A Quiet Friday

After all the wailing and gnashing of teeth it is now back to the Bloggers nightmare, a weekend without a game. That's not my only gripe of the day.

We now face a gap of a month without a home game between the draw (yes, we did not lose!) on Wednesday and the visit of West Ham on April 7th.. There is a fixture to be arranged with Manchester City but with an international weekend in a fortnight it is unlikely that can be squeezed in before the week of the Hammers clash.

That means our quest for third place, or better, takes to the road at Villa Park before consecutive journeys to Merseyside. I would love to meet the half-wit who programmes the fixture computer every June.

Perhaps of greater concern right now is who will be playing up front in those fixtures. We should hear later today just how long we wil be missing Adebayor for his post-card antics in Cardiff. With Robin Van Persie and Thierry Henry now seemingly neighbours on the long-term treatment table that probably means an extended run for Baptista and Aliadiere.

The issue is complicated by the operation hanging over Theo Walcott right now. I don't think I am alone in hoping he may be given a few starts up front rather than persisting with two players who may or may not be part of the set-up next season.

Further back I am beginning to wonder if Gilberto is being primed for a move into the back four a-la Frank Mclintock. There is no question that we have an abundance of riches in centre midfield at present. Diaby, Denilson, Fabregas, and Bert himself would provide a real selection poser if all were fit and on form. Switching the 'invisible wall' could be one option being considered.

So that's another week pretty much over. Whatever you have planned for the weekend I hope it goes well. Mrs Holic is talking up a trip to the leather sofa people. I don't think she'll accept the excuse that West Ham, being a grade A game, will limit the capacity of my wallet. After all, it is four weeks away.