Spanish Debate: Pick Your Valencia Team

Not only have Valencia changed their manager, but their squad's also undergone some transformation. Most notable, though, is not who's come in, but who hasn't left: David Silva and David Villa.

After the double-act's brilliant showing at Euro 2008 it was thought that the two would mvoe on, but discussions between the players' representative and the club hierarchy - which has itself been subject to change over the summer - have ended favourably.

Still, the transfer market itself has been busy for a club that at one point had over 40 senior pros on their books over the summer. A bevvy of loan returns - Pablo Hernández and Asier del Horno chief among them - were accompanied by Renan Brito, the Brazilian goalkeeper: thus much of the incoming players.

Those that left are of more importance. Manuel Fernandes is most likely off to Everton again, while Sunny has been loaned to Osasuna. Defensive stalwart Marco Caneira, meanwhile, has departed for Sporting CP.

Overall the squad's not changed too much, but with coach Emery bringing in his own style of play, and Valencia still possessing a large pool of talent, there are plenty of permutations on offer.

Thus picking an ideal formation is in no way easy. Indeed, it could be the case that there is no one, magical formula that will see Real Madrid repeat their heroics of last season. Perhaps home games and away games should be treated differently; maybe Europe and the Liga are a world apart. Do you wish to specify substitutes? This is all up to you.

With this in mind, why not look at the current Valencia squad list and pick out an ideal XI or two? If you think one team has what it takes to play all the big games, just provide one: if you'd rather add some contingencies or conditions, feel free to do that, too.

Just note one thing: it's difficult to format the text that goes into the comments box, so it makes more sense to provide a team where players are separated by commas and positions by semi-colons, running right to left. For example, here is the team that won the UEFA Cup back in 2004 rendered thus:

Cañizares; Torres, Ayala, Marchena, Carboni; Rufete, Albelda, Baraja, Vicente; Angulo, Mista. --- Subs: Rangel; Pellegrino, Garrido; Aimar, Sissoko; Juan Sánchez, Xisco.

Anyway, here is the squad as of today. There may be still a signing or two to come, but, like Emery, make the best of what you have!

(Note: I've included players, such as Ludovic Butelle, who have been told that they can leave the club. You may, of course, select them anyway - you're the boss!)

Goalkeepers: Timo Hildebrand, Renan Brito, Vicente Guaita, Ludovic Butelle.

Defenders: Miguel, Curro Torres, Raúl Albiol, Carlos Marchena, Iván Helguera, Alexis, David Navarro, Asier del Horno, Emiliano Moretti.

Midfielders: Joaquín, Pablo Hernández, Hedwiges Maduro, David Albelda, Ruben Baraja, Manuel Fernandes, Éver Banega, Edu, Hugo Viana, Vicente.

Forward: David Silva, Juan Mata, David Villa, Fernando Morientes, Miguel Ángel Angulo, Nikola Žigić

Ewan Macdonald, Goal.com