Ginu

We deserved the 3 points, but until we start putting teams away by grabbing that second goal we'll be seeing more of this. I'll go further and say I hope Riise doesn't ever start another game at left midfield for us because the number of times he went for power to just hoof the ball over the goal by blasting it as hard as he can makes him unfit to play that position. He does not contribute enough in that position to warrant a starting place and to be honest I hope he never enters the opposition's half again and plays at left back or sits on the bench. Yes he's scored some crackers and has scored a couple against Chelsea in the past, but his lack of so many needed qualities is extremely frustrating.

With Kewell injured, the only other option Rafa uses on the left is Riise, so for me Finnan Carra Agger Arbeloa Gerrard Alonso Mascherano Riise Kuyt Torres Babel, Pennant and Benayoun as the preferred subs.

I've seen that countless times now and I'm still shocked at how precise it was. Absolutely incredible.

Great result let's just not get carried away. Big match against Chelsea next weekend. Let's get them where it hurts. Realize it was only Villa today and we did miss countless chances. Our strikers will hit the target this year though I'm sure.

Gerrard Kuyt Torres

that's the best free kick i've ever seen Stevie take, i'll say that much

i agree just the early season jolt we needed

I'm going out on a limb and saying that, in the next couple of years, our first pair striking partnership will be Torres and Babel. He was bought as a midfielder but his touch, vision and control is great for a 20 year old and, as i said in the match thread, really does remind me of Henry when he started off on the wing. If not by the end of this season, then Torres and Babel up front def by the end of next.

who really cares? Gerrard Pennant Torres for me

I don't know what it is but Babel's touch, shot and vision really do remind me of Henry, even if it was just a few minutes.

Didn't expect this type of match on opening day did you

by the time they finished their posts we had already scored

STEVIEEE!!!!!

definitely... i think he'll rip that defender would like to see that

Pennant seems a lot more comfortable on the ball too compared to last season. Seems he needed a settling period as well. Torres's nutmeg was class when was the last time we saw that? Our final third play has been immense the last 20 minutes. Much better compared to our first match the last few years. Real sense of urgency here. It even looks like Stevie and Xabi have tried to do their part by getting similar haircuts to confuse the opposition!

Torres has a brilliant football mind as a striker - top class. Sounds of "Best Midfield In The World" by the fans. Great to hear that.

I'm surprised we're still talking about such a stupid topic as net spending when it logically doesn't even make sense to use it as a measure of spending power

Kuyt doesn't warrant a starting role IMO. Voronin instead. I didn't know Riise was such a selfish player.

I still think we needed Quaresma instead of Benayoun. Not that Benny is a bad player, but we needed a match winner rather than another squad player.

Not really. If things are going well you should bring them on with enough time to get to play. If things aren't going well let Torres sit a while longer until he's comfortable.

Reina Finnan Carra Agger Riise Gerrard Alonso Sissoko Kewell Voronin Crouch Voronin has shown a lot of creativity up front and he'll need less bedding in than Torres IMO. Kuyt's form has been brutal so leave him on the bench. Bring Torres on (70') and Pennant on (75')

Some kind of megaperson.

I think after the first two matches, a lot has been sorted truthfully.

I think we'll see Torres and Voronin playing up front as our first choice pairing. They both seem to have a lot of creativity in them and that's what's lacking IMO. Babel should compete with Kewell for the LM spot - I think Rafa was testing whether or not he could challenge Pennant on the right as well. It was pre-season after all. Crouch should come on when we need an aerial advantage and Kuyt when we need to press high - I see Voronin chases the ball as well too and would do well pressing as well. I don't think we'll see Gerrard playing off the striker and so more often than not he'll be at right midfield unless Rafa prefers Pennant's crossing ability on the flank.

does Heinze Ketchup have a song?