The Premier League campaign - 2011/12: Page 21 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

The Premier League campaign - 2011/12

Nela

Apparantly Song is one yellow away from a one game ban.

I am Arsenal Till I Die

Cue a yellow against Everton.Hel then miss the City tie.Although i love Coquelin that'd be horrible.

PS - hw rubbish was the yellow card he gt against Wigan? diabolical decision from Clattenberg.

Claudius

I'm wondering if it's worth taking the risk to start with Coquelin against Everton. Why shouldn't he, along with Arteta and Ramsey, be able to handle the Everton midfield? Citeh are a different kettle of fish and will be looking to teach us a lesson after their Champs League exit.

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Starting Coquelin vs Everton would be a hard ask for the kid. That guy with the fluffy afro would bully him all game long.

Klaus

It was a long time since Fellaini bullied anyone on a football field. Besides, Coquelin started against Spurs on White Hart Lane and was our man of the match in that game. There's no reason why he can't start against Everton in a home game if we need him to.

kamikaze

seems reasonable to me, too.

Burnwinter

I'm against those sorts of selection games in the league, whether they be related to injury or suspension.

The possible three points we need from Everton are as important as the three we need from City, even though they're theoretically easier to obtain.

kamikaze

i agree. but coquelin for song shouldn't cost us the 2 or 3 pts.

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It very well might. Our four most important players this season are basically the team's spine- Robin, Song, Vermaelen and Sczeszny. Leaving any one of them out would be detrimental to the team, and Everton has traditionally been a physical and difficult opponent for us.

Claudius

Throw Koscielny into that group, Flobaba. I see what you are saying, but we should be able to handle them without Song. We are in a good position to still get 3 points against Everton without Song, whereas I think we'll be overrun without him at City. The thought of facing Silva, Toure and Barry/Milner without Song does not bear thinking about. Whereas with Everton, our only fear is that other inconsistent Maroune.

Klaus

I'm not suggesting that we should rest Song for the record. I would prefer not to. But Coquelin is the one reserve player I wouldn't have a problem with being handed a start in midfield. The suggestion that he would get bullied is a bit silly. He's not the type of player you push around.

lorddulaarsenal

Indeed. He looks to have filled out a bit recently too. Really hope we hang on to him

I am Arsenal Till I Die

Klaus wrote:
I'm not suggesting that we should rest Song for the record. I would prefer not to. But Coquelin is the one reserve player I wouldn't have a problem with being handed a start in midfield. The suggestion that he would get bullied is a bit silly. He's not the type of player you push around.

This.

And as far as the talk of being bullied around goes, you dont do that to Coquelin.Only downside would probably be lesser defensive cover during set pieces and that is also up for debate considering Song isnt the best at doing that either.

Claudius

Wenger worried about 'the prize' in future years in the event that all of England's teams fail to qualify for Champs League knockout stage this week
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/992650/arsene-wenger:-%27catastrophic-scenario%27-if-english-trio-go-out?cc=5901

He forgets that England is so far ahead of Italy in the UEFA co-efficient that this one time slip-up would be irrelevant.

Burnwinter

He's got a point though. English CL places being reduced to two plus a qualifier would create a messy dynamic: fewer qualifiers under more pressure from the "less distracted" teams beating at the door. The level of domestic competition could actually make it difficult for clubs to excel in Europe.

We are getting a taste of it this season with Spurs and Pool. Among the second tier of clubs there will be some tendency to rotate league position and Champions League competitiveness. It's nearly impossible for a second tier squad to sustain a CL challenge deep into the knockout rounds alongside a serious premiership challenge.

That said, the 'second tier' in England now more or less means 'the usual suspects other than City'. They're the only club with unlimited resources and a youngish, firing squad.

For football, I think it's a good thing, provided the Spanish eventually reform their broken joke of a league.

Burnwinter

By the way, re Coquelin and Song, surely the best outcome would be for Song to face both, and not get suspended?

We shouldn't skimp on playing one of our best players in a "must win" match in order that he can be sure to play in a match where we're very likely to drop points regardless of his presence or absence. That's poor use of resources in my opinion.

invisibleman18

Couldn't agree more Burnsy. If we start resting key players in important games now, results will likely mean there won't be any games worth resting them for in the future anyway.

kamikaze

i get your point - i just dont think we're "likely" to drop points against city. they're a little better than us, but a win is a definite possibility. i dont think everton are so good that having coquelin in for song makes 3 pts against them at home significantly less likely. they're probably just going to sit back and try to hit us on the break, anyway.

i do think it's likely that song picks up a yellow against everton, and i do think we need our best 11 to beat city.

Claudius

Agree with Kami's post. Well laid out and reasonable.
The biggest risk for us right now is leaving out one of our front 3 players because our attacking reserves are dysfunctional and talentless. I can do with leaving out one of Song, Vermalen, Koscielny for now.

kamikaze

are vermaelen and koscielny in danger of suspension too? i'd want to play those two in every league match possible.

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