So what is it?

[blacky]

Our best 11 that is.......All this talk of squad rotation has my head in a spin. Let's say for some reason or another Rafa decided to play the same 11 for the next 3 games or so who would you/he pick? We are missing Alonso and Agger badly IMO but we should have the squad to cope until they return

I'd go with

-----------Pepe-------------
Finnan--Carra--Hyppia-Arbeloa
Pennant--Masch--SG---Benni
--------Kuyt-----Torres------

[Lee]

Hmm, without Alonso and Agger, I would probably go for

Reina
Finnan Carragher Hyypia Arbeloa
Benayoun Gerrard Mascherano Riise
Babel Torres


LM was a toss up between Riise & Aurelio. I'd like to see Crouch with more playing time but I think Babel & Torres up front together could be very interesting

[Howard_lfc]

Reina

Finnan Carragher Agger Riise

Alonso Masher

Pennant Gerrard Babel

Torres

[Los Rojos]

Without Agger and Alonso

Reina
Finnan Carragher Arbeloa Riise
Pennant Gerrard Mascherano Babel
Kuyt Torres

With Agger and Alonso

Reina
Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa
Pennant Alonso Mascherano Babel
Gerrard
Torres

[Los Rojos]

Reina

Finnan Carragher Agger Riise

Alonso Masher

Pennant Gerrard Babel

Torres

Apart from Arbeloa for Riise

[Frank Leroux]

I'll get destroyed for this but.....

...lets 'Wenger-ise' the team:

Reina

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa

Babel Alonso Mascherano Gerrard

Benayoun

Torres


Yep. Babel on the right, Gerrard on the left. Neither are wingers so let them cut in onto their strong sides. Have Finnan and Arbeloa providing some width. Have someone intelligent enough to be able to feed Torres appropriately (not completely sure Benayoun is the perfect partner - but he's probably the best we have).

But of course, we're not Arsenal.

Frank.

[Howard_lfc]

I'll get destroyed for this but.....

...lets 'Wenger-ise' the team:

Reina

Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa

Babel Alonso Mascherano Gerrard

Benayoun

Torres


Yep. Babel on the right, Gerrard on the left. Neither are wingers so let them cut in onto their strong sides. Have Finnan and Arbeloa providing some width. Have someone intelligent enough to be able to feed Torres appropriately (not completely sure Benayoun is the perfect partner - but he's probably the best we have).

But of course, we're not Arsenal.

Frank.

Babel's not a wideman Frank. I'd move him infield a little.

[Frank Leroux]

Babel's not a wideman Frank. I'd move him infield a little.

Oh I know, Howard - or I'm getting that impression the more I see of him - that's why I have him on the right so he can follow his instinct and cut inside and do whatever he does further in field.

I would see him as our Hleb.

Frank.

[AFII]

----------------Reina
Finnan-----Carra------Arbeloa----Aurelio
----------------Mascherano
Gerrard---------Lucas------------Riise
------------Babel
-------------------Torres

[Emmo]

..........Reina

Finnana Carra Hyppia Arbelo

.......Gerrard..Masher

Babel......Kuyt........Benny

..............Torres

Emmo

[memzey]

-----------Pepe-------------
Finnan--Carra--Agger-Arbeloa
Stevie--Masch--Xabi---Benni
------Crouch-----Torres------

Or...

-----------Pepe-------------
Finnan--Carra--Agger-Arbeloa
Pennant--Masch--SG---Benni
--------Kuyt-----Torres------

[Frank Leroux]

Mmmm, didn't read the original post correctly.

Without Agger & Alonso:

Reina

Finnan Carragher Arbeloa Riise

Babel Benayoun Macherano Gerrard

Kuyt Torres


Frank.

[dww]

I have to say it is not at all obvious. Several players are off form or struggling for fitness at the minute and as such I think that both wide midfield positions and left back are very much up for grabs.

My core for the best team would be:

---------------Reina-----------------
Finnan--Carra--Agger--?????
????---Alonso--Gerrard-????
-----------Kuyt----Torres----------

I would ideally have Aurelio at left back but his fitness means it is hard to put him in as previously it seems to have taken him a few games to look comfortable in the team. I like Arbeloa defensively and in terms of moving the ball into midfield in the position but his overlapping and crossing are limited. Riise is a decent compromise but I think we need both fullbacks to be good at crossing from deep and passing short into midfield and in both these areas he is not great.

In terms of wingers a case can be made for all of them but at the minute Pennant is off form and so his lack of goals/threat mean he is hard to back without some hesitation. Babel looks like a young player coming to terms with a new team, a new league and a new position but I see promise. Benayoun is currently the one I would be most likely to put in but I still have some reservations about his crossing and whether he offers enough width when not specifically told to stay wide.

[Parr_Zee]

Reina

Finnan Carragher Agger Riise

Alonso Masher

Pennant Gerrard Babel

Torres

Totally agree - That is our best XI.

[dww]

Mmmm, didn't read the original post correctly.

Without Agger & Alonso:

Reina

Finnan Carragher Arbeloa Riise

Babel Benayoun Macherano Gerrard

Kuyt Torres


Frank.

Me either. Given those constraints I would put Hyypia in at CB in your team and swap Gerrard and Benayoun's positions. I would like to play Aurelio at LB but his fitness/form would be a concern but I think he would improve the team offensively.