Scout Notes – Pre-Season

Manchester United’s in-form strikers seal the deal against their hometown rivals, while West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini again displays his Fantasy credentials just as new Fantasy options in the Hammers’ camp appear on the horizon.

Here are yesterday’s notes…

Manchester City 0 Manchester United 2

Two goals in as many minutes, from Romelu Lukaku and then Marcus Rashford, settled a Manchester derby held in the decidedly un-Manchester setting of Houston.

United struggled to convert their chances last year. The pre-season form of their two strikers – three goals for Rashford, back-to-back strikes for Lukaku – suggests a new dawn for Jose Mourinho’s men.

The Belgian struck first, latching on to a Paul Pogba ball over the top, taking it round the on-rushing Ederson and finishing impressively from a tight angle.

Rashford’s goal, set up by the in-form Henrikh Mkhitaryan, finished a rapid break so rare in last season’s United, reliant as they were on the rather less pacey qualities of frontman Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

This was City’s first pre-season match – United have now played three – and it showed.

Mourinho was certainly happy with his team’s summer preparations when he spoke post-match, particularly regarding Lukaku’s integration into the side.

“The market is open until 31 August, but I like to work from day one. The difference between Lukaku arriving on day one or 29 August is huge.”

At least Pep Guardiola would have been pleased to give starts to new signings Kyle Walker and Ederson, even if the keeper’s mis-timed charge from the area was a major factor in the opening goal.

The City manager later confirmed that Aleksander Kolarov will be leaving the club, with Roma the left-back’s likely destination.

“I don’t like working with people who don’t want to stay. He has a big chance to go to Roma. He has said he wants to leave. I wish him all the best.”

That leaves Guardiola with even fewer options at full-back, with Fernandinho filling in on the left of the back four against United.

Both sides played with back fours and lone strikers. United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 with Mkhitaryan in a No 10 role and Rashford deployed on the left of the attacking three. Juan Mata missed out with a knock.

That system, while helping both Rashford and Mkhitaryan stand out, did shackle Pogba’s attacking potential on the night. That will be a concern for his 19.2% ownership who will doubtless be relying on the Frenchman to be relinquished of defensive duties next season.

Despite being deprived the central striker role, Rashford was keen to talk up United’s attacking flexibility pre-match.

“I think different games require different tactics and having two up front gives the manager one extra thing he can use. It’s not only me and Romelu, we can play with Anthony and Romelu and others, we have a few different options we can play. This just widens our chances of glory next season.”

Mourinho also talked up the tactical options at his disposal…

“We have had three friendly matches and we play with three different systems. Today we played with a number 10 and we are working, we are developing the team.”

But Mourinho’s options at the back remain troublesome for Fantasy managers.

“In this game we played Eric with Jones, Smalling with Lindelof. The next game will be Lindelof with another one, and Bailly with another one.”

Lindelof is currently the most popular FPL option – claiming an ownership of 16.8% so far – though we are far from clear on the pecking order or even the shape that Mourinho will use come the season kick-off against West Ham.

In attack, Lukaku’s impressive pre-season will be killing doubts over his credentials.

His superbly taken goal will only cement his status as a go-to option for our attacks. More than 45% have gone with the 11.5-priced Lukaku, while just 5.0% have looked to Rashford (7.5).

Should both keep on scoring, however, Rashford would not easily be dismissed, even from a support role on the flank.

There is a far more testing dilemma in the City forward line.

Guardiola has talked before of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus working in tandem up front. But in Houston, the pair merely played in different halves.

The cheaper Jesus – priced at 10.5 to Aguero’s 11.5 – is currently winning the battle for Fantasy hearts, with 15.1% ownership compared to the Argentinian’s 9.7%. The remaining pre-season encounters will doubtless tell us more.

For now at least, the smart money is on strikers from the other side of Manchester, with United’s more attractive opening schedule and their fine pre-season form among the reasons for that.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Adarabioyo (Mangala 46), Kompany (Stones 46), Fernandinho, De Bruyne (Otamendi 46), Yaya Toure (Diaz 46), Sterling (Nasri 46), Roberts (Sane 46), Foden (Zinchenko 75), Aguero (Jesus 46).

Manchester United XI: De Gea (Romero 46); Valencia (Fosu-Mensah 78), Lindelof (Bailly 46), Smalling (Jones 46), Blind (Darmian 46); Herrera (Fellaini 62), Pogba, Rashford (Martial 62), Mkhitaryan (Carrick 62), Lingard (A. Pereira 77); Lukaku.

West Ham United 2 Fulham 1

West Ham edged a London derby in the decidedly un-London setting of the Sportzentrum Graz-Weinzodl, Austria, thanks to goals from Manuel Lanzini and Ashley Fletcher.

New signing Joe Hart didn’t make a squad expected to be considerably boosted by the arrivals of Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez over the next few days.

That could have a major impact on the Fantasy appeal of Lanzini (7.0), who will have new competition from Arnautovic – also priced at 7.0 – in the Hammers’ midfield.

The Argentinian took the opportunity to further his case in Austria, opening the scoring after 14 minutes after being set up by Fletcher, who then doubled the advantage when he dispossessed Fulham keeper David Button and rolled the ball into the empty net.

New signing Pablo Zabaleta again enjoyed a 45-minute run-out, as did skipper Mark Noble as he continues to recover from surgery on an abdominal issue.

But it is the Lanzini situation that will be of most interest to Fantasy managers. The midfielder is currently in 7.3% of Fantasy Premier League squads, making him the most popular West Ham asset.

The arrival of Arnautovic, owned by just 0.7%, could well put a dent in that popularity, particularly if the Austrian takes over set-piece duties, although Noble is likely to remain on spot-kicks.

Another popular FPL pick, the 6.5%-owned Robert Snodgrass, will also move further down the midfield pecking order should Arnautovic sign.

What is clear from this sudden rush of talent to the club is that West Ham now look considerably better equipped to take advantage of their opening schedule. While Bilic’s side face three away matches over the first four Gameweeks, only a first-day trip to Man United and a Gameweek 6 home clash with Spurs look particularly troublesome.

West Ham XI: Randolph (Adrian 46), Byram (Zabaleta 46), Ogbonna (Collins 46), Rice (Burke 46), Cresswell (Masuaku 46), Cullen (Makasi 77), Lanzini (Noble 46), Makasi (Obiang 46), Feghouli (Ayew 46), Holland (Snodgrass 46), Fletcher (Martinez 46).

A reminder that all the friendly results and key Scout Notes are being captured here, in our Pre-Season Guide.