You are Spain Manager

[Pat Murphy]

Who would you start if you were manager of Spain in your first eleven?

Aragones is largely seem as a gimp of selections and a lot of people think they could do a better job than him (me included).

Presume everyone is fit and just pick the best players and formation that you think would be best, and pick the whole 23 man squad if you want to


Some suggestions:

GK: Casillas, Canizares, Reina, Palop, Valdes

Defence: Puyol, Pablo Ibáñez, Sergio Ramos, A.Lopez, Pernia, Javi Navarro, Alexis, Capdevilla, Marchena, Juanito, Raul Albiol, Miguel Torres, Del Horno, Arebola (Liverpool), Lopo, Salgado, Helguera, OLEGUER,

Midfield: Xavi, Xabi Alonso, David Silva, Albelda, Iniesta, Senna, Jesus Navas, Raul Garcia, Cesc Fabregas, Joaquin, Vicente, Arizmendi, Reyes, Luis Garcia, Angulo, Oubiña, Puerta, Baraja, Gabri, Yeste

Strikers: David Villa, Morientes, Raul, Torres, Soldado, Tamudo, Luis Garcia (Espanyol),


and many that I've forgotten....

[Oliver_Kahn]

Spain have so many great players...


..................Casillas
Ramos....Puyol...Pablo....Pernia
.............Xabi..........Xavi
Joaquin........................Vicente
..............Torres...Villa

[Lemmy]

GK: Casillas

Defence: Puyol, Sergio Ramos, Del Horno, Helguera

Midfield: Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, Reyes, Luis Garcia

Strikers: David Villa, Raul

[Pat Murphy]

-------------------------------- Casillas
-- Sergio Ramos ------ Puyol ----- Raul Albiol ----- DH/C/P/AL/MT
-------------------------------- Albelda
---------------------- Xavi --------------- Xabi Alonso
----- Joaquin ----------------------------------------------- Vicente
------------------------------- David Villa


Del Horno/Capdevilla/Pernia/A.Lopez/Miguel Torres for LB, whoever is on form.

Alternative formation, a 4-4-2 with Morientes partnering Villa and Xabi Alonso dropped.

Iniesta possibly for Xabi, Pablo possibly for Albiol, David Silva for either wing position.

[jec1]

I don't thik a lone striker isn't thta helpful, you need a dynamic duo in Torres/Villa -- both are a threat to score.

Villas has impressed me but he lacks skillset, and often is a playmaker.

[Pat Murphy]

Villa usually works best in a partnership but I stuck him by himself to get the best team on paper. From what I've seen, Torres - Villa doesn't work as well as Morientes - Villa at the moment so I'd probably go with those 2 with Xavi and Albelda behind them in midfield.

[jec1]

So, you think it's the vet experience that Morientes brings.

I picture Villa as being alittle to selfish.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Casillas; Ramos, Pablo, Puyol, Arbeloa; Joaquin, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Vicente; Torres, Villa

[unitedfan]

--------------------Casillas-----------------------
Ramos------Puyol------Pablo------Del Horno
------------Albelda------Fabregas--------------
Joaquin------------------------------David Silva
---------------Torres------Villa-------------------

which with two subs can switch to:

--------------------Casillas-----------------------
Ramos------Puyol------Pablo------Del Horno
------Albelda------Xavi------Fabregas--------
------------Torres-----------Villa----------------
------------------Morientes----------------------

[LAF]

Casillas
Ramos --- Puyol --- Pablo --- Pernia/Del Horno
Fabregas -- Albelda
Joaquin ----------------------- Vincente/Silva
Villa -- Torres

Albelda is a must he gives you balance in the middle.

[Dellas]

--------------------Casillas-----------------------
Ramos------Puyol------Pablo------Del Horno
------------Albelda------Xavi--------------
Joaquin------------------------------Vicente
---------------Torres------Villa-----------------

or

--------------------Casillas-----------------------
Ramos------Puyol------Pablo------Del Horno
------------Albelda------Xavi--------------
Joaquin----------Silva----------------Vicente
---------------------Villa-----------------

[NJ10]

-----------------------Casillas----------------------

Ramos-------Puyol----------Albiol------------Pernia

---------Fabregas---Alonso-----Xavi---------------

------------------------Silva-----------------------------

----------------Torres--------Villa-----------------------

Arteta, Joaquin, Albelda, Iniesta & Bithentay all unlucky to miss out

[jec1]

Villa _ torres as the two-guard upfront is deadly!

I've been saying it along, two forwards is the best solution. I really do believe spain's time will come, they just need to tinker their formation and call up the right players.

[sinoy1]

-----------------Casillas
------Ramos----Puyol-----Alboil
-------------Xavi------Albelda
Jaoquin-----Fabregas---Vicente/Silva
-----------Torres------Villa

A bit messy but it has all the best players ( You could put in Xabi for Albelda but I dont trust Xabi as a DM ). Cesc would be tracking back to collect the ball and with his passing vision coupled with Xavi's passing accuracy they are a must.

3 at the back is a bit risky but with Fab Xavi and Albelda I think that gives you enough cover.Casillas will have to be top class and alert for counter attacks.Same with the defence.

[Pat Murphy]

Bumping this thread as Spain's lineup for the Euro's looks like it will be something like this...

--------------------- Casillas
-- Ramos --- Puyol ---- Marchena --- Capdevila
--------------------- Senna
--- Iniesta -- Xavi ------- Cesc ------- Silva
-------------------- Villa/Torres

(or the 4-4-2 below with Marchena in)

Iniesta and Silva can switch wings and probably will. Torres is an alternative to Villa but the back 6 is all but confirmed unless they go for Albiol over Marchena. My Spain team would be the one above with Albiol at CB or

--------------Casillas----------------
Ramos -- Puyol -- Albiol -- Capdevila
Silva --- Senna -- Xavi/Cesc -- Iniesta
----------- Villa --- Torres ------------

Really bloody tough to pick a Spain lineup as you've got players like Alonso and Torres on the bench. Villa works best in a partnership so maybe Torres would work best as the lone man upfront. You always need an anchor with so many creative players tho so Senna has had an awesome season so I think he needs to start. Basically I'd go with the 4-4-2 and drop Cesc in favour of a 2 man partnership upfront with Torres in.