As Roberto Mancini talks about rotating his forwards, Sir Alex Ferguson sets his front two their goal targets for the season. Tony Pulis and Andre Villas-Boas both praise their defences, while Harry Redknapp explains his decision to drop Rafael Van der Vaart for Spurs’ Europa League squad. Here’s some Scribbles for this morning, folks:
Roberto Mancini brought up the dreaded “R” word yesterday. The Italian admitted rotation will play a large part going forward, particularly when it comes to his forwards. Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero have both scored six goals in the first four league games but Mancini has already shown last weekend, that Dzeko’s recent form meant nothing as he sat out the game with Wigan. Mancini said:
I count myself very lucky to rely on four strikers, especially in a situation where the team needs to play every three days. I can have a good turnover of the strikers. For now Mario will have to adapt to the situation, he will not be playing for the next few matches.
Dzeko and Aguero are great players and Tevez has nothing to be afraid of. He is a player who always gives 100% performance and doesn’t need to prove himself. He has already done so.
Sir Alex Ferguson has set his front two their goal targets for the season. The United boss laid down the gauntlet to both Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez, suggesting fifty goals between them is what he’s aiming for. Given the duo’s start to the season, it seems more than feasible- they have already hit ten from a combined total of five starts:
Two years ago Wayne’s target was to go over 30 and he reached it very quickly. If he gets to that target again I will be absolutely delighted because with Javier’s ability to score we could have two goalscorers well above 25.
Tony Pulis took time out to hail his defence yesterday. Stoke are unbeaten in eight games in all competitions and have chalked up six clean sheet over those fixtures, with just one goal conceded in the league so far. With home clean sheets against both Chelsea and Liverpool, Pulis reckons the experience brought in over the summer has made a crucial difference:
Begovic and Shawcross are exceptionally good players. Last year we maybe lacked a bit of experience and Upson and Woodgate have got the experience we didn’t have. I think one of the reasons we have done so well is we have had that cool experience at the back.
The big difference has been having a Woodgate or an Upson at the heart of defence. We have benefited so far from having one of them in that slot.
Following on from this, Pulis has omitted Jonathan Woodgate from Stoke’s Europa League squad. The Potters boss reckons too much travelling may trigger a recurrence of Woodgate’s previous injury issues and has omitted the centre half in order to preserve him for Premier League duties.
Andre Villas-Boas also took time out to praise his defence. Not so much for their resilience, however, more in relation to their ball-playing abilities. David Luiz grabbed a goal on his first start of the season last night and Villas-Boas explained that his philosophy is starting to show signs of fruition in matches:
It’s not the first time this season that you’ve seen our centre-halves breaking through, driving with the ball. I’m happy. It means the idea that we’re putting over in training and taking hold. These players have the technical talent to take it out on the pitch.
Harry Redknapp moved to pacify Rafael Van der Vaart yesterday. The Dutchman was upset after not being told he was to be left out of the Spurs Europa League squad and even went as far as to express his annoyance on his own website but Redknapp explained his decision:
The first diagnosis on Rafa’s hamstring was that he would be out for six weeks – at least. We might as well put in some of the other lads who can play. The game he would have come back for would have been the game out in Russia and it would have been a long journey for him.
I wouldn’t have slapped Rafa out on that long journey probably anyway. He’s a very important player for us. If we get through the group he can come in then.
Sunderland could well have to do without Phil Bardsley for the next few games. The FA have charged the Black Cats full-back with violent conduct after he appeared to stamp on Juan Mata during Chelsea’s weekend win at the Stadium of Light. Bardsley has already been sent off this season and reports suggest he could be facing a four match ban, meaning he’d miss the showdowns with Stoke, Norwich, West Brom and Arsenal.
Similarly, West Brom will miss the services of Gabriel Tamas for the next three games. The Baggies defender accepted a charge of violent conduct from the FA after elbowing James Vaughan in the 1-0 win over Norwich on Sunday, and will sit out the upcoming league matches against Swansea and Fulham.
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