Aston Villa, build up and match thread

[Morten_nogamst_Pedersen]

utter bollox. Sami has lost what exactly? His pace? never had any did he? His reading of the game? You NEVER lose this! His aerial ability? Nope. Tell me what points he lost us? Of course Agger is in the team on merit - he's got more pace than Sami and it's needed if we're going to play a high line ahead of Pepe. He has youth on his side and those two reasons are why Sami is not in the team

[JPK]

That was not my point. I have watched Harry for years and i was looking for signs that he may be back to full fitness or near enough. I saw that although i am sure others expected more.

What i am trying to say is that both the club and Harry know it is last chance saloon. They bit the bullet 12 months ago and made the crucial decision to do the complete overhaul, a costly exercise (wages) with potentially a huge pay off.

That is why i am surprised people read so much into Harry's preseason form. He is basically just getting some match fitness and sharpness but i doubt very much he or Rafa want him busting his gut yet. Doesnt make sense for me.

If Rafa does not want him busting a gut,then Rafa is looking out for the player rather than the team.Rafa would not want a player in the squad if he was not 100%.We dont have time to be letting players gain sharpness and match fitness in important premiership games.That is what reserve games are for.That goes for all players

[Resu]

Carews biggest asset is speed and strength, we need Aggers pace over Samis Strength

[bigfooty]

Pepe Reina
Alvaro Arbeloa
Jamie Carragher
Daniel Agger
Steve Finnan
John Arne Riise
Steven Gerrard
Xabi Alonso
Jermaine Pennant
Dirk Kuyt
Fernando Torres

from rawk

[stevie_gerrard_8]

Rafael Benitez's first team selection of the season is as follows:

Pepe Reina
Alvaro Arbeloa
Jamie Carragher
Daniel Agger
Steve Finnan
John Arne Riise
Steven Gerrard
Xabi Alonso
Jermaine Pennant
Dirk Kuyt
Fernando Torres

Subs:

Charles Itandje
Sami Hyypia
Andriy Voronin
Ryan Babel
Momo Sissoko

Happy with that team to be honest. Would have liked to see Benayoun but the main thing is that Torres starts

[JPK]

Pepe Reina
Alvaro Arbeloa
Jamie Carragher
Daniel Agger
Steve Finnan
John Arne Riise
Steven Gerrard
Xabi Alonso
Jermaine Pennant
Dirk Kuyt
Fernando Torres

from rawk

If so he has given up on Riise at LB.At least Gerrard is in the middle.
Dirk and Torres should be interesting to see.
Squeeky bum time

[leftpeg]

Wasn't expecting Arbeloa. Good news that he's fit again.

[reddragon]

where the **** is mascher?

[Morten_nogamst_Pedersen]

From .TV

Rafael Benitez's first team selection of the season is as follows:

Pepe Reina
Alvaro Arbeloa
Jamie Carragher
Daniel Agger
Steve Finnan
John Arne Riise
Steven Gerrard
Xabi Alonso
Jermaine Pennant
Dirk Kuyt
Fernando Torres

Subs:

Charles Itandje
Sami Hyypia
Andriy Voronin
Ryan Babel
Momo Sissoko

[Pablo]

Slightly disappointed to see Riise at LM bearing in mind Villa have no recognised RB. Would have been nice to see a more attacking player tear into whoever fills in at RB for them.

BUT Torres starts!

[bigfooty]

Crouch 4th choice

[Morten_nogamst_Pedersen]

where the **** is mascher?

No Crouch either.

[reddragon]

Crouch 4th choice

ah but 1st/2nd choice in Europe?

[JPK]

Rafael Benitez's first team selection of the season is as follows:

Pepe Reina
Alvaro Arbeloa
Jamie Carragher
Daniel Agger
Steve Finnan
John Arne Riise
Steven Gerrard
Xabi Alonso
Jermaine Pennant
Dirk Kuyt
Fernando Torres

Subs:

Charles Itandje
Sami Hyypia
Andriy Voronin
Ryan Babel
Momo Sissoko

Happy with that team to be honest. Would have liked to see Benayoun but the main thing is that Torres starts

Voronin ahead of Crouch
Big year for Pennant

[john316]

where the **** is mascher?

Never likely to play today due to his late starting Preseaon - shocked that Kewell has not even made the bench though. Really though I'd seen the last of Riise as our make shift left sided player though