Big kick off tomorrow - pick the team

[Shaggy]

Finally we've seen action on the transfer front and our squad is beginning to have a different look about it. For the sake of a bit of respite from the transfer forum nonsense, let's talk actual football for a change and imagine the Villa game is tomorrow. What side would YOU pick (not what you think Rafa will pick) and why.

For the sake of argument include Benayoun and Babel as squad members - as both appear to be formalities.

Starting XI, formation and five subs.

I need to have a think about mine.

[stevie_gerrard_8]

Reina
Finnan Carra Agger Riise (Aurelio if fit)

Gerrard Masch Alonso Kewell

Kuyt Torres/Crouch

Subs:
Carson
Arbeloa/Hyypia
Pennant
Momo
Crouch/Kuyt

Main priority is to get win, so play a safe solid team. Play Torres etc. in a nice easy home game

[saj]

Reina

Finnan
Carra
Agger
Riise

Pennant
Lucas (Don't ask me why)
Gerrard
Hammill (I have faith in this guy, but again - don't ask me why)

Kuyt
Torres

[kurtangle01]

..................................Reina
...Finnan........Carragher.........Agger.......Rii se

....................Alonso............Mascherano

Gerrard........................................... ...Babel

..............................Torres

..............................Crouch

Carson
Hyypia
Momo
Benayoun or Kewell or Pennant
Kuyt

[Shaggy]

Reina

Finnan
Carra
Agger
Riise

Pennant
Lucas (Don't ask me why)
Gerrard
Hammill (I have faith in this guy, but again - don't ask me why)

Kuyt
Torres

Hammill?!?!?! Lucas? Man.....are you pissed up?

[Marky]

..................................Reina
...Finnan........Carragher.........Agger.......Rii se

....................Alonso............Mascherano

Gerrard........................................... ...Babel

..............................Torres

..............................Crouch

Carson
Hyypia
Momo
Benayoun or Kewell or Pennant
Kuyt

Same with me

[paulc]

Finally we've seen action on the transfer front and our squad is beginning to have a different look about it. For the sake of a bit of respite from the transfer forum nonsense, let's talk actual football for a change and imagine the Villa game is tomorrow. What side would YOU pick (not what you think Rafa will pick) and why.

For the sake of argument include Benayoun and Babel as squad members - as both appear to be formalities.

Starting XI, formation and five subs.

I need to have a think about mine.

Reina

finnan
carra
agger
riise
lennon
gerrard
mach
kewell
torres
villa

[Sir Bob]

Reina

Finnan
Carra
Agger
JAR

Pennant
Masher
SG
Babel

Crouch
Torres

Subs
Carson
Arbeloa
Aurelio
Alonso
Kuyt

I think we've got to play 442 away from home, bollox to this 1 upfront malarkey against the likes of villa. Lets face facts the Mancs & Chavs will beat Villa away & so must we. Crouch must play away from home upfront. In his 1st season our way form was much better than last season. A big reason for this is Crouch. He can hold the ball up 10 times better than kuyt.

[Morph]

Reina

Finnan Carra Agger Aurelio
Pennant Gerrard Masch Kewell
Kuyt Torres

Bench

Carson
Arbeloa
Crouch
Benayoun
Babbel

on a side note how hard is it to pick a 16 man squad, that still leaves out:

Hyppia, Riise, Sissoko, Alonso, Lucas, Leto, Voronin

I reckon Rafa's got a job on his hands here

[blacky]

Think Rafa will have learned from last year and will field strongest team against Villa

-----------------Reina----------------
Finnan----Carra--------Agger-----Riise
Pennant-----SG---Alonso-------Kewell
-----------Kuyt-----Crouch-----------

[saj]

Hammill?!?!?! Lucas? Man.....are you pissed up?

Nah man, I'm just being a bit adventurous. In reality, it would probably be Alonso and Kewell. But Villa are a bit **** against us (hence my inclusion of the 2 young ones), so realistically we could put our under 15's against them with Robbie Fowler up front and confortably win 3 -1 with a Fowler a hat-trick

[Shaggy]

on a side note how hard is it to pick a 16 man squad, that still leaves out:

Hyppia, Riise, Sissoko, Alonso, Lucas, Leto, Voronin

I reckon Rafa's got a job on his hands here

Exactly what I was fishing for. Hard innit. Our squad, today, is better than it's been for years.

Haven't picked my team yet.

Early consensus....Voronin and Leto nowhere to be seen (unsurprisingly), split opinions on the front pair (again, unsurprisingly)....but the most striking thing is........Gerrard on the right. Still.

[blacky]

Think Rafa will have learned from last year and will field strongest team against Villa

-----------------Reina----------------
Finnan----Carra--------Agger-----Riise
Pennant-----SG---Alonso-------Kewell
-----------Kuyt-----Crouch-----------

Subs Carson,Babel,Beneyoun,Torres,Arbeloa

[Shaggy]

Think Rafa will have learned from last year and will field strongest team against Villa

-----------------Reina----------------
Finnan----Carra--------Agger-----Riise
Pennant-----SG---Alonso-------Kewell
-----------Kuyt-----Crouch-----------

Not one single new signing? No Torres?

No Mascherano?

[saj]

Think Rafa will have learned from last year and will field strongest team against Villa

-----------------Reina----------------
Finnan----Carra--------Agger-----Riise
Pennant-----SG---Alonso-------Kewell
-----------Kuyt-----Crouch-----------

Close to mine, except I'd have Torres up front