Interesting to see finnan on. He was onthe verge of a move away a few weeks ago, perhaps to bburn and now he's started a few games. Don't really rate him myself. I see him as rather a stop gap in that right sided role. I still feel we needa right sided player. Unless, of course, Garcia is ear marked for that position with Nunez out left. But, if that is teh case then it's strange that we haven't put garcia out right today and told harry to get wide left and played baros and cisse up top. Perhaps rafa's not liking the two big men up top and would prefer a link man. I would agree with this. We'll have to see whether both cisse and baros are happy with this though. It strikes me that both would rather be the main man, with the pressure of and expectancy that 20+ goals will follow. I don't like rotation up front.
Xabi will be a permanent fixture and I reckon his omission today is soley down to his mid week game. That said, he had a bit of a mare midweek and I'd bet he really wanted to play today to get it out of his system. He must be gutted to be on the bench. When you join a new club you need to get in to the team early on and make a name for yourself. Playing a bit part is always harder, especially when coming on off the bench for your home debut.
I expect a win today, but it'll be close. 2-1 is my guess.
