Team for two lose...

[akjs123]

I think that's close to what we'll see...have people forgotten who we're playing on Sunday?! No chance Rafa plays a full strength, same team 3 times in one week. Especially given the conditions we've been told to expect in 'the Bowl' on Weds afternoon.

Our second teamers should be good enough to do an average French team, and even if they can't, bring back the big guns for the second leg at Anfield and we'll batter them

I think Crouch and Benni defo play, and Torres probably starts on the bench cos he's the man for Sunday. Got a big feeling he's opening his account against the Chavs

It would be better to have Pennant than Benni because Crouch benefits a lot from crosses while Benni provides defence splitting passes, something which Crouch hardly ever takes an advantage of because of his lack of pace.

[Craig_H]

Our second teamers should be good enough to do an average French team

Lucky that rafa's unlikely to be as complacent as this.

[Fiddy]

Lucky that rafa's unlikely to be as complacent as this.

We'll see. He has to justify the millions he's spent strengthening the squad, and this seems a perfect opportunity to me.

And please, the French league is utter garbage. Only half decent team is Lyon, our first team would murder all the rest so our seconds should be more than up to it, especially as so many of them have a point to prove

[Craig_H]

We'll see. He has to justify the millions he's spent strengthening the squad, and this seems a perfect opportunity to me.

And please, the French league is utter garbage. Only half decent team is Lyon, our first team would murder all the rest so our seconds should be more than up to it, especially as so many of them have a point to prove

Our 1st team probably would, our second team wouldnt...

And that kind of arrogance is what i'd come to expect from United and Chelsea, i'd hate to think we've gone down that road.

Respect every opponent, especially those who have just beaten a top club like Lyon....otherwise we could be left embarrassed and out of europe.

[Fiddy]

But it's two legged??

Personally I think if we play a full first team, we're disrespecting the Chavs and setting ourselves up for trouble against them. I'm sure Moronho will take the opportunity to rest a couple of key players against Reading, although no doubt he'll pay close attention to what Rafa does a few hours earlier

[Craig_H]

Yes it's two-legged, but if the 1st leg went disasterously wrong, we'd most likely be out.

Who wants to go into the 2nd leg needing a thrashing to go through?

No thanks!

I'm not saying play our BEST team necessarily, but certainly not a side of players with a handful of games under their belts and practically zero top level, CL experience.

[tommyg]

I would definitely try and finish the tie out there and then we can rotate for the return leg at Anfield.

---------Crouch--Torres
Babel--------Gerrard-------Pennant
-----------Mascherano
Riise----Agger-----Carra----Finnnan
--------------Reina

that looks tasty

[magicalbarnes]

Never understood that 'clean sheet' malarky away from home. I say go for goals and end the tie. Keep a clean sheet at home - given the away goals rule.

Simple - if you keep a clean sheet, you cant lose the match!

[AFII]

If we can take Elmander out of the game then it will be two easy games. Toulouse is a "one man team" and he is their most important player by a mile.

He is better than Kuyt or Crouch for example IMO.

[Ritchi3]

--------------Reina
Finnan---Carra--Hyypia---Arbeloa
Pennant---Mascherano---Alonso---Babel
-------------Crouch---Kuyt---------

Some youth, som experience, should be enough to beat them. Have Torres and Gerrard on the bench, just in case.

[Pacman]

I have a bad feeling about this game.

Didn't they just beat Lyon at the weekend?

[Shaggy]

A real quandary, this.

I see sense in both sides of the argument but I'm not sure where I stand.

What I do know is this:

Torres should start, for two reasons. He's used to playing in those sorts of temperatures, and we need him off the mark ASAP.

He should be partnered by Crouch. Kuyt keeps his place for the Chelsea game, for me, and should be rested for Toulouse with the fresh Crouch stepping in. Crouchie scored goals galore for us in Europe last season, including a winner in France.

Momo should play as should Benayoun.

[Bob]

--------------Reina
Finnan---Carra--Hyypia---Arbeloa
Gerrard---Mascherano---Alonso---Babel
----------Crouch---Torres---------

[dww]

--------------Reina
Finnan---Carra--Hyypia---Arbeloa
Gerrard---Mascherano---Alonso---Babel
----------Crouch---Torres---------

I'm tempted by something along those lines myself. I think in the potential heat a possession based team but with some pacy threat in Babel and Torres seems a good compromise.

I think that Benayoun if fit will definitely play some role in the game though.

[CAD]

I would definitely try and finish the tie out there and then we can rotate for the return leg at Anfield.

---------Crouch--Torres
Babel--------Gerrard-------Pennant
-----------Mascherano
Riise----Agger-----Carra----Finnnan
--------------Reina

Spot on