Carling Cup Final: Chelsea v Arsenal

Yes we need a winger, that's for sure. I'd also welcome reyes back if he stops acting like a 10 year old. I am actually starting to think the baptista-reyes swap wasn't a good move from our point of view; we need a player like reyes more than a Baptista.

Batman wrote:To Arsenal fans

What is more important, the fans or the players?

The fans want Arsenal to win the Carling Cup, so Wenger should play his strongest XI.

But it seems like Wenger will show loyalty to the players that got Arsenal to the final.

I am with wenger. Yes i want us to win the cup but i don't think it would be fair to drop the youngsters for the final after their brilliant performances.

Anyway, the first teamers, namely Henry and Fabregas havent been up to much in recent weeks so i dont see why not...

Chelsea to win 3-1

Saintsarama MBE wrote:Chelsea will win. Arsenal will play a couple of young players to give themselves an excuse.

Game over in 90 minutes, 3-1 to Chelsea. No questions asked.

Probably, don't care though, its a pansy trophy for which you win £1m - hardly makes a diffeence to anything or anyone

At the end of the day, it's a trophy.

Considering we don't play for 6 days after the final, there is no excuses for resting players.

S4P wrote:At the end of the day, it's a trophy.

Considering we don't play for 6 days after the final, there is no excuses for resting players.

Its a pretty shit trophy though thats become a joke.

I'd rather get to the last 8 of the CL than win this

Tweedle wrote:

Saintsarama MBE wrote:Chelsea will win. Arsenal will play a couple of young players to give themselves an excuse.

Game over in 90 minutes, 3-1 to Chelsea. No questions asked.

Probably, don't care though, its a pansy trophy for which you win £1m - hardly makes a diffeence to anything or anyone

Why should it matter how much you get for winning it, you spend money to win trophies surely, not the other way around. Anyway the league is gone, so it's surely more wise to actually try and win this match, then any other league match

Come on Gooners - do em Russian whores! rough like they like it!

L r d wrote:

Tweedle wrote:

Saintsarama MBE wrote:Chelsea will win. Arsenal will play a couple of young players to give themselves an excuse.

Game over in 90 minutes, 3-1 to Chelsea. No questions asked.

Probably, don't care though, its a pansy trophy for which you win £1m - hardly makes a diffeence to anything or anyone

Why should it matter how much you get for winning it, you spend money to win trophies surely, not the other way around. Anyway the league is gone, so it's surely more wise to actually try and win this match, then any other league match

I think it would be a bigger morale boost beating chelsea rather than winning the trophy - the olny thing that makes it vaguely interesting for me is that factor.

I hope the kids get their chance though, they got us here and it would be a shame for them to miss out. I felt really sorry for Flamini last season when he was replaced by Cashley in the CL final

Tweedle wrote:

S4P wrote:At the end of the day, it's a trophy.

Considering we don't play for 6 days after the final, there is no excuses for resting players.

Its a pretty shit trophy though thats become a joke.

I'd rather get to the last 8 of the CL than win this

And yet, in the last 3 years it's been won by Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool.

As Agooner said its a win win situation i'd rather our youth player's improve than win the competition anything else is a bonus.

S4P wrote:

Tweedle wrote:

S4P wrote:At the end of the day, it's a trophy.

Considering we don't play for 6 days after the final, there is no excuses for resting players.

Its a pretty shit trophy though thats become a joke.

I'd rather get to the last 8 of the CL than win this

And yet, in the last 3 years it's been won by Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool.

And yet I bet you had to check that

Tweedle wrote:

S4P wrote:

Tweedle wrote:

S4P wrote:At the end of the day, it's a trophy.

Considering we don't play for 6 days after the final, there is no excuses for resting players.

Its a pretty shit trophy though thats become a joke.

I'd rather get to the last 8 of the CL than win this

And yet, in the last 3 years it's been won by Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool.

And yet I bet you had to check that

Nope. I remember watching United thrash Wigan last year, us beating Pool in quite an entertaining final, and I remember watching the Pool-United final of 2004 in a pub.

Tweedle wrote:

S4P wrote:

Tweedle wrote:

S4P wrote:At the end of the day, it's a trophy.

Considering we don't play for 6 days after the final, there is no excuses for resting players.

Its a pretty shit trophy though thats become a joke.

I'd rather get to the last 8 of the CL than win this

And yet, in the last 3 years it's been won by Man Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool.

And yet I bet you had to check that

That's a poor test.

Who won in 98?

L r d wrote:I don't understand the hype around this, the first team probably wouldn't beat chelsea, the kids reserves a few first teamers? the odds are bizarre aswell.
Chelsea will win it easy

Bit of a strange thing to say.

We got a good draw at Stamford Bridge without Henry, Gallas, Toure, Rosicky and Ljungberg. Chelsea are not that far ahead of us in terms of quality.

Yes we will play without the "stars" but the result is not a foregone conclusion. These kids are quite special and have surprised a few big teams thus far.

Batman wrote:To Arsenal fans

What is more important, the fans or the players?

The fans want Arsenal to win the Carling Cup, so Wenger should play his strongest XI.

But it seems like Wenger will show loyalty to the players that got Arsenal to the final.

Good question.

Obviously we all want to win the Cup.

But as far as I know all Arsenal fans are behind Wenger in his policy with the team selection by keaving out the stars in favour for the younger heros from the previous rounds. Should we lose tomorrow I doubt many will complain and blame our team selection.

Tomorrow will be invaluable for the futures of Denilson, Walcott, Traore, Djourou. I is also a reward for the hard work from the likes of Aliadiere, Baptista and Almunia.

Men against boys, Chelski to win easily.

Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Cudicini, Ferreira, A Cole, Geremi, Diarra, Carvalho, Bridge, Morais, Mikel, Lampard, Makelele, Ballack, Essien, Shevchenko, Drogba, Robben, Kalou, Wright-Phillips.

Arsenal (from): Almunia, Poom, Hoyte, Senderos, Toure, Djourou, Clichy, Traore, Walcott, Diaby, Flamini, Fabregas, Denilson, Aliadiere, Adebayor, Baptista, Hleb, Rosicky, Randall, Connolly.

Just sunk the first pint of many. Ironic as I'm not sure most our young players are actually old enough for a drink! COME ON U GUNNERS WOOOOOO!"
Via text from Batman, Cardiff





BATMAN?! SERIOUSLY IS THAT YOU?!

me text Ballack? no

ah thats a shame.

Probable line-up: average age 22.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Almunia(29) - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Hoyte(22) - - Toure(25) - Senderos(22) - - Traore(17)

Walcott(17) - Fabregas(19) - Diaby(20) - Denilson(19)

- - - - - - - - - Baptista(25) - - Aliadiere(23) - - - - - - - - -


i would play Gallas and Clichy instead of Hoyte and Traore. Drop Walcott because i have a feeling Bridge will have him in his back pocket throughout the game.

------------------------Cech (24yo)---------------------

Diarra (21yo)-Carvalho (28yo)-Terry (26yo)-A Cole (26yo)

------------------------Essien (24yo)------------------

----------Ballack (30yo)-Lampard (28yo)------------

Shevchenko (30yo)--Drogba (28yo)--Robben (23yo)

Average age: 26

Battles to watch out for:


Terry vs Baptista
Drogba vs Toure- He's always had the better of Senderos, so maybe he'll focus on Senderos more.
Cole/Bridge vs Walcott

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/6394515.stm

what an idiot!!

Fabregas = regular from playing in carling cup. Wenger realises talent. starts playing regularly.
Alialidiare playing more from showing talent in carling cup.
Denilson playing way more from stunning performances in carling cup
first team players get rest.

So this is the last final at cardiff right?

hopefully. rumours are spreading that wembly will not be ready for the FA cup final.

Emmanuele Elboue wrote:hopefully. rumours are spreading that wembly will not be ready for the FA cup final.

wouldn't surprise me