The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek Thirty

Once again Sir Alex is the topic of conversation for a Saturday morning stroll. United may not play until Monday night but, until then, we’re left pondering just how Ferguson will set up his lineup for the visit of Fulham, with attacking riches spilling out of Old Trafford, despite what Roberto may say.

Antonio Valencia has enjoyed a huge surge in acquisitions, with a three step Fantasy Premier League price rise coming his way. Surely he’ll start on the flank and add to his immensely impressive rate of scoring? But what of Ashley Young? Rested at Molineux after his exertions in Bilbao, can he work his way back into the United lineup and oust the in-form Danny Welbeck?

The answers won’t arrive until Monday night. However, the press boys might just shed some light with their informed opinions. Walk this way…

The majority vote this morning supports an unchanged lineup from Sir Alex – bad news for those clinging to Ashley Young in hope of a recall (hello!).

The Times start us off – they opt for a largely unchanged United lineup with Valencia and Welbeck clinging to the wide roles and no place for Young. Having said that, they also predict a, start for Phil Jones at right-back. He played 90 minutes on Thursday for the reserves having recovered from flu, so there will be question marks about his start on Monday.

The Telegraph copy the Times player for player – predicting an identical lineup – again with Jones at right-back. The Guardian also feel that Young will miss out – they opt for both Valencia and Welbeck again, this time with Rafael at right-back for Jones.

The Mail are the first of our sources to go with both Young and Valencia in tandem, with Hernandez partnering Rooney and no place for Welbeck. The Independent agree with that and also recall Young to the starting lineup, with Welbeck dropping out and Valencia holding the right-flank role. Rafael is at right-back with no place for Jones.

We’ve saved the best till last, though. The Sun is perhaps the most interesting prediction of the morning – and certainly one that will alarm many Fantasy managers. The red-top leave Valencia out of their starting XI, recalling Young to the right flank and keeping Welbeck out left.

While that seems unlikely, it’s certainly not out of the question. Ferguson values Valencia’s end product and work rate but, at home to Fulham, he may opt for the goal power of Young and Welbeck against a side that sets to defend deep and perhaps present little threat. Having said that, we’re favouring starts for both Young and Valencia and feel that the Ecuadorian’s recent investors will be sitting comfortably come Monday evening.

Shifting from the United scenario, there’s very few clangers dropped around the lineups this morning; a few loosely predict that Charlie Adam will appear in the Liverpool lineup, despite tweets indicating that the Scot could face the rest of the season on the sidelines. We’re awaiting official confirmation of that but, odds on, he won’t be on the pitch against Wigan.

Elsewhere, the main talking points created, apart from the Sun’s take on Valencia, surround the chances of a start for Edin Dzeko at Stoke.

The Sun, The Times and The Telegraph all grant the Bosnian a place in Roberto Mancini’s lineup and we’ve followed suit in our prediction. Dzeko has been without a start in the league since Gameweek 24’s 3-0 win over Fulham, a game which saw Dzeko notch. We reckon his height will be called upon by Mancini at Stoke, perhaps with Sergio Aguero’s craft buzzing around him. Certainly, Mario Balotelli looks unlikely to feature according to the press – only The Guardian this morning give the Italian a starting role in their lineup. From Mancini’s favourite to Mancini’s fall guy in the space of a week? We shall see.