Just some brief highlights of the match from last night for you all to ponder over now, and believe me a brief look is all you need!
It was quite a boring match that had a pre-season feel about it. There were quite a few goal attempts though in fairness but I get the feeling that both teams could still be playing now and it would still be 0-0.
I don’t know an awful lot about S.C. Maritimo in fairness, but I was interested to hear the ESPN commentary team say during the match that their coach, Pedro Martins, stuck with a pretty much full strength side that mirrored the team that had held Sporting Lisbon to a 1-1 draw the previous weekend.
To be honest, when you look at it like that, our kids and reserve players didn’t do too badly against a strong Portuguese outfit. I’d have preferred it if there were less youth and reserve players used as the team last night had hardly played together, but needs must and I guess that is the price that has to be paid for having a small squad with a whole host of extra games to contend with.
Next up for us, in terms of the Europa League anyway, is a home tie with Bordeaux who beat Club Brugge 4-0 last night and look to be the team in Group D to beat if you can take one matchday as the benchmark. That game is in a fortnight and is once again live on ESPN.
Now, back to domestic matters, and Norwich on Sunday.
FIRST 🙂 🙂
doitforsirbobby(Quote)
never been first at anything 😆
doitforsirbobby(Quote)
ps tayls can forearm smash who he wants; hes a geordie boy
doitforsirbobby(Quote)
good result i thought ,we dont have a reserve set up anymore just under 21s and a rotating first team end of .reserve lg has finished.as well as all the reserve lads at the end of this season.looking forward to sunday give chris h a big welcom class bloke!
stevo(Quote)
am i the only one who enjoy the game yesterday?imo its quite an eventful match
beron(Quote)
It wasn’t a terrible match, some excitement, but when you keep seeing the liverpool game come up eventually ending in a 5-3 then you do wonder… 😆
It was just very, meh.
Newkie(Quote)
“I’d have preferred it if there were less youth and reserve players used as the team last night had hardly played together, but needs must and I guess that is the price that has to be paid for having a small squad with a whole host of extra games to contend with”
Quite right Toonsy. How on earth can we possibly hope to compete this year in all competitions with such a small squad? 🙄
Current first team squad sizes – September 2012
ARSENAL – 27
Goalkeepers [3] Szczesny, Mannone, Fabianski
Defenders [9] Djourou, Squillaci, Sagna, Gibbs, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Santos, Vermaelen
Midfielders [9] Cazorla, Arshavin, Wilshere, Rosicky, Diaby, Frimpong, Arteta, Ramsey, Coquelin
Forwards [6] Podolski, Giroud, Walcott, Chamakh, Gervinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Out on loan: Bendtner, Denilson, Campbell, Miyaichi, Park
CHELSEA – 25
Goalkeepers [3] Cech, Turnbull, Hilario
Defenders [8] Azpilicueta, Cole, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Luiz, Cahill, Terry, Bertrand
Midfielders [10] Meireles, Oscar, Marin, Hazard, Lampard, Romeu, Obi Mikel, Malouda, Ramires, Mata
Forwards [4] Torres, Sturridge, Moses, Piazon
Out on loan: Essien, Kakuta, Benayoun, Mceachran, van Aanholt + many others
EVERTON – 25
Goalkeepers [2] Howard, Mucha
Defenders [10] Hibbert, Baines, Heitinga, Jagielka, Distin, Neville, Coleman, Duffy, Bidwell, Garbutt
Midfielders [7] Gibson, Naismith, Barkley, Osman, Pienaar, Fellaini, Júnior
Forwards [6] Jelavić, Gueye, Vellios, Anichebe, McAleny, Mirallas
LIVERPOOL – 27
Goalkeepers [4] Reina, Jones, Doni, Gulácsi
Defenders [10] Johnson, Enrique, Agger, Coates, Wilson, Carragher, Kelly, Škrtel, Robinson, Flanagan
Midfielders [10] Gerrard, Cole, Henderson, Downing, Leiva, Allen, Sterling, Shelvey, Assaidi, Şahin
Forwards [3] Suárez, Borini, Pacheco
Out on loan: Carroll, Spearing
MAN CITY – 24
Goalkeepers [3] Hart, Pantilimon, Wright
Defenders [9] Richards, Kompany, Clichy, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Toure, Lescott, Nastasić, Maicon
Midfielders [8] Silva, Garcia, Rodwell, Nasri, Barry, Toure, Milner, Sinclair
Forwards [4] Dzeko, Tevez, Balotelli, Aguero
Out on loan Boyata, Santa Cruz, Bridge
MAN UTD – 27
Goalkeepers [2] De Gea, Lindegaard
Defenders [8] Vidic, Ferdinand, Jones, Smalling, Evans, Evra, Rafael, Büttner
Midfielders [12] Kagawa, Powell, Nani, Anderson, Fletcher, Scholes, Carrick, Valencia, Cleverley, Young, Bebe, Giggs
Forwards [5] Van Persie, Rooney, Hernandez, Macheda, Welbeck
Out on loan: Fabio, Amos
NEWCASTLE – 29
Goalkeepers [3] Krul, Harper, Elliot
Defenders [9] Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Williamson, Perch, R Taylor, Ferguson, Tavernier, Santon,
Midfielders [12] Cabaye, Tioté, BenArfa, Anita, Marveaux, Gutiérrez, Obertan, Gosling, Amalfitano, Abeid, Vuckic, Bigirimana
Forwards [5] Cissé, Ba, Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi, Xisco
Out on loan: Dummett
TOTTENHAM – 27
Goalkeepers [4] Lloris, Friedel, Gomes, Cudicini
Defenders [8] Kaboul, Vertonghen, Gallas, Dawson, Naughton, Caulker, Walker, Assou-Ekotto
Midfielders [12] Huddlestone, Lennon, Parker, Bale, Sigurðsson, Dembélé, Bentley, Jenas, Falque, Livermore, Sandro, Townsend
Forwards [3] Adebayor, Defoe, Dempsey
Out on loan: Rose, Kane
Chris G(Quote)
It’s a lack of proven quality in the squad that’s the problem rather than a lack of numbers.
Strengthening with just a few quality players is what we needed.
What we have at the moment are maybe 9 proven quality players and then a bunch of players some of which look like they may come good (Bigi, Anita), some which blow between lukewarm and cold (Williamson, Shola, Marveaux, Obertan, Vukic), some which its hard to really tell yet (Amalfitano, Abeid) and some who are wasting oxygen (Xisco)
Pootle(Quote)
So our 2nd string, made up of a few inexperienced youths, managed an away draw against a strong 1st team outfit on a a **** pitch – and our boys could have won. Am I missing something? That’s a good result, shows our 2nd string are no pushovers and the game provided valuable experience to them too. Not a bad day in the office at all and shows we are stronger than some would think.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sorry Chris G. perhaps I should have said “having not so many senior players within our ranks”. If you take out U21 players who don’t need to be registered that number drops to 22, including Xisco, so more like 21 😆
toonsy(Quote)
At least we can see if some of the younger guys can cut it against testing opposition thanks to these euro games. We seem reluctant to give our youngsters a good go in the PL. If the likes of Bigi keep playing well, it will at least give Pardz some confidence to give them a run out in the PL. Happy with a point from a tough away game… 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Totally agree with Shamrock. We could have had plenty of goals yesterday, and seeing as how we were on a crappy pitch with 8 players who are 23 or younger of the 14 that played, then we look really good!
Most of the players from yesterday are only going to get better, so I say bring it on!
AndrewT(Quote)
I was a bit underwhelmed by the game to be honest ,and the pitch was made for non football ,add to that the inept performance by the ref and it was a pretty sterile affair. We desperately needed a good finisher last night or someone who could create a spark .Shola is a really unselfish player who provides very well for Cisse and Ba but doesn’t seem able to finish himself 🙄 .Was impressed by Bigi and unimpressed by Obatan and thought Elliot did better but wasn’t exactly tested by PL hotshots to know if he’s the real deal or not. Expecting a far more entertaining game on sunday with first teamers back hopefully. Also I was looking forward to Campbell coming on for last 10 mins or so and very dissapointed he didn’t as I wouldn’t of bet against him scoring one.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Yeah I thought it was a decent result-if not great performances from some of those I was hoping more from.
We gave ourselves a solid defence covered by a good pairing in Gosling/Bigi which was broken a few times fairplay-but when it was Elliot stepped up and proved he’s actually not a bad keeper despite everyone thinking he was *****. Then it was up to our youngsters/squadies who are supposed to be pushing for some subbies or even starts in the PL to show what they could do. Not great from their end but meh.
Newkie(Quote)