First of all, we fielded a strong team. We wanted Song back and he was. The back four were as we wanted as well. Front 3? It was Nasri-Arshavin-Rosicky.
Arsene Wenger has refused to sign a striker yet he doesn't trust Bendtner enough to start him. Could be fitness issues, but we really need a good enough striker in Van Persie's absence.
Arshavin did his best to carry the team but he was left all alone most of the time. If he wasn't getting support you'd imagine everyone else to be busy defending their arses because of a United bombardment. We however found ourselves on the back of a 3-0 scoreline on 55 minutes.
By that time, the game is all over no matter what you do.
Almunia continues to be crap and I don't know what it takes for him to be dropped. He got Jens out of the club and was looking to be a solid replacement until this season came and we might as well not play a keeper there. His distribution is ever so poor and his throwing is nonsense as well. Then you look at our 2nd choice and it's Fabianski. Everyone wants to be the number 1 keeper but no one is good enough. It's all talk and no nothing else. Mannone has jumped on that bandwagon too, by declaring his intent to claim that number 1 shirt just after signing a new long term deal at the club. Goalkeepers often train separately from the rest of the team because it's a more specialised position so I guess the 2 behind Almunia should have an inkling that the position is there for the taking. But nooo, they all become best friends and talk a load of crap and under perform when given the chance. Mannone did well when the season started but if Almunia is dropped, Fabianski will be the one with a chance. It would take nothing short of a disaster for us to drop our first 2 goalkeepers if injuries do not play a part. Anyway, perhaps Almunia will get a dodgy 'chest infection' now. I really hope he does.
Then now we come to that left back position. Clichy got crocked. Gibbs filled in. Then Gibbs got crocked. Traore filled in. Traore was doing so well until he got owned. And then he got owned some more. Clichy came back. And he's getting owned. We have 3 good left backs and one who has been proven to be defensively sound with good pace but he's getting owned. And I thought the only criticism of Gael is that he can't cross. Otherwise, he does a good job. Now it seems that he has forgotten everything else. And still can't cross.
United haven't won at the Emirates in the league and now they have. They've won here in the Champion's League and by the same scoreline. Those were warning bells weren't they?
The Villa game should have set the bells ringing already. But they didn't. No goals in the game, and had Vermaelen not pulled one back for us it would have been 2 games in a row without scoring. I'll bring you all the way back to the FA Cup game at Stoke where our form was fantastic. Had we fielded a stronger side we stood a better chance of winning it. Going into the Villa game, the players will be a tad more tired but they have more belief. Perhaps they could have won and then this game could have been a lot more different.
As it stands, we're out of the FA Cup. Our title hopes look particularly bleak at the moment and it's almost as though the lads need the media and the rest of the world to write them the fuck off before they start producing the goods again. It's as though sitting atop the league isn't big enough for them to prove anything. The battle's not lost. Chelsea still to come and I think a loss sends more urgency though their veins more than a draw. Had we lost at Villa, the importance of this game would have been even more and perhaps they need that final push. Chelsea is in front now and if the boys still think they want to be in the fight for the league title they have to show it in the next game. United and Chelsea are to play each other and other difficult teams as well so there's a reason to keep on believing.
Anything less than a win at Stamford Bridge will be deemed a nightmare. We've got to claw back points and we've got to do it fast.
The transfer window slams shut tomorrow. Wenger will once again be faulted for not spending when there was a difference to be made.
A Little Drunken Madness @ 1:55 AM
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