Scout Scribbles – Wenger Hints at Podolski Start
Filed under: Scout Notes - Posted by: Paul
Arsene Wenger is likely to hand Lukas Podolski a start against Sunderland. Martin O’Neill intends to hand James McClean game time as a right winger this season. Spurs seem intent on replacing Brad Friedel, Gael Clichy expects City to revert to 4-4-2, while Wigan land Arouna Kone from Levante…
Arsene Wenger has admitted Lukas Podolski has a good chance of beginning Saturday’s opener with Sunderland – despite the fact that the German forward is far from fully fit:
“We are very pleased with him. He will make the squad in any case and he has a very good chance of starting the match. He’s not at 100 per cent physically. The running is still missing a little bit but we will sort that out. We know that he can score goals.”
Priced at 8.5 in FPL, Podolski has already acquired over 13% ownership thanks to a brace in his previous match at former club Cologne – a game he was intriguingly handed spot-kick duties for, though it’s worth noting that neither Mikel Arteta (or Robin Van Persie, should he stay) were on the pitch at the time. The Black Cats arrive at the Emirates having lost four and drawn one of their six pre-season matches; dire form ahead of Saturday’s showdown and with of Podolski, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud all seeking to impress their new supporters, O’Neill’s men could be in for a long afternoon.
Martin O’Neill has revealed he plans to alternate James McClean’s position for Sunderland over the upcoming campaign:
“I genuinely don’t think it’s tough for him to learn to play on the right. He’s capable of cutting inside on people and showing that type of spark. I’ve tried him on the right-hand side where I think he can play pretty adeptly. And we’ll continue to try to shift him around and see how he does. The best way for him to learn is for him to play for 10 or 15 minutes in those positions.”
With Stephane Sessegnon struggling for match-fitness and the club’s attempts to sign Steven Fletcher continuing to be rebuffed by Wolves, McClean’s threat over the opening schedule will surely be crucial to his side’s cause; despite his displays last time round. At the moment, though, he has just 3.5% ownership, almost a third of Seb Larsson’s 9.7%, despite costing the same price as the Swede; if he can replicate his 4 points per game from 2011/12, he may well be a decent differential if O’Neill continues to get the best out of him.
Lyon have revealed they have turned down a bid from Tottenham for the services of keeper Hugo Lloris. The news certainly indicates the London outfit are shopping around for a new keeper as Andre Villas-Boas looks to put his stamp on his new side and surely casts considerable doubt over Brad Friedel’s future at the club. With a schedule that reads (WBA, NOR, rdg, QPR) between Gameweeks 2-5, plenty Fantasy managers will be keen to snap up Spurs’ assets and Friedel is currently their fourth most popular player with over 7% ownership – while the fixtures look great, Villas-Boas’ intentions suggest the US international may be cast aside soon.
Gael Clichy reckons Man City will revert to their usual 4-4-2 formation for the season ahead, despite the success of their recent dalliance with 3-4-1-2. Ironically, the new system was more promising for the City full-backs in terms of attacking potential and game time – Roberto Mancini’s penchant for rotation was so often the source of frustration last term but last Sunday’s match with Chelsea saw three full-backs finish the match, with Aleksandar Kolarov fielded as part of the midfield four. Once the likes of David Silva is up to match fitness, however, City are expected to return to their old system, meaning Vincent Kompany is likely to be the only reliable member of their backline for starts once again.
Wigan have completed the signing of Arouna Kone from Levante for an undisclosed fee. The Ivory Coast start notched 15 times in La Liga last season and is set to afford the Latics a vital edge in front of goal as they seek to push on from last season’s finish of seven wins on nine games. A delighted Roberto Martinez said yesterday:
“He’s a player that we’ve been chasing for a long long time. We know Arouna really well, he got tremendous experience in European football and we’ve really enjoyed watching his goal scoring talent. He’s a strong payer with a clinical touch and someone who will bring us something different up front.”
Bearing in mind that Franco Di Santo and Hugo Rodallega scored nine times in 35 starts between them last season, it’s clear Martinez’s men need a more clinical edge in front of goal and Kone’s record certainly suggests they may have found the answer – bad news for those Fantasy managers lining up a place for Mauro Boselli, then. A starting price of 5.5 in FPL seems likely – the same price as Di Santo and Boselli – and if Kone can bring his form to the Premier League, the creativity of Jean Beausejour could be set to benefit further. The latter provided seven assists in 15 games since moving from Birmingham last January and may well be set to pick up plenty more. Di Santo and Boselli look set to drop in our estimations, then, with Martinez preferring a lone striker system – Kone’s likely absence for the African Cup of Nations in January may be their best bet of starts if the new boy hits the ground running.
Darren Fletcher returned to action for Man United last night in a benefit match for former Aberdeen player Neil Simpson. Although the midfielder managed his 30 minute sub appearance without any problem, Sir Alex Ferguson admitted he is determined to be cautious with his compatriot after the player’s nine-month absence:
It’s been quiet progress for the boy. He joined in training a couple of weeks ago and it’s one of those situations where you say: ‘Let’s see how he does because he has had a really difficult time in the last year’. Therefore, I wasn’t really placing too much hope in it but let’s see how he does. He’s got to the stage now where he feels he needs a game. I let him join Scotland this week but he wanted a game so I said: ‘Come to Aberdeen and join up afterwards’. I’ll give him 20 to 25 minutes.
While Fletcher’s combative nature has undoubtedly been missed in the centre of the pitch, it’s unlikely we’ll be seeing him in the Premier League any time soon. Having added Nick Powell to the central midfield ranks this summer, Ferguson also fielded new boy Shinji Kagawa in a deeper role in United’s previous match against Hannover and, with Tom Cleverley also adding to the equation, is clearly in no need to rush Fletcher back to action, with the midfielder likely to be gradually reintroduced to the squad over the coming months.
Michael Laudrup has offered us some interesting tactical insight on his approach for the new season. While the Dane has stressed he isn’t looking to disrupt the style of football installed by Brendan Rodgers, he has revealed that he has tweaked the role of Swansea’s wide players:
“I haven’t changed that much, but I think maybe the two positions I have changed the most are the two wide players…I don’t know if I’m wrong, but from what I’ve seen last year they always had to be very open — they stayed wide with and without the ball. I want them to come in and try to find space between lines. They have proved they are so irritating for the other team.”
Based on that, we’re set to see both Nathan Dyer and Scott Sinclair tucked inside, supporting lone striker Danny Graham. Wayne Routledge has also had pitch time in pre-season and he may well make an impact. In Fantasy terms, it will be interesting to see the effect of this change on the output of the players involved. Graham was, undoubtedly, starved of support at times last season and already he appears to have benefited from Laudrup’s tweaks with his pre-season goal returns.
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paul
2,131 Responses to “Scout Scribbles – Wenger Hints at Podolski Start”
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August 15 at 1:50 pm
paulassetnicholson says:
Please rate my team:
de Gea/Henderson
Ivanovic/Clichy/Gibbs/Rangel/McCartney
Kagawa/Pienaar/Mata/Diakite/Britton
Tores/Pog/Aguero
£3M spare. Rooney for Torres
August 15 at 1:59 pm
sir alex barraclough says:
McCartney – Demel??
Kagawa is a risk???
August 15 at 2:11 pm
Flavorito says:
McCartney is more nailed on than Demel. Demel is constantly injured and O’Brien regularly starts at RB for Allardyce.
August 15 at 1:53 pm
average villa-boas says:
want to sign Carzola straight away but keep talkin myself out of it…
Anybody able convince me its a good idea??
if you kno any reason why he mite be nailed on immediately or where exactly where he’ll play, any replies appreciated,
August 15 at 2:16 pm
Flavorito says:
I’ll wait for the first 2 GW’s and assess what kind of role Cazorla plays for the Gunners. I would swap him in for Mata if ever.
August 15 at 1:55 pm
sir alex barraclough says:
RMT please guys???
De Gea – Begovic
Ivan – Lescott – Hangeland – Cuellar – Demel
Silva – Van der Vaart – Ramires – Allen – Guthrie
Torres – Tevez – Graham
2M in bank
August 15 at 1:58 pm
joker7 says:
Silva wont start Sat. Will be Nasri. imo
August 15 at 2:01 pm
sir alex barraclough says:
Really Silva wont start??
August 15 at 2:09 pm
joker7 says:
He hasnt started any pre-season games. Only came on as a sub. You should look to buy him GW3-4 I would think. Swop him for Ytoure and bank the money. Give you more options when the season kicks in.
August 15 at 2:00 pm
billnats says:
A) Friedel, Hangeland, Dyer, Aguero
B) Jaask, Hughes, Ramires, Aguero
C) Jaask, Hangeland, Cazorla/Lampard, Tevez
Which one and why?
August 15 at 2:00 pm
Bilong says:
A penny for your thoughts :
Friedal-Jussi
Verm–Vertonghen–Williams–Zab–Clyne
Michu-Bale-Lampard-Guthrie-Noble
Torres–Tevez—Graham
Wishlist:
GW1
Torres –>Bent
Lamps –>Nani/Valencia
GW2
Guthrie–>Yaya
OR Michu –>Silva
Good Team… Good plan ?
August 15 at 2:13 pm
Flavorito says:
You have no plans of putting Rooney into your team?
August 15 at 2:13 pm
Bilong says:
not really
will see him playing deeper if RVP comes and even then I believe bent has far more goal threat looking at those fixtures
if villa score bent is 80% likely to have the goal
if united score rooney is 50% likely to PLAY A PART … and bent is a bargain
August 15 at 5:05 pm
Flavorito says:
Rooney – set pieces and penalties, main man of United
If he plays behind RVP, his assists will only go up. His goals will always be there.
What’s not to love?
August 15 at 5:32 pm
Jim Carew says:
I like the team. Have you got £0.5 to upgrade Friedel to De Gea? Doubling up on defence/keeper is always a risk and DDG could be great value
August 15 at 2:06 pm
Bilong says:
guys ^
August 15 at 2:21 pm
FPL99 says:
Who’s been at RB for Arsenal in pre-season.
August 15 at 2:37 pm
A Bagel says:
jenkinson
August 15 at 5:05 pm
Flavorito says:
Yennaris and Jenkinson
August 15 at 2:26 pm
cuterandy says:
Hazard or Mata? really confused :O
August 15 at 2:31 pm
alex5-clio says:
I want to pick hazard as he looks more attacking but I’ll pick mata for the first few gw
August 15 at 2:58 pm
Conrad. - Michu @ Santi's Sleigh! says:
i wanna see how much Mata plays in today’s friendly…
August 15 at 3:04 pm
cuterandy says:
Freidel/Federici
Zaba/Ivanovic/Gorkks/Fonte/Demel
Bale/Mata/Dembele/Puncheon/Yaya
Torres/Tevez/Graham
My final team guys..opinions please
August 15 at 3:04 pm
cuterandy says:
3M left
August 15 at 3:05 pm
UndercoverBadger says:
hey gang, RMT please!!
Green £4.5, Federici £4.5,
Rangel £5.0, Jose Enrique £6.0, Ivanovic £6.5, McCartney £4.0,Fonte£4.0
Kagawa £8.5, Mata £9.5, Bale £9.5, Maloney £5.0.Noble £5.0,
Torres £10.0, Tevez £9.0, Petric £6.0
with 3.0 in the bank for possible rooney swoop
August 15 at 3:21 pm
hemz89 says:
i dont like Rangel or your gk’s
also Noble and Maloney dont rotate very well
apart from that not bad Mata and Kagawa r a bit iffy but could pay off
August 15 at 3:32 pm
paddym25 says:
Eh?! noble and maloney rotate very well indeed considering their price!
August 15 at 3:48 pm
hemz89 says:
not as well as guthrie noble, or guthrie dyer!
August 15 at 3:05 pm
Conrad. - Michu @ Santi's Sleigh! says:
whoa…why r the comments so slow today?
August 15 at 3:25 pm
hemz89 says:
whats everyones opinion on this bad boy?
DDG, Fed
Fabio, Cuellar, Clyne, Hangelaand, Ivan
Bale, Ramires, Noble, Taarabt, Dembele> rotate very well
Rooney, Torres, Tevez
£0.5m spare??
August 15 at 3:59 pm
thespirit says:
rotation is not a real factor for mids unless their called walters…
August 15 at 4:02 pm
hemz89 says:
of course it is if u only intend 2 use 4 midfielders with 3 up top everyweek?
u rotate your 4 to whomevere has the best fixtures until form starts 2 kick in, but its a good base 2 start at?
August 15 at 3:29 pm
cuterandy says:
Park or Taarabt?
August 15 at 3:45 pm
ela_999 says:
Hey Guys,
Approached this season with the following strategy 3 big name strikers 3 big name midfielders with value defenders.
only got A.Cole in because of the DGW will then look to transfer out and use $ to invest in the value defenders. Thus thinking GW1 transfer out A.Cole + Torres get in Cuellar and Rooney
RMT please…
Federici 4.5
Hangeland 5, A.Cole 6.5, Gunter 4
Guthrie 4.5, Mata 9.5, Bale 9.5, Carzola 9.0
Tevez 9, Aguero 11, Torres 10
Bench – Green 4.5, McCartney 4, Britton 4.5, Tierney 4
Then thinking to Transfer out Cole and Torres out week 1 to get Rooney and Cuellar in
August 15 at 3:56 pm
hemz89 says:
why not swap ageuro for rooney and cole for a £5m defender with an extra £1m spare to strengthen the next week?
August 15 at 4:21 pm
ela_999 says:
Yeah was questioning the double up on Tevez and Aguero but was thinking it might be worth the punt.
Thinking was that Aguero would be long term Tevez for the first few games till he naturally becomes a rotation risk at which point i would transfer him out for Suarez once Liverpool’s tough fixtures are out the way or any other mid-high form player at the time
Still ??? over Rooney given all this RVP talk thought bringing him in after GW1 would give more time for clarity over that whole situation.
Though your idea is intriguing… – how risky is it going into GW1 w/o a chelsea defender?
August 15 at 4:30 pm
hemz89 says:
depends who your 5m defender is or u could go fabio, mark hughes will have them a lot more organised this year and ive heard he’ll be an OoP option?
If u look down V im currently caught in 2 minds about whether 2 have 3 big hitters up top or 2?
August 15 at 4:40 pm
ela_999 says:
I always start with two big hitters but experience has told me go with 3 this time round then get downgrade one to the form player to sure up you defense / midfield.
No matter what you do no-one really picks next season’s McClean etc so always best to give it a few and see what is going on at least going big you can stay in a good position in your mini-leagues and then really concentrate on the differentials
August 15 at 4:43 pm
hemz89 says:
well put!
August 15 at 3:53 pm
ollycee says:
Afternoon everyone,
Wanted to gauge some thoughts on my final conundrum.. The best midfielder for 4.5 million. I wanted to balance the highest amount of minutes combined with the potential attacking returns. Currently gone with Puncheon, any better suggestions?!
August 15 at 3:52 pm
JKisthe1 - The return of Los Colchenoros says:
Guthrie is all I can come up with atm. Looked at Puncheon, El-Ahmadi, Robson-Kanu, Karacan, Frei and Kacaniklic. He seems the most nailed on
August 15 at 4:04 pm
ollycee says:
I agree Guthrie is probably pretty nailed on but my understanding is that he is pretty defensive? Wanted to try and find someone who was pretty likely to play and would offer potential attacking returns. Looked at Puncheon, Marveaux and Kacaniklic initially. I thought Puncheon was the best bet? He seems pretty likely to start on the right to me.
August 15 at 4:20 pm
hemz89 says:
torn between the 2?
A)
Fed, DDG
Clyne, Cuellar, Ivan, Hange, Zab
Bale, Yaya, Noble, Dembele, Ramires
Graham, Tev, Torres(c)
£3m spare for Torres>Rooney GW2
B)
DDG, Fed
Fabio, Cuellar, Clyne, Hangelaand, Ivan
Bale, Ramires, Noble, Taarabt, Dembele
Rooney, Torres, Tevez
£0.5m spare
Any help would be much appreciated
August 15 at 4:56 pm
kaz-glasgow says:
i would go for the first one !
with 3m spare bring in rooney for torres and some man u cover in defence in gw2
August 15 at 5:02 pm
hemz89 says:
ye was thinking Ivan>Evra/Vidic then i have £0.5M to play aroung incase any players prices rise slightly?
August 15 at 6:19 pm
Badger11 says:
RMT Please
(Friedel) Begovic
(Coloccini) A Cole Hangeland Lescott (Barnett)
Lampard Bale (N’Zogbia) Michu Robson-Kanu
Torres Pogrebnyak Tevez
Got £3m in the bank to upgrade pog after DGW
August 15 at 6:56 pm
jaymanutd1 says:
ive got a tough decision to make as it stand my mid/ att is
kagawa, ramsey, pienaar, britton, ramires
tevez aguero and torres
but im thinking of swapping
aguero >> pogrebnyak
pienaar>> demps (maybe bale)
britton >> toure
what you thinks best sticking with what ive got or making the change?
August 15 at 9:07 pm
cdfcdevils says:
Lampard or Mata?
August 15 at 9:27 pm
cdfcdevils says:
Rate My Team Please
Federici
A.Cole, Zabaletta, Jenkinson
Arteta, Mata, Yaya Toure, Bale
Tevez, Torres, Graham
Jussi
Williams
Ramis
El Ahmadi
August 16 at 12:34 am
Mikegerton says:
Green (howard)
Gibbs–Zabaletta–Hangeland (Harte-Figueroa)
Taarabt–Yaya–Bale–Ramires (Michu)
Petric–Torres–Aguero
Any tips before i confirm this team ?
August 16 at 10:22 am
kidd says:
RMT?
DDG – Federici
Kolarov – Cole – McCartney – Kaboul – Onuoha
VDV – Nasri – Michu – Valencia – Noble
Torres – Graham – Tevez
Kolarov or Zabaleta? (maybe Zaba is more reliable but Kolarov for more assists/goals?)
Valencia or Cazorla or Lampard (or Mata with Nasri >< Yaya)?
thanks and 'preciate all the feedbacks
August 16 at 11:49 am
BigFootJon says:
any thoughts?
Jaaskelainen, Green (rotate)
Vlaar, Hangeland, Pearce, McCartney, Jenkinson (Arsenal, until Sagna fit)
Mata, Jaja Toure, Ramires, Allen, (Leon Britton)
Rooney, Torres, Aguero
considering drastic move taking out Rooney for a while and getting in Podolski, to upgrade other areas
August 16 at 12:41 pm
DaveTGarrett says:
who is more likely to play in the central role next season. podolski or giroud?
August 16 at 6:54 pm
sebz_11 says:
federici jussi
a.cole hangeland zabaleta tierney gorkks
mata guthrie yaya toure bale michu
torres tevez graham
RMT please .. all comments welcome .. thanks