CL semi final first leg at OT

[Chippy]

I have made an executive decision to start a new thread for this as the old one had stuff about tickets etc.

Does anyone think they can guess AW's starting line up for this one?

I think we are sure of Toure, Cesc and Almunia. Probably Gibbs, after that who knows?

[Glitch33]

- Almunia
Sagna - Toure - Djouru - Gibbs
Walcott - Fabregas - Diaby - Song - Nasri
Adebayor

[g88ner]

After the 'boro game today, and the thrilling performance by Nasri in central midfield, I think the team on Wednesday will be...

-----------------ADEBAYOR

DIABY-------------CESC------------THEO
--------------SONG-----NASRI

GIBBS-----DJOUROU--TOURE----SAGNA

-----------------ALMUNIA

At least, I'm confident that will be the starting XI... of course, Wenger might go with Diaby or Denilson in CM, and Nasri on the left instead.

[projoe]

------------------ALMUNIA-----------------

SAGNA----TOURE---DJOUROU----GIBBS

------------SONG----DENILSON -----

WALCOTT-------FABREGAS-------NASRI

-----------------ADEBAYOR-------------------

[Chippy]

Is Sagna gonna be fit?

[green gooner]

------------------ALMUNIA-----------------

SAGNA----TOURE---DJOUROU----GIBBS

------------SONG----DENILSON -----

WALCOTT-------FABREGAS-------NASRI

-----------------ADEBAYOR-------------------

Looks about right, Eboue might fill in for Sagna if he is not fit. The most important thing for us is the away goal(s). We need to put the ball in the net as I believe away goals are the real winners of these two legged ties.

[Eboue-Why?]

This might be a strange question coming from me but would you definitely bring Sagna back? Eboue hasn't done that bad over his last couple of games.

[mcdowell42]

This might be a strange question coming from me but would you definitely bring Sagna back? Eboue hasn't done that bad over his last couple of games.

I know sagna had a shocker against lpool during the week but i put that down to him coming back into the team so quickly after the virus he had and maybe he hadnt been fully ready.But i would play him ahead of eboue. Going forward in the last few games eboue has done well but he was at fault for the 1st goal against the chavs and playing against utd is totally different than playing against boro.But at least we have options in that position the centre backs is what worries me.I would play djourou alongside toure.And i would definitely play gibbs instead of silvestre.I know silvestre has the experience but gibbs pace is more suited to try and keep up with ronaldo who i think is going to have a field day against our defence.Rooney at the moment is also looking shit hot so we are in for some difficult times in the back line.Most importantly we have to score an away goal or we are in real bother.On a brighter note i think we can do it. I might apply for wengers job when he decides to retire.

[Eboue-Why?]

This might be a strange question coming from me but would you definitely bring Sagna back? Eboue hasn't done that bad over his last couple of games.

I know sagna had a shocker against lpool during the week but i put that down to him coming back into the team so quickly after the virus he had and maybe he hadnt been fully ready.But i would play him ahead of eboue. Going forward in the last few games eboue has done well but he was at fault for the 1st goal against the chavs and playing against utd is totally different than playing against boro.But at least we have options in that position the centre backs is what worries me.I would play djourou alongside toure.And i would definitely play gibbs instead of silvestre.I know silvestre has the experience but gibbs pace is more suited to try and keep up with ronaldo who i think is going to have a field day against our defence.Rooney at the moment is also looking shit hot so we are in for some difficult times in the back line.Most importantly we have to score an away goal or we are in real bother.On a brighter note i think we can do it. I might apply for wengers job when he decides to retire.

You're right on the defensive side but maybe going forward in the away leg is just as important and Eboue might just give us something extra in that department than Sagna.
Anyway, odds on a 3-3 or 4-4?!?!

[mcdowell42]

This might be a strange question coming from me but would you definitely bring Sagna back? Eboue hasn't done that bad over his last couple of games.

I know sagna had a shocker against lpool during the week but i put that down to him coming back into the team so quickly after the virus he had and maybe he hadnt been fully ready.But i would play him ahead of eboue. Going forward in the last few games eboue has done well but he was at fault for the 1st goal against the chavs and playing against utd is totally different than playing against boro.But at least we have options in that position the centre backs is what worries me.I would play djourou alongside toure.And i would definitely play gibbs instead of silvestre.I know silvestre has the experience but gibbs pace is more suited to try and keep up with ronaldo who i think is going to have a field day against our defence.Rooney at the moment is also looking shit hot so we are in for some difficult times in the back line.Most importantly we have to score an away goal or we are in real bother.On a brighter note i think we can do it. I might apply for wengers job when he decides to retire.

You're right on the defensive side but maybe going forward in the away leg is just as important and Eboue might just give us something extra in that department than Sagna.
Anyway, odds on a 3-3 or 4-4?!?!

4-4 at ot
3-3 at our place we go through on away goals easy peezy

[MK Gould]

I think we'll hold back some players as we have an important league game next weekend. We could still get 3rd place you know....!

In all seriousness, we surely have to play Sagna on Wednesday. Ok, so he made a mistake last week - but he has been one of our most consistent players since joining.

[jamjc64]

This might be a strange question coming from me but would you definitely bring Sagna back? Eboue hasn't done that bad over his last couple of games.

I know sagna had a shocker against lpool during the week but i put that down to him coming back into the team so quickly after the virus he had and maybe he hadnt been fully ready.But i would play him ahead of eboue. Going forward in the last few games eboue has done well but he was at fault for the 1st goal against the chavs and playing against utd is totally different than playing against boro.But at least we have options in that position the centre backs is what worries me.I would play djourou alongside toure.And i would definitely play gibbs instead of silvestre.I know silvestre has the experience but gibbs pace is more suited to try and keep up with ronaldo who i think is going to have a field day against our defence.Rooney at the moment is also looking shit hot so we are in for some difficult times in the back line.Most importantly we have to score an away goal or we are in real bother.On a brighter note i think we can do it. I might apply for wengers job when he decides to retire.

You're right on the defensive side but maybe going forward in the away leg is just as important and Eboue might just give us something extra in that department than Sagna.
Anyway, odds on a 3-3 or 4-4?!?![/quote]

Just because you missed Anfield away your trying to recreate a special night lol

And now you big up and praise Eboue, Are feeling ok ???

[franksav63]

Going for a 2-2 draw for this, half a job done...

[goonersid]

-----------------------------ADE--------------------

------------------- CESC-------------------------
--------- NASRI------DENILSON ----------SONG-------EBOUE

---------- GIBBS ------ DJOROU---------TOURE--------SAGNA

-------------------------- ALMUNIA-----------------------
SUBS LIKELY TO BE USED
WALCOTT
BENDTNER
DIABY
SILVESTRE ( IF LEADING WITH 10MIN TO GO)

[Its Up 4 Grabs Now]

If we play the formation we have been with Cesc in an advanced CM role & one up front then assuming that’s Adebayor he’s gonna have to actually put in a hell of a shift for once!

Playing that formation has only really worked when the wide players (generally Shava & Theo) have got forward in support of (& beyond) the striker cos as good as Cesc can be in that position he’s no second striker & obviously still plays relatively deep for that role, which can leave the striker isolated - ie Bendtner at Liverpool.

Without Shava & with Nasri possibly in the middle, we’re more likely to have a Diaby or an Eboue in one of the wide positions meaning less support for Adebayor from at least one wing. So he’s gonna have to put in the sort of performance he did at OT a few years ago when we won 1-0 & he scored the winner. He ran his nuts off that day & Ferdinand said it was the hardest game any striker had ever given him.

So then, hands up who’s confident he’ll repeat that performance?