the digler

[Pablo]

I think Sissoko probably will start against Villa.

[Gazzla]

Or he could be like Alonso and go desperately downhill after his first season to an extent that he doesn't even warrant a place on the bench.

My god is nobody immune from a slating in this threat?

For the record I thought Reina was **** yesterday, he should have caught that penalty instead of parrying it.

[Shaggy]

I think Sissoko probably will start against Villa.

He's been awesome in pre-season, but it is only pre-season.

Also, IIRC, Momo & Masher started at Villa last season and I've seen more creativity inside a goldfish bowl.

I'd go with Masher, Alonso and Gerrard in front of them, with Torres on his own. If Masher isn't ready then in comes Momo.

[Gazzla]

He's been awesome in pre-season, but it is only pre-season.

Yet the mass hysteria continues

[Neil Young]

My god is nobody immune from a slating in this threat?

For the record I thought Reina was **** yesterday, he should have caught that penalty instead of parrying it.

That's a very good point, he was lucky the rebound didn't fall to a Feyenoord player.

Now it's only a pre-season friendly and we can draw no conclusions from it but I'm going to treat it as though it were not a pre-season friendly and going to draw some conclusions from it.

Reina - crap - should have caught the penalty (see above)
Arbeloa - crap - at fault for the pen even though it shouldn't have been given
Carra - crap - too much effort
Agger - crap - I know he's left-footed but does he have to use it more often than his right?
Riise - crap - at fault for the goal but it's the way he keeps being picked at LB that gets me
Pennant - crap - well, he just is, isn't he?
Gerrard - crap - scored a goal, woo f***ing hoo
Alonso - crap - needs to play better
Kewell - crap - I know he's left-footed but does he have to use it more often than his right?
Voronin - crap hair
Kuyt - crap - at fault for scoring a goal that wasn't given

Subs:
crap (can't be bothered appraising them by name)

Manager - crap - anyone could do better than him, especially Ray Houghton

[Rafa_el_Gafa]

villa play 4-5-1 (chelsea style)

if we are going to go 4-4-2 i'd play Momo because of his excellent workrate.


If we match them with 3 central midfielders, I think Rafa will go with...

Reine
Finnan agger carra riise

alonso masher
gerrard
Babel Kuyt
Torres

[Pablo]

He's been awesome in pre-season, but it is only pre-season.

Also, IIRC, Momo & Masher started at Villa last season and I've seen more creativity inside a goldfish bowl.

I'd go with Masher, Alonso and Gerrard in front of them, with Torres on his own. If Masher isn't ready then in comes Momo.

I agree, if it were me I would go with those three too, but I still think Mascherano will be eased back in after the Copa America.

[Pablo]

That's a very good point, he was lucky the rebound didn't fall to a Feyenoord player.

Now it's only a pre-season friendly and we can draw no conclusions from it but I'm going to treat it as though it were not a pre-season friendly and going to draw some conclusions from it.

Reina - crap - should have caught the penalty (see above)
Arbeloa - crap - at fault for the pen even though it shouldn't have been given
Carra - crap - too much effort
Agger - crap - I know he's left-footed but does he have to use it more often than his right?
Riise - crap - at fault for the goal but it's the way he keeps being picked at LB that gets me
Pennant - crap - well, he just is, isn't he?
Gerrard - crap - scored a goal, woo f***ing hoo
Alonso - crap - needs to play better
Kewell - crap - I know he's left-footed but does he have to use it more often than his right?
Voronin - crap hair
Kuyt - crap - at fault for scoring a goal that wasn't given

Subs:
crap (can't be bothered appraising them by name)

Manager - crap - anyone could do better than him, especially Ray Houghton

- on top form today Neil

[carheex]

Xabi's my favourite player but he was absymal yesterday. He needs to step it up, sharpish.

He was abysmal all last season aswell. He needs some benchtime as a timely kick up the bracket in my opinion.

[JPK]

villa play 4-5-1 (chelsea style)

if we are going to go 4-4-2 i'd play Momo because of his excellent workrate.


If we match them with 3 central midfielders, I think Rafa will go with...

Reine
Finnan agger carra riise

alonso masher
gerrard
Babel Kuyt
Torres

That is the same as I would go for.Swap Riise and Arbeloa and thats my eleven.

[JPK]

I agree, if it were me I would go with those three too, but I still think Mascherano will be eased back in after the Copa America.

Surely Monster cant be that tired.He did'nt play a whole lot last year.
We are a more solid team with him playing.

[Imy]

He was abysmal all last season aswell. He needs some benchtime as a timely kick up the bracket in my opinion.

Can't see that happening, i am sure Xabi is Rafa's secret love child

[smither]

sack parry

[marcus50bucks]

He's been awesome in pre-season, but it is only pre-season.

Also, IIRC, Momo & Masher started at Villa last season and I've seen more creativity inside a goldfish bowl.

I'd go with Masher, Alonso and Gerrard in front of them, with Torres on his own. If Masher isn't ready then in comes Momo.

Come on Shaggy, how many times do we have to play Gerrard in the forward position before we realise he just doesn't posses the necessary qualities to play that role? The last time he played the (Rooney position) was in the CL final and he was piss poor yet again.

[RedProf]

That's a very good point, he was lucky the rebound didn't fall to a Feyenoord player.

Now it's only a pre-season friendly and we can draw no conclusions from it but I'm going to treat it as though it were not a pre-season friendly and going to draw some conclusions from it.

Reina - crap - should have caught the penalty (see above)
Arbeloa - crap - at fault for the pen even though it shouldn't have been given
Carra - crap - too much effort
Agger - crap - I know he's left-footed but does he have to use it more often than his right?
Riise - crap - at fault for the goal but it's the way he keeps being picked at LB that gets me
Pennant - crap - well, he just is, isn't he?
Gerrard - crap - scored a goal, woo f***ing hoo
Alonso - crap - needs to play better
Kewell - crap - I know he's left-footed but does he have to use it more often than his right?
Voronin - crap hair
Kuyt - crap - at fault for scoring a goal that wasn't given

Subs:
crap (can't be bothered appraising them by name)

Manager - crap - anyone could do better than him, especially Ray Houghton

Good Post Neil

Sums up the mass hysteria that can be generated on a forum at times. Honestly, it's a good job that this isn't one big room where we all congregate to chat. There'd be more hot air and anxiety attacks than a mothers union meeting.