Lineup Lessons – Gameweek 6 – Part 2

After rolling out Part One of our Lineup Lessons yesterday afternoon, we turn to the second instalment to cover off the remaining ten teams.

Wes Hoolahan’s minutes look a concern, Southampton have issues at full-back, whilst Bojan Krkic returns as a Fantasy factor after earning his first start of the season for Stoke.

Newcastle
Starting XI: Krul; Jaanmat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara (Aarons 80); Colback; Thauvin (Obertan 88), Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Perez; Cisse (De Jong 46)

Steve McClaren made one alteration to the side which lost 2-0 at West Ham, with Ayoze Perez coming in for Vurnon Anita. Perez lined up on the left of the three advanced midfield positions, with Moussa Sissoko playing centrally and Florian Thauvin on the right behind lone striker Papiss Cisse in a 4-2-3-1. Notably, Georginio Wijnaldum dropped back alongside Jack Colback in the double-pivot. Siem de Jong replaced the ineffective Cisse at half-time, and with Aleksandar Mitrovic back from his three-match ban for the home clash against Chelsea on Saturday, the Senegal international could well lose his starting spot. Rolando Aarons and Gabriel Obertan were only introduced as late substitutes, perhaps suggesting McClaren doesn’t have too much faith in the pair given the Magpies were desperately seeking an equaliser.

Norwich
Starting XI: Ruddy, Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Brady, Tettey, Redmond, Dorrans (O’Neil 85), Howson, Jarvis, Jerome (Grabban 71).

Alex Neil decided to bring Graham Dorrans in for Wes Hoolahan for the trip to Anfield, citing Dorrans’ extra energy as the reason for his decision. Elsewhere, Steven Whittaker returned at right-back after serving a one-match ban, replacing the ineligible Andre Wisdom, who was ineligible to face his parent club. The Canaries lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Alex Tettey playing as the defensive midfielder, and Jonny Howson and Dorrans stationed just in front. Matt Jarvis and Nathan Redmond continued on the flanks, with Cameron Jerome up front. Interestingly, it was Lewis Grabban, and not Dieumerci Mbokani, who replaced Jerome in attack, with Grabban now seemingly back in favour after refusing to play against Rotherham last month.

Southampton
Starting XI: Stekelenburg; Yoshida, Fonte, van Dijk, Targett (Martina 46); Romeu (S Davis 56), Wanyama; Ward-Prowse (Long 76), Tadić, Mané; Pellè.

Ronald Koeman made three changes from the starting XI that drew with West Brom. Cedric Soares was replaced by Maya Yoshida at right-back, Oriol Romeu came in for Steven Davis, while Sadio Mane started in place of Jay Rodriguez. Soares being dropped was something of a surprise, although he had been replaced in three of his five previous starts. After Yoshida’s error for Martial’s second goal, the Portuguese defender may come straight back in for the home clash against Swansea on Saturday. Romeu played alongside Victor Wanyama in the double-pivot, which meant that James Ward-Prowse was deployed out wide on the right initially, with Sadio Mane in the number ten role. The Senegal international was shifted to the right flank later in the match, and provided a superb cross for Graziano Pelle’s second goal. Matt Targett was replaced by Cuco Martina at half-time after a disappointing first-half and with Ryan Bertrand closing in on a first-team return, his days as the starting left-back may soon be numbered.

Stoke
Starting XI: Butland; Johnson, Cameron, Marc Wilson, Pieters; Van Ginkel (Ireland 79), Whelan; Shaqiri, Bojan (Odemwingie 82), Arnautovic (Crouch 75); Walters.

Mark Hughes made four changes for the visit of Leicester to the Britannia. Glen Johnson returned at right-back in place of Phil Bardsley after recovering from a groin injury, while Marc Muniesa dropped out at centre-back for the first time this term, replaced by Marc Wilson. Bojan made his first start of the season in the number ten role and Jon Walters was selected as the lone striker, with Mame Biram Diouf missing out because of a hamstring injury. Joselu was dropped to the bench. Diouf could return to action against Fulham in the Capital One Cup, so is likely to come into contention for the home clash against Bournemouth on Saturday. Bojan’s goal should mean he gets an extended run in the number ten role. The fact Joselu failed to even get off the bench suggest he’s unlikely to earn another start in the coming weeks.

Sunderland
Starting XI: Pantilimon; Jones, Coates, Kaboul, van Aanholt; Gomez (Rodwell 45) M’Vila; Lens, Toivonen, Borini (Johnson 71); Defoe (Fletcher 67).

Dick Advocaat made just one change to his starting line-up, with John O’Shea missing out because of illness. He was replaced by Sebastian Coates in the back four, while the Dutch boss again used Ola Toivonen in the number ten role behind lone striker Jermain Defoe in a 4-2-3-1 system. A poor first-half display saw Advocaat make a tweak at the break, with Jack Rodwell replacing Jordi Gomez in midfield. Defoe was swwapped with Steven Fletcher after missing some glaring opportunities, while Adam Johnson – back from a shoulder injury – came on for Fabio Borini out wide. After a second successive blank, Fletcher and Johnson could well push for starts for the trip to Old Trafford on Saturday, while a change of formation could also be another possibility as Sunderland look for their first victory of the season. As mentioned in the Suspension Tightrope, Younes Kaboul will serve out his one-match ban in the Capital One Cup and be available for the United clash.

Swansea
Starting XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Cork, Shelvey; Ayew (Barrow 87), Sigurdsson (Ki Sung-yeung 60), Montero; Gomis (Eder 81).

Garry Monk made just a single change from the side that lost 1-0 at Watford, with Jefferson Montero returning on the left wing in place of Wayne Routledge. The Swans boss stuck with the 4-2-3-1 formation but replaced Gylfi Sigurdsson with Ki Sung-yeung on the hour mark. The South Korean took the number ten role which the Iceland international had vacated, with Jonjo Shelvey remaining in the double-pivot alongside Jack Cork. Sigurdsson is struggling to find his best form, and, along with Cork, appears vulnerable if Monk looks to find a spot for Ki in the starting XI when Swansea travel to take on Southampton on Saturday.

Tottenham
Starting XI: Lloris; Walker, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Davies; Alli, Dier; Lamela (Carroll 87), Son (N’Jie 79), Chadli (Eriksen 66); Kane.

Ryan Mason failed to recover from the knee injury picked up against Sunderland, so Erik Lamela earned a recall on the right of the three attacking midfield positions, with Heung-Min Son handed the number ten role behind Harry Kane in a 4-2-3-1. This saw Dele Alli earn a second successive start, dropping back alongside Eric Dier in the double-pivot. Looking forward, Christian Eriksen will be pushing for a start after coming on for Nacer Chadli and providing the assist for Son’s winning goal, whilst Mason and Mousa Dembele (ankle) could be fit for the home encounter against Man City on Saturday, adding to Pochettino’s wealth of options. Ben Davies has now started five of the six Gameweeks at left-back, with Danny Rose failing to make the squad against Palace.

Watford
Starting XI: Gomes; Nyom, Cathcart, Prodl, Anya; Capoue, Watson (Guedioura 88); Abdi (Berghuis 76), Deeney, Jurado (Ake 80); Ighalo.

Ben Watson came in to replace the suspended Valon Behrami in central midfield in the one Watford change. Troy Deeney clearly looks to be playing in the number ten role behind Odion Ighalo now, with Jurado and Almen Abdi playing either side of the Watford captain in a 4-2-3-1 system. Steven Berghuis again appeared as a second-half substitute, seemingly confirming he is next in line behind Jurado and Abdi for the wide berths. Victor Ibarbo was an unused substitute for the second match running, while Nathan Ake made his first league appearance for Watford as they looked to play the game out.

West Brom
Starting XI: Myhill; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Brunt; McClean (Olsson 90), Morrison, Yacob, Fletcher, Berahino (Gardner 67); Rondon (Lambert 90).

Tony Pulis made three changes for the trip to Villa Park, with Saido Berahino, James McClean and James Morrison coming in for Rickie Lambert, Callum McManaman and Craig Gardner. Berahino played on the left, whilst Morrison started alongside Darren Fletcher in the middle, and McClean on the right, with Claudio Yacob playing as the holding midfielder in a 4-1-4-1 formation. Pulis is continuing his policy to rotate McClean and McManaman, then, while Morrison and Gardner also appear prone to rotation. Berahino’s goal means he should become a regular starter again, be it alongside Salomon Rondon in a 4-4-2, or out wide in a lone striker formation. Boaz Myhill’s form appears to have seen off the challenge of Anders Lindegaard in goal.

West Ham
Starting XI: Adrian; Jenkinson (Collins 85), Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell; Noble, Obiang; Moses (Antonio 60), Lanzini (Jelavic 69), Payet; Sakho.

Slaven Bilic made three changes for the trip to the Etihad. Adrian replaced Darren Randolph in goal after serving his three-match suspension, while Carl Jenkinson came in for the injured Angelo Ogbonna, and Pedro Obiang started in the double-pivot alongside Mark Noble as Cheikhou Kouyate missed out with a slight knock. Jenkinson started at right-back, with James Tomkins shifting to centre-back alongside Winston Reid, while the forward line remain unchanged. This saw Dimitri Payet in the number ten role in a 4-2-3-1 system, with Victor Moses and Manuel Lanzini lining up either side, and Diafro Sakho the lone striker. Jenkinson was forced off in the latter stages because of cramp, but should be okay to start against Norwich on Saturday. Victor Moses only completed 59 minutes as he continues to build up his match fitness, with Michail Antonio making his Hammers debut from the bench. If Bilic looks to find a starting spot for Kouyate against the Canaries, providing he’s fit, Obiang appears the most likely to make way.