retired_dfj003

The day of my first competitive game arrived, but the squad was littered with injury’s and this forced me into naming a few youngsters in the team, as kick off approached I penned my starting line up on the white board in the changing room.


Mannone

Eboue......Toure......Gallas....... Guardado


Obertan......Denilson.....Fabregas....Van Persie


Henry ......... Baptista

Subs :
Adebayor
Cardenas
Ljungberg
Hoyte
Djourou
Hleb
Van Den Berg


Walcott, Rosicky, Diaby, Traore, Senderos, Lehmann, Almunia, Clichy and Gilberto were all ruled out prior to the game with injuries and so Guardado, Obertan, Denilson and Manonne all came in to make their competitive debuts for the club.

retired_dfj003

Champions League Third Qualifying Round 1st Leg
Letzigrund, Zurich

Zurich V Arsenal

The game got off to a cagey start, Zurich evidently wary of our attacking ability were eager to keep it tight at the back and not commit numbers forward. The team were short on confidence what with Wenger’s shock departure and were taking time to get used to my 4-4-2 system that, to be honest wasn’t very detailed. I hadn’t given the match a great deal of consideration up until now but it wasn’t long before the deadlock was broken. New signing Gabriel Obertan sped down the wing and after taking on his marker, fed in a pinpoint cross to Thierry Henry at the near post, who tapped it home with 7 minutes gone. We already had an away goal but I wanted more, and encouraged the team to press forward. The rest of the half was uneventful however, a couple of half chances for us and one solitary missed chance for Zurich.

At half time I changed nothing, telling the team that I was pleased with them and to continue as they were. It wasn’t the sort of performance I would be wanting in upcoming games but for now it would do. Given that this was a game in a foreign country and my first in charge I didn’t expect too much and was pleased so far. The team improved slightly in the second half but with the game finishing at 2-0, it was a goal straight after the restart from Julion Baptista that doubled our lead and put us in pole position for Champions League football in the coming season. Zurich also improved though, and proved more threatening in front of goal, forcing some fine saves from Vito Manonne. Baptista’s goal came from a simple set piece, Eboue floated one into the box and the Brazilian’s power helped him to head the ball home past Ivan Rama. Rama went off minutes later after a collision with the rather quiet Thierry Henry. After that the incidents in the game became few and far between, but a few surprisingly good performances pleased me. Vito Manonne had had a great game, keeping a clean sheet and making some fantastic saves, fellow debutants Denilson and Obertan also made impressive starts to life at the club, despite their young age. Obertan’s role in the first goal, coupled with some fine passing and lightning sprints down the right touchline meant he stuck out above the others, and Denilson’s ninety minutes of hard tackling and presise passing proved that already he is able to help the team out when needed.

So overall, a good result with planty of positives, and plenty to work on. I was relieved that I had got my first game was out of the way, it was so important not to screw up.


Zurich 0 - 2 Arsenal
Rama Inj. 51 Henry 7
Baptista 47

Man of the Match : Vito Manonne (Arsenal)

retired_dfj003

Sorry I really struggle with the spacing here. I wrote everything out so that it would be in the right place, like Baptista under Arsenal but it goes all weird when I put it on the reply board.

retired_dfj003

And I wanted it in the midddle of the page

retired_shelfie

We don't mind. This is great, can't wait for more.

retired_Kemp

Put it in CODE tags, and it will appear right.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> MannoneEboue........Toure........Gallas........Gua rdadoObertan......Denilson.....Fabregas....Van Persie Henry ......... Baptista </pre>

Great story. KUTGW :thup:

retired_dfj003

Thanks for the help, more updates to follow soon

retired_jkthurman

great story so far, cant wait for more updates! KUTGW :thup: :cool:

retired_dfj003

The game got off to a cagey start, Zurich evidently wary of our attacking ability were eager to keep it tight at the back and not commit numbers forward. The team were short on confidence what with Wenger’s shock departure and were taking time to get used to my 4-4-2 system that, to be honest wasn’t very detailed. I hadn’t given the match a great deal of consideration up until now but it wasn’t long before the deadlock was broken. New signing Gabriel Obertan sped down the wing and after taking on his marker, fed in a pinpoint cross to Thierry Henry at the near post, who tapped it home with 7 minutes gone. We already had an away goal but I wanted more, and encouraged the team to press forward. The rest of the half was uneventful however, a couple of half chances for us and one solitary missed chance for Zurich.

At half time I changed nothing, telling the team that I was pleased with them and to continue as they were. It wasn’t the sort of performance I would be wanting in upcoming games but for now it would do. Given that this was a game in a foreign country and my first in charge I didn’t expect too much and was pleased so far. The team improved slightly in the second half but with the game finishing at 2-0, it was a goal straight after the restart from Julion Baptista that doubled our lead and put us in pole position for Champions League football in the coming season. Zurich also improved though, and proved more threatening in front of goal, forcing some fine saves from Vito Manonne. Baptista’s goal came from a simple set piece, Eboue floated one into the box and the Brazilian’s power helped him to head the ball home past Ivan Rama. Rama went off minutes later after a collision with the rather quiet Thierry Henry. After that the incidents in the game became few and far between, but a few surprisingly good performances pleased me. Vito Manonne had had a great game, keeping a clean sheet and making some fantastic saves, fellow debutants Denilson and Obertan also made impressive starts to life at the club, despite their young age. Obertan’s role in the first goal, coupled with some fine passing and lightning sprints down the right touchline meant he stuck out above the others, and Denilson’s ninety minutes of hard tackling and presise passing proved that already he is able to help the team out when needed.

So overall, a good result with planty of positives, and plenty to work on. I was relieved that I had got my first game was out of the way, it was so important not to screw up



<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Zurich 0 - 2 Arsenal </pre>
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Rama Inj. 51 Henry 7 Baptista 47 </pre>


Man of the Match : Vito Manonne (Arsenal)

retired_dfj003

Oh no what a mess

I tried using code tags but I did it all wrong, I still don't understand how to use them for formations and scorelines