More of manager Tim Sherwood’s pre Arsenal FA Cup press conference is now starting to filter through and the gaffer says we are prepared for them this weekend.
It’s quotes carried by Sky Sports so far, Sherwood explained that he didn’t believe our two heavy losses to them earlier in the season will have any effect this weekend as it’s a Cup game and anything can happen.
Obviously he also wasn’t in charge for the five nil and three nil defeats.
‘It’s a one-off game and form goes out the window, we know that we are the underdogs, we know that Arsenal have been there and done that. They are the holders of the trophy and it is going to be very difficult for us but we are not just there to make the numbers up, but to give them a good game.’
Having already won against Liverpool on the Wembley soil this season, Sherwood has no worries about us coping mentally with the atmosphere on the day and he’s hoping that we rise to it given recent defeats.
‘The boys performed on a big stage against Liverpool and we thoroughly deserved to win that game and we are hoping we can do the same against Arsenal.’
With no clues given to us on what the starting eleven will be on the day, he does admit he already has ideas and we have been working on our shape and formation in training – but even if the formation is set he has options in terms of the playing staff – but the players themselves do have an idea.
‘They pretty much know – we have done shape in training but there may be a few changes to be made and we swapped a few bibs. The core of it is there but there are still places up for grabs and we have another day of training, but with our track record we will probably lose a couple with injuries. It’s hard but as a manager it’s your job and you have to pick the team and do a job for the club, it’s nothing personal it’s just about trying to win that game.’
With the earlier injury news, he’s also quoted as saying.
‘Shay trained today so we’re hopeful he’ll be alright. But the nature of this club is you can’t hold your breath. I’ve not yet made my decision on the goalkeeper. Come back tomorrow and I’ll tell you then. Kieran trained today, Cissokho is fit and Okore trained for the first time today. If everyone’s fit we could play the same team as the semi-finals.’
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