DYC.

True but Zola was something else though.. His technique alone was among the best ever. But let's not turn this into a Zola discussion .

Come on now, you can't say he's as good as Zola after 20 min. Don't get me wrong, I'd love for that to actually happen but that's just too much to expect from a player. It's an insult to Zola's legacy as well.

Let's see how we do against 11 men and better opposition first

Even my neighbour's dog could've told you that.

Don't say that.

Come on eldo, you're better than that. Credit goes to Anelka and Ramires here.

Luck is on our side yet again. Another undeserved win? :champions:

That high line is gonna f*ck us up against actual decent opposition...

Lampard at the tip of the diamond though? The last thing he needs is less time on the ball. Surprising choices by AVB, we can only hope everything works out.

60 mil pounds and a phone call from Torres and he's ours :eyebrows: ,

Iniesta please.

Exactly while the philosofy of the manager is also very important, something many here for some reason overlook. When Louis van Gaal became Bayern's manager, where there's always immense pressure to win throphies, he made the likes of Muller and Badstuber starters, who were unknown at the time but that doesn't matter to him. Frank de Boer did the same at Ajax and made the likes of Eriksen, Boilesen and Alderweireld, who lost his starter place under the previous manager, starters. Some people say they are confident AVB will intergrate youth (if he gets the time). What this belief is based on I don't get as he's only been a club manager for two years and he hasn't made any promises regarding intergrating youth. There was a similar belief by some in Ancelotti while his eight years at Milan didn't suggest he finds intergrating youth important. So the manager's philosofy plays a key role as well.

Hope we play with youngsters in the Carling Cup. I'd love to see something like this: Hilario PF/Clifford Chalobah Luiz Bertrand/PVA Mikel McEachran Kakuta Sturridge Lukaku Mata With the likes of C. Clifford and Lalkovic coming on as subs.

How can you call Arsenal's group easy? I call Dortmund to finish first but Arsenal will probably finish above Marseille.

Love how Xavi and Messi don't understand a thing when they're speaking English

Good point but personally I'm tired of those boring games in the group stage.

I'm hoping for a challenging group (it's not like easy groups have led us to CL glory in the past). I hope we'll have a tough time to keep us sharp from the start and so we'll get some entertaining games. I'm hoping for this: Chelsea Benfica Basel Dortmund

Kalou's too good to be playing against small fry like Norwich . His very presence alone would make them forfeit the game.

I'm hoping for a very attacking line-up. I don't think Mata alone will suddenly make us a free-flowing and incisive side. I'd go for a 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 as they'll most likely park a bus in front of goal. Hilario Bosingwa Ivan Terry Cole *Mata Mikel McEachran Malouda Anelka Torres *Mata in a free role from the right, comparable to Silva's role on Sunday

Fair enough. But I just don't like us relying on him but I agree that he can definitely still be (very) valuable to us but so were the players I mentioned, Scholes and Giggs, without being definite starters and the same should happen to Lamps imo.

Agree. I think complacency is what got to him as he had no competition and Ancelotti kept using him no matter how poor he played. With that changed now, he should make a good back-up (I hope). Kalou's the one that needs to go immediately. Waste of a foreign spot and not worth his wages.

Hope it's just the usual bullsh*t.

Yeah but 25 mil pounds though.. (at least, that's what the papers said when we got linked the first time)

He's a wingback. You can compare him to Dani Alves at Barca, not a true fullback and like a half midfielder.