should really throw away the Bayern game, even by some miracle we get through we're only going to get another tough team with our fixtures list Gnbary, Zlaelem & Jenkinson will starters by March

We'll have everybody back (bar Walcott of course) by then at least. Liverpool are on the way down too.

Whether we survive February will be down to what we do from now till end of January.

Tactics wrote:

We should play our best team in this, and a weakened team against Bayern.

Two extreme ways to look at Bayern:

• they'll focus their February program around this game, being able to rest key players in the league, or
• they'll have lost bite from being unchallenged in Bundesliga.

I expect them closer to the former

Tactics wrote:

We should play our best team in this, and a weakened team against Bayern.

I vote for the exact opposite...

Play a weakened team against Bayern and the dressing room will go sour big time.

The draw doesn't bother as much as our luck with tough fixtures being clubbed together this season. We had a mini-run in November earlier, we have one now in February and again in March.

Alfonso wrote:

redwhiteAustrian wrote:

Oh for fucks sake.

Exactly as I called it in another Thread here......the fifth round FA Cup tie was bound to be against yet another tough side.

So we travel to Pool, and then face ManUre, Pool and Bayern at home within seven fucking days.

Fuck right off.

Are you a winner or a loser?

brilliant

Jeee wizz not sure what's harder; our schedule in March or mastering cold approach pick up

Life is cold approach pick up my friend.

And there you have it - the life lesson that is the bastard child of Deepak Chopra and Neil Strauss.

Timothy wrote:

Play a weakened team against Bayern and the dressing room will go sour big time.

Yeah it'd destroy morale. We're just going to have to rotate a lot and hope for the best injury wise.

The only players we'd struggle to rotate are Sagna, Per and Kos. No need to rest the keeper at all.

Is Vermaelen good enough to play in some of the big games?

qs! wrote:

Is Vermaelen good enough to play in some of the big games?

Yes. He has to be, if not, why is he the club captain? I still believe him, he'll be fine against Liverpool in the Cup and other matches. Play him vs Palace.

Shady Shakes wrote:

Alfonso wrote:

Are you a winner or a loser?

brilliant

Am I the only one that sense an opportunity? If we can beat Pool there will only be 1 real threat left in the competition.

cold approach pick up ...is talking to strangers?

alf is right though, no point moaning about the fixtures. it's not playing really good teams in march and april that would be a problem.

It's not the worst draw. We probably got it the easiest out of the four big teams still left.

Oscar is so bloody good. Hate seeing him at Chelsea.

One of the best FKs I've seen, just look at where the ball hits.

it's a ridiculously good FK. Think messi hit one similar sometime from the left and the angle was a bit more acute.

Here you go:

Not as good as Oscar's IMO. Rooney had a pretty good one like that against us in the 8-2.

If we have everyone back, we'll be able to rotate and give L'Pool a real run for their money anyway. The likes of Vermaelen, Monreal/Gibbs, Jenkinson, Flamini, Gnabry, Rosicky, Ox, Podolski etc. are good enough to fill in alongside a few of key guys and do a very good job. I think we'd be able to get away with resting Koscielny, Ramsey/Arteta, Wilshere and Ozil/Cazorla. The only major drop off in quality is from Giroud down which is why the next few days are so important.

Volante wrote:

One of the best FKs I've seen, just look at where the ball hits.

Very nice but Beckham scored an even better one against Everton in 02-03.

I still maintain that if the goalkeeper doesn't take those steps to the other side, which he shouldn't, then he saves that one. Could you ever imagine that shot resulting in a goal if there is no wall at all btw?

Rex wrote:

I still maintain that if the goalkeeper doesn't take those steps to the other side, which he shouldn't, then he saves that one. Could you ever imagine that shot resulting in a goal if there is no wall at all btw?

Great shot, but also poor goalkeeping IMO.

Keeper def sets himself up to be beat.

Rex wrote:

I still maintain that if the goalkeeper doesn't take those steps to the other side, which he shouldn't, then he saves that one. Could you ever imagine that shot resulting in a goal if there is no wall at all btw?

Definitely. The keepers footwork is shocking.

It just irks me every time I see a goalkeeper take those few steps towards the corner his wall is to protect, only to then be beaten in 'his' corner. I just rather a goalkeeper who sticks to the 'deal' that he has his corner, and the wall has the other. If the freekick taker then manages to get it over the wall in the top corner - so be it.

Shocking miss from Lambert, fucking donkey. Immense from Clyne.

Gus Poyet doing some job at Sunderland. He's gotten them to the League Cup Final and now has them in the FA Cup Quarter Finals. Has to be pretty exciting for Sunderland supporters, but will the extra cup games cost them in the league?

Is Nasri back from injury already?
Aguero?
I think a City Chelsea draw would be advantageous for us.

Yep. City have missed nasri

Both Chelsea and City resting players. No surprise.

Come on Wigan - hold on!!

Hope City beat Chelsea. It'll make Mourinho look even stupider for all his mouthing.

Volante wrote:

Gus Poyet doing some job at Sunderland. He's gotten them to the League Cup Final and now has them in the FA Cup Quarter Finals. Has to be pretty exciting for Sunderland supporters, but will the extra cup games cost them in the league?

I think they'll be fine. They might get a little bit more tired but the new confidence will do them a world of good. They have a better squad than they've let on so far too. They should see this relegation battle out and then finish in the upper half of the table next season.