Can we catch Villa?

Dom1878 · February 22, 2009

With us not taking advantage of Villa and Arsenal dropping points - no.

Andriy.EFC · February 22, 2009

as we've seen today, we're completely clueless without Arteta.

kenada_blue · February 22, 2009

Andriy.EFC said:
as we've seen today, we're completely clueless without Arteta.

Ossie, Pienaar, Yak, Cahill......when has it not changed? Just look at the RS without Gerrard.

Its bad luck and to me now, anywhere we end up this season I'm proud of Moyes and the lads because they performed mircles.

GrandOldTeam · February 22, 2009

With Arteta out, the focus now is on consolidating 6th.

Brownie · February 22, 2009

If we get in UEFA now then it will have been a brilliant effort.

kenada_blue · February 22, 2009

GrandOldTeam said:
With Arteta out, the focus now is on consolidating 6th.

And that's a bad thing considering what happened to our team over the season?

GrandOldTeam · February 22, 2009

kenada_blue said:
And that's a bad thing considering what happened to our team over the season?

Not at all.

I'm not greedy, I would take 6th happily.

blue4ever&ever · February 22, 2009

I can't see us catching villa, I think we could catch Arsenall and finish
5th again to get in to eufa cup, but then again winning the FA Cup to do it would be better

Gazdalf · February 23, 2009

This today was not just about losing Arteta early on. It was also having no Cahill either, or Pienaar, or Osman. Fellaini not fit, Jags/Yobo covering the same job. Castillo looking lost. Having 2 forced subs put on us.

We just plain crapped out today. A point was a fair call all things considered. Yes, a fully fit team would have took advantage of them having 10 men. Today was the most make shift we have ever looked.

I still think we can catch Villa. They have not had to take an ego knock all season. This is where their wheels may start coming off.

I know I am the edge of dream world. But only on the edge, the realism is there also.

I don't want no UEFA cup. I am after a Europa League place. (Can't they just leave it alone)

TsarDiniyar · February 23, 2009

We are going to struggle now but I dont think the loss of Arteta is going to be so influential when the likes of stevie and leon come back. If leon gets a go in the middle of the park I think he will be able to fill the void.

The lack of Cahill today was a bigger factor than the lack of Arteta i think.

Gazdalf · February 23, 2009

kingjoleon said:
We are going to struggle now but I dont think the loss of Arteta is going to be so influential when the likes of stevie and leon come back. If leon gets a go in the middle of the park I think he will be able to fill the void.

The lack of Cahill today was a bigger factor than the lack of Arteta i think.

I kind of agree mate, but I believe we can always cope with losing just one of them. Losing 2, and having no Leon or Pienaar also is plain nasty.

Bruce Wayne · February 23, 2009

Cahill stepped up to replace Yakubu, another man we thought was irreplaceable, now we need one of Osman or Pienaar to do the same with Arteta.

Neiler · February 23, 2009

I bet there will be a thread here in a months time, " Can Mikel get back into the team".

HalewoodBlue_ver.2.0 · February 23, 2009

Neiler said:
I bet there will be a thread here in a months time, " Can Mikel get back into the team".

I highly doubt it mate, i would play a injured mikel in place of a lot of the others, thats how effective he is

ChicagoToffee · February 23, 2009

Neiler said:
I bet there will be a thread here in a months time, " Can Mikel get back into the team".

Whenever he pleases...

The question should be "How far will Moyes be willing to put Rodwell to the test?" We've been blessed to have Arteta commanding the middle and now Moyes needs to find a new engine. Ossie and Pienaar don't have the chops and Cahill is a finisher, not a creator. Even though Moyes has publicly stated that he's going to protect Rodwell and Gosling, Arteta's injury swings the door wide open for an extended run for both.