[abhish1]

Originally Posted by numerouno3987

Quite True....

also i thnk Arsenal are reliant on a couple of players and dont have adequate back-ups for them in case they get injured or exp. a dip in form.... like vermalean, fabregas, van persie(though must say was thoroughly impressed wid d young goalies they put out whn alumnia was injured)

Also it would be interesting to see how would Wenger re-shuffle his mid-field whn song goes for d african nations....



TRUE BLUE-CHELSEA for life

Backups:

Vermaelen: Silvestre, Senderos (has exp of 10 straight clean sheets in UCL)
Fabregas: Denilson (Remember the early part of the season when Fab was out injured?)
Van Persie: Eduardo, Vela, Walcott, Bendtner (25 goals for Arsenal already)

ACN is not a problem as we now don't have Toure and Adebayor.

My point:
It's different this season. The previous couple of judgements by non Arsenal fans are based on mostly 2007 season, where we lost it in Jan. This time we have a slightly deeper squad (Remember Wilshere, Gibbs and Merida's performances in pre-season and Carling Cup?) and this season instead of getting injured now we had injuries starting from pre-season so players have started coming back (Rosicky, Nasri, Eduardo).

We have a tremendous form (10 wins and 2 draws in last 12 matches). We have scored 32 goals already in EPL and 51 in all competitions!

Yes it is true that for any silverware bid we have to continue this form, but it is possible this season with players playing with more confidence and a slightly deeper and much better squad.

Last season in spite of a poor early start, Midfield crisis due to so many injuries, Arshavin not available for UCL we managed to get to the semi finals of two big cups and managed to remain unbeaten for 25 straight matches in the EPL. So don't discount Arsenal just as yet. Just like I am not discounting Liverpool out of UCL even now.

[ashish13dec]

Originally Posted by numerouno3987

Quite True....

also i thnk Arsenal are reliant on a couple of players and dont have adequate back-ups for them in case they get injured or exp. a dip in form.... like vermalean, fabregas, van persie(though must say was thoroughly impressed wid d young goalies they put out whn alumnia was injured)

Also it would be interesting to see how would Wenger re-shuffle his mid-field whn song goes for d african nations....
TRUE BLUE-CHELSEA for life

Well bro,it will be more interesting to see how Ancelloti manages his team without the likes of Drogba,Kalou,Obi Mikel,Essien especially without any holding midfielder during ACN.And I think Wenger will definitely go for backup of Song in coming January transfer window which will be relatively lesser inflated.

[numerouno3987]

Originally Posted by ashish13dec

Well bro,it will be more interesting to see how Ancelloti manages his team without the likes of Drogba,Kalou,Obi Mikel,Essien especially without any holding midfielder during ACN.And I think Wenger will definitely go for backup of Song in coming January transfer window which will be relatively lesser inflated.

tht wld be a big prob even chelsea fans acknowledge tht...but you tend to forget tht ballack can be used in a holding mid role specially the restraint he showng in going fwd...also there is a slght chance tht the transfer ban is suspended as chelsea have already appealed for it so its gnna b a busy winter transfer for us...

[numerouno3987]

heres an indication tht its gnna b a busy winter for us:
chelsea-goal.com

[ashish13dec]

Originally Posted by numerouno3987

tht wld be a big prob even chelsea fans acknowledge tht...but you tend to forget tht ballack can be used in a holding mid role specially the restraint he showng in going fwd...also there is a slght chance tht the transfer ban is suspended as chelsea have already appealed for it so its gnna b a busy winter transfer for us...

I know that most probably the transfer ban will be lifted for the winter transfer or it may be reduced to one transfer season in the same way as it happened with Roma.As far as busy transfer season for Chelsea is concerned do you think that chelsea needs more strikers when they have Anelka,Drogba,Kalou as front man and Joe Cole,Deco,Malouda,Lampard who can play in hole.Still your manager is going after Aguero,Pato.Secondly Ballack is a Central Midfielder.He plays as CAM for Germany.I don't think he is fit for CDM as he is not that good at men marking.
And if you purchase a Holding midfielder only for 2 months,what will be his future after 2 months?Because I think Essien is the best CDM in the Europe right now.So he can't be replaced and 3 players for 1 position is simply waste of talent.

[vinz007]

wow ! chelsea - man utd match to be screened live at the pc saxena audi here @ iit - b

[first_timer]

Originally Posted by ashish13dec

Well bro,it will be more interesting to see how Ancelloti manages his team without the likes of Drogba,Kalou,Obi Mikel,Essien especially without any holding midfielder during ACN.And I think Wenger will definitely go for backup of Song in coming January transfer window which will be relatively lesser inflated.

Originally Posted by numerouno3987

tht wld be a big prob even chelsea fans acknowledge tht...but you tend to forget tht ballack can be used in a holding mid role specially the restraint he showng in going fwd...also there is a slght chance tht the transfer ban is suspended as chelsea have already appealed for it so its gnna b a busy winter transfer for us...

chelsea doesn't have a particularly difficult schedule during the ACN....we have sunderland, bolton and two more relatively easier matches in BPL, no UCL clash....and 2 FA cup matches. The tricky part should be the FA matches, but BPL shouldn't be that much a problem....

[vinz007]

Real Madrid's riches go waste again .. they lose to lowly Alcorcón in the Copa del rey