Bassedas spotted - brought back from Spain yesterday as a late starter for the Gooners tomorrow (presumably alongside Clarence the Cross Eyed Lion if Speed doesn't pass his fitness test??)

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2002

Answers

Argentinian Parole ?

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2002

Spain?? Must have been Swift's taxi driver who let on. Sources????

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2002

credible

shame - I was getting all dewy eyed at the prospect of headlines after Bryan Kerr taps in a 92 minute winner on his full debut

who knows maybe there's still a place for at least one of him and Stuey Green on the bench ?

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2002

He nearly scored on that muddy field near Cambridge.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2002

And on a positive note, Uriah Rennie is referee.....

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2002

Where'd you get that from LT? Nothing on the news wires - but it certainly makes sense.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2002

Judging by most reports Dyer will play alongside Acuna in m/f tomorrow despite not having played a single game, and not having trained much this week due to illness.

Reports also suggest Speed will be on the bench. I find it difficult to understand how he is not considered fit to play in the game, but is felt to be fit enough to sit on the bench.

What happens if Dyer has to come off after 5 minutes? If Speed isn't ready to play, he could simply aggaravate his injury and be out for another month.

I fully understand the problems we have, but we just never seem to learn the consequences of pushing players back before they are really ready.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2002

It's a choice of that or putting on a relatively untried reserve player. How much do we want to win?

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2002

If Dyer's problem is illness and not being 100% match fit, I don't think playing him will delay his progress, would it? (ie this assumes his injury is fully cleared up). With Gary Speed, who must still be recovering from a hamstring, there must be some doubt. Although apparently scans have indicated the hamstring has fully healed.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2002

This has nothing to do with bravado about 'how much we want to win'. Fielding players who could break down within 5 minutes could simply make losing a self-fulfilling prophesy. I'm actually thinking about maximising our chances of winning.

I tend to agree with Peter Miller - if Dyer has fully recovered from his injury the worst that should happen is that he won't last the 90 minutes, and his creative influence could be critical.

However, if Speed is not considered fit to start it seems fatuous to put him on the bench, for reasons already outlined. In addition, it's not as though Speed is the sort of creative player who could adequately replace Dyer anyway - if he had to go off I'd consider moving Solano into the middle and bringing Lx3 on to play wide right. GS is effectively a holding m/f player - so why not simply use Robbie Elliott (or switch things around so Dabz or Hughes moved into m/f with Elliott at LB) as the possible substitute for Acuna, or even to replace Dyer if we got into a positon to defend a one goal lead for 20 minutes?

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2002

Hey Clarky, I was with you until your "if we have to defend a one goal lead" coment :-)

Its difficult with a player coming back from injury (Speed). Perhaps he could start, with the expectation he will be relaced after an hour or so. But it's a big gamble. Probably bestter to have him on the bench so if he comes on with say 20-30 mins to play, if he goes off again, then it's not for long and re-adjustments could be made.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2002

.... so he can then sit out the rest of the season injured, presumably? In case no one had noticed , we are still in contention for the bloody PL Champiosnhip AND CL qualification!

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2002

....the aforegoing discussion is all academic. Apparently Speed failed a fitness test today and is out of the squad for tomorrow.

Interesting to note that two scans have shown no damage to his hamstring.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2002

didn't elliot play r/b for the reserves...

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2002

two scans have shown no damage to his hamstring.

They really need some new equipment at Oil Drum Lane Clarky.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2002

Yeh, that crossed my mind Jonno - 'spect Roger Dobbin might need a new 'valve' for his scanner. You just can't get those wireless parts these days you know!

;o{)

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2002