City Vs Rovers Scout Notes
Determined to see his name on a dozen band pun-filled Christmas headlines (Soccernet already posted “Santa Claws it back”), Blackburn’s Santa Cruz sends another couple of goals bulleting off his deadly Paraguayan bonce to peg back City and ruin their 100% record at Eastlands. Here’s my notes on tonight’s game…
Man City 2 Blackburn 2
Sven’s gone from “Mr Predictable” to “Mr What’s he playing at?” with his lineups. Tonight’s tinkering saw him dare to drop Brazilian wizard Elano to the bench in order to bring Corluka into the midfield. What’s with the Redknapp approach at home Sven? It’s Blackburn in town not Arsenal. Elsewhere he annoyed thousands of other fantasy managers by once again leaving Garrido to warm the bench with Ball continuing at left-back. Onuoha remained at right-back to cover Corluka’s new role. Hamann was also dropped to the bench to allow for the return of Ireland to the midfield.
It’s not looking good for Garrido who now looks doomed to the bench with Ball established at lef-back. Then again City have begun to leak goals having been almost water-tight at home. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him tinker with his backline again at the weekend. Certainly, defensively there are clear concerns at City now. That’s six consecutive games without a clean sheet, indication that perhaps it’s time to look at Everton or Portsmouth for alternative mid-price defensive solutions. After all, it’s Liverpool at home next followed by trips to Newcastle and Everton. None of those games say “clean sheet” to me in this current form.
There should be no need to panic with Elano in terms of selection. I can’t imagine that he will be benched again for the visit of Liverpool on Sunday with Hamann likely to get a recall to firm up the midfield enough to allow the Brazilian to return. Having said that, even if selected, as I’ve mentioned in previous notes, Elano’s output has dropped considerably.
Petrov is a different story. I got something right at least by sticking with him in my picks. Two assists and all three FPL bonus points here promote him further up the fantasy midfield rankings. That’s five assists in the last four games for the Bulgarian and only Fabregas betters him in that department.
Mark Hughes was forced into changes tonight with Savage and Warnock suspended. Bruno Berner came in at left-back with Khizanishvili moved to right-back to allow Samba to return to the centre of defence after serving his suspension. Bentley once again played just off Santa Cruz with Emerton employed on the right-wing. Dunn played alongside Reid in central midfield with Pedersen on the left. McCarthy was on the bench and appeared at half-time as Hughes chased the game and to save Khizanishvili from further roastings at the hands of Petrov.
It was a plucky fight back from Rovers but still not the win they need to break the run of results they’ve fallen into. It’s just one win in eight now for Rovers although they do clearly possess a striker who is quite simply on fire. Santa Cruz has hit seven in the last four games if you take the Carling Cup into account. That’s nine Premiership goals for the season. Bentley also impressed tonight with the two assists and these two stick out like a pair of shining beacons amongst Rovers’ fantasy mediocrity.
Defensively that’s eight without a clean sheet now for Rovers. However, the fixture list does offer hope and potential. It’s a trip to Derby next, followed by a home game with Sunderland, a visit to Bolton and then Boro at Ewood. A very decent set of fixtures for Bentley and Santa to boost their points output further and maybe, just maybe, for a clean sheet to arrive.
Injuries and Suspensions
Micah Richards is now hovering on the suspension tightrope having picked up his fourth booking tonight.
Considering Santa Cruz’s form and fixtures, is it worth swapping him in for K.Jones if I have to also do this: A.Cole out for Campbell and Richards out for A O’Brien? My other option that would free up the cash is A.Cole out for Pamarot but with injury and Hreiddason, his place isn’t assured. Advice please
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Can’t you do notes on every game in this amount of detail Mark?
Well done about Petrov- he’s deffo a keeper…
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He does notes likes this in a weekend round up after the weekend games
Cole for Campbell and Jones for Roque sounds a good bet. I’d leave O’Brien, got Sunderland and Derby to play
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Mark your a genius! Put in Petrov from your scout picks and what a game he had! Looking forward to your next picks. Would Petrov be worth keeping hold of with a tough fixture next?
Also surely Bentley and Distin has to be in the running for smart signing of the week?
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I was 30 points behind in my league and my only hope was that my last 3 players would do something…Petrov, Bentley, Santa Cruz
I woke up this morning and saw they all did fantastic and all got bonus points…what are the chances of that!
I love fantasy football
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Mark,
I have a suggestion for a worthwhile addition to the already excellent technical area.
With the Africa Cup of Nations just round the corner, it’s time to shuffle the fantasy team accordingly. We all know the players who are to be avoided because of their participation. But how about a list of fringe players who are likely to benefit from the Africans’ abscence?
For example, Senderos is likely to get a run in the team while Toure is away. This makes Senderos a more attractive proposition, and players like Gallas, Clichy and Sagna marginally less likely to earn clean sheets. So maybe a list of winners and losers?
Lescott & Howard are others who I could see being a losers from Yobo’s abscence. But I’m not sure who would benefit from deputising in his absence?
I feel certain that there are one or two bargains to be had short term.
Good idea?
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That’s a good idea Havers…
Who does everyone think is the best straight swap for Lampard? (except Ronaldo)
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gerrard, surely
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Don’t yuo like the look of Fabregas and Arsenal’s next few games (after Everton)?
eve WHM BIR ful NEW
Thinking they are marginally better than Liverpool
mcy WIG mid AVL whm
But Arsenal aren’t in form. Neither are Liverpool to be honest, almost dropping points against Derby….
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Fabregas is looking good for a while. However, I wouldn’t choose him as captain this week because Everton are a good side and Cesc rarely scores highly in away games
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Bolton and Blackburn have good games coming up
Anelka or Santa Cruz hmmm
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Id say Anelka, an evergreen great player who is naturally gifted and has performed wherever he has been. Santa Cruz i think will come to the end of his form and will be quite again.
Anelka is far more cosistant as well, Cruz has individual great games then won’t do anything for the next couple of games.
Plus Anelka might be on his way in Jan to Chelski, when he’s getting service from Lamps, SWP, Essien and company the boy will be unstoppable….
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@ Old Gregg: Straight swap for Lamps? How about Ballack? He’s the obvious replacement at Chelsea and should start every match in Lampards absence. Plus, he’s a steal at £8.3m
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not a bad shout.65 mins = 11 points for ballack. if he keeps that up he’ll be player of the season!
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Yeah Ballack could be an option.. but a risky one. Has he really got it in him anymore?
Thinking of putting Joey Barton in.
In jail that is.
Just read that it all started with “a confrontation with another group inside a McDonalds restuarant”.
How much is he on a week? What is he doing hanging around in a McDonalds with his “crew”?!
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Bentley, Barry or Cahill?
Kranjcar and Wheater, do they play?
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Hi Havers. I was planning something for the African Nations and your suggestion is excellent. I’ll probably look to put something together after New Year - still trying to figure out how I can build a New Year hangover into my site updates
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Yeah, guess the only spanner in the works will be the jan transfer window. Always muddys the waters with team selection. Still, opportunity knocks……
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I consider it a source of personal pride and ethics that I’ve never had Barton or Bowyer in any fantasy team. Nor will I.
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