Team for Fiorentina

[TheBunnyman]

We play on Tuesday night, and the Chelsea game isn't till the Sunday, so plenty of time to recuperate in between. So what team should we play? Stick to the same players who thrashed Hull, and expect them to play three games in eight days? Or is it rotation time?

I'd go with:


Reina

Johnson - Carra - Skrtel - Aurelio

Mascherano - Gerrard

Babel - Yossi - Riera

Torres


because we need to get Fabio match-fit again, and to decide whether he or Insua should face Chelsea. Because Carra and Skrtel need to learn how to play together nicely, and restore some lost confidence. Because Mascherano needs to sharpen up again before the Chelsea match. Because Babel deserves a start after his last four appearances, and Kuyt could probably do with a rest/reminder that he's not an automatic pick. Ideally we'd take Stevie, Yossi and Nando off after an hour or so, and give a run-out to Wash, Kuyt and Lucas, but this might be a tough game so no point planning that in advance.

Oh, and I think we'll win 2-0.

 

[Skullflower]

same here.

 

[Squiggles]

I hope it's rotation time.

I'm fast running out of players on 'The Last Man Standing'.

 

[Skullflower]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36093.msg952053#msg952053 date=1254065197]
I hope it's rotation time.

I'm fast running out of players on 'The Last Man Standing'.
[/quote]

aurelio, mash and nucka is plenty rotation.

 

[Squiggles]

[quote author=Skullflower link=topic=36093.msg952056#msg952056 date=1254065278]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36093.msg952053#msg952053 date=1254065197]
I hope it's rotation time.

I'm fast running out of players on 'The Last Man Standing'.
[/quote]

aurelio, mash and nucka is plenty rotation.


[/quote]

True - I do hope that's the team and for more than just the SCM game;

Babel's worthy of a start on the right and Riera played impressively against Hull.

Being a pedant but Gerrard won't be as restricted as the two holding midfielders are in the 4-2-3-1 system, so it'll be more of a:

------------Masher
---------------Gerrard
----Babel---Yossi--------Riera

 

[Rosco]

You make it sound like Fiorentina will be a pushover Bunny.

 

[Skullflower]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=36093.msg952063#msg952063 date=1254065793]
You make it sound like Fiorentina will be a pushover Bunny.
[/quote]

i think we'll batter them.

 

[madmax]

It will be a draw. Draw is a good result, actually.

 

[Squiggles]

That teams strong enough to overcome Fiorentina.

I don't know much about them but I'd be surprised if we weren't favourites for the 3 points.

 

[keniget]

---------------- Reina
Johnson -- Carra -- Skrtel -- Aurelio
----------- Lucas -- Masher
Kuyt -------- Gerrard ---------- Yossi
--------------- Torres

The midfield was pretty awful against Hull and with the defence being as shit as it has been recently, I don't want to see us get caught out and punished by a superior side.

We're away from home, Fiorentina have good players and on their day can be quite dangerous - let's keep it compact, organized and hopefully our attackers will continue to score freely.

 

[Modo]

To be honest I'd rather play Insua against Chelsea than Aurelio.

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36093.msg952075#msg952075 date=1254068314]
That teams strong enough to overcome Fiorentina.

I don't know much about them but I'd be surprised if we weren't favourites for the 3 points.
[/quote]

How can you say any side is strong enough to overcome Fiorentina when you say you don't know much about them ?

 

[Zammo]

Why would we suddenly go with the unproven, and woeful, Gerrard/Mascherano CM combo?

Same team as Saturday, with Masch in for Riera, and maybe Aurelio in for Insua.

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=36093.msg952063#msg952063 date=1254065793]
You make it sound like Fiorentina will be a pushover Bunny.
[/quote]

Really? Was it when I said "this might be a tough game"?

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=Zammo link=topic=36093.msg952115#msg952115 date=1254072720]
Why would we suddenly go with the unproven, and woeful, Gerrard/Mascherano CM combo?

Same team as Saturday, with Masch in for Riera, and maybe Aurelio in for Insua.
[/quote]

Unproven - and woeful?

Hmm... anyone get the feeling we've met Zammo before?

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=36093.msg952107#msg952107 date=1254072153]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36093.msg952075#msg952075 date=1254068314]
That teams strong enough to overcome Fiorentina.

I don't know much about them but I'd be surprised if we weren't favourites for the 3 points.
[/quote]

How can you say any side is strong enough to overcome Fiorentina when you say you don't know much about them ?
[/quote]

Because they lost to Lyon and they're only fifth in Serie A and they've got very little European form while we've been consistently one of the best teams in Europe for the past five years? I don't think it will be easy, as I've said, but I do think we can win this game.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

We should win all 6 really. At minimum, win 4 draw 2 (fiorentina and lyon away)

 

[Frogfish]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36093.msg952075#msg952075 date=1254068314]
That teams strong enough to overcome Fiorentina.

I don't know much about them but I'd be surprised if we weren't favourites for the 3 points.
[/quote]

They lie 5th in the Scudetto at the moment and have an excellent home record based around their defence - they are not free scorers.

Home : 3 0 0
Away : 1 1 1
Goals : 7 - 4

This will not be an easy match. If we win great but I'd be happy with a draw and then beat them at Anfield.

 

[Zammo]

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=36093.msg952129#msg952129 date=1254074052]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=36093.msg952107#msg952107 date=1254072153]
[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=36093.msg952075#msg952075 date=1254068314]
That teams strong enough to overcome Fiorentina.

I don't know much about them but I'd be surprised if we weren't favourites for the 3 points.
[/quote]

How can you say any side is strong enough to overcome Fiorentina when you say you don't know much about them ?
[/quote]

Because they lost to Lyon and they're only fifth in Serie A and they've got very little European form while we've been consistently one of the best teams in Europe for the past five years? I don't think it will be easy, as I've said, but I do think we can win this game.

[/quote]

Kinel - another footballing genius.

 

[Gripper Stebson]

I'm gonna get Row-land to belly flop you if you don't shut it you big massive cant.

 

[Skullflower]

[quote author=Gripper Stebson link=topic=36093.msg952157#msg952157 date=1254075761]
I'm gonna get Row-land to belly flop you if you don't shut it you big massive cant.
[/quote]

 

[Gripper Stebson]

Bin ages since I seen Zammo's mar

 

[Squiggles]

I just don't rate many Italian teams.

I'm pretty confident.

 

[Skullflower]

[quote author=Gripper Stebson link=topic=36093.msg952174#msg952174 date=1254076163]
Bin ages since I seen Zammo's mar
[/quote]

 

[Rafiagra]

This brings all the memories back of just how great Grange Hill was

 

[Oncy]

Reina
Insua
Zorba
Skrtel
Johnson
Riera
Mascherano
Gerrard
Yossi
Babel
Torres

Id give Babel a go on the right, Gerrard alongside Mascherano with Carragher, Lucas and Kuyt getting the night off. They must be fucked, theyve played every game near enough.

 

[Hansern]

Fiorentina also miss their best player against us, as Gilardino was sent off against Lyon.

Good home team, very good support and some great individual players.
But we should be stronger than them, and an away win would set us up nicely for the rest of the group games.

Since we don't play again until sunday, I'd play the strongest side possible.

 

[rebel23]

Reina
Aurelio
Skrtel
Agger/Carra
Johnson
Mascherano
Lucas
Benayoun
Kuyt
Gerrard
Babel


I'd rest Torres for Chelsea but I dont know if Rafa has to play his strongest team because he is under financial orders to qualify. I don't like it when Torres plays in an away game in Europe and the italians will be trying to injure him and I think we can get away with Babel

 

[Armchair]

[quote author=rebel23 link=topic=36093.msg952374#msg952374 date=1254085652]Rafa has to play his strongest team because he is under financial orders to qualify.
[/quote]

You really are dense.

 

[Ryan]

FAO Austrayans: We're on ESPN, 4.45am, Tommy Smyth, wonderful.