A disappointing night last night in the Champions League when, despite dominating the game, we could do no better than a 0-0 draw against Fenerbache.
However, I am looking at the positives this morning. Firstly, we didn’t lose. Secondly, we kept a clean sheet. Thirdly, Aaron Ramsey looked the part. And fourthly, erm, Cesc’s hair really is nice!
The Turks were obviously not going to allow us to lash them out of it like we did at their place and, even though they are crap, were defensively more solid and certainly more cynical. All the same we had some good chances in the first half. Cesc played a lovely ball through to Robin van Persie who had to take it first time and with the keeper advancing, it went just wide.
RVP had another shot blocked when Cesc’s miscontrol was parried away by Volkan and the keeper made a brilliant save to turn another of the Dutchman’s shot onto the bar. Robin had the best chance of the second half too when provided with pretty much a free header but he couldn’t keep it down. He was also cynically hacked down on the edge of the box when turning past the defender to go one on one with the keeper. Kolo’s free kick was subsequently saved by Volkan.
Robin’s finishing was poor last night but he was busy, involved and creative, unlike his strike partner Bendtner who had a night to forget. He couldn’t control a thing, the ball bouncing off him like he was a brick wall, and it doesn’t really augur well when you consider he’s likely to be our only real striking option for United on Saturday.
We huffed and puffed a bit but couldn’t find a way through in the end. A decent point for the Turks but not the result we were looking for. The confidence boosting win ahead of United did not come about and overall we were poor again. The team is in a bit of a funk with the manager suggesting it was tiredness that was to blame. Someone get these boys some pep pills. Truckers Friends.
Trying to stay positive though I though Ramsey really looked the part. Good on the ball and although right midfield isn’t his position he looked to get involved throughout. Djourou added a bit of height and aggression at the centre of defence. He went for the high balls, put in a couple of good, solid tackles and would certainly be in my thoughts to start against United if I were the manager.
There was no sign of Manuel Almunia, the manager saying he was sick before kick off. The more cynical amongst you might wish to make your own comments or judgements on that but I don’t think he would drop him even though the last couple of games haven’t been great. Wenger knows, more than anyone I suppose, Almunia is a keeper that thrives on confidence and dropping him would do nothing but shatter it completely. He’s been solid for most of the season, let’s not forget.
It was Cesc, struggling with his own form it has to be said, who faced the media afterwards and he acknowleged the difficulties the team are going through. At the same time though he urged fans for their backing to help the team get over it and get up and running again, saying:
We have to try and do the best we can with what we’ve got and I think we have enough quality to do it. We need the fans behind us when things don’t go well and I know it’s frustrating when the team doesn’t get the result they want.
We have to keep going and see what happens in the next game against Man United. It’s a massive game. It’s welcome because good players want to play big games and we are good players.
It’s good to hear Cesc talk about knowing how frustrated the fans feel and also good that he’s asking for help. There were some boos at the end of the game last night. I thought that was harsh. We didn’t lose. We’re a team obviously in difficulty and we kept a clean sheet and got a point. Had we lost by a couple you can understand why some people might choose to express their dissatisfaction but I’d worry that booing players after a draw, albeit a disappointing one, is not going to help things much.
On Saturday we play Manchester United and I think whatever negativity people feel towards our team at the moment should be channeled in their direction. The lads are going to need the fans support on Saturday so instead of getting on their backs focus that ire and that frustration at United. Remember how cunty they are.
Seriously, if our team were a little old lady taking a short cut through an alley back to her freezing cold home, the one she can’t afford to heat because of rising fuel costs and because she has to exist only on her measly pension, then Manchester United would be the hoodied thug who would beat the old lady, rob the €8.53 she has in her tiny little purse as well as the bag of so-called mince she gets from the butcher which is mostly snouts and entrails because she has to try and feed herself for a week on €2.50. As we lay on the floor they would go off laughing before coming back, looking at us, and kicking us right in the face causing two huge black eyes and the assault would result in some kind of cancer developing in us and we would die within months, too cold, alone and afraid to go to the doctors.
That’s what they are. They want to kick us when we’re down. Think of us, fans, as the passers-by who see the hoodied thug as he first strikes and take it upon ourselves to teach him a lesson. Fuck the Jedi shit, embrace the dark side, let your hatred take over and remember that we have to get behind the team because they really need us at the moment.
So, rather confusing analogies over for the day, I promise. But you see where I’m coming from. When the player we love the most is calling for the fans to help the team then we have to sit up and listen. Like a basset hound hearing the rustle of a bar of chocolate opening from miles away.
The Champions League group is still quite open. We’re top with 8 points, then it’s Porto on 6 points, Kievn on 5 and Fenerbache on 2. Our next game is against Kiev, also at home, so there’s a good chance to get the points we need to qualify for the knock-out stages.
The focus now though is all on United this Saturday morning. That can wait, in blog terms at least, for tomorrow and Saturday itself. Till then, Arsebandits.
