Pre-Season
Season Predictions From the Scouts
Here we go again. In just a few hours, Chelsea and Jon Reeson begin the defence of their respective titles in what will, undoubtedly, be a campaign of total frustration and regret for many a Fantasy manager. Then again, would you have it any other way?
So before a ball is kicked, we thought we’d stick our necks out at Fantasy Football Scout Towers to offer up a few predictions. No doubt many of these punts will come back to haunt us (some quicker than others) but here’s how many of the contributors think the upcoming season will pan out, both in league and fantasy terms.
Have a good season everyone!
Read more...Community Shield Dugout Discussion
Dust off your chat hats folks, the dugout discussion is open once more for Fantasy Football Scout’s very own pre-season warm-up – the Community Shield kicks off this afternoon and we’re here to welcome the chatroom back from it’s summer siesta.
Manchester United and Chelsea will both be walking out onto the new Wembley turf in the last big pre-season fixture of the summer, there’s even a shiny plate shaped trophy at stake. However, Birmingham City did win a trophy for beating the might of Beijing Guoan just a few weeks ago themselves….
Read more...Pre-Season Catch-Up – Trotters Gather Pace
Three Friday night friendlies and it was perhaps Bolton’s 2-0 win over Osasuna which was the most significant. Owen Coyle’s side have put together an unbeaten flourish to their summer with three consecutive clean sheets coming their way. Johan Elmander and Chung-Yong Lee got the goals for the Trottes last night, with Kevin Davies earning the assists for both.
Coyle suggested before the game that his lineup last night would be a strong indication of the side that took the field against Fulham in the season kick-off at the Reebok. Elmander would have done himself no harm with his well-taken goal then, his third of the pre-season, and Coyle would seem set to keep faith with the Swede alongside Davies in a 4-4-2 which has been evident in Bolton’s previous few friendlies.
If the teamsheet against Osasuna is anything to go by we can expect to see Matt Taylor resigned to bench duty with Martin Petrov and Lee adopting the wide roles as was expected. However, as Coyle points out, Bolton will lose players to international duty this week casting a doubt over his and every Premier League manager’s lineup come next weekend…
Read more...Pre-Season Catch-Up – Cole Takes The Plaudits In Europa Cruise
There was just one pre-season fixture last night, but as far as the red side of the Mersey is concerned it was an important step in the right direction. Liverpool saw off FK Rabotnicki by a two-nil scoreline for the second time in a week to comfortably qualify for this season’s Europa League. The fans also got their first home glimpse of new signings Milan Jovanovic and Joe Cole, as well as promising displays from the young breed such as Daniel Pacheco who was recently lighting up the European Under-19 Championships.
Liverpool have been experiencing a poor pre-season having failed to score in their three non-Europa League ties -it must be noted however, with very youthful outfits on display- so the result and performance in their final game before the Premier League kicks off will have given a welcome boost of confidence to the squad, Roy Hodgson and the fans alike.
David N’Gog, who had already put Liverpool firmly into cruise control in the opening fixture of this tie, scored another goal when he was found in acres of space in the penalty box to head home a Joe Cole centre and then later in the first half was dragged down by his marker in the penalty box, allowing Steven Gerrard to convert from the penalty spot and make qualification a foregone conclusion….
Read more...Pre-Season Catch-Up – Chelsea’s Strength Falls Short
Chelsea slipped to their third consecutive pre-season defeat last night at the hands of Hamburg; the Bundesliga outfit turning them over by a 2-1 margin. This came after Carlo Ancelotti’s side had taken the lead through a Frank Lampard tap-in, laid on a plate by Micheal Essien following a defensive error by the Germans.
While the result will ring some alarm bells, perhaps the most significant elements of Chelsea’s latest friendly concerns the teamsheet.
Ancelotti put out a strong side for this, the penultimate friendly before the Community Shield clash with United this weekend. Didier Drogba’s arrival as a second-half sub will take the headlines but elsewhere there were some interesting footnotes. Ross Turnbull took the keeper’s jersey in the continued absence of Petr Cech and he would seem odds-on to start at Wembley and possible in the season opener with West Brom.
Interestingly Ancelotti went with Branislav Ivanovic alongside John Terry in the centre of defence with Paulo Ferreira drafted in at right-back. Could we Ivanovic switched here for a prolonged spell this season? It’s a strong possibility. Ricardo Carvalho’s future at the club remains shaky, whilst Alex continues to be cursed by recurring niggles. With Ferreira and a fit-again Jose Bosingwa as options at right-back, Ancelotti may well look to switch the versatile and consistent Ivanovic to a central role…
Read more...Pre-Season Catch-Up – Bale Shines Again
Gareth Bale is doing all he can to play his way into our initial Fantasy lineups. Deployed at full-back in the friendly with Benfica last night, Bale once again provided a major threat down the Spurs left – running on to a smart Giovani flick to fire the winner for Harry Redknapp’s side in a 1-0 victory.
Earlier Bale had also combined effectively with Luka Modric to provide a whipped cross that Peter Crouch converted, only for the goal to be ruled out by the assistant’s flag. Redknapp may well keep the Welshman at left-back come the visit of Man City to the Lane on August 14 but that seems unlikely to curb Bale’s attacking zest. Priced at 6.5 in the Fantasy Premier League game, he continues to maintain his “must buy” status. In the Metro Game meanwhile it’s a real no-brainer with Bale classified as a defender.
Tottenham’s win against Benfica was impressive considering that the Portuguese side had so impressively swept Aston Villa aside by a 4-1 margin at the weekend. Redknapp would also have been pleased to see Jermaine Jenas return to his lineup following a recent injury, whilst back home Ledley King returned to action in a low-key friendly with Ipswich Town…
Read more...Pre-Season Catch-Up – At The Friendlies With Sir Paulos And Andy
Saturday saw a first in Fantasy Football Scout’s preparation for the new season. As per usual, there was a whole host of pre-season friendlies taking place in the build up to August 14th. However, for the first time, two members of the Scout team were able to -legally- take in 90 minutes of action in two of those many fixtures.
From the comfort of his Scottish manor, Sir Paulos put down his dutiful Scout Report pencil and took in the delights of Arsenal hosting AC Milan in the Emirates Cup. I, on the other hand, took a trip down to the Walkers Stadium as Steve Bruce brought his Sunderland team knocking on the door of my much beloved Leicester City. Here is what we gleaned from these fixtures, starting with my well esteemed colleague…
Read more...Pre-Season Catch-Up – Ngog Hands Hodgson Victory
Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool successfully navigated the Macedonian minnow banana skin in their Europa League qualifier thanks to a brace from David Ngog. The French striker, who lives almost permanently in the shadow of Fernando Torres, came up with two quality strikes to see off FK Rabotnick and suggest that he is determined to prove himself at Anfield under the new regime…
Read more...Pre-Season Catch-Up – City And United Show Their Depth
The two sides of Manchester were action in the early hours of this morning with City edging to a victory over Mexicans Club America on penalties, while United routed an MLS All Starts XI by a 5-2 margin.
Alex Ferguson’s side were one of only two Premier League clubs who came away with wins in 90 minutes from yesterday’s games, as both Bolton and Blackburn suffered setbacks…
Read more...Pre-Season Catch-Up – Chamakh Off The Mark
Arsenal’s Marouane Chamakh registered his first goal in Arsenal colours last night, converting a spot-kick he’d won himself five minutes after appearing as sub. That was one of four goals that saw the Gunners ease past their Austrian third tier opponents SC Neusiedl.
Theo Walcott, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Carlos Vela were the other scorers on the night with Samir Nasri continuing his eye-catching pre-season by providing two assists. Nasri was once again employed behind the lone striker Chamakh although it seems likely that this setup will change once Wenger gets his full quota of World Cup stars back available…
Read more...Boselli Nets Again As Wigan Keep Our Interest
Monday’s pre-season activity was low key with just Wigan putting in a shift of any note.
Roberto Martinez’ side ended their Austrian tour with a 4-1 win over Rudar with Jordi Gomes, James McCarthy, Jason Scotland and Mauro Boselli netting.
While Wigan’s preparation for the season ahead wouldn’t normally be of great interest, the fact that the Latics start with four home matches in their first five games certainly promotes them in our thinking. Defensively it’s likely that they will remain a major risk – home advantage won’t change that too much, but Wigan’s attacking players could certainly offer a route to cheap initial signings…
Read more...Pre-Season Catch-Up – Young In The Hole And Plenty Of Goals
The weekend saw almost all of our Premier League clubs contest another spate of pre-season friendlies all across the globe from Portugal to America, Germany to China and from Belgium to Rochdale.
Our Pre-Season Form Guide is already up to date with all the results, scorers and team lineups available for your perusal but here’s some points of interest from some of the choice fixtures…
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