OhForAGreavsie

And Tottenham, let's not forget Tottenham. Spurs being within three points of the top is unbearable. Now that City seem to have given up the ghost It makes every incident in a Leicester game a moment of tension filled torture. Four or five successive defeats for Spurs is what my nervous system needs.

Started his first game wide right but has been stationed wide left since. Against Depor he was asked to hug that touchline, or that's what he did at any rate, but in the two subsequent games Charlay has had more license to roam. I thought his last outing was Charlay's best by far so I'm really looking forward to tonight's game.

Will Kennedy even be fit?

For what it's worth, I think Traore is ahead of all of them. I can't argue with anything you say about RLC but I retain a bit of hope because I think if the penny drops about asserting himself then he does have qualities that can influence a game. As I said three years ago however, if that penny does not drop then Ruben will be lucky to get a gig in League One. (In fact I sad he needed a kick up the backside and that he needed to react to it.) I have not yet seen anything which allows me to agree with your comparison of RLC & Riechedly Bazoer, except in one vital regard that is. I have never seen Bazoer do anything that I have not also seen Ruben do. Indeed, if asked to come down on one side or the other, I'd call Ruben the more talented player. The exception is a rather big one however; Bazoer does it often, Ruben only occasionally. This is really just a repeat of what you said above, but, unless Ruben is able to put his talent into action then, although that talent has earned him a contract which will shovel money into his bank account, it won't get his name onto the team sheet.

It looks like Guus has Mikel as his first choice over Matic so I expect to see Nemanja vs Stoke.

There are times when Arsenal Fan TV is compulsory viewing. Got to rush; Sainsbury's closes soon and we don't have any popcorn in.

I had no faith when Nemanja was here the first time. My assessment was that he was too fond of the floated pass which took too long to reach its target and that he wanted way too long on the ball. After he returned It looked to me that I was wrong. In truth however Nemanja's slump passed out of the realm of form a long time ago. With the odd exception, he has been poor, or worse, since Christmas 2014.

^^ Everything you say is spot on. The only variable is whether the reports are accurate.

You're probably right on both counts. The Matic comment about top-four still being possible is either one of those things footballers say when someone sticks a mic in their face and asks silly questions or else it's a clue as to what the camp is thinking. Either way, Guus is clearly very proud of the turn around so, as you say, he might not want to give it away.

You know, I sometimes think you'd still have anger toward the manager even if Roman gave you the job. All of us understand the temptation to rage at everyone who doesn't agree with our opinions but it really isn't good or wise.

Not news really. Guus has been hinting at this very heavily at virtually all of his press conferences. He says something like, I shall be at Stamford bridge rather often in future.

Guus must be seriously tempted to rest everybody and go very weak. That makes predicting the outcome of this one even tougher than usual I think. Maybe something crazy like: - Begovic, Aina, Miazga, Cahill, Baba, Colkett, Matic, Traore, Loftus-Cheek, Pato, Remy. Charlie made his first start for the 21s after injury at St. Mary's on Monday night and was brilliant. Well first half he was anyway.

The stories we're hearing smack of an agent working overtime to me.

If they really go our way then top 17 will do.

It must be a reasonable guess that Bertie will start on Saturday. As to where, I'd say probably in the same role as last night with Remy coming in up top.

If our best XI really does include Matic then that position becomes a transfer priority in the summer.

Crikey, this could be the worst moment of the season. Not what you've said but the fact that it really does sound good.

It's not likely to be just one pass is it? There were a number of mistakes from Baba on Saturday but I doubt it's even that. It's more likely that this error was the last straw; the last straw on a bale that had been building up since December as far as Guus is concerned. It looks like the boss gritted his teeth and selected Baba when there was little choice rather than that he has any real confidence in the player. Whereas Bertie has persuaded Guus to believe in him through what he's done in training and in matches, Baba has not. That's the long and the short of it I think.

Also happened a couple of matches ago.

He's on the bench against Norwich tonight.

If someone reading this was at St. Mary's, would you tell us please how this looked on the day. As far as could be told from the coverage no one did talk to Baba and encourage him to get his head up but, watching at home, we could only see what the director chose to show us of course. Did any geeing up happen off camera?

Blind men perhaps but at least two sighted ones have ignored Charlay and selected Oscar. Be that as it may because what has it got to do with anything anyway? Charlay is also better than me but does that make him good enough for the new manager's squad? To earn a place in the squad next season, Charlay, and everyone else come to that , has to persuade the person who is going to select the squad that they deserve to be in it. You're a formidable debater if you can find a flaw in that proposition.

Easier for us to say perhaps than it is for Charlay to do. In order to sell Conte, or whoever, the idea that he's good enough, Charlay has to actually be good enough and that is the hard part of course.

Pato is not involved in tonight's 21s game.

Agreed. Already looks likely to have his pick of teams if and when he leaves Rennes.