- To dive, or not to dive?
Any games of note today? Well, besides the Chelsea/Bolton tilt in the Carling Cup. Two teams probably with Swine Flu. Who shall win!?!?!
And then… I remember. Manchester City vs. Scunthorpe Liverpool vs. Arsenal, for some royally inconsequential bragging rights. Rafa Benitez and his band of chronically-afflicted underdogs v. Arsene Wenger and his Traveling Circus of Aesthetes. A complete toss-up, but, if Wenger pulls out his band of precocious teens, it could be a massacre.
The biggest fun will come in seeing which manager blinks first and puts out a starting XI that isn’t hilariously understrength. But for us LFC fans, we might get a proper look at Alberto Aquilani, and that’s good, right?
Lineups after the jump, and let’s all see whose team is the best at winning games no-one cares about.
And to be expected, Rafa makes 10 changes while Wenger makes 11. I despair. Why even bother entering this competition?!?!
Arsenal (4-1-2-3) Fabianski; Gilbert, Senderos, Silvestre, Gibbs; Eastmond; Nasri, Ramsey; Bendtner, Eduardo, Merida.
Subs: Szczesny, Bartley, Coquelin, Frimpong, Randall, Sunu, Watt.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1) Cavalieri; Degen, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Insua; Spearing, Plessis; Kuyt, Voronin, Babel; Ngog.
Subs: Reina, Aquilani, Benayoun, Darby, Dossena, Eccleston, Ayala.
Rafa is starting Kristin Cavalleri in goal?
/recycled joke
What can you tell me about this Spearing fellow? I’m not familiar with his work.
Just how many Jay Spearings are there?
How could you have left out Juve v. Sampdoria?? Big Serie A fixture.
Did they just introduce the Arnenal players by first name only? Gay.
Philly Phanatic making an appearance.
Because, to quote a friend of mine, Italy is gay as fuck.
Of course, he switched his allegiance from Milan to Inter over the summer, so he may not be entirely trustworthy.
Jay Spearing looks like he might be a midget.
@The NY Kid — That’s a goal-line stand I’d like to make.
No announcer on 360, this is weird.
@HL – Spearing is a born-and-bred Merseysider, Liverpool youth team, etc., etc. I believe he’s 20 yrs old.
He’s the white Edgar Davids.
@NYK
Thanks. I obviously know about our youngsters but am embarrassingly unfamiliar with the rest of the big 4.
MCR: Talkin’ about my motherland, there, bucko. Watch out.
I’m trying to figure out if I prefer no commentary or some foreign language. Not having anything is kind of freaking me out. I will take the picture quality any day though. Almost as good as FSC.
Citeh is dead serious about winning the CC. Yet another nearly first team starting XI.
“MCR: Talkin’ about my motherland, there, bucko. Watch out.”
So you no doubt are enjoying the Plessis butt shot on the screen right now.
I love 360. But I hate when I have to install or update it. For some reason it never works smoothly.
I installed the software last night, and it had to patch before the game today. Not as tedious at the CBS March Madness stuff.
Caroline Cheese, God you’re dumb. “1953: Nicklas Bendtner gives the ball away to Ryan Babel, who promptly gives it straight back to Jack Wilshere. Shot eventually blocked by the Liverpool defence. ” Considering that Jack is not dressed, FAIL.
360 is cool, but it doesn’t play nice with Firefox.
Or, rather, it doesn’t play nice with Firefox when there’s only 256 MB of RAM to spread around. I fucking hate watching at work.
I’m not watching, but I’m assuming that she confused Ramsey with Wilshere. All those white kids look alike.
She did issue a correction.
Should’ve scored there. When did Ngog learn to touch?
All I have is an “upgrading player” note and a twirly circle thing (apologies for the technical jargon, I’ll try to bring it back down to UF level). No idea of where it’s at in the process or anything. Ah well. Anything exciting going on besides Jack Wilshere’s ghost on the field?
“So you no doubt are enjoying the Plessis butt shot on the screen right now.”
I’m watching the Juve-Samp match. Where else will you find a central defender who spends more time attacking the opposition’s penalty area than defending? :P I’ll catch the Englsh stuff on replay.
I looked at Liverpool’s lineup and thought “Arsenal should win” then I saw Senderos was playing.
Hey! Commentary. Good work ESPN.
Diving cunt.
Where else will you find a central defender who spends more time attacking the opposition’s penalty area than defending?
Any time Willy Galgas is playing?
Weak effort by Nasri.
In any Arsenal match, of course. We didn’t sign the Verminator for nothing.
Eastmond passes to Kodak
“Any time Willy Galgas is playing?”
I should have said, “And does both well.”
Giorgio Chiellini, ftw.
Jesus Senderos AND Degen in the same game, London is the nexus of shit tonight.
Fabianski just got showed up by Voronin, not a good sign.
Eccleston better get on tonight.
The fuck was that?
HAHA Bendtner you useless cunt.
Damnit Bendy! Don’t forget to shoot!
shoot for fucks sake.
Voronin you useless cunt.
Cracker!
Super Fran!
Fantastic!
Merida is the only guy not afraid to take a crack. And look what happens. What a strike.
Nice “Good, Bad, WTF” hat Cesc – christ.
I need to go to our IT department with a baggie of blow and a stripper and tell someone they better start allowing me access to pirated Iraqi feeds of European soccer.
Spearing is 20 y/o? He looks closer to 45.
Cavielieri should have had it too. This is why I don’t get playing more kids, when some of your reserves are fucking awful, what’s the point of playing them in favor of prospects?
Hahahah holy shit he wasn’t kidding about City, that team sheet is ridiculous.
Diego corner drops right in front of goal, Amauri pokes it in with his bright-red boots. Juve 1, Samp 0.
Senderos with a tidy piece of defending.
GOAL OF THE WEEK MOTHER FUCKERS
Holy shit, what a goal from Insua.
Oh goddammit.
Senderos with a tidy piece of defending.
Not possible.
Not much you can do about that.
“Not possible.”
It was on Voronin …
Well, you’re not going to believe this, but City’s backline defends like shit and gives up a goal to Scunny. 1-1.
Scunthorpe levels against City.
The Duke Brothers nod in silent approval.
Come on Scunthorpe!
One of Arsene’s anal beads is on the field, medium style.
Senderos with a lucky toe poke. /fixed.
Everytime I see Senderos I can’t not imagine him getting turned inside and out three times over by Benny McCarthy from a few years ago. It is a sad thing.
Merida looks outstanding, granted it’s been against Spearing and Voronin, and he has the full force of the Death Star in front of him in the first team blocking his way.
Shit we can’t even keep a clean sheet with our first choice back line. Silvestre and Senderos is barely better than Colashipment.
Sloppy, sloppy sloppy. Both sides.
Ah yes a reminder of Julio Baptista’s prowess in this competition, puts things in perspective.
Bendtner’s been hanging out with Eddie.
Arsenal players going down awwwwwful quick.
Go faster Kieran, Kieran is gaining on us!
Nice bit of perspective showing the Merida replay right after Bentner’s weak shot from close to the same spot.
Do Chelsea ever play teams not in the bottom half of the table?
City back on top.
God damnit Voronin has no soccer smarts.
Chelsea’s ability to involuntarily navigate the league schedule/cup draws and the normal landmines is beyond comprehension.
Holy shit, after Frimpong and Sanchez Watt you could have shown me the names of the bench players and I would have thought they were made up, not Gunners.
We even have a Sununu (almost).
They should bring on Sununu for Bentner – he is having a fucking awful game. Can’t finish, can’t cross, dribbled the ball directly out of bounds. the fuck?
Amauri on the ball on the left, receives a pass into the penalty area from Chiellini who made a run forward; Amauri uses a few step-overs, shuffles to his left, passes the ball into the heart of the penalty area, where Chiellini pokes the ball into Samp’s net. Juve 2, Samp 0.
Arsenal brought the passing boots today.
The announcer is masturbating right now.
JESUS CHRIST WHY IS THIS KEEPER PLAYING
Holy shit. How do you not score that? Bendtner is having a bit of a shocker.
I can see how Bentner drove his car off the road into a tree. It’s painfully clear right now.
jape: But God saved him.
A gift to us Spurs fans, if you will.
Oh for fuck’s sake Bendtner.
Maybe it’s better that I can’t see it. Seems like 09-10 Bendtner is the same as the 08-09 model.
Tommy Smith thinks Schevchenko is a good player. Hilarious.
Barbados Slim in studio for ESPN today.
Shaka had a tear in his eye a minute ago.
Seems like 09-10 Bendtner is the same as the 08-09 model.
Now with pants-falling-down action!
Damn. Diego is a dead-ball wizard. The man is sick.
Stankevicius.
Is he a delicious Stankovic?
Camoranesi slots home Juve’s 3rd.
Samp is being totally exposed. No attack, no possession, it’s all Juve.
Seems like 09-10 Bendtner is the same as the 08-09 model.
Now with pants-falling-down action!
And occasional goal-scoring action as well.
HOLY SHIT!! BENDTNER!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nicky!!!
Julio Baptista everyone!
Thank GOD Agger is healthy (for now) because Skrtel is playing like a bad joke.
Skrtel hasnt been the same since the head injury…too bad…he was a rock last season
Ah Bentner! God saved you for Spurs and that goal. Nice work.
BBC describes it as “delicious” and “dizzying”
Revolting
Voronin makes me laugh.
O/U until we concede the equalizer? I’m putting it at 12 minutes.
Vintage Arsenal, lots of passing and a shit finish.
Wait that was Liverpool.
Now let us pray that he plays, and sucks, in the derby. :D
And Jeebus. Roma 1, Udinese 1, and Roma is down to 10 men. Roma – Totti = Shit. On the other hand, Milan is winning on the strength of 2 goals in the first 5 minutes, one by the ancient Inzaghi and one by the swaddling youngster Pato.
I mean really, you have to worry that two of the worst players to ever play for this club just pulled off TWO one-twos
Almost less. “pool youngsters with some crazy one-two passing.
@PR
This feels like a late one. I’ll take the over, and the 86th to be precise.
Gibbs – get stuck in, lad!
Every play by Arsenal is excellent, magical, or beautiful.
“Almost less. “pool youngsters with some crazy one-two passing.”
Uh those are two of our oldest players.
Thanks Georger. That is very nice of you to say.
When do we see Aquilani?
Fantastic header into the corner of the Samp net by Amauri, on a perfect Camoranesi pass. Juve 4, Samp 0.
When do we see Aquilani?
Soon, we hope.
These turnovers are fucking hilarious. Such a sloppy, sloppy team.
“Uh those are two of our oldest players.”
My bad – small screen. no volume. at work.
Sampdoria pull one back with a header by the man in the Crazy mask. 4-1.
Yeah, about Italian football…
Aquaman warming up.
So this has to be curtains for Babel’s career.
Silvestre with an excellent tackle? What?!
OK, definitely the sign that I’m watching Italian football…
A striker is substituted onto the pitch, and they show his mother watching from a box seat. Heh.
HL: You get paid out on the over.
The Pixie’s beanie is bigger than he is.
“Chelsea bring on the promising Didier Drogba for Daniel Sturridge”
… wut?
Good stuff from Fabianski. I always hated low, screened strikes when I was keeping.
does Chelsea have no faith in its youth system? They typically play a strong team in the CC too
Deco, 3-0.
It almost feels like the FA threatened teams if they didn’t play a bunch of first teamers.
I want Dirty Sanchez on for Eduardo.
Seriously, again, if Rafa just so fucking thrilled with this team’s performance?
Deco…a fine product of that Chelsea Youth System *tic
Rafa Crouching Aquilani before he even makes his first team debut.
Chelsea’s Youth System = overpaying for 17 year olds, right?
still no aquilani, huh? good thing there was no hype surrounding his first game….
@WSR — yes. well, they have to steal them from another team first, but then they can continue the find tradition of NEVER playing them in a non-reserve game
Does Rafa even have anyone fucking warming up? Manage the team you douchebag.
@ georger — like the analogy.
Rafa clearly has no faith in the second most expensive player the team has ever bought.
To follow up on my earlier prediction, it will be Super Jew in the 86th.
Spearing playing the Mascherano “just give the ball away with a chucked shot” role tonight.
@HL — prolly. or Dirty will seal it for us
So which one of these douchecanoes breaks his leg in two minutes?
Torres most expensive I presume? Or was it Voronin?
Torres, even though none of those fees were actually disclosed.
Obviously Kuyt, Whiz.
Nice clearance back to Fabianski by Voronin. Good call keeping him on dipshit.
Babel whiffs on another sitter. Back to Holland with you cunt.
Oh, Babel. Arsenal doing their best to give this away.
FISTED!
Just got out of an afternoon-long meeting… FFS CLEAR THE BALL OUT WHOEVER THE ARSENAL DEFENDERS ARE!!!!
GOD DAMNIT BABEL
As usual, this will be a very nervy 10 minutes for Gooners.
Wow that pass was absolutely perfect, at least he didn’t get more playing time tonight.
Good lord… just heard the announcer utter Silvestre and Senderos with touches at the back… how are we leading in this match?
Because Andriy Voronin thinks red=Liverpool?
@HL — at work, so I can’t do the, “walk around, rubbing my head, chanting ‘oh fuck oh fuck’” every time ‘pool’s got the ball. See: Sunday vs. West Ham. I think my dad thinks I’m crazy
@Hockalees
Because Babel is shit.
Few things piss me off more than losing without using all the subs in a cup match. He CONTINUES to favor people who have no future over giving youngsters time, infuriating.
I have been watching for 5 mins now and I have run out of fingers to count the times an Arsenal defender half-ass runs to a ball and pokes it sheepishly… we are not holding this lead.
Seriously you’re winning because Voronin is an embarrassment, to answer the question.
Ramsey, what the shit, son?
Coq au vin?!?! Quoi?!?
Miles onside. Fuck you Arsenal.
You know.. it is really frustrating to the true fans that both coaches use these cup games as a chance for the youngsters… neither of these lineups wins a cup.
Well we’ve got the FA Cup at least.
THATS A FUCKING PENALTY
Wow. Looked like handball to me.
no glory in madrid this may?
Senderos with the catch.
Wrongly have a 1 v 1 taken away, and a double handball. Yep, Arsenal are the new United.
What the hell is Cavilieri doing?
Meaningless tournament but would have been nice to get one more round so that … Voronin could play? Nevermind.
At least Aquilani made the pitch?
@Georger
Love the avatar, BTW, I’m Dr. Rockzo, the rock and roll clown! I do cocaine!
Yeah, he made some nice passes too, and had a great touchdown pass that Senderos could only bobble like a hot potato.
Were Senderos’ arms in unnatural defensive position? That’s the question as it was surely ball-to-hand.
lololol. Milan conceded 2 goals in extra time to a side with only 10 men. Result: 2-2 draw.
I don’t think they were, but the 1v1 horrible offside call was more irritating.
But when you have Babel not being able to beat a kid once, you don’t deserve to get it to extra time.
Milan were at ten men too weren’t they? Still, hilarity.
Yeah, it was Milan who was down to 10 men, not Napoli. My bad. Still. 2 goals in 5 minutes of ET? And Roma lost to Udinese, too.
Payback for Nesta’s comeback against Chievo.
What’s a “Cultural Leonesa?”
So what you guys are saying is that ‘Pool were essentially eliminated from a competition because of a penalty not given?
As an Arsenal fan I have no idea how that must feel.
Georger: I’m going to guess a stain on the bottom of Barca’s boots.
No they were eliminated because Voronin and Babel are a fucking joke, and Degen and Ngog were the only ones creating and got taken off by bizarro Rafa.
They have a very bland wikipedia page
Check out the killer jersey colors.
Back to a point in one of my comments above, though, Citeh’s goals today come from Lescott, Ireland, Santa Cruz, Tevez and Johnson… Spartak London’s from Kalou, Malouda, Deco and Drogba. I really wish AW would _try_ and win this competition. Just once.
You played Nasri, Eduardo, Bendtner, Senderos, and Silvestre, not exactly an inexperienced bunch. Fabianksi has played some games and Gibbs got CL time.
I’m digging Cultural Leonesa’s kits. I think you just found my Halloween costume for me, Georger.
I’m also digging the trophy for the DFB-Pokal in Germany. It looks like it was taken from a 5th century German barbarian’s mead hall.
This game just affirmed why I love watching Arsenal in the Carling Cup. Giving youngsters like Merida a run against Liverpool will only help. I would rather have these guys get the experience (and Vela and Wilshire when they get back) and play really entertaining soccer than risk Arshavin, Cesc, etc. in what is really a meaningless tourney.
Good times.