FC Cologne Preview – Updated with Line ups!

A few days ago there was an article that we were tracking a central defender from Nepal.  I saw today they let in 9 goals against Jordan in a qualifying match.  I wonder if that guy was on the field or not.  Just curious.

Not sure about the rest of you, but I'm really excited to see which defender we buy, for the new season, and to see Francesc finally sold and the end to that absolutely ridiculous saga. And no, I'm not worried at all if he gets sold, because I think we will turn our attention to getting a suitable replacement and paying Nasri his $$ & giving him the lead role. I'm with Gervinho on this one.

can we do a liveblog sometime? i remember martin and sairax had 1 and it was a blast

I'm a big fan. I do them for my Vancouver team. Homey will coordinate (he's good at that). 

Yes, it's in the works.  It will either be for the Saturday game in the Emirates Cup, or the one against Benfica the following week.  Just trying to find a date that will work for all 4 bloggers, after JG returns from Peru. 

Goal highlights are up on 101greatgoals. 

or you can check it out here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

top ten worse own goals

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.u...

Henderson injured and stretchered off and its just preseason.

hopefully it's nothing serious & thank the football gods it was not Gibbs, i really wanna see what he can do for a full season

I mean, yes, I'm relieved it was a fringe player of ours, but my point remains...its only the preseason and its not good seeing players being stretchered off already. We already lack quality depth in many positions, so this is something that could hurt us yet again. I still say we need 2 more good defenders (we will likely get 1 very good one) and another top class mid assuming Francesc is as good as gone.

Right.  While I'm excited to see Gervinho, and the development of a few of the young guys, we certainly need at least 3 more players if Cesc or Nasri depart.  And 4 more if they both leave.  And 5 more if they both leave, plus Eboue leaves as well.  I'm not comfortable with Jenkinson as the backup to Sagna.  So we'll see.  Lots of work left to do in the window, and not much time to do it.

henderson wearing Eboue number dawn

Arshavin really wasteful

Not sure which match you watched, but he worked his arse off.

no he's not

Damn that kid Jenkinson is unlucky.

He just looked so sad after.  It was heartbreaking.  For all our complaints about his character, etc, Nasri was the first one over to him to encourage him.

Nasri is playing like a true captain today. He just went over to help Arshavin too after he had a tumble.

The applause by the home crowd must have been torture. I wouldn't have substituted him just yet; see how he reacts and get a taste of what he would do in a similar episode in a competitive match.

What happened to Jenkinson?

Had it been on the other side of the goal, it would have been a beauty.

Just scored a freak own goal from about 35 yards out.

ahh

Any live streams I can watch? I dont have the Arsenal player

here

http://atdhenet.tv/38187/watch...

Dude how do you post links to other websites?

i get trouble sometimes and other times it goes through

Half time thoughts:Gervinho looked good obviously. Love how he looks to get behind the defense. Well needed as only RVP seems to have that ability. Wouldn't worry about him off so early, started pre-season late, and Arsenal have many subs at this game.Wilshere has played the Cesc role and not Ramsey which is interesting. Ramsey having a shocker though. Have looked very good going forward, and terrible defending the break. It's not the back line's fault, its the midfield and the lack of balance going forward. Ramsey, Song, Wilshere need better balance and positioning, terribly exposing the defenders.

I think I'd argue that, while its not ALL the back line's fault and they've been put in some tough positions, they've look indecisive and ineffective in defending those breaks.  A lot of hovering in in-between positions while giving Koln players time to pick out runs.  though I think we can probably chalk that up to K and V getting to know each other.  And Jenkinson getting his feet wet. 

best lineup IMO for the start of the season if we keep the same formation and sell fabregas
                  szczesny
Sagna vermaelen (new defender or koscienly) gibbs
          wilshere  song
 walcott nasri(ramsey) gervinho(nasri)
             van persie

A couple of really premature thoughts:

1) Love those two runs Gervinho made for the goals.  Extremely encouraging.  Seems to really understand his position on the wing when the play is running down the other flank.  too early to call him Bob-esque?  Remains to be seen though how he is when the ball is worked down his side of the field.

2) Our defense is still shite.  Hopefully its just early-season rust.  V and Kos getting used to playing together, stuff like that.  Hopefully.

3) I thought this from the Asia games too, looks like Jack is looking for more incisive balls this year.  Last year I usually felt that he would try to penetrate with his dribble, but tended to choose the safer pass.  Seems to be taking more chances now on the types of balls that Cesc is so good at.

4) Not sure what to say about Jenkinson yet, but he does seem to have a bit of pace. I like that Arsene is throwing him in with the first team to see what he can do.

5) Really hope to see the Chamakh from early last season soon.  

Is there a link for a live stream which someone can give?

does any1 know whats going on with JET? i thought he was a player to look out for but hes moving?

Serious work ethic issues, apparently.

GERVINHOOO!!!!

And Gervinho opens his account...

Live streams?

Gervinho will wear No. 22 but it is not confirmed as his squad number for the season.

Arsenal have named 14 subsitutes for the game, Cologne have 7.
A front three of Walcott, Gervinho and Chamakh is very interesting. In theory plenty of pace on the wings for width, and Hopefully giving crosses for Chamakh to get on the end of.

so Köln ah? so, training , right?
well, yeah Poldi, Rensing, but really, a training.

I laughed so hard at the pic that my dominos pizza almost got out! keep that good humour during the season...I will need it!!! hahahahahaha.

Re Cesc, I am so tired of this, it is as simple as get the right price, come on Barza. I men yeah the tactics and all that, but man, Cesc, if you ever go for under 45 million, you will be just degrading yourself, really. I mean, Modric, and the ones that happened: Carroll, Torres, even Sanchez for Christ sake!

I mean, really, if it happens for less, we should put that in the Saturday noght live section weekend update when Amy Poehler ans Seth Myers went: .......really!?

This is a bit off-topic, but does anyone agree with me that Arsenal's uniform with the white stripe down the arm was better than anything that has come since? Can I get an amen on that?

Nope. It was the worst sleeve design of the last while. 

Is it the 2008-10 home kit you are referring to? Then I'm not sure many would agree with you, as I get the impression that most people prefer the traditional white sleeves. I like the kit though, and also that jersey is the first Arsenal jersey I've ever owned.

Hmmm... not sure I paid as much attention to it.  I just know I didn't like last year's yellow and maroon uniform. 

I have a suggestion for the site. Not sure if this would be too big of a pain or not, but I, for one, would find it quite useful if you provided american tv coverage information for each game this season. also, not sure if you could get away with it, but if you posted links to live streams for the games, that would be very useful. or maybe just a link to a site with links to live streams (I have one in mind).

I think the Martin and Sairax used to provide tv info.  We'll probably try to do that as soon as the regular season starts.  I'll have to figure out where to look for all that, since I'll probably just know the American tv side of things, and not anything else.
As for links... I usually only find links right as games are starting.  So if I write a preview a day in advance, or an hour in advance, I won't know the stream.  But I suppose whoever writes the match thread can post an update of a good stream. 
I'm still not sure about all the little glitches in the comment system though.  I know I don't have moderator status when I comment, so I think my comments are subject to being kicked out just like anyone else's.  Still working through some things here...

I think it's good to never argue with Homey about Wenger's financial philosophy.  Just as a general rule.

Only if Diaby gets another contract with us.

His current contract is for 150k/wk and goes until 2020, so...

Serious? And here I thought Canada's welfare system was screwed up. Glorified welfare indeed.

No. Sorry. I should have said 250k/wk and 2030. 

You're excluding the free healthcare perk, which would be on par with Canada's welfare system.

Melo has been loaned out to Galatasaray. So yeah.. nothing in that rumor

"...where and how Wenger will Gervinho?" Martin would be all frowny face if he saw this...Come on. He taught you better than that.

Oh wow....

single instead of signal

(Blame IG for starting the proofreading.)

Why do I write here again?

I believe it's for the ladies. Hordes of adoring ladies. 

Yes all two of them. One being my daughter, the other my wife.