Written by Mean Lean on Thursday, 02 December 2010 14:14

What a topsy turvy Premier League season so far. It felt like only yesterday when the world was about to cave in, we had lost to that horrible lot down the road and a mixed team lost in Braga after dominating the whole game, a brush to one side of Villa at Villa park and then grabbing a semi final spot against Ipswich in the Mickey mouse cup as well as Robin Van Persie showing what a talent he is and things do not seem as glum as they seemed.

I remember back in my school days, I sat in my geography class, writing out formations and line ups. I don't know what was going to change on a daily basis but nevertheless I continued to scribble

Seaman
Dixon Linighan  Adams Winterburn
Limpar Davis Jenson Merson
Smith Wright

Being young and know it all like, I thought I knew more than Mr Graham and I would often put in the likes of Mark Flatts into the team, waving my fists around in disgust that our wing wizard wasn't in the first team from the reserves. I didn't have the internet to express myself in those days, which I guess was a good thing.

Not much as changed in 2010 though, I am still writing up teams and formations albeit via photoshop and not at the back of work books but I guess I will never change. Since rewatching the victory against Wigan, I have been feeling rather excited about the return of Van Persie and wondered how Wenger will accommodate him along with Chamakh in Cesc's absence. So how about this for a line up of attacking beauty?



Perhaps a bit light defensively if Van Persie does not go as far back as Cesc would when we are not in possession of the ball, especially when we have Arshavin playing in the side, although Arshavin against Villa was the new destroyer, well so his stats suggested.

Anyway, we shall see what happens against Fulham over the weekend I guess but I wouldn't be surprised to see Robin and Chamakh start their first game together in some form.

In other news Denilson has spoken about our squad being stronger this season and that we have the capability to win trophies. Well Deni, I could have told everyone that, not that everyone will believe in that view of course. The Carling cup would be a fantastic way to shake the Bale off our backs and then use the momentum of that to push for the Premier League and Champions League.

After a few bad results I am hoping that the team are starting to gel together at the right time. Van Persie looks good after his injury, Theo, Gibbs, Bendtner, Vela and co have had a run out and hopefully can find form with games. Arshavin showed us what he can do against Villa (long may that continue) and Nasri is in the form of his life. If we can avoid making silly defensive errors then why should we not be positive in our assault for honours. Perhaps we can win without assaulting people along the way but hey.

We have the best squad in the league (apart from Spurs it seems. not sure why this keeps being peddled by the media) and our direct rivals have not impressed when going further than their first eleven players. Watching the highlights of Manchester United vs West Ham it got me thinking about the differences and quality.

I take my hat off to the Mancs, who have not really played well this season yet they are top of the league, if they stay fit and gain top form then they will be difficult to shift but that team they put out was awful. Imagine we had bloody Bebe in our squad, getting games. Wenger would be absolutely crucified for buying him for £7 million, especially when someone like Van der Vaart would have done the world of good for them at almost the same price.

For those who were screaming for Wenger to be sacked last week, I would genuinely like to know your thoughts on the quality of our rivals when they have lost badly. Like the Mancs on Tuesday and Chelsea losing 3-0 to Sunderland at home. Is this just a blip or do they have major problems?

Not that we do not have our own faults but when I mention the opposition then I usually do not get much of a response back for some reason.

And with that I shall leave you all for now, Wrap up warm.

Back tomorrow.

• Add New
• RSS

Comments (17)

• 02-Dec-2010 14:44 | | keter
  

  Let AW try this and trust we will be winning easily over the weekend.

• 02-Dec-2010 15:04 | | Nik
  

  _________Fabianski
  Sagna___Squi___Kos___Cli
  ___________Song
  _____WIlshere______Nasri
  Walcott________________Arshavin
  ___________Chamakh

• 02-Dec-2010 15:07 | | Anonymous
  

  

• 02-Dec-2010 15:18 | | Steven
  

  I love your article but I feel we should not start RvP just yet. We are going into a busy period over the yuletide and we should ease RvP and Bendtner back gradually. Bendy has been awful and means he needs the same 'cures' for his sloppiness as we applied last season by bringing him in as a sub until he is sharp enough. The same applies to RvP and Walcott.
  
  Then again, from your formation, I think that are a bit 'light' on the left side made of Clichy, Jack and Arshavin.The only way to balance that would be to have AW demand a higher work rate from Arshavin or bring Rosicky in to close out a game. We seriously need to have Denilson and Diaby ready especially against 'get-stuck-in' EPL sides. Many unusual misplaced passes by JW against Wigan and one wonders whether he is exhausted and needs some rest?
  
  As regards the strength of our rivals, I think it is all down to 4 factors: Wenger's Tactical Approach against these top teams has always let us down; Wenger doesn't seem to mind losing to his title rivals while it means a lot to the others. This needs to change; need for mental toughness and resilience from the players to know 'deep down' that they can beat Man Utd, Chelsea,Citeh and Spurs in a match and to the title, and the willingness to 'work it out' on the pitch; never underrating any team be they top, middle or bottom table.
  
  Clear these up and will be flying come April/May.

• 02-Dec-2010 15:31 | | Steven
  

  Keter, I agree largely with your formation but ML seeks to know if we can play Chamakh(our most inform striker with high work rate) and RvP(our most talented striker together). I like your positioning of Nasri and Wilshire but we set up to play with the right-sided midfielder plays higher up the pitch and like Cesc does while the left sided one plays deeper and sorts of 'pairs' and exchanges roles with the DM(Song or Denilson) when they drive forward. My belief is that we'll be such an unbeatable team when our forward/skillful players drop back to defend more seriously.Well done.

• 02-Dec-2010 15:41 | | Tom
  

  Mean,
  
  Man Utd and Chelsea have won 5 league titles, 3 FA Cups, 4 Carling Cups and a Champions League between them in the last 5 years.
  
  By comparison, we have won nothing.
  
  When the same mistakes are being made over and over and over again, this suggests that you have significant problems. When those problems aren't rectified despite having the capabilities to do so, people tend to get annoyed.
  
  When you lose a couple of games the season after you've won the double, its a 'blip'. Similarly, if you've recently won a hat trick of league titles, people tend overlook the fact the you've spent £7million on Bebe (at least for a short while).
  
  I don't want Wenger to get sacked. Far from it. But some of the anger is understandable and shouldn't be dismissed.

• 02-Dec-2010 15:41 | | Anonymous
  

  SAME AS LAST WEEK AGAINST VILLA !

• 02-Dec-2010 15:45 | | MeanLean
  

  Steven you make a good point about Denilson and Diaby needed against the stronger sides, I think I was in Ossie Ardiles mode, cramming as many of our gifted players in the same team, however I do feel that we could play that team in some home games and more than get away with it.
  
  As for Robin, I think he is sharp enough. Well he looked it on Tuesday but I don't know about his fitness right now. I think Wenger hinted that he may not be ready for the rigors of the Prem right now, although that could be a smokescreen.
  
  As for us facing our rivals, I have a good feeling about our upcoming games with the Mancs and especially Chelsea. This is as long as we do not suffer a blip before hand.

• 02-Dec-2010 15:54 | | MeanLean
  

  But every season is different Tom,
  
  Yes we have gone x years without a trophy but Chelsea are not the same this year as they were last season. The Mancs are a shadow of themselves when they had Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney on form.
  
  I understand disappointment from fans, I like everyone was frothing mad after the Spurs defeat but then we get the whole we are miles behind Man U and Chelsea and need to bring Keown in as defensive coach etc etc
  
  Then when Man U lose 4-0 to West Ham and Chelsea lose at home to Sunderland and it is almost brushed under the carpet.
  
  We can go back and say we haven't won in x but how is that relevant to last season when had different personnel and goes for our rivals

• 02-Dec-2010 16:19 | | Indian Gunner
  

  Last week against Villa,Arshavin really excelled when the defensive burden was taken out of his shoulder....Rosicky and arshavin had swapped postion and arsha was playing behind the striker....Do u see messi and ronaldo defending for their sides???We should let arshavin stand in opposition box and then he can really use his pace.....

• 02-Dec-2010 16:39 | | raj
  

  Just following on from this we haven' t won anything for 5 years .. i doubt manu or chelsea would have done much if the manager was told ..we really have to balance the books in the coming years because of the cost of a stadium..But this as said is a new season and i believe if we are in the new year within 3 points of the top then i think we'll have a great chance

• 02-Dec-2010 19:52 | | dona117  - likely formation
  

  .........................................fanb...................
  
  Sagna..............sqilll..........kocs..........gibbs
  
  nasri......................songitto......................wills
  
  vanpeppe.............................................................. .asa
  
  cham

• 02-Dec-2010 19:54 | | dona117  - likely formation
  

  .........................................fanb...................
  
  Sagna..............sqilll..........kocs..........gibbs
  
  nasri......................songitto......................wills
  
  vanpeppe.............................................................. .asa
  
  cham

• 03-Dec-2010 00:23 | | richie
  

  Messi? Defend? Hell Yes!!! His work rate is amazing watch him & learn
  I've no idea what the X Manx Ronaldo does on any level???

• 03-Dec-2010 00:56 | | richie
  

  Just a little footnote we played our last league match at Highbury against Wigan on 7th May 06 because we had built another little gaff just down the road, Remember? That little gaff cost us £480 million, not only that but unfortunately or unluckily the stadium was finished just in time for the recession.
  
  Now we all know that the Manx owe more than that, and might go up in the air at any time because they live on money the don't have. We also know all about Chelski's Abromo's money. It's no coincidence that at the moment we had the stadium debt we didn't spend big money on established stars, we went the other route signed loads of kids and ballanced our books. Not only that, but we as a club refused to take money from rich benefactors, unlike the others. A very noble stance me thinks.

• 03-Dec-2010 01:07 | | richie  - I like your formation mine's same-ish but tweeked
  

  ..................................................Fabski.............. ............................................................
  Sagna...................Squilla............................Djourou.... .............................Gibbs......
  ..................................................Song................ ...........................................................
  ...............Nasr................................Wilts.............. ................Shava.............................
  .................................RvP.................................. ...................................................................... ..................................................................Cham akh............................................

• 03-Dec-2010 01:10 | | richie  - How did that happen?
  

  Fabski
  Sagna Squilla Djourou Gibbs
  Song
  Nasri Wilts Shava
  RvP
  Chamakh

Write comment

Your Details:

Name:

Comment:

Title:

Message:

Powered by Compojoom comment 4.1.7 stable