So forget second-place trophies, forget 'momentum', we need to rest players and focus on next week:
Neto
Nichols White Kacurri Sweet
M'Hand Zin Tierney
Kabia NBO Sterling
I'd genuinely love to see that side, it would be refreshing and give these kids some great experience - we might even, like, win...
In fact the only one I'm not sure about is Sterling
Last edited by Mac76; 02-05-2025 at 09:34 AM.
I admire your persistence on this topic but for two reasons I disagree
The defeat on Tuesday makes me want second place more not less, and with respect I simply don’t care about all the reasons given as to why I shouldn’t care. I do care, I do want it….there we are.
Secondly I think in order to get anything next Wednesday (I think the tie is over, but of course I think we should try and do everything to defy that belief) I think we need to treat Bournemouth like a dress rehearsal. I don’t think it’s a case of simply putting Partey back in the team, it’s a case of taking Odegaard out of it and giving the players a chance to play together with the same team we will go with on Wednesday. Being hyper focused on preventing injuries, I think arguably could play on the players minds.
But so this would be my team
Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, MLS, Partey, Rice, Saka, Martinelli, Merino, Nwaneri
Get the win, show that this is a purposeful lineup and then worry about resting players
@HCZ
I agree that's probably the other way to go, as we've seen resting some and playing others just makes a mess sometimes, part of the reason I'd genuinely like to see my lineup is that the academy players actually do play together regularly and know each other
For the momentum lovers here, the problem with your lineup is that if we have a bad day at the office and lose say 1-3, how's that for building confidence?
That said he'll obvs go more your way, though while he may not start Ode but he'll play at some point (though I agree with you 100% he needs to be dropped, it's what a more experienced coach would do)
I agree with this. There are 3 remaining league fixtures and if we are very lucky 2 CL matches to go. This is not the time to try to avoid injuries. As you say we need to be as sharp as possible going into next Wednesday's game in Paris.Originally Posted by HCZ_Reborn
Putting the laughter back into manslaughter
Even if it's Rice? or Saka (fully fit or not)? or Raya? or Saliba? or MLS? or Partey? or Timber? or even Kiwior?
Sharpness partly depends on energy levels
and in any case, you people know we do training sessions right? where players practice and discuss tactics for, like, the next game?
Play the kids.
Für eure Sicherheit
...let's get some momentum going
But seriously though, we have to take this tie seriously as a bird in hand has always been worth more than two in the bush.
Also in the lineup, I'd probably rest Timber, as he'll need as much rest as possible to prepare for the nightmare that will be Kvara in the next leg
Saka too, so we might need to bring in Trossard for a half.
Also, if Arteta is truly learning from his mistakes like IBK seems to believe, Nwaneri should get the full 90 mins in this game. I'm pretty sure he won't though.
Nwaneri is a very good young player but sometimes I fear that he might be victim to the expectations we might have of him. And for that reason, and only that reason I can see why Arteta is sparing with his game time. That said albeit due to circumstance, for a player his age he has managed a fair bit of first team action this season (far more than Saka had, had at the same age)
I’m not sure where Arteta sees his future for sure, although the indications are that given he didn’t get a lot of first team game time when Odegaard was injured but he did when Saka was injured that he sees his role as being on the wing.
I think he’s talented enough to do a good job there, I’m not convinced that’s his natural position or where the player indeed sees himself playing.
Nwaneri probably doesn't know whether he's coming or going because while he's being hailed as a wunderkind, he isn't, unlike MLS, getting enough minutes, which is mainly down to Arteta, not starting him in the Palace game was inexplicable and, if people want to talk about building confidence and momentum, that IMO works for individual players much more than a whole side
Team to play Bournemouth: Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Subs: Setford, Tierney, Zinchenko, Clarke, Merino, Gower, Nwaneri, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji
Hmmm not too surprising I guess. Though makes me think Merino is not going to be played up front for the rest of the season. Timber being out is a worry too
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