Marseille next

[AFII]

We should win this one. Marseille will be without Nasri and he is their best player. I hope that it's some truth behind the story that Rafa is still interested in him.

I doubt that Torres will play after playing two games in a row. Crouch usually plays better in the CL so he will probably play together with Voronin.

Finnan on the right after being rested. Maybe Rafa will play Arbeloa with Carra because Marseille isn't a big threat in the air. Aurelio will probably continue on the left.

Benayoun was rested so he will probably play from the start on the right with Mascherano and Gerrard in the middle. The left midfield position is more difficult to predict. Riise or Babel? I would go with Babel and Rafa will probably also do that after resting him against Wigan.

[Jayesh87]

We should win this one. Marseille will be without Nasri and he is their best player. I hope that it's some truth behind the story that Rafa is still interested in him.

I doubt that Torres will play after playing two games in a row. Crouch usually plays better in the CL so he will probably play together with Voronin.

Finnan on the right after being rested. Maybe Rafa will play Arbeloa with Carra because Marseille isn't a big threat in the air. Aurelio will probably continue on the left.

Benayoun was rested so he will probably play from the start on the right with Mascherano and Gerrard in the middle. The left midfield position is more difficult to predict. Riise or Babel? I would go with Babel and Rafa will probably also do that after resting him against Wigan.

Isn't Babel injured?

[Shaggy]

Yeah I'd rest Torres and save him for Spurs - although if Rafa does that no doubt he'll get ****ing slaughtered AGAIN - and go with Crouch and Voronin.

My team would be:

Reina

Finnan
Carra
Arbeloa
Aurelio

Benayoun
Mascherano
Gerrard
Leto (yes Leto)

Crouch
Voronin

I think blooding Leto in this competition mightn't be such a bad idea. He'll obviously get games in the Carling Cup, but Marseille are no great shakes and he should get enough time and space to do his thing. Babel, I think, is carrying a knock, and with Aurelio being used at left-back and Pennant rested, we're not exactly spoilt for choice.

I would sooner see us rest players/give others a chance in this stage of the CL than in the league. We'll walk this group, regardless of who we play.

[AFII]

Leto is a good option

I hope that Lucas at least will be on the bench. Maybe Rafa will rest Gerrard and play Sissoko, not a big chance but it may happen.

[Shaggy]

Leto is a good option

I hope that Lucas at least will be on the bench. Maybe Rafa will rest Gerrard and play Sissoko, not a big chance but it may happen.

That's the other one I thought about. With Xabi out, it actually lessens Momo's chance of getting a game - cos he can't play with Gerrard so it's one or the other, with Mascherano a certainty.

He's not gonna play against Spurs so this might be a rare chance to give Momo a game. Tough one. I don't like 'resting' Gerrard too often and he needs to play his way back into some sort of form.

Hmmmm...........

[CAD]

Marseille - won 1 out of the first 9 league matches.

I would field a 4-3-3 and blow them out of their knickers.

Reina
Finn, Carra, Arbeloa, Fabio
Yossi, Mascher, Gerrard
Voronin, Crouch, Torres

Let's have some fun with this game!

[The Glove]

Strongest side possible will play.

[Shaggy]

Strongest side possible will play.

You reckon? Against a really **** team with another must-win league game on Saturday?

[cobain]

Strongest side possible will play.

I think so too. After all, Premiership is our priority

[Chris]

Strongest side possible will play.

Yep, would of thought so, get our first win under our belts and rest people when we're actually qualified. Spurs is on the Sunday aswell so an extra days rest.

[Craig_H]

Yeah I'd rest Torres and save him for Spurs - although if Rafa does that no doubt he'll get ****ing slaughtered AGAIN

Not by me he wont. I've no problems with Torres being benched for Marseille. HE might though

[The Glove]

You reckon? Against a really **** team with another must-win league game on Saturday?

Yep. We need the 3 points. Rafa will want that all sorted. Expect us to try and finish the game off by half time so then he can take people off.

[JPK]

Crouch will play.He is well suited to this competition.They are a worse team than Toulouse at the moment.Torres should sit this out and be fresh for Spurs.

[Dhav]

Not by me he wont. I've no problems with Torres being benched for Marseille. HE might though

Agreed and....

Crouch will play.He is well suited to this competition.They are a worse team than Toulouse at the moment.Torres should sit this out and be fresh for Spurs.

Agreed.

European game is ideally suited to the likes of Crouch and Kuyt (not to say that Torres isn't suited to it), but the fact that those two are painfully slow is not the detriment in Europe that it is in the Premiership. Hence why these two should play (or even Voronin instead of Kuyt) and Torres being held back for a crucial (but winnable) league game.

[Imy]

We should also get to see how good this Samir Nasri is, the hype claims he is the next Zidane!!