Weekend Scout Notes

Deco sparkles as Chelsea show their intent. United stumble against Newcastle without Tevez. Arsenal and Liverpool do enough to start with narrow wins. Agbonlahor and Ashton make thousands of fantasy managers take a good hard look at their strikers.

Here’s my notes on the first weekend of the season…

Arsenal 1 West Brom 0

Arsenal’s performance will have a few Adebayor owners worried. The Gunners had plenty of possession but never really demonstrated the cut and thrust required to kill off a plucky West Brom.

Adeabyor looked out of sorts – he had some good situations but often chose the wrong option and in the second-half there were noticeable jeers from the Emirates crowd. After that, the big striker looked short on confidence and looked for a pass when an effort on goal was there for the taking.

Arsenal certainly need Fabregas to return to their midfield. Nasri put on a decent display which came packaged with a debut goal, but at times Arsenal were pedestrian in their attacks. There will be plenty of fantasy managers bringing in Nasri this weekend and plenty more already getting fidgety about Adeabyor.

In my view, Arsenal’s fixtures are kind enough to hand the striker enough early opportunities to get off the mark – a trip to Fulham next weekend being a case in point. Once Adebayor does get his first goal, particularly his first in front of the Emirates crowd, there’s every chance he can start to produce the form of last season.

As for Nasri, yes he’ll get suitors based on this display but I’m still not convinced that he’ll be a regular once Fabregas returns. I can still see Wenger opting for Eboue on the right with Walcott and Nasri in rotation on the left. In the short-term though, with Arsenal’s fixtures, Nasri appears to offer decent value.

West Brom put on a decent show in the first game back in the Premiership. Miller in particular, caught the eye with a muscular performance that troubled the Arsenal defence on occasions. He could be budget consideration for Baggies home games. Similarly, Kim, in midfield had his moments and offer could value in the budget midfield bracket.

Sunderland 0 Liverpool 1

Liverpool put on another sleepy first day performance but edged the win thanks to a moment of brilliance from Torres. Rafa got more out of his side in the second half, thanks to the introduction of Alonso and they dominated possession but failed to create a significant array of chances.

All eyes were on the Keane/Torres partnership but in truth they failed to click and were starved of clear cut opportunities. Indeed, there were signs once again the Liverpool could look to contain the opposition away from home rather than go for the throat as they often do at Anfield.

Rafa’s team selection had a couple of surprises – notably the inclusion of Hyypia over Agger and Skrtel in defence and the decision to start with Plessis in midfield and leave Alonso benched. I’d expect Rafa to recall both Agger and Alonso for the Boro game next time out.

Sunderland look pretty decent in another rousing opening day performance from Roy Keane’s side. Reid took the skippers armband and, as was the way last season, kept Sunderland ticking in midfield with a string of cute touches and accurate passes.

Diouf, playing just off the front man Murphy, looked sharp. Plenty of willing running off the ball, plenty of harrying. Goals are a concern of course – Jones’ absence will hurt Sunderland badly on this evidence, but when you consider that Sunderland’s fixtures are looking kind of friendly over the next three or four games, Diouf could be worth considering as a mid-price option.

Similarly the Sunderland defence looked firm – maybe there could be a few more clean sheets this term, particularly at home. Collins and Nosworthy, both amongst the FPL bonus points here, seem set to be regular starters and could offer value.

Middlesbrough 2 Tottenham 1

A superb start for Southgate’s Boro against a hugely disappointing Spurs who clearly seem distracted by the Berbatov saga.

The Bulgarian was relegated to the bench in this one, with dos Santos apparently preferred for his pace up front. That’s surely a smoke screen for other issues and Berbatov’s transfer to United can only be days away now.

Elsewhere in the Spurs lineup Essou-Ekotto kept Bale at bay by holding on to the left back spot, while Lennon confined the young Welshman to the bench by taking a wide left role. Bentley started on the right with dos Santos supporting Bent but both forwards were largely anonymous throughout.

The temptation is to panic and give up on Bent and maybe even Bentley early on but it’s worth considering that Spurs scored 46 goals at White Hart Lane last season, only United scored more home goals. Next weekend’s game with Sunderland at the Lane should see Tottenham’s attacking players profit. Sunderland were terrible travellers last season and Spurs will surely fancy putting this defeat behind them next week.

The home side fielded Wheater at right-back and he once again demonstrated his worth by providing a constant threat at set-plays. He scored one and should have had two. Wheater and Boro visit Anfield next week, once that one is out of the way, he will offer some short-term value as a mid-price option. Clean sheets aren’t likely to be too plentiful for Boro but if you need a new budget keeper, Jones appears to have sealed the role from Turnbull, at least for the time being.

Downing and Alves also caught the eye with their performances here – both are likely to be consistent throughout the season as mid-price options and like Wheater, when the fixtures fall kindly, they will certainly be popular targets.

Bolton 3 Stoke City 1

Stoke attempted to impose their physical game and expertise at set-pieces on Botlon but found themselves swept aside by a side who have long mastered those elements in the Premiership arena.

A fortunate but spectacular strike from Steinsson, a typically muscular effort from Davies and a debut goal for Elmander saw Megson’s side take the points. Fuller’s header late on providing the consolation for Stoke.

Little to say about either lineup here. Shittu had to wait for his debut as Megson went with the reliable Cahill/Andy O’Brien partnership at the back. Stoke boss Pulis meanwhile kept both Fuller and Lawrence on the bench with the pair lacking match fitness. Both are likely to start next weekend against Villa.

If you were to take anything from this game it’s that Davies and Elmander showed promise as a partnership up front. Nolan also enjoyed a strong game in midfield and came away with an assist and the maximum FPL bonus. For Stoke, Cort is clearly a real threat from set-plays. If you really feel that Pulis’ can tighten things up at home, Cort’s goal threat could see him offer some value.

Everton 2 Blackburn 3

Everton are having a miserable time of it and despite an Arteta-inspired spell which saw them take the lead in this one, the Rovers win was well deserved if a little dubious in its nature.

Moyes was forced to play both Jagielka and 17-year-old Rodwell in central midfield, while Baines also played out of position on the left of midfield with Valente starting at left back. Arteta and Yakubu offered reminders that Everton do possess players of attacking prowess and both could attract fantasy suitors. The defence will be a concern though and Lescott will have to chip in with more goals that last season to warrant his fantasy price tag on this evidence.

Luckily, Everton’s fixtures early on may well offer them the opportunity to settle down but they are clearly in need of new faces and the return of some old ones, particularly Cahill.

Paul Ince will be delighted with the Blackburn performance, with Santa Cruz emphasising his value with another goal away from home. Dunn impressed in midfield and Roberts looked lively up front. With Hull, West Ham and Fulham in the next four games, there could be some value in Santa Cruz and some of his mid-price team mates this week.

Injures
Dunn picked up a knock late on and was replaced by Tugay.

Hull 2 Fulham 1

From a fantasy perspective Hull’s first Premiership win will have confirmed Geovanni’s status as a possible bargain midfield purchase. Clearly he will be central to Hull’s chances of survival and his role just off the lone striker in this game, saw him crack a superb first half equaliser after Seol had given Fulham the lead.

There’s little else to glean from this one. There were few surprises with either lineup with Seol starting up with Zamora as expected and once again, proving effective with the opening goal from Bullard’s cross. It will be interesting to see if Hodgson drops him next weekend against Arsenal should Andrew Johnson be available as expected.

West Ham 2 Wigan 1

Dean Ashton’s brace will have blown the lid on his mid-price potential this season. Faubert’s assist should also be noted as should West Ham’s reliance on Etherington’s runs down the left – both present value during the Hammers run of favourable fixtures. As reported here, Ashton picked up a calf injury in this game and will undergo a scan on Monday so his fantasy owners will possibly need to hold fire on transfers while news of that injury filters through.

In truth, Curbishley’s side were lucky to come away with the win with Wigan dominating the second half. Zaki’s goal, his third in three games, underlined his potential as a possible purchase while Palacios ran the game in midfield for Wigan and came away with FPL bonus to show for it. It’s also worth noting that bargain full back, Figueroa had five attempts on goal – clearly he’s got the odd goal in his locker in addition to clean sheet potential at the JJB.

Elsewhere it’s interesting that Kapo started ahead of de Ridder, despite the former seeming to have the edge on the Frenchman in pre-season.

Injuries
Ashton tweaked his calf in the second half and was replaced. He is due to undergo a scan on Monday.

Chelsea 4 Portsmouth 0

An intimidating performance from Scolari’s men in which Deco announced himself with a goal, an assist and plenty of prompting and imagination throughout. Thousands of fantasy mangers will doubtless be looking his way as a result. Indeed, the Chelsea midfield looks laden with fantasy talent with both Joe Cole and Lampard getting off the mark in this one – both look set for big scoring season’s if today’s show is anything to go by.

Where do I stand on Deco? I still see Lampard as the better option. I think overall he’ll justify his bigger price tag by outscoring Deco and once the Champions League gets underway, I feel Lampard will be more secure, particularly for away games where Scolari may be tempted to rest Deco. Lampard showed today with half a dozen efforts and countless runs into the box, that he’ll be a major force in fantasy terms once again and I can see 10-15 goals coming from him. Deco’s goal record is fairly decent but doesn’t compare to Lampard’s in the Premiership over the past few seasons.

Bosingwa made it back from injury to take the right back slot and he will now top many a fantasy shopping list given Chelsea’s defensive strength. Anelka put on a strong display, capped with a goal to add to his very decent pre-season haul but many will see him as a short-term option with Drogba’s return looming large.

As for Pompey – it was a predictably impotent display. They simply couldn’t live with Chelsea in any area of the pitch and it was a frustrating day for Defoe and Crouch. United next weekend doesn’t promise and upturn in fortune – but then we always knew to leave Harry’s players well alone over the first few weeks. In the long-term there could be some interest in Kaboul if he continues to hold down a midfield role as he did today. Kaboul is of course classed as a defender throughout the fantasy games.

Injuries
Ballack picked up a knock in the first half and was replaced by Malouda

Aston Villa 4 Man City 2

Agbonlahor will get all the headlines with a hat-trick inside nine minutes and he will get plenty of attention from fantasy managers as a result. Barry’s contribution shouldn’t be overlooked though, his two assists are reminder that he could yet be an effective fantasy signing in a Villa side which looks the most likely to push the top four. The sooner the Barry situation is resolved, the sooner fantasy managers can safely consider the former Villa skipper.

Young contributed of course, with his first of many assists for the season. Carew also came out of the game with a goal and an assist and it’s clear that Villa’s attacking players are all likely to bring in decent hauls once again. At the back though, there are still question marks – clean sheets could well be hard to come by although the introduction of Cuellar next weekend should help to reinforce Villa’s brittle back line.

City meanwhile, like Everton, appear to have entered the season low on confidence. Hughes needs Jo back from the Olympics to help lift his side and to provide much needed firepower. An injury to Bojinov in the warm-up which saw him stretchered from the field saw Hughes hand young Chad Evans a debut up front. City scored twice but that said more about Villa’s defence than City’s attack which looked subdued throughout.

Injuries
Bojinov picked up an injury in the warm-up and was a late withdrawal from the team sheet. It was later revealed that this was an Achilles injury and that the striker would be out for six months.

Man United 1 Newcastle 1

Newcastle put up an impressive display of resilience at Old Trafford, containing United and asking questions at the other end. Ferguson’s men were weakened by the absence of Tevez who missed the game due to a family bereavement. That meant that United had to turn to young Campbell to partner the returning Rooney up front. The home side were crying out for a creative spark but without both Ronaldo and Nani, they never looked to have that flash of brilliance on tap to make the all-important difference.

Fletcher reminded me that I should follow at least some of my Saturday morning inklings by scoring the United equaliser, after Martins had headed Newcastle in front. Fletcher looks set to continue on the right of midfield and could offer some mid-price value but in all honesty, with United missing gameweek three due to the Super Cup tie with Zenit St Petersburg, there is not too much incentive for fantasy managers to look to United for the next few weeks.

Tevez will return for the game at Portsmouth on Monday week so, in the short-term, there could be an upturn in fortune in attacking terms. Defensively they got caught out by Newcastle on a couple of occasions today. Brown’s inclusion at right back did confine Neville to the bench but there is clear for potential for rotation here.

As for Keegan’s side, they showed that they have kept the spirit that saw them end the season strongly last time out and Gutierrez certainly caught the eye, as did Coloccini at the back and the old warhorse Butt in midfield. They’ll fancy themselves to earn at victory at home to Bolton next weekend.

Injuries
Carrick picked up an ankle injury mid-way through the first half and was replaced by O’Shea. Ferguson remarked after the game that he would be out for two-to-three weeks. Giggs also picked up a hamstring injury and was subbed late on. Campbell also picked up a knock.