European Round-Up
In all the pre-season excitement I’ve been neglecting those teams already plunged into competitive action in Europe. Here’s my scout notes on City’s UEFA Cup win over EB/Streymur and Villa’s draw in Odense in Sunday’s Intertoto clash.
UEFA Cup First Qualifying Round 1st Leg
EB/Streymur 0 Man City 2
City got their UEFA Cup campaign underway with a comfortable win against their part-time opposition from the Faroe Islands. Petrov paved the way to victory, slamming home Vassell’s cross after a clever dummy by Johnson. Ten minutes later Hamann fired home a second after a Petrov corner was half cleared.
Hughes team selection saw Jo handed a full debut up front. Interestingly, the Brazilian was given the role of the lone striker ahead of Benjani. We know that Jo prefers the role of a support striker but on this evidence it appears he’ll be asked to lead the City attack with the likes of Johnson, Ireland and Elano bombing forward. Talking of Elano, he was left on the bench here which will be a concern for his potential fantasy suitors. In defence both Onuoha and Richards played their first games since returning from shoulder and knee injuries respectively. In truth though, they were rarely troubled in this game.
Jo’s performance was fairly encouraging but it was Petrov who particularly caught the eye. Once again the Bulgarian is placed as a mid-price option and in this game he reminded us just how effective he can be. If Jo and Benjani can find their scoring boots then Petrov should bring in plenty of assists this term.
City will play the second leg at Oakwell, home of Barnsley on Tuesday July 31st.
Man City vs EB/Streymur :
Hart, Onuoha, Richards, Dunne, Ball, Ireland, Hamann (Fernandes 74), Johnson, Petrov, Vassell, Jo (Evans 74).
Intertoto Cup Third Round 1st Leg
Odense 2 Aston Villa 2
Two away goals and a draw in Denmark but it could have been so much better for Villa who lead 2-1 with seconds remaining.
Carew gave Villa the lead, tucking away a rebound after Young’s shot had been charged down. Then Sidwell had the misfortune to register an own goal on his full Villa debut. He deflected Haaland’s cross past a stranded Taylor in goal. Laursen then restored Villa’s lead, once again highlighting his threat and Villa’s prowess from set-pieces. My selection stats reveal that Villa scored 25 times from set-pieces last season and here, in pre-season, they are already at it again. Young provided the cross from the free-kick and Laursen rose high to head home.
Laursen almost added a third from a Young corner minutes later, before Christensen pounced to level the tie in the 90th minute. Despite the disappointing end to the tie, Villa will clearly go into Saturday’s second leg as favourites. O’Neil takes his side to Walsall tonight as he strives to improve fitness prior to that game.
There were no real surprises in Villa’s lineup with Barry left out of the side with speculation still surrounding his future although a foot injury was cited as the reason behind his omission. Sidwell slotted straight into midfield in place of Barry, with Petrov and Reo-Coker alongside him. Gardner got the right-back spot, while Taylor replaced Carson in goal who has since returned to Liverpool and been sold on to West Brom.
Aston Villa vs Odense :
Taylor, Gardner, Bouma, Laursen, Knight, Reo-Coker, Sidwell, Young. Petrov, Agbonlahor, Carew.
looks good for my team… have both Petrov and A.Young, sounds like 3 assists and a goal between them out of 4 goals!
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Ok heres my team (based on fixtures and price) i am that confident i am naming it before kick off!:)
Howard EV
Schwarzer FU
Clichy AR
Bosingwa CH
Scharner WI
Paintsil FU
Meite BW
Fabregas AR
Arteta EV
Modric TH
Faubert WH
Geovanni HU
Van Persie
Yakubu EV
Torres LI
I have one doubt modric he has nice open fixtures first two games yet i am tempted to change him to piennar/osman then cahnge howard to riena/cech (have to have 3 everton players only)
Can some die hard everton fan tell me if piennar/osman will start in the efc midfield this season?!
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Ok heres my team (based on fixtures and price) i am that confident i am naming it before kick off!:)
Howard EV
Schwarzer FU
Clichy AR
Bosingwa CH
Scharner WI
Paintsil FU
Meite BW
Fabregas AR
Arteta EV
Modric TH
Faubert WH
Geovanni HU
Van Persie
Yakubu EV
Torres LI
I have one doubt modric he has nice open fixtures first two games yet i am tempted to change him to piennar/osman then change howard to riena/cech (have to have 3 everton players only)
Can some die hard everton fan tell me if piennar/osman will start in the efc midfield this season?!
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Hi Guys, this is my team so far. Got .5mil left to spare with the telegraph.
M Almunia
Lescott, Bosingwa, Clichy, S Campbell/Gary Neville
T Walcott, Gerrard/Lampard, Fabergas, M Johnson
Santa Cruz, Yayuka
Would like to get Lamps in but it would be at my offence or Gerrards expense. Unsure about Neville or Campbell (as a long term thing not just the first few games) What do you think?
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Hey Gorm, if Osman is fit then he should start every game, unless we buy a couple of amazing midfielders in the summer.
I’ve opted for the 4-5-1 formation. I’ve gone for midfielders who are gonna be the key players for their team and be invloved in the assists and goals. The defence is solid and all defenders will be amongst the goals this season. My ony issue is Crouch up front due to pompeys opening games. I may swap him for Yakubu and then swap back in GW 4-5. The subs should be strong as well with traore and kitson looking likely sto start and bendter coming off the bench for the arsenal most games.
Reina (Schwarzer)
Bosingwa Terry Vidic Woodgate (Traore)
Arteta Petrov Ballack Fabregas (C) Bullard
Crouch (Kitson, Bendtner)
What does everyone think?? Any issues?
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Reply by Mark on July 23, 2008 1:24 pm:
I’m wary of Petrov over the first few games. By the looks of things City won’t have a striker to convert chances (Benjani injured, Jo at the Olympics) and that could limit Petrov’s early output. Much will depend on whether Hughes can/will bring in a goalscorer.
As mentioned later in this thread - Crouch’s games look tough over the first 5. A big player over the season though.
Still nervous about the Spurs defence. Hutton is a better option for me.
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Reply by Phil Pino on July 23, 2008 2:04 pm:
Ah Mark, clearly you have returned to your FF world, good to see you firing out responses left-right-and-defensive-midfield.
Have to agree with everything you’re saying. However, you rate Hutton as a better option for a Spurs def and i had him last season, but i’m thinking that with pre-season games under his belt then Bale might be a good bet. Your opinion on this??
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Reply by Mark on July 23, 2008 2:13 pm:
Bale is a very strong option but is priced accordingly in most games. We need to be sure that Ramos fancies him first but if he looks like getting anywhere near 28+ games then he’ll become a big target. Not an initial pick for me right now though. That might change if he starts flying in pre-season.
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What do people think of Bullard for the season ahead? Fulham have improved since they got rid of that idiot Laurie Sanchez and could be decent this season.
Not sure whether to pick Bullard though? Fulham have no game in Wk 3 too!
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Reply by Mark on July 23, 2008 12:52 pm:
Speculation on Bullard going to Wigan at the moment. I like the fella but I think I want to be sure he’ll be at Fulham before I consider him further. Having said that, Wigan could well get more goals this season.
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Jimbob - Tough early games for Crouch so consider bringing him after the first few. Is Terry value for money? Isn’t he 8mil? A disgrace after his injury hit season and low points tally as a result.
CK - I’m tempted for Bullard but can’t get him in without removing other players that i really want. I’ve just read in the paper that a move back to wigan may be on the cards for him.
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Reply by Mark on July 23, 2008 1:21 pm:
Crouch looks every inch like this year’s Adebayor. He won’t get 24 goals but I can see him fetching 15 with a similar assist count. Like you say though Steve, his first 5 games are evil. After that, he’ll be right up there in my thoughts.
As for Terry - I agree he’s overpriced given that his goal per game output has fallen over the last few seasons. I’m favouring Bosingwa/Carvalho right now.
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I’m still trying to decide who fergie will play out of Brown and Neville. Does anyone have any ideas? I’m thinking Neville as it could well be his last season and he is club captain. That said Brown was solid last season. They both seem to be playing their fair share of the games in South Africa but Fergie hasn’t lined up with his starting back 4 at any point so i think Brown has been playing in the middle?
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Reply by Mark on July 23, 2008 1:17 pm:
Difficult one this. Luckily, with United playing 4 in the first 5 due to the Fulham postponement, United players aren’t super attractive so I’m waiting to see how they line up over the first few games before shipping them in.
Brown has been pushed to a central role but only because Ferdinand was out with a back injury. Brown will now miss a few pre-season games due to the death of his half-sister so Neville will feature in the next couple of friendlies. In a nutshell there are no clues as to Ferguson’s thinking on this as yet.
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I think Terry will be back to his best this season, after the heartache of the Champions League final I forsee a good season ahead with plenty of clean sheets, man of the matches and 5-6 goals. He’ll be worth the £7.5m.
With Neville being Captain then you would think he would get the nod above Brown. Brown may play more of a squad player this term unless there are injuries to the back 4.
I think Bullard will be value for money at Fulham or Wigan. When he returned from injury in the latter stages of last season he bagged a few goals, man on the matches and assists and should be the main man for either team.
Whats everyones view on Taylor for Wigan. I notice you have in on your set piece takers list for taking penalties and free kicks Mark. Do you think he’ll start games this season becuase if he does he’ll probably play out of position in Midfield and could be a very cheeky purchase for £4.5m?
PS Excellent site Mark, keep up the good work
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Reply by Mark on July 23, 2008 2:02 pm:
Good points on Terry and Bullard Jimbob.
I think Taylor will be pushed out at Wigan. The arrival of Kapo and DeRidder will limit his opportunities as he already suffered rotation with Koumas last season. Much depends on where Bruce plays Kapo though.
That reminds me, I imagine Kapo will get a look-in on free kicks and pens so I need to change that in my table.
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Reply by Phil Pino on July 23, 2008 2:57 pm:
Speaking of which, i got ripped to shreds by a Potters fan after saying that Fuller will take penalties/free-kicks. Apparently not. All duties rest with Lawrence with occasional input from Whelan or Delap (if Lawro is injured).
Also, have you thought about adding a ‘Long Throws’ section in there? Geremi, Delap, um, not sure who else would go on there…
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I keep changing my mind, but this is my team today.
Cech (Jones)
Boswinga Bale Lescott (Young A O’Brien)
Fabregas Nasri Arteta Young Faubert
Yakubu Berbatov (Zamora)
Anyone know if Nasri will feature immediately in the Arsenal line up?
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Only Wenger knows.
I think you’d be best leaving the new signings out for a few games, at least until you can be sure of their inclusion.
Maybe swap Nasri for Downing?
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Here are a couple Arsenal questions…
First, with Toure now confirmed to miss the start of the season with malaria, any thoughts on his replacement? With Song out as well?
and second, I asked earlier about Walcott as a mid-priced third striker, and I ask again, since he seems to be playing a lot and getting involved in much of Arsenal’s offensive production so far. I’ve set my team up so I have cash to spare up top (in my private league we have a one-team-per-player rule so I have to think long term rather than week to week):
Bosingwa-Cahill-Bale–Scharner
Fabregas(C)-Young-Downing-Essien-Geovanni
Yakubu-Berbatov-Walcott
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OH — and Howard and Kirkland at GK
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afternoon gents- justwondering if there are any psychologists on the panel to comment on Adebeyor, now that it looks like noone has the cash, and Barry’s been booed at every touch….what will adebeyor be like this season? anyone seen examples of it in the past? i think Lamps will be grand,as he was pretty quiet about it,and was all hushhush..Adebeyor looks well expensivethough if he’s gonna be a bit stroppy and a risk as such..
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afternoon gents- just wondering if there are any psychologists on the panel to comment on Adebeyor, now that it looks like noone has the cash, and Barry’s been booed at every touch….what will adebeyor be like this season? anyone seen examples of it in the past? i think Lamps will be grand,as he was pretty quiet about it,and was all hushhush..Adebeyor looks well expensive though if he’s gonna be a bit stroppy and a risk as such..
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I’m staying with Adebayor…its not like he was ever one to score goals based on his work ethic or mentality, like say a Kuyt or Keane. Even if he isn’t in the perfect mind state he’ll still start, play nearly the entire 90, not do much for 85 of those, and then hit for a brace.
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