Actually I rate Ospina ahead of Cech in the ability to play the ball out of defence ( important to Wenger). Cech back is also proper, but that is not taking anything away from Ospina’s performance. So Mert in the line up is a right response. That said, C Pal has scored 13 goals from set pieces this season, second only to Spurs with 17 goals. Carrol can be unplayable in the air and anyway it was our full backs that challenged those headers with which he scored. Nice preview, though imo you seem to be still overreacting to the West Ham game.

Let’s make sure the fat lady will not be singing for a while longer, at least. Really looking forward to seeing the boys in action again, and if we can win today and follow it up with two wins in the next seven days, we might get very close to the leaders. The rest is there to keep the spine strong and defend calmly and decisively, as well as provide the creativity and forward thrust from the centre. So for me, these four positions and players are key today. But we will also need the full backs to support the mid-wingers, by providing width and penetration from the flanks. A lot to ask for but definitely not inconceivable, so let’s focus on our part and play with focus and deadliness.Īlexis and Iwobi have to work hard to link up with their fellow FBs, by playing close to them in defence and tracking back constantly. So a sensible approach with the aim to keep a clean sheet and score at least a goal is what we need.Ī win today and a loss by the Foxes, and then an Arsenal win against West Brom midweek, would mean a reduction of the gap to ‘just’ six points. But playing for the home crowd can be a nervy business, especially if and when the opposition keeps pumping balls into the box and one of those Adebarndoor or Wickham headers goes in. You could argue, why should we be so defensively minded for this game: we are the Arsenal playing at home let’s get at them and constantly attack. The Frenchman is also a lot more clinical and will be hungry to start. Welbeck is a mobile CF and his mobility and unpredictability allow others to shine, but at set pieces I prefer Ollie any time. I like the dynamism of the Koz and Gabriel combo, but they lack organisational control between them and have to work far too hard to control the aerial threat of opponents when constantly put under pressure so reintroducing the BFG makes sense to me. I love Ospina but Cech is calmer and organises his CBs better. So time to restore some balance in defence and in the spine, and add some vital inches to the team, with the reintroduction of Cech, the BFG and Giroud. He will have noticed how badly we dealt with the neanderthal approach to attacking football by the Hammers last week, and with Adebarndoor and Wickham they have two guys who could rule the airways against us once again. Nevertheless, we have to be careful as Pardew is a wily fox who is good at team tactics and game strategy, especially, it appears, in away games against the stronger teams (on paper).

Palace are almost safe in the PL so a chance to make it to the FA cup final, against fellow Londoners Watford next weekend, will be featuring strongly on their minds. Crystal Palace are coming to the home of football and like our previous opponents Everton, Watford and West Ham, they have FA cup footie on their mind.

As the story progresses, the genre and tone seamlessly shift to something more surreal and focuses in on the existential nature of mortality.Short Match Preview today, as 17HT and I are busy. The themes and commentary in Backbone are not subtle and it's all the better for it. The most obvious is the commentary on class struggle and oppressive societies, highlighting how those in power eat up and spit out those stuck in cycles of poverty and subtly segregate them through rampant systemic racism. The honesty of this commentary only deepens the player's connection to Howard, and Howard's connection to others. The soundtrack by Danshin and Aroof Aftab elevates the experience, providing players with what EggNut appropriately describes as ' dystopian doom jazz.' It not only captures the aesthetic and style of detective noirs, it relays the complex emotions felt by Backbone's characters and the city itself. This gives Backbone a unique style due to being able to incorporate dynamic lighting and weather effects to help render a cold and existential world. Thanks to the versatility of Unreal Engine 4, Backbone's visuals are comprised by a mix of 3D effects and high-res pixel art. What immediately stands out about Backbone is its art direction and soundtrack.

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