Rafa's Best XI?

[Shanks]

Based on players bought and sold throughout his time at the club..

For me..

Reina

Finnan Hyypia Carragher Riise

Luis Alonso Masch Benayoun

Gerrard

Torres

Subs: Dudek, Hamann, Agger, Sissoko, Crouch, Arbeloa, Kuyt.



Riise gets it over Doss and Aurelio and I reckon we could have won it last season if we'd have had a great link up player in Luis.

A decent Harry Kewell or Mark Gonzalez may have got that left wing spot.
Probably put Benni in for his creativity.

Up front, I don't believe we got to see the best of Bellamy or Keane which was a shame..


No place for Josemi, Nunez, Morientes, Degen, Voronin, Zenden, Dossena,

Any advance?

[Mike]

Mine would be the same but with Kuyt ahead of Benayoun.

Kuyt has done a lot more for us than Yossi.

[little dave hedgehog]

i'd find a spot for aurelio somewhere. probably on the bench.

[Shanks]

I think Yossi should have started a few more games.

[Tatterdemalion]

wow. Gonzalez gets a mention. And not ironically.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Luis was good but really shows the lack of wingers we've had doesn't it.

[Shanks]

Luis was good but really shows the lack of wingers we've had doesn't it.

I think we've had more than enough players to compete for that left side.
Even throwing Riise and Dossena in there a few times.

Had high hopes for Gonzalez at the time.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

I got took in by the Speedy Gonzalez hype as well. Riera looked good for the first few months too but we haven't really had a genuine threat. I want a winger that can beat his man and get the fans going, Babel threatens to be good one minute then sunday league the next.

[CJ]

Reina

Arbeloa Sami Agger Aurellio

Masch Alonso

Garcia Gerrard Riera

Torres

Reina - that has to be a given.

Aurellio - when fit the best left back we have had under rafa if he has to play lots of games then either arbeloa on the left ala his debut or riise

Agger and Sami. could easily choose carra over sami. I put agger there because of his ability to bring the ball out of defence if i ignored this it would be sami and carra but i think it has to be a fit agger plus one other.

arbeloa - i think he has been the best right back a bargain and so effeciant to.

masch and alonso - cant really say much as it speaks for itself

Gerrard - again an obvious

riera - this is the reira of his first season as he gave us soo much balance. i would chose garcia and put dirk on the right ?

Garcia - a great little player

Torres - you cant not can you

subs

dirk - even though i dont think he is good enough in many ways his stats says he are and he is one of those players who gets important goals and gives his all.

carra - or sami depending which i choose in the team.

babbel - just incase he learns how to play football.

bellamy

crouch

lucas

cavelieri.

[little dave hedgehog]

just thinking about it, arbeloa really was a tidy player for us. what did we get for him, 2.5 million, and spent 17 on glen johnson who doesn't defend as well, and didn't chip in enough goals to make up the difference?

i'm not saying we shouldn't have bought him, but arbeloa counts as home grown in spain as well. we should have held out for a much better price there imo.

[CJ]

how the hell could i forget didi.

he goes on the bench.

[Broner]

just thinking about it, arbeloa really was a tidy player for us. what did we get for him, 2.5 million, and spent 17 on glen johnson who doesn't defend as well, and didn't chip in enough goals to make up the difference?

i'm not saying we shouldn't have bought him, but arbeloa counts as home grown in spain as well. we should have held out for a much better price there imo.

Agree. I unfairly criticised Arbeloa too often when he was with us but you only see how good a player was when he isn't there...
We definitely could have done with having him this season.

Whenever i watched Madrid last season he was impressive too.

[Broner]

Oh and anyone who doesn't have Carra in there 11 is quite clearly an idiot

Don't give me this but but but Agger is more comfy on the ball ****e. So ****ing what??

[CJ]

Oh and anyone who doesn't have Carra in there 11 is quite clearly an idiot

Don't give me this but but but Agger is more comfy on the ball ****e. So ****ing what??

its called football. they kick the ball with their foot in the main.

to most fans its seen as an advantage to be able to kick the ball to one of your own players.

apart from that it is a bit overated.

[Broner]

its called football. they kick the ball with their foot in the main.

to most fans its seen as an advantage to be able to kick the ball to one of your own players.

apart from that it is a bit overated.

Nah there's 7 or 8 other outfield players that can play the football, but when you're a centre half you're job is to defend first and foremost.
Carra has been heroic for us blocking, heading, clearing, closing down and putting his body on the line for the cause.

To not include him is a bit of an insult imo.