites the bullet and reinstates Aurelio (who I firmly believe is a better player) before too much longer.
In midfield, despite the old routine of centre forward marking him out of the game being much in evidence against Middlesboro Alonso gets in, with of course Gerrard if he must play. Yossi Benayoun never has been good enough and never will be whereas babel probably isn't but just might be so the Dutchman gets the nod, while on the other flank Dirk never has and never will but I'm at a loss to suggest a sensible alternative. By virtue of the fact that he runs about a lot I suppose he gets in, but it doesn't fill me with anticipation to see him there.
Up top, Keane and Torres are slowly learning to not block each others shots and obviously must be persevered with. All in all, whatever team we put out if we can't beat these then there deserves to be a stewards enquiry, but we will so there won't be.
"se e in una bottigla ed e bianco, e latte".