strider6004

I think it's too early for us to be playing them, we're going to struggle defensively. Hoping for the best though, maybe given Arsenal's reliance on set pieces and mistakes that an "just outscore them" approach will work.

Would have with a half fit Caicedo as well.
Arsenal have a lot of depth too their bench.

I met them in the early 80s. Pre-fame. I was working for a production company, they came in to record a (for the time) video. Forget the song. They were quiet, very shy, virtually children.

The Travelling Wilburys - This one with Roy Orbison and the others, Lynne, Dylan, Petty and Harrison.

Nothing to lose here. Worst it can happen is that they go on 9 points while we stay on 6 points after Round 3. That means nothing, it's early September only.
Before we talk of James and Lavia potentially not being fit at some point, we are in a moment in which reality beats any assumptions. They are fit, ready to go and we have a fully functioning midfield for this match. Hopefully Caicedo is fine as well.
A win for us would also take us on 9 points which means nothing so early in the season. But would do wonders for our confidence. Arsenal know they will go for the league title. For us it is still more like paper talk than actual feeling among the players and fans. But a win at the Emirates could be the catalyst of greater things from a mental point of view.

But with the thick English accents only other English can understand (I certainly cannot understand what they sing in the stands 95% of the time), he will not even notice it.

The Travelling Wilburys - This one with Roy Orbison and the others, Lynne, Dylan, Petty and Harrison.

Hope he recovers, what a blow for him

I always find it a sad watch.

The Travelling Wilburys - This one with Roy Orbison and the others, Lynne, Dylan, Petty and Harrison.

Just two left in the "bomb" squad now then. Slonina and Paez !
I'm sure they'll find a loan for Paez at some Turkish club, or maybe today/tomorrow in sunny Scotland 😎
Slonina is a weird one. Very surprised he didn't leave as his career is going nowhere with us ...
Expect Celtic to finalise the loans for Mheuka and Emenalo as well before the Scottish window closes at 5pm tomorrow.

I make it we are at 29 players for the first team squad (including the 3 academy teenagers that Xabi gave shirt numbers to).
3 GK: Martinez, Penders, Sharman-Lowe
11 DEF: Palestra, Fofana. Lacroix, Colwill, Hato, James, Gusto, Chavarria, Anselmino, Acheampong, Subuloye
6 MID: Barco, Henderson, Caicedo, Watson, Nicoll-Jazuli, Lavia
9 FWD: Neto, Joao Pedro, Palmer, Gittens, Rogers, Welbeck, Emegha, Quenda, Estevao

Looks OK to me for a season without European football !

I've always thought that City fans have more of a rivalry towards us than we have to them.
As a millennial, PL-era, Australian fan:

3 - Arsenal - grew up watching us get turned over by them. Bridge's CL semi goal was a truly transformative moment.
2 - Liverpool - unfortunately the most supported club in Australia by some distance. Their success in the 1980s was widely covered here due to Craig Johnstone's involvement, then Kewell in the 00s coincided with another wave of relative success. Can't go anywhere in Sydney without seeing some Scousetralian full-kit w**ker..
1 - Spurs - Inexplicably massive support in Australia. Virtually every second English ex-pat here supports Tottenham; I suppose that's why you kicked them out. When Postecoglou took over the situation was nauseating, couldn't go anywhere without some screen showing his fat mug or their disgusting jersey.
But the main problem is their fans and their club are unceasingly arrogant, despite the club's trophy cabinet being emptier than @PloKoon13 Little Black Book of late. Spurs hold themselves in a category that has nothing to do with their achievements on the pitch, entirely underwritten by commercially-derived money. They are no different to Chelsea or City for that matter, other than we have trophies to show for it.

Ken Bates RIP

He was certainly divisive and could be absolutely out of order on occasions. He actually replied in person to a letter I wrote to him and responded to every point I made in his own bullish style! I've still got it somewhere, I'll post it if I can find it.
Another thing.. despite all the excuses you here these days about the almost insurmountable difficulties in redeveloping the stadium, he got 3 sides ( West, North and Shed) all rebuilt without us having to leave, using temporary seating at times...

Some people will dispute that view, but as a match going fan who lived through those times, I know they are wrong.
No Batesy, no Chelsea. If he had done what he did for us at any other football club, they would have a statue of him at the entrance to the ground.
For me the greatest Chelsea Legend RIP Ken

It's from a tribute video and album called A Black and White Night. Roy Orbison had a resurgence in the late 80s with the Travelling Wilburys (Dylan, Petty, Harrison and Lynne), a couple of hits including I Drove All Night, and this video with Springsteen and others. Sadly, he died not long afterwards.

It's from 1987, guests (Springsteen, etc) aside, the band was Elvis' last backing band.

Another crooner from 66 note the supporting singer guitarists not your usual bunch.

Another crooner from 66 note the supporting singer guitarists not your usual bunch.

Next week against Arsenal will be fun but I just don't see how we win. Our attack can cause problems but their defence will make it difficult.
They outnumber us in midfield with power and dynamism.
Our system enables us to have half a dozen defensive units but they don't feel cohesive which leads us to getting opened up. Hope Xabi has a masterplan.

He is too. Doesn't look it for some reason. The finger injury - broken in May, decided against recommended surgery in order not to miss the WC - remains a possible issue. Juventus didn't fancy the risk.

I am mixed. Would take almost ANYONE over Sanchez, but do feel Martinez's best days are behind him and have never been overkeen on some of his behaviour.
There are a number of keepers we could have looked at as soon as last season was finished, who I would take before Martinez.
Trafford (too late Leeds got him)
Henderson (can't see Palace selling yet another player)
Pickford (another one whose best days might be behind him but would still take him)
Costa (haven't seen huge amounts of him but he's well rated)
But if we can't get any of those, and we feel Penders is still too raw, I guess Martinez for a season or so, has to be better than sticking with Sanchez.

Martinez is short by modern gk standards and he does the odd stupid thing and at Chelsea that must be a no,no he will be a red card as the PTB in football still don't like us.
He is not a big enough jump in standards than Sanchez for me.
Perhaps he is good in the dressing room at motivation, not sure.

This seems too similar to when Cech when to Le Arse. We aren’t getting the Martinez we all picture we’re getting the regressing version.