Flasher

Recent years - Dicks, McMahon, Batty, Ayala (all Argie centrebacks in fact), Baresi, Milosevic, Stam? Souness was a real mother f*****r. Every successful team has one nutter. Sissoko doesn't take any prisoners.

It is a good read, as ever. Certainly stuck it under the noses of Chelsea and Manure fans.

Nothing to see here. Also, Wardy. Man Utd aren't willing to let him go, in case you haven't noticed.

You seem to know an awful lot about him. Red Devil? Heinze can't defend? Oh please.....

Or Rafa, Ferguson and the Argentina coach all know what they're talking about, and you don't? I know where my money is.

Heinze is a very good left back, with emphasis being on defending first, just as left backs should do. Against the big teams he'd be great, and in Europe particularly.

Get in Big Wayne. Come on!!

I'm no longer convinced by him, so need convincing again. If he's not used 'in the box', and I sincerely hope he will be, then there seems to be no point to him. He's not a traditional 2nd striker by any means. He needs to be the main man in the box, like Crouch, with Veronin, & Torres the two strikers working in and around the box.

Should keep these to review in 9 months. Looks like Derby and Birmingham are doomed!

1. Liverpool (of course) 2. Man Utd 3. Chelsea 4. Arsenal 5. Spurs 6. Newcastle 7. Blackburn 8. Portsmouth 9. West Ham 10. Everton 11. Reading 12. Bolton 13. Villa 14. Man City 15. Middlesbrough 16. Sunderland 17. Fulham 18. Wigan 19. Birmingham 20. Derby

I've got Torres down for 3 goals too.

Wow. That's horrible reading all those results again. Some real shocking results in there considering how good we can really be. Starting fast & winning, does so much, not just to our confidence, but also to those playing against us next. So many teams don't even try against Chelsea or Man Utd, saving themselves instead for other games agasint their peers. Why? Because they find out very early on that both Chelsea and Man Utd are going to kill them. Notice how teams like Villa, City, Fulham, Portsmouth all up their games against us? It's not just because the big boys are in town and they want to shine, it's also because they know they have a reasonable chance of actually getting a point or points from us. We have to change the way others think about us. A winning start will do this. COME ON

Cheyrou?

I agree, but reckon that unless he's injured there will be too much pressure not to start him. I concede it sounds very unlike our club and unlike Rafa, but football is weird like that, no?

So, Alves Babel Lucas Veronin Torres Yossi Quaresma Chiellini or Heinze (sp) Leto etc..... Don't know whether to laugh or really laugh....

I too think only one new face will start, though I suspect Pennant is playing too well to leave out and Torres cost to much to leave out. I reckon if you swap Momo for Pennant and Veronin for Torres it will be very close to what actually happens.

Let me guess. You're Rafa right? £5 to me. I love peoples reactions to formation threads. So predictable Bit of fun FFS

When playing the crap teams that come to defend. ....................Reina ..Finnan.........Carra..........Agger ................Mascherano Yossi............Gerrard............Kewell Pennant.........Torres.........Babel The front six will kill everyone in sight. You're welcome. Have a nice day.

Yeah

Stadium sponsored by Milk?

Oh my god!!! When you look at that picture full size, 1) it's a great picture - enourmous! 2) The stadium looks awesome. Look at the size of the people within - it gives great perspective. Also. Lots going on at the AnnyRoad end. More windows and what looks like TV screens.. Great picture

i'm loving the fact that everyone seems to be getting forward. When we play with intensity all over the pitch, with the defenders pushing and prodding and starting the moves, we're unstoppable. Playing at pace really suits us.

Combined with the take over, the stadium - it's a fecking excellent summer.

Indeed that is 8, but we all kow Gerrard will play wide right from time to time. That's why I believe Babel will only play up front as part of a 3, not a two. And even then it will be wide. Numbers don't add up otherwise, since Veronin and Gerrard would have to be added making it 9, not 7. Perhaps Babel is definitely not being considered for the right side? I suspect he is though. 442 Babel considered for left or right 433 Babel considered for left or right of forward 3. = 4 positions. Possible competition includes my original list of 7 players including Babel. I win.

I refer you to my earlier post where I said wide right or left in either a 433 or 442. Not sure Crouch would play wide anything, do you? Or has he suddenly got blistering pace and skill to ghost past players and whip the ball in for someone else to head? Torres and Kuyt however can and have played out wide. Notice I didn't include Veronin either.