Which left sided combo with Kewell out?

[Guest Jodus]

So which left sided combo will we see in the opening weeks? I reckon

 

LB Riise LM Aurelio (expected for two Chelsea games and Everton away)

LB Riise LM Gonzalez (expected for home times)

LB Aurelio LM Gonzalez (unlikely but will be tried in friendlies)

LB Aurelio LM Riise (unlikely at all)

 

Aside from that, I would suspect that for almost any game Gonzalez doesn't start, he'll be on as a sub, he has impact player written all over him.

[Serko]

No Traore and Warnock option.

[RafaShanks]

Impossible to tell at moment with Aurelio and Gonzalez yet to kick a ball for us and Traore/Warnock still here, as already mentioned.

 

Why not wait till they've played a few friendlies.

[Mikael Akerfeldt]

There's no way Aurelio will immediately jump ahead of JAR for the left back slot. Not after the way he performed last season.

[charlie clown]

he has impact player written all over him.

 

I hate seeing tatoos on players.

[Serko]

I think Aurelio will start if we don't buy another set-piece taker. we have lacked a decent set-piece taker for a while now and he looks like he can deliver a good ball.

[alias75]

depends on the opposition...

[Lark]

we seem to have lots of options...

[Guz]

Garcia is an option on the left as well.

[vish]

clearly the aim is to use Aurelio & Gonzalez. Whether this will be done from the start of the season is unclear. We'll just have to wait & see..........

 

There's no way Aurelio will immediately jump ahead of JAR for the left back slot. Not after the way he performed last season.

 

 

Rafa has no problem replacing players with better ones.

 

Dudek, Finnan, Hamann etc..

 

Whether he turns out to be a Josemi or a Pepe/Momo is yet to be seen...

[Guest Jodus]

Why not wait till they've played a few friendlies.

 

Well you can wait until then to vote so.

[_00_deathscar]

Whoever impresses more out of Gonzales or Aurelio in pre season friendly will start in left midfield.

 

I think JAR will keep his left back spot, especially after last season - why try to fix something that ain't broke?

[Guest YKI]

Whoever impresses more out of Gonzales or Aurelio in pre season friendly will start in left midfield.

 

I think JAR will keep his left back spot, especially after last season - why try to fix something that ain't broke?

 

Why leave something the way it is when you can upgrade for free? Technically, this lad is on another level to Riise, who lacks technical ability. I've said it loads of times before but Riise is distinctly average. Riise works his a*** off and scores some goals but we need more than that. Aurelio, it seems has a lot more to his game, can cross very well (Riise very rarely gets beyond his man and puts in a decent cross), he can take set-pieces without having to blast them into the wall 99.9999% of the time, where Riise is the better player is fitness. Oh, and according to Rafa he's a better passer than Xabi. With the arrival of Gonzalez, Riise's playing time will be limited.

Edited July 7, 2006 by YKI

[_00_deathscar]

Why leave something the way it is when you can upgrade for free? Technically, this lad is on another level to Riise, who lacks technical ability. I've said it loads of times before but Riise is distinctly average. Riise works his a*** off and scores some goals but we need more than that. Aurelio, it seems has a lot more to his game, can cross very well (Riise very rarely gets beyond his man and puts in a decent cross), he can take set-pieces without having to blast them into the wall 99.9999% of the time, where Riise is the better player is fitness. Oh, and according to Rafa he's a better passer than Xabi. With the arrival of Gonzalez, Riise's playing time will be limited.

 

Have you ever seen Aurelio play?

[Guest YKI]

Have you ever seen Aurelio play?

 

No, I haven't but Rafa has. What I have seen is Riise play on numerous occasions and fail to inspire me. I also trust what the manager says, as well as a number of posters who have seen him play, I've also heard that the lad has been impressive in training, Balague has also said that he is a very good player. In short, I've yet to come across one person who has seen him play says he's not very good, which is enough for me. I've said for ages that I don't think Riise is very good.

 

"“Aurelio is a left full back or a left winger with a lot of quality,” said Benitez. “He can cross the ball superbly and he is maybe a better passer of the ball than Xabi Alonso.

 

“People will say ‘oh really?’ But you will see the quality of his crosses and passes with his left foot. He is also fantastic at set pieces.”

 

That'll do for me.

Edited July 7, 2006 by YKI

[Behind Enemy Lines]

.. Oh, and according to Rafa he's a better passer than Xabi......

 

 

can't wait