Further to yesterday’s interesting discussion about squad strength we have an opportunity tonight to evaluate Mr Wenger’s statement. For tonight the squad players travel to Portugal for a Champions League game which despite not being a win or bust fixture is contextually important, if only to sweeten what has been a difficult week.
Clichy, Van Persie, and Arshavin are not travelling, Fabregas may well be rested to help his ailing hamstring and AW could rest any of the others who have played so many games over the past two weeks. Whichever team is played we are strong. In my opinion Mr Wenger is right in his assertion that this is his strongest squad. In every position we have a quality (and almost always an International) backúp. As Kelsey pointed out, the only position in with a doubtful substitute is in goal and Chesney has all the attributes to become a fine GK.
Tonight we could play the following team and reasonably expect a positive result:
Chesney/almunia
Eboue JD Kos Gibbs
Rosicky Denilson Eastmond Wilshere
Theo Bendtner
This is without the injured and likely starters of Vermaelen, Diaby and Ramsey.
I wrote in the comments about the absence of Diaby who has become a forgotten man, In my opinion he would start ahead of Wilshere and would certainly have played against Spurs. His loss is considerable as he is developing into a fine player with pace, power, skill and developing awareness (clearly his weak point). His recent performances for France are evidence of his growing influence. I realise that he is not everyone’s cup of tea but I like him!
Braga, despite winning their previous CL game, are in a poor run of form and we know how easliy they were brushed aside at the Grove, but this is a very important game in their season (in financial terms) and Braga will be looking for revenge.
Arsenal have not won in Portugal in 5 attempts and a Braga victory would bring them level with us on 9 points. This is not a game we can afford to take lightly
My team:
Fabianski
Sagna Squillaci Koscileny Gibbs
Song Denilson Wilshere Rosicky
Walcott Bendtner.
Could we be creative enough without Nasri or Fabregas in the starting 11? Perhaps not.
Not much to tell you about Braga which is in the very North of Portugal, except Marie Miriam who won the 1977 Eurovision song contest was born there, and Braga has a Quidditch team!
COYRRG
Written by BigRaddy
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Could this be todays only Arsenal post on the net which makes no mention of Saturday´s debacle?
Time to move on …..
Morning Radders, your previews always offer an alternative view and are appreciated.
You have brought up the question of Diaby and it has reminded me he is one of the players in our squad who typifies the “Switch off at critical times” mentality and over elaborating an attack.
I ,for one, would be happy to see him sold in January and a proper DM brought in as back-up/competition to Song. We have a glut of attacking midfielders and not enough midfielders who are ball winners and like staying back during counter attacks to protect our defence.
All our midget midfielders go swarming forwards at the faintest whiff of an attack and they all find the dirty work of defending, and marking oppo attackers as a task that’s beneath them.
Chary. Once again we must disagree!!
We do not get outfought anymore. Just ask Ratboy Neville. Sure we play pretty football and certainly focus upon the finer skills of the game, but we have learned to put our foot in. I understand your frustrations but don’t share them, size is not what makes a warrior.
It is true that we make positional mistakes as regard to our defensive midfield, but I believe it is a policy of AW’s to promote Song’s attacking instincts, were it not so then Song would be dropped. We have the cover for him -Diaby, Denilson and Ramsey.
The only players I would like to see sold are Vela and Almunia
I’m being a little Raspers-like in playing devil’s advocate but I still think we need a back-up DM; Denilson is not good enough and Rambo I see as a box to box midfielder rather than primarily a DM.
I won’t deny that we have added a touch of steel to the ugly side of our game but to make the one supposed defensive midfielder we have into a marauding goal scoring midfielder unbalances our side. The DM doesn’t even necessarily have to be that old cliché “a midfield monster” just a tenacious and dogged tackler, for example Flamini.
While we are on players we would like to see go I agree your 2 added to Diaby will make a trio I won’t be sad to see go in January.
BR
By not picking Johan in your team, I would say you are taking them lightly 😉
Chary. I listened to your radio debut. Very good – you hide your undoubted talents, the description of the Wembley experience brought memories flooding back.
GG. OK then let’s put in JD for Squillaci
Morning BR,
I thought AW would put out a weaker team, but then after Saturday what is a strong team?
What can you tell me about Braga? 🙂
I don’t want to start the Diaby debate again, but, for what it is worth, we are in broad agreement, I think he is one of the most talented players on Arsenal’s books, (also according to every Arsenal player who has been asked) and he is big!!
Pity about the consistency! 😦
I suspect it will be more of a struggle tonight than the 6:0 home win would indicate, but I would be more than happy with a “1 Nil” to the Arsenal!
Ah thanks Radders, I will point out that was totally unscripted so I’ve made my excuses for a lack of a flowing speaking style !
I believe you will be at the Fulham game?
I’ll be going also so perhaps a few Peroni’s at the Arsenal Tavern beforehand will aid the match experience.
I read just recently that Scott Parker was looking to move, i think we should pull all the stops out and install him in our side, i could’nt care if we have to sell whoever to fit him in,he is in my opinion quality and a step in the right direction, quality in all he does.
Actually I’d have dropped Kos for JD20 🙂 But anyway, moving right along.
Good Post BR , interesting facts about Braga, their stadium is nicknamed “the quarry” take a look
BR’s team should have enough to beat Braga (with any two out of Squid, JD or Kozzer at the back).
I would like to see Wilshere in the team tonight.
As for Diaby – I just can’t join the love-in because he is so frustrating and inconsistent. He clearly has something (because at times he looks world class) and I certainly don’t want to sell him. I suppose part of the problem is I don’t actually know what his position is or what his job is in the team.
Steve: great shout – I’d take Parker in a heartbeat.
anyway i’m up for some arsenal tonic so that the weekends hurt can go away, i fully expect our B team to go and get all 3 points.
I see Adebarndoor now claims that Juventus wants him. Leopards and spots and all that.
he can claim what he likes, i bet he is now one of the growing army of player who are regretting leaving THOF
12 11 = ?
12 09 = (x-y2) – (5n * 6x)
Redders 🙂
What’s going on here? I can’t do maths so you’ll have to explain that last exchange to me 😀
Hopefully tonight will be a battling performance with a tight defence and I’ll be able to rejoin the conversation without this horrible feeling in my gut! Jack tweeted last night that all the players understand how we feel and feel just as bad themselves- hopefully they can prove it over the next few games…
Actually- while I’m at it I have other questions! Why are some people’s names in black and others in blue? And when you lot mysteriously refer to “the other blog” is that LG perchance?
Carlito, BR and Tommy are posh and privileged!
I suspect Yidster is a Spud, and I answered nonsense, in kind, so f*cked if I know! 🙂
Hi Carlito,
The maths thing was some deluded spud fan thinking he would get to us by putting up the date of saturday’s game. The retort was a witticism from RA 😛
The names that are in blue are those of us who are registered with WordPress and have chosen to link our name to a site. If you click on any name in blue, it will take you to that blogger’s site, or a site they wish to promote.
I wasn’t logged in for my last comment, but I am now = in blue, n’est-ce pas?
I am getting pee’d off with the silly talk on the AFC websites … should I wait for rant Friday or express my frustrations now?
Friday will be better when I have had a few more days to stew!!
TS. What a brilliant picture. Not as classy as Highbury is it? We put up a mural 🙂
Hi Raddy,
Thanks for today’s post. I think it followed on nicely from yesterday’s theme and is taking a balanced view on our current state.
Please join feel free to rant to your heart’s content, either today or Friday. What are all the knee-jerk critics going to say if we are top of the league at 7:30 next Saturday?
Afternoon all,
Chary and Raddy meeting up before Fulham? Would love to meet up with you both. How about it?
BR,
Great post, thanks. Agree with your comment on flogging Al and Vela, although as I hve stated here before, one more injury between now and jan and I would lob RVP into the sale. We urgently need a top quality striker and to my mind, if we atay as we are, then his fitness will determine our chances of some kind of success this term.
In fact, would love to meet up with any AA bloggers who are around for the Fulham game. It will be my Christmas Arsenal hoorah!
I know we are no longer looking backwards at certain bad home performances, but does anyone else think we lack the 12th man syndrome ie the noisy home support. I realize there was a post along those lines, but here’s my suggestion. An allocated area right behind the North Bank goal with free tickets for all members of Arsenal’s travelling away fans. Don’t care about the how’s right now, but hey the noise of keeping those guys together, who no doubt are otherwise spread around the ground. It would also create a little vocal competition between themselves as the other regular Noth Bankers.
Great Micky. I will arrange it with Peaches.
What the hell is going on with RvP. Why isn’t he travelling?
I would give Nasri 45 mins and then Fabregas the second half. AA clearly needed the rest – HIddink played him the full 90 mins midweek and it showed on Saturday. The meerkat hasn’t played 90+ mins for years!!
Micky,
You will have to wear a spare pair of Peaches knickers ….. obviously!! 🙂
Aaron Ramsey and Big Al are currently playing for the Reserves at the moment.
Rant No. 1.
Someone said that if Arsenal played like their supporters support we would be at best mid-table. They expect the team to galvanise when under pressure but refuse to act as the 12th man. What did the so called Gooners do when Spurs came back? – they got nervous which transferred onto the pitch. Where was the fighting spirit in the stands?
Has it always been so? My alcohol addled brain cannot remember, but I am sure that when the opposition got on top the fans would gear up. Nowadays they boo the teams leaving the pitch at half-time!!
It sickens me to think of the Chavs last weekend. Here is a team that is top of the League, won the Double last year in a spectacular fashion scoring a record number of games and yet they are booed off because they are 1 down to Sunderland. If I had been Abramovich (and I wish I had his money), I would have advised to stewards to take photos of the guys booing and then banned the miscreants. They are not supporters – they are fans, and there is a huge difference.
I’m up for that MDi89, I tend to go to the Arsenal Tavern purely for convenience as I get off at Arsenal tube, as it’s a 3pm kick off I’d aim to get there 1.30-1.45pm.
Going by past experience Peachy will arrive in a train into Drayton Park at 2.35pm !
RA. Is there a stream?
RA,
You really do not want to know about mu “lucky” head attire!
BR,
Fantastic. Really look forward to meeting you. Oh, and I’m delighted you have gone back to 4-4-2. On saturday, you opted for a strange looking 4-4-.5-1.5, so I know who I blame. (Where is the 1/2 thing on the keyboard anyway?)
BR,
Not as far as i know, but AFC have a text update service.
This was one of the reasons I cancelled my ATVO subscription; that cheapskate Kroenke!!
Chary,
This gets better and better. Likewise, it will great to meet you as well.
I will let you all know what time I will make it. Its a family weekend in the smoke. I have an army type brother-in-law who is taking my son to the Royal Tournament, wife taking daughter to some musical, and oddly enough, that leaves me at a loose end while the Arsenal are at home! Grabbed a ticket this morning, so am all set.
Micky. I always go 4-4-2. It is Rasp who adds the graphics to my posts and takes full responsibility for any changes in formation.
Normally I would go 1-2-5-2-1 changing to 1-2-2-4-2 !!
BR,
I gather RVP has been left behind to work on his fitness, as AW is not happy with it. Kind of goes back to a point I made a while ago about “what ever happened to playing in the reserves?”.
RA. I did the same. I only joined up to get the reserve games. I wonder what percentage of fans cancelled
Not giving away anything about my age at all, but when I started playing football, the standard format was 2-3-5, which naturally has given me a brilliant idea….
MDi89, I won’t have Chary Major and Chary Minor with me so I can get properly p***ed up to join in the chanting/singing near the red action block in the north bank(I’m in block 4 so that’s fairly close to Red Action I think?)
At least your first remembered formation is not the “W” “M” one.
Really Micky? When I was a lad we played the Two W’s formation!!
Chary,
I’m normally upper orange, just to your right. About 18 yard line, so I will be able to keep my eye on you!
When I was a lad, the ball was oval! 🙂
Strewth BR, that was Herbert Chapman pre war era!!
RA,
You have my sympathy.
Raddy,
I am always unsure when I do the pitch gaphic as you usualy present it as 4:4:2, but I know you don’t expect that to be the formation. There is no point in putting Song as the HM any more, that is for sure. I think we generally line up as 4:5:1 morphing into a 4:3:3 when attacking. If you can give an idea of the formation you expect I can try to reflect that in the graphic.
Reserves are beating Wolves 2:1 after 80 mins. Ramsey played 45 as scheduled.
It doesn’t take Arsene long to re-write history. He is reported as having said the defense (CB’s) played well on Saturday. Kosser and Clichy? Really?
By next Saturday all parts of the team will have played well and we were unlucky.
Arsene, please don’t say it. That makes things far worse. Just wear the defeat and move on.
Reserves beat Wolves 2:1.
Our manager is quite the revisionist, RedA.
Rasp 2.46
No need, the team play with such an amorphous formation the 4-4-2 is as good as any!
BR,
For amorphous, please read amphibious. Well at the moment they all seem to be treading water! 🙂
Hi guys- thanks for the clarification on earlier questions Rasp/ RA- much obliged! With respect to the 12th man debate- the crowd did a good job for a change and were in full voice as far as I could tell (I was singing/ shouting the whole time!). I do agree that something needs to be done for the games that have a bit less history behind them but for me, the experience on Saturday showed that it’s not just the lack of support that’s leading to poor home form this season… sadly 😦
Thanks Carlito. You were there and I wasn’t. It is good to get first hand info and not the stuff I read on the net.
Carlito: These days I only get to watch the games on TV, albeit HD and surround sound, and frankly the main voices to be heard in the 2nd half were the crazed Spurs fans. My son remarked at how quiet 55000 Arsenal supporters were – which started a long discussion on how important the 12th man is and how their energy (or lack of) transfers to the players.
Frankly our home supporters are a disjointed, fragmented, disgrace and small pockets of support simply does fit the bill.
I can only imagine that you were in one of the small sectors of positive supporters. If your group were making a lot of noise it would be difficult to know what is happening elsewhere in the ground.
That may well be the case- I have to say the shandy had had an effect by the second half 😉 you’re right that the board definitely still need to look at the issue
An hour to kick off and I haven’t anything approaching pre match tension and judging by the action on the blogs neither has anyone else.
This is the Champions League !!
Something the Spuds fans went mental over achieving.
We are truly spoilt
Bon Soir,
I am ready. Bring it on. Lets just win.
I would like to see Theodore down the middle, but that means 4-4-2 with Bendy and I cannot see it happening.
Here’s my wishful thinking:
……Fab
Ebo JD Kos Gibbs
Ros Den JW Nas
…Bendy Theo
Evening all…..
I’ve hardly read a thing since THAT DAY, whenever it was. It was my older boys 10th birthday on Sunday, so that really helped my recovery.
Rocky – ” (anyone remember Gavin McGowan?)”. Yeah I do, he used to coach my son locally. He’s a bit of a pal of mine now.
Last I heard he was doing some junior leagues football scouting for West Ham.
Team:
Arsenal: Fabianski, Eboue, Squillaci, Djourou, Gibbs, Walcott, Denilson, Wilshere, Rosicky, Fabregas, Bendtner. Subs: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Nasri, Vela, Song, Chamakh.
Link: http://www.atdhe.net – it can be a little hit and miss. If its miss then grab one from ‘the other site’
Sharkey,
Try having TWO ten year old’s. Kind of takes your mind off everything!
Eboue and Fabregas to start. As will Theo NB TR JW
Thanks SS
Does Squillaci ever get a rest..???
Arsenal ought to employ Tony Adams for half time motivational speeches. What we used to call a right old bollocking!
They ought to employ him as CB and Captain
Something along the lines of: “Pull your fucking fingers out or you lot are coming into the showers with me after the game, and THIS bar of soap”.
I hear ya Mickey. Double the trouble !! I’ve also got a 7yr old girl and a 3 yr old boy in the house, so we might have to call it a draw 😉
No worries Mr Radders, respectfully*. Lol
* We started that about two full years ago over on the other site – of all places !!!
Impossible. 2 years????
I was but a pup
Ooo err, team news. Thanks Sharkey.
I like the look of that. So, no day off for Cesc. Good, looks like we are going to try and put this to bed.
Respectfully 😉
Is it on UK TV?
It’s not on here despite Nik starting.
And it is snowing like …. well I don’t know what like, but it is coming down deep and thick and even
Sharkey,
Hard earned away draw!!
COYRRR
I just love the footy season. The weather is so balmy & hot here 😎
Now go & qualify for the knockout stage Gooners 🙂
The world is still in love with The Arsenal. Its live on ESPN here.
Aren’t you still with onlinefootie BR?
GG,
We hate hot and balmy!
Right, off to get a cool, wet and yellow one. Back for KO.
MDI89
Hot & balmy is so much better than the cold & wet we had up untill last week 😛
Anyway, off to the tele, will be back soon.
Spent a hot hour and a half in the kitchen cooking up a CL feast and the bloody thing tasted terrible. Hope the match cheers me up!!
GG. You are up early
Cold and very wet here in Canada. We are lucky if it’s not on a Canadian feed then we can pick up a US feed.
Let’s see if young Nic can loosen up his lead feet.
Game on…………
Quite like the Braga strip!
Their supporters are making a continuous noise – put’s our home support to shame…
The ground capacity is 30000- sounds like 60,000 should sound.The ground is open at both ends; so not the ideal acoustical model but when you have so much noise it works.
27 minutes and we have not had a shot on goal- their goalie needs a rocking chair and a good book.
Wishere and Walcott seem to give the ball away at every chance they get.
Hows the defence doing? I see J and the squid as our best CB pairing this season so far- doesn’t look so good on paper but they seem to understand each other as a pairing at the back.
G5,
Part of the problem is that I have not seen either Ros or Bendy make one intelligent run into space.
Bendtners best moment was heading the ball out for a corner from our near post.
The defense has looked solid – no serious chances for either team.
🙂
Shakin,
Defence all looking good. Ros and Bendy utterly pointless from a goal threat point of view.
Chelsea goal down.
Fabregas looks lack luster, very poor 1st half he took 2 free kicks from inside 25 yards and both were powder puffs.
You’re right MD Rosicky is not finding the holes.
Overall a very ordinary 1st half.
I mean’t
😉
Dull. Our passing is too slow and not accurate enough and so we are not creating any chances.
JD the starman of the first half
Cham and Nasri on for Ros and Bendy I say. Or even Sagna on, push Eboue up and Theo down the middle.
I like Bendtner, but I often struggle to watch and support him. He really seems to lack that cut and thrust to be a top striker.
He’s a decent enough finisher of chances, I just fear that he doesn’t often really show that he knows how to create one. When he drops deep or wide he really takes an eternity to get back to the penalty spot. So having drawn a CB out of position, he then lets the CB jog back to his berth. He needs to show more desire and energy to keep getting to the ball first by using a higher tempo to keep himself in good starting positions. I too often see him on his heels as situations are developing.
I don’t knw what position Bendtner thinks he’s playing but it’s not CF. I hate the way he just trots forward when everyone else can see that the ball is about to be delivered into the box. JD has been excellent. Theo continues to demonstrate his complete lack of ability to get past players when he can’t use his speed.
In fairness, neither Cesc, JW or Theo have anything to aim the passes at. The running from Ros and Bendy is pathetic.
Having said all that about Nik, the whole team seems to lack movement tonight, bar Gibbs on the left side. We have shown practically zero penetration.
Respectfully agreed re JD Mr Radders, he’s been strength and composure personified. ‘Eh?? Maybe he’s a pair of twins !
Username malfunction again! Sorry fellas! Sounds like we’re back where we were 3 weeks ago eh? Lack of cohesion and attacking intent?
Chamakh and Vela warming up – but what we really need is somebody to get HOT.
gnarley: Yellow Tail Shiraz must have a very high evaporation rate – it’s only the 55th minute and a bottle has just emptied?
Imagine having paid to see this dross
Shakar Partizan leading 1-0 – puts us in 2nd place……..
Strange G5, Same thing happened with my bottle of Dolcetta D’Alba!
On the grappa now
Raddy: Imagine having to watch it????
G5 Evaporation rate 🙂
Oh Christ we almost gave them a goal – lucky they can’t shoot.
45 mins of Grappering!!!!Wow
Dreadful performance from Bendtner. But then they are all poor tonight.
I’m hard Micky. Though I won’t think so tomorrow morning
Fuck Fabregas has just done his hamstring and is coming off – 67 minutes.
Bendtner has been shockingly bad, slow, weak in the tackle, out of position and clueless. Now fabregas has done his hamstring. I said 3 weeks ago he needs to be rested. This is a chronic injury, he hasn’t been fit all season.
Nasri replacing Fabregas – well that gamble back fired.
This is not turning out to be a good night
Nik or Theo for Chamakh – makes no difference they have both been rubbish
Braga are geting all the free kicks – but frankly they are the better team – Wilshere just gave the ball away for the umpteenth time.
Raddy:
Chamakh for both Walcott and Bendtner would be appropriate.
EE and Denilson are one tackle away from a red card. I agree Walcott has been as useless as Bendtner.
Bendtner was absolute crap and needs to get his ego in check and realize that he is just a pedestrian football player.
Well at least Arsene has replaced our two weakest players – but 10 minutes too late.
Vela replacing the road runner – who couldn’t find the road..
Well done ref,clear penalty denied
Rasp it was 80 minutes too late!
That is one of the worst ref decisions I have ever seen. This ref is dreadful. Eboue & JD bookings were a joke but that was a clear penalty
Let’s see if we’ve learnt anything from Saturday. We need to demonstrate a sense of urgency and pummel their keeper with shots.
…. OK we’ve learnt nothing from saturday. We are a poor side that flatters to deceive.
82 minutes Braga 1 Arsenal 0.
crap crap crap crap crap
Now TR booked for doing nothing
Possesion 64% Arsenal 36 % Braga. Goals 100% Braga 0% Arsenal.
This a a farce,,,,,,,,,,
2-0 Braga???????????????
2 shots on goal = 2 goals.
Decisions went against us but we were total crap!!!!!!!
Game over = thank goodness.
One of the worst weeks ever to be a Gooner.
I am speechless.
OK We should have had a penalty and then closed the game but that was an awful performance
Cesc playing with a suspect strain. Where’s Robin van Glassankles, probably sunning himself on some tropical island. What a great team man he is 👿 NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yuk
Yea Micky yuk is close to how I feel F……………K
At least the wine has had the desired effect.
Nite all. That was awful. Zero goal threat.
I’ve got no cats to throw out of the window, no dogs to kick- they all ran away.
The wife’s gone shopping and I’ve got no wine left.
Just one thing left to do – go and buy some more wine and slowly drift into oblivion.
Oops; just remembered I’m cooking rack of lamb tonight – with the sort of week we’re having I’ll probably miss the barbecue and drop it on the deck.
Bye for now – here’s to oblivion.
That game was absolutely crying out for a half time sub. Did anyone really expect any better from the same 11 in the 2nd half..??
I’m absolutely astonished that a hungry young forward like JET is completely and repeatedly overlooked for this sort of game.
Whilst I accept that rotation is necessary, I also know that resting some, can deflate a few others. Therefore you should be looking to your hungry young players who you know are at least guaranteed to show you a bit of desire and energy.
Fair do’s Vela should have won a pen…but what else did he give us..?? I never expect anything from him anymore, unless the games already won, and tonight he didn’t let me down, if you know what I mean.
JET for Vela is a no-brainer. Vela simply has to go on loan in January, he simply has to.
Wellington arrives in Jan, is it the same for Galindo..??
Too depressed to comment.
agree – its time JET got a run. The referee was totally woeful for this game.
Some added stuff about Cesc – a sense of getting on his back seems to be coming through but ESPN guys were going on about him not being 100% fit due to the hammy for some time and then we saw him go off… the critiscm levelled at him seemed to imply that his mind was elswhere / not happy etc etc, but appears he has been playing with an injury?
Maybe this gives Nasri the chance to play in the hole through the center – best player this year.
Walcott didnt look flash but probably needs some more match time. Gibbs looked solid I thought.
What exactly happened when Eboue went off injured – were we having to play with 10 at that stage? the arsenal pretenders should have had more yellow cards as well as us getting a penalty – hope you are enjoying your payoff ref..
Oh well will have to pick ourselves up and look forward to the next game.
I like Scott Parker as a player – he is in the Wilshire mold. He should be getting more England caps IMO, and could be good for the gunners, could be a good mid season signing?
We really need to start shooting outside/on the edge of the box, to easy for teams to sit back and wait for the pass that is going to come into the area.. If we start belting it at them from longer range then it will force opposition to come out and close those shots down
Go & have another drink sir alex 😆
Who let the old plonko on here anyway 😛
By the way, I won’t be about much once the cricket starts tomorrow.
And just a word for those on here who will be taking an interest in the most enjoyable/meaningful form of the game, The Ashes.
England are being referred to as The Invisibles here coz they are hiding under some shroud of secrecy like MI6 or something. They’ve played the 2 worst states in WA & SA (Tas is Top of The League), & a bunch of try hards called Australia A. Albiet, they have done all they can do to impress, but tomorrow, as will be the case with the other 4 Tests, & as it was in Blighty last year, the toss will decide it.
Tasmania will have 3 starters, including a debutant Xavier Doherty.
Be warned, We won’t lay down, its not in our DNA.
Bye for now, GG9
GG,
Some of us need a lie down. Its a DNA thing!
Micky has moved to DEFCON 3 in the nned-a-striker stakes. Any superstar strikers going out at first stage of CL, who might fancy a january sales trip to London?
How do I feel this morning…. apart from hungover?
Depressed.
Not to take away from dreadful performance but the referee had a nightmare. Undoubtedly bribed, some of his decisions were bewildering. Of the 5 yellows we got, I cannot remember a single dirty tackle, yet Braga who only got 2 yellows were fouling throughout the game, the tackle of Eboue was IMO a straight red, being a scissor tackle from the side.
BR,
A Grappa head. Sadly, I remember those!!
I wouldn’t mind blaming the ref, but I won’t. For me, it is down to a blunt attack. New edge required.
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