A Remembrance Day I'm Forgetting

The real reason he wasn't in the starting XI or why Tevez fled to Argentina. You decide.


So, I’m thinking Sundays aren’t really working for us. No need to pick that match apart, as it was pretty poor from start to finish. The shining star however was Cech. That man did not deserve to be on the wrong end of a 0-3 scoreline. He came up with some magnificent saves and has really been outstanding this season. And well, that’s just about it. To be fair, Mikel also had a great game and managed to distribute the ball well. But with no real midfield around him, it was an uphill battle that he was never going to win. The defence was clearly thrown together at the last minute with injuries to JT and Alex leaving poor Paolo to partner Branislav. And with all that going on at the back, no one to really service the forwards. Cech did his best to get the job up front, but that says it all doesn’t it. When Big Pete doesn’t trust Ramires or Zhirkov to move the play forward and opts to do it himself.

As a reminder, in honour of the whole remembrance of Remembrance Day, this would have been big Pete’s 10^th consecutive clean sheet at home, for a total of 150 in the league. He is still top for saves to shots percentages, but that’s a little worrying that he’s facing that many. Any guesses who’s just behind Pete?? ……Fabianski. ßnot a wind up.
 So our cushion which has seen its ups and downs the past couple of weeks has been again cut to a lead of just 2 points which means that if Arsenal manage a win in this weekend’s North London Derby, they would temporarily (we would hope) go top. However, that’s a big if. They just squeaked by the Toffees while Gareth Bale systematically took apart Blackburn, with no secret punches in sight. Its doubtful that Arsenal’s defence can do much about him, Blackburn had 2 and sometimes 3 men on him at all times and he still managed 2 goals and an assist. They are going to have to rely on their tippy tappy to keep the ball away from him.

 All is not lost though, again, both Manchesters and Liverpool managed to drop points once again not making much progress on us, but if we don’t get our act in the middle together soon, one of those Mancs might decide they fancy a win rather than a draw causing us a whole world of trouble.

This weekend we’ll be taking on Birmingham away. They manage to hold team after team there, and have battled back from 2-0 deficits a couple of times to push for the draw. We’re going to need some magic to break through the barrier. Game kicks off at 10.00am Canadiana time. If you’re feeling it and hopefully see two teams self destruct, get there for 7.45am.

Thoughts for Saturday’s starting XI with Lampard still injured, Essien suspended, Yossi gone for the season and question marks about Alex, JT, Ashley and Anelka? I may throw Malouda in there as a question mark. Surely his ankle was bothering him for the substitution to have been made.

 Thing to keep in mind if you’re pulling a sad:

1. We’re still top.
2. We did lose, but with 4 starters missing and 1 forward playing while recovering from Malaria AND we had an infant on the bench. I’m pretty sure we’ve got Georgie Terry slotted to play in the next game.
3. It’s only November, there’s loads of football to be played and players will be returning sooner than later. Except Frank Lampard who’s decided he hates how he looks in shorts.
4. Sulky Frenchmen are infinitely greater than sulky vampires.
5. Most of the team can’t pick up injuries in the international friendlies this week as they are recovering from injury. So no chance of being De Jong’d or I guess for the English, De Evra’d.
6. We’ve got Petr Cech.
7. Our goal differential makes other teams feel bad about themselves.
8. Drogba makes other players feel bad about themselves. Tevez had to return to Argentina due to rich and famous syndrome. Drogba got malaria and just kept making defenders look silly.
9. We clearly did Remembrance Day the best in honouring the men and women who served / are serving.
10. Oh…and ya, we’re still top. Win or lose, Up the Blues.

 Happy Monday, and see you at Scallywag’s this Saturday!

 KTBFFH

 jenny xx

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