Penalties, Butterflies, and Snoods -- No Headbutts Edition

Carletto disapproves of JT's willingness to share his methods of smashing it -- those are club secrets.


Who really wants to discuss the FA Cup? I didn’t think so. Let’s just take with us that we’ve reached the final sixteen of this (obviously not including this year), twelve consecutive times. Not bad for a team that from what I hear, only formed in 2003. So this wasn’t our year. It could turn out to be a blessing in disguise with what feels like fixture congestion throughout the remainder of this season. That being said, to the EoD (or whomever is in charge of us), there will be no more allowing one Nicolas Anelka to participate in a penalty shoot out of any kind. Ever. He proved to us two and a half seasons ago that he wasn’t up to the task, and gave us all a hefty reminder on Saturday.

Its obviously not all hate for Le Sulk, I’ve got nothing but butterflies (or les papillons) for the big man in Europe except in penalties. He was brilliant throughout the group stages, and has in fact flourished there more so than any league match this year. It would have been our loss if he’d left in our bid for Fernando if we hope to finally lock this sucker down. Either way, goals aside, he looked fantastic and seems to be developing a nice little partnership with our Spaniard. Torres did make some fantastic runs and despite a bit of a dodgy finishing touch, you know that goal is coming, it’s really a matter of when and not if at this point. Personally, I’d like to see a brace next Tuesday.

Copenhagen have never lost a Champions League match at home drawing Barcelona and previously beating Celtic and Manchester United. They now officially hold a special place in my heart. We did have the advantage of them not playing a competitive match since Christmas, and will not be so lucky in three weeks time as they’ll have started their season and have a couple more games under their belt. So do tell, was this the better match for you yesterday, or seeing Blackpool beat Sp*rs? You’ve got to love Ian Holloway for maintaining his attacking football, and now managing to shore it up at the back (well until they play us of course). He even sarcastically referred to our neighbours as one of the ‘unbelievable’ teams. Brilliant.

I hope you all enjoyed the weekday football as its not stopping here. We’ll not be seeing the inside of a football ground on a weekend now for a month. So for those of you in the wrong time zone, get those excuses and sick notes ready. Next up – United. Now, if they play twice as well as they did this weekend against non-league Crawley, they’ll make Copenhagen last night look like it was challenging. They were ridiculously bad, possibly by playing with 9 men + Obertan + Bebe. I’m hoping for a similar lineup from them. But the majority of their OAPs are being rested due to ‘injury’ against Marseille tonight, which means they’ll probably miraculously return for the game on the 1^st. As we’re currently sitting fifth in the league *give me a moment to weep a little over that—ok, done* I appreciate the respect from Lord Ferg that he’ll be breaking out the ben gay and pre-match fibre for his stars. *stars are like a billion years old, right?

But the question remains, what will the EoD do? Will he keep a similar lineup and shape as he did last night? Luiz will most definitely return, pushing the birthday boy out to the right and Bos back to the bench. But the main question is really up front. Sure, Didi was rested after playing 2 hours on Saturday, but with only 20 minutes tonight, and a full week of rest for everyone, which two will he play, or will he go back to starting all three strikers safe in the knowledge that we’re tight at the back.

There is a serious matter that I’ve not brought up yet, but its something for us all to think about, and maybe hang our heads in shame a little bit. First, I do give full credit to the Bison starting to rediscover what we all loved about him. He did well last night, and in recent weeks, he has looked a little lost. So, I will cling to that when *big sigh* I bring up the epidemic that he has finally plagued our club with. Yes, that’s right, I’m talking about his snood. For much of this season I have pompously sat back laughing at all the other clubs with their snood wankers. That’s right Arsenal, I’ve laughed most of all at you. I gleefully sung along with everyone at the Bridge to mock Ashley Young who turned into a Panto villain within moments of setting foot on our beloved pitch with such an atrocity around his neck. I’ve always turned the other way when our players donned gloves, I mean, my fingers get cold too. But Michael Essien. Oh, the shame of it all. A snood. Really? And not only were you wearing one, you had to draw attention to it, by not having a black one to match the kit. Oh no, you had to sully up our proud blue and white by having it fashioned into a snood!! I realise the Eyebrow of Doom has a penchant for comedy winter wear with his technical area toque, but a snood it is not. The scariest part of this snood is that as this was arguably your best match in ages, I fear that not only does it bring you secret powers of awesome, but that others will look to this inspiration, and we’ll be seeing them all over the club. Snoods are more vile and contagious than anything the Lindsay Lohan seems to be carrying. You really need to think about what you’ve done.

KTBFFH

  

jb xx

 http://twitter.com/cfc_toronto

http://twitter.com/cfc_jb