Team vs Villa

[El Jefecito]

We are talking about Villa here, not Barca ffs !

If we are going to improve in the League we must win more and score more goals away from home. Assuming Masher is not ready...

Reina
Finnan
Carra
Agger
Riise
Pennant
Gerrard
Xabi
Kewell
Torres
Crouch

I just can't see Sir Stevie playing in the middle, and Momo & Xabi's pre-season form it would be a shame to drop them. Given that SG is more likely to score than JP, I think he'll end up on the wing and Momo will provide penetration from the middle.

[stevie_gerrard_8]

Mine too and in the copa america he outscored Tevez

Do you think Masch will be back for the Chelsea game?

[El Jefecito]

Do you think Masch will be back for the Chelsea game?

Nah, it's too early for him. He won't be fit enough

[El Jefecito]

..................Reina
Finnan....Carra....Agger....Riise
...........Alonso....Sissoko......
...Kuyt.......Gerrard........Babel
................Torres

babel won't play, he hasn't learnt how to link up with the rest of the team yet. May get on as a sub, but I think it will be a fair few weeks before he's ready to start a game.

[stevie_gerrard_8]

babel won't play, he hasn't learnt how to link up with the rest of the team yet. May get on as a sub, but I think it will be a fair few weeks before he's ready to start a game.

So why do you think Torres will play? Im not sure whether to start him or to ease him in.

[Nick77]

I think the team will be something along the lines of:
---------------Reina---------------
Finnan-----Carra----Agger------Riise(or Heinze/Baines if purchased by then)
Pennant---Masch---Alonso----Kewell(or Riise if Heinze/Baines arrive by then)
--------------Stevie----------------
----------Torres/Kuyt/Crouch--------

All depending on injuries of course

[El Jefecito]

So why do you think Torres will play? Im not sure whether to start him or to ease him in.

El Jefecito has played in the Copa America so hasn't had time to join up for pre-season. I think fitness wise he is a couple of weeks behind.

[stevie_gerrard_8]

El Jefecito has played in the Copa America so hasn't had time to join up for pre-season. I think fitness wise he is a couple of weeks behind.

I was talking about Torres mate. Sorry about that

[vonk]

I don't think Babel will be a regular for some time. He will get substitute appearances for a while to get used to the pace. Benny is much more likely to start. For the first game I think it''ll be this:

Reina
Finnan Carra Agger Riise

Alonso Momo Mascher Kewell/Benny

Gerrard
Torres

[Red_Polo]

Team I would put out...

--------------REINA---------
--FINNAN-CARRA-AGGER-RIISE
PENNANT-GERRARD-ALONSO-KEWELL
----------TORRES--CROUCH-----

I expect Rafa to go with Momo in the middle and Gerrard on the right instead of Pennant, as well as Kuyt in place of Crouch. Either way we ought to be turning the ***** over.

[WILF]

Team I would put out...

--------------REINA---------
--FINNAN-CARRA-AGGER-RIISE
PENNANT-GERRARD-ALONSO-KEWELL
----------TORRES--CROUCH-----

I expect Rafa to go with Momo in the middle and Gerrard on the right instead of Pennant, as well as Kuyt in place of Crouch. Either way we ought to be turning the ***** over.

Spot on

I would love to see us play Pennant and Crouch instead of Momo and Kuyt

[dww]

I don't think Babel will be a regular for some time. He will get substitute appearances for a while to get used to the pace. Benny is much more likely to start. For the first game I think it''ll be this:

Reina
Finnan Carra Agger Riise

Alonso Momo Mascher Kewell/Benny

Gerrard
Torres

But you do think we will play Alonso on the wing?

[Fubar]

Against teams like Villa, injuries permitting, the team i would put out to rip them a new A would be:

-------------------Reina------------------
-Finnan----Carra----------Agger----Riise--
-------------------Xabi-------------------
--Stevie----------Voronin---------Aurelio--
----------Crouch------------Torres--------

it is left wing that i am a little unsure of but i think Aurelio would fit the bill to allow good crosses in to crouch and torres whislt allowing defensive cover for Riise. Also, thinking of the way that the players played last season, everyone seems to be getting the idea that Rafa wants of being more flexible in the role and covering others to allow runs and attacking play to build up.

just imagine that line up if villa got a corner and the ball broke to any of our players. it has always pissed me off to see the scum players breaking with 4, 5 or 6 players giving them so many options but now maybe we can do the same

[paulcooper4]

-------------Reina-------------
Finnan---Carra----Agger--Riise--
Gerrard--Momo---Xabi---Kewell--
---------Torres--Kuyt-----------