The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 12

This week has had me thinking on just how the Premier League managers could help us more. It had me pondering whether no information is better than misinformation – whether the mind games played in press conferences and sound bites really do pay dividends or whether, like us Fantasy managers, other parties in the football circus look on them with annoyance and frustration, maybe even amusement.

It’s been tough over the past five or six days, navigating through a minefield of uncertainty, created by the a raft of “injuries” that saw mass withdrawal from the midweek friendlies. Some of the sicknotes have been unconvincing enough to cause little concern but doubts still linger. Others have been scrutinised to a high degree, with the Senegal FA clearly feeling that Pappis Cisse didn’t even get his mum to write his. My money is on that cunning wordsmith, Alan Pardew.

Alongside this charade, we’ve had another bout of managers clinging to their cards, clutched tight to their chests. Michael Laudrup for example…

“We have another couple of players [with knocks] but I don’t want to mention them all because there are other teams watching the press conference.”

To be fair, Laudrup has been a welcome addition to the league this season. Personally I’ve enjoyed his press conferences, his insight and intelligence. Besidees, this is the first time he’s really tried to keep his team news buried – perhaps a sign that he’ll have a majorly patched-up starting XI out at Newcastle this weekend.

There is one who has been far less cooperative.

While Steve Clarke has steered the good ship West Brom to heady heights, it hasn’t escaped me that part of his tactics involves an almost total media blackout on his players from midweek onwards.

“We’ve got one or two knocks but I’m not prepared to say who”

Yesterday’s remark was typical of Clarke, whose miserly approach to team news goes as far as seemingly banning the West Brom website editor from adding any form of team news to their preview article for each match – the only club that takes such a deliberate step. Arguably Clarke could also go out of his way to make their official site clunky, slow and horrible to use. Hold on a minute…

Does Clarke gain any advantage by depriving his own fans on some insight on his squad prior to each game? As this policy appears to be pursued so strictly, I have to conclude that there is some perceived advantage gained from it. That makes me wonder what we’re up against as Fantasy managers. It’s frustrating enough listening in on press conferences and hearing the media skirt around the subjects that matter most to us; when the Premier League managers actively seek to squirrel away their precious nuggets, we’re left to speculate and fill in the blanks.

This morning’s press must be as frustrated as us but even with this shroud of mystery to battle through, they should really be able to offer us an inside track.

This week’s plentiful injury list has been whittled down quite nicely and, from a glance over the predicted teamsheets this morning, there’s no wild panic on the agenda.

With Robin Van Persie in every single press teamsheet for the Norwich game, the attention turns to Wayne Rooney who looks far from certain for the Carrow Road meet. Only the Telegraph and the Independent award Rooney with a start, with our other four sources opting for a partnership of Van Persie and Javier Hernandez, with Ashley Young retaining his start on the flank.

Jermain Defoe is another big name who looks out in the cold this weekend. None of our morning papers back the impish hitman for a start at the Emirates, with Emmanuel Adebayor now seemingly ensconced in Andreas Villas-Boas plans up front.

There’s no doubts on Ba’s start across the press but, as usual, Man City’s choice of strikers causes squabbles. The majority go with the default pairing of Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero: only the Guardian dare to throw Edin Dzeko into their lineup, resting Aguero following his 90-minutes with Argentina in the week.

The Telegraph have a new approach. They think that Roberto Mancini will give Scott Sinclair the opportunity to rescue some of his credibility, rapidly being flushed away by his girlfriend’s jungle exploits, by handing him a start against Villa. It’s Tevez who misses out for them.

Liverpool’s teamsheet is of big interest today, not because there’s any doubt of Brendan Rodgers’ limited options going forward but because we should finally get some assurance on Andre Wisdom’s potential as a Fantasy asset. With Martin Skrtel and Dan Agger expected to be available, Rodgers has both Glenn Johnson and Jose Enrique to fill the full-back roles so today’s decision against the Latics will surely inform us where he has placed the youngster in his pecking order. Johnson is a shoo-in but Enrique’s form will also make him difficult to relegate to the bench. The press are torn on this: the Times, the Guardian and the Mail all back Enrique, with Wisdom’s start secured in the other three.

Perhaps the most intriguing teamsheet on show in this morning’s papers though is that of QPR. I couldn’t help but notice that, somehow, the Sun have gleaned that Danny Gabbidon will start for the R’s against Southampton. These are admittedly desperate times at Loftus Road but Gabbidon was released by the club and joined Crystal Palace on a free transfer in July.

How’s that for misinformation? I think I’d rather try to squeeze a bit more out of Steve Clarke.