Preamble

The Pre-match Preamble – Gameweek 19

With the majority of the press shelving their predicted lineups for today’s matches, our hunt for reassurance and validation amongst the papers is a futile one. Nonetheless, there are some nuggets of news, notably as a result of the words spilling from a cast of Premier League players, which could have some bearing on today’s teamsheets.

The Times were the first to break quotes from Wayne Rooney last night, as the United striker lamented (does Rooney lament?) his woeful output in the 1-1 draw at Swansea on Sunday. Nothing came off for the striker on the day and it was no surprise to see him withdrawn to jeers from the Liberty faithful with 12 minutes remaining.

Rooney has acknowledged his abject performance, whilst suggesting that he’s keen to get back on the pitch against Newcastle today to re-assert himself….

“I could feel it [was not going to be my day] on the pitch…Some days you have an off day I could feel that and I couldn’t complain at being substituted….I think the thing about football, and especially over the Christmas period, is that you have games and this game has gone for me and it is certainly not one I will remember, but I will relish the next one.”

The quotes and the story has been published by a number of new sources this morning, all hinting that Newcastle need to prepare themselves for Rooney’s backlash. An interesting assumption given that us Fantasy managers are braced for rotation up front in the United lineup. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side face West Brom at Old Trafford on Saturday, before travelling to Wigan on Tuesday; that’s followed by an FA Cup tie at West Ham on January 5. Presumably we’ll see Ferguson rotating for that Cup encounter, with his strongest side fielded at Wigan, having tasted defeat at the DW Stadium last term.

That will see rotation, either today against the Magpies or, more likely perhaps, against West Brom in three days time. We’re presuming that Rooney and Robin Van Persie will be benched for one of these two matches and it will be interesting to see if Ferguson opts for Rooney today, in order to give him the opportunity to rid himself of the demons from his showing in Wales. A first choice strike pairing may well be on show later today, then, with Danny Welbeck perhaps handed a wide role and then called in to action up front, along with Javier Hernandez, against West Brom on Saturday.

David Luiz’s new position in central midfield for Chelsea has generated some attention, not least because he also stroked home a superbly executed free-kick in the 8-0 demolition of Villa on Sunday. Today’s trip to Norwich will surely see Rafa Benitez rotate his resources once more, however, and Mikel’s availability after serving a three-match ban, certainly threaten’s Luiz’s chances of earning another start in midfield.

As Mikel points out, he will depart for the African Cup of Nations after Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge clash with QPR on January 2, giving him just a few matches to play out whilst he remains with the squad.

“After the Norwich match there are only two more games and I’ll be away again, as I think we have to meet up on January 4, and the manager said he wants to rotate the team and bring in fresh legs…I’ve been playing since he started, so it’s probably been good to have a week or two off to recover a little and get the legs going again, but it will be good to come back for the Norwich game.”

We could well see Mikel start at Norwich then and with Ramires and Frank Lampard impressing against Villa, it’s feasible that Luiz will find himself either benched, or shifted back to a centre-back role with Branislav Ivanovic back at full-back.

Jan Vertonghen’s position in the Spurs lineup is another contentious issue that has drawn headlines in this morning’s press. The Belgian has stated that, while he has enjoyed his tenancy at left-back, allowing him to lend his abilities to the Tottenham attack, he is pushing Andre Villas-Boas to restore him to a centre-back role…

“Yes (I’m frustrated), and the manager knows. But we needed some height in the team (against Stoke City) for the set plays and he knows I prefer centre-back, but that is enough for me. He respects me but tells me whenever I need to play left-back. I want to help the team….I love to attack and I love to go up front…It is a little more difficult than when you are playing centre-back. If you play the way that I want to play, I think my influence is better as a left-back. For the team, it is best that I play as a centre-back. I like to bring the ball out. You need to move the game quickly, and that is one of my qualities as well.”

Spurs travel to face Villa today, with Vertonghen’s compatriot, Christian Benteke, undoubtedly providing the main threat to their chances of three points. Vertonghen is quick to point out that he knows Benteke’s game only too well…

“Benteke is very good in the air and he can score. He will be a very tough player to play against…I know him quite well from Belgium, in the league and playing for the national team. It doesn’t surprise me that he has done well at Villa.”

A thinly veiled plee to Villas-Boas to let him play centre-back against Benteke, perhaps? That move would likely see Kyle Naughton drafted in at left-back with one of Michael Dawson, William Gallas or Steven Caulker given the slot alongside the Belgian in the centre. With Caulker and Dawson starting against Stoke, it would seem likely that we’ll see Gallas restored at Villa Park today.

Of course, this is all speculative stuff. There’s clearly logic we can apply to the evidence dug up by such reports and quotes but, as we saw with Roberto Mancini’s team-sheet against Reading, such logic can sometimes be worthless.

Edin Dzeko did not start against Brian McDermott’s side, City struggled to defend set-plays and Dzeko ended up coming on after the hour-mark. Presumably, we’ll see the Bosnian start at Sunderland today, only to be benched again at Norwich, even though Chris Hughton’s side and Sebastian Bassong in particular, have been a real threat from set-pieces of late. Go figure.

Of course, it’s not for me to tell Mancini how to pick his team but, like most of us, I’m quite happy to have a go and vent my anger when the logic falls short. Us Fantasy managers are always on the look out for a scrap of evidence to back our theories or justify our selections. It’s just so hugely frustrating when the decision makers that matter refuse to play along.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

2,979 Comments Post a Comment
  1. super zlatan
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Why Ashley young not playing??

    Confused.com

    Open Controls
    1. Tommytour
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Rotation pal

      Open Controls
    2. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      rest id say..valencia came off early last game..young will surely start vs west brom so im keeping

      Open Controls
  2. Bøwstring The Carp
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    RVP (c), Tevez, Luiz, Mata, Puncheon, Nesen, Michu.

    BRING IT ON.

    Open Controls
    1. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Ok maybe not Nelsen

      Open Controls
      1. Alton E.
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        rock n roll

        Open Controls
  3. Parm
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Line-Ups
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Everton: Howard, Baines, Gibson, Jagielka, Jelavic, Distin, Hitzlsperger, Neville, Osman, Pienaar, Anichebe
    Subs: Mucha, Heitinga, Oviedo, Naismith, Gueye, Barkley, Vellios.

    Wigan: Al Habsi, Kone, McCarthy, Caldwell, Jones, Maloney, McArthur, Boyce, Beausejour, Stam, Figueroa
    Subs: Pollitt, Ramis, Golobart, Gomez, McManaman, Di Santo, Boselli

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Fulham: Schwarzer, Riether, Hangeland, Senderos, Riise, Dejagah, Sidwell, Baird, Kacaniklic, Berbatov, Rodallega.
    Subs: Stockdale, Kelly, Karagounis, Briggs, Hughes, Ruiz, Frei.

    Soton: K. Davis, Clyne, Fonte (c), Yoshida, Shaw, Schneiderlin, Cork, S. Davis, Puncheon, Ramírez, Lambert
    Subs: Boruc, Hooiveld, Rodriguez, Ward-Prowse, Guly, Richardson, Mayuka.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Man United: De Gea, Smalling, Evra, Evans, Ferdinand, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Scholes, Hernandez, van Persie.
    Subs: Lindegaard, Vidic, Cleverley, Fletcher, Buttner, Wootton, Tunnicliffe.

    Newcastle: Krul; Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini (c), Santon; Anita, Perch, Bigirimana; Cisse, Ba, Marveaux.
    Subs: Elliot, Tavernier, Ferguson, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Campbell, Shola Ameobi

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Norwich: Bunn; R. Martin, Bassong, Turner, Garrido; Pilkington, Johnson, Tettey, Snodgrass, Hoolahan; Holt (c)
    Subs: Rudd, Howson, Jackson, Morison, E. Bennett, Barnett, R. Bennett

    Chelsea: Cech (c), Ivanovic, Cole, Luiz, Torres, Mata, Oscar, Mikel, Moses, Cahill, Azpilicueta
    Subs: Turnbull, Lampard, Hazard, Ferreira, Marin, Paizon, Ake

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    QPR: Green, Traore, Ferdinand, Hill, Cisse, Taarabt, SWP, Mackie, Fabio, Faurlin, Mbia
    Subs: Diakite, Derry, Granero, Hoilett, Ehmer, Dyer, Cesar

    WBA: Foster; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Popov; Mulumbu, Morrison; Fortune, Gera, Brunt; Lukaku
    Subs: Myhill, Ridgewell, Rosenberg, Long, Dorrans, Odemwingie, Tamas

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Reading: Federici, Gunter, Pearce, Mariappa, Harte, McAnuff, Kebe, Guthrie, Leigertwood, Karacan, Pogrebnyak
    Subs: Taylor, Cummings, Morrison, Tabb, Robson-Kanu, Le Fondre, Hunt

    Swansea: Vorm, Tiendalli, Davies, Flores, Williams (c); Britton, Ki, Michu; Dyer, Routledge, Moore
    Subs: Tremmel, Bartley, Monk, Agustien, De Guzman, Schechter, Graham

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Sunderland: Mignolet, Gardner, Rose, Kilgallon, Cuellar (c), Larsson, Colback, Johnson, McClean, Sessegnon, Fletcher.
    Subs: Bardsley, Campbell, Wickham, McFadden, Vaughan, Bramble, Westwood.

    Citeh: Hart, Nastasic, Kompany (c), Kolo Toure, Zabaleta, Garcia, Milner, Yaya Toure, Silva, Aguero, Tevez.
    Subs: Pantilimon, Lescott, Rekik, Barry, Razak, Sinclair, Dzeko.

    Open Controls
    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      nastasic starts then?

      Open Controls
      1. Parm
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        http://i.imgur.com/MQ4YN.png

        Open Controls
    2. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Still no Kolarov on the bench. Noooooooooo!

      Open Controls
      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        MANCINI OUT

        Open Controls
    3. Blue-Ghosts
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      and maicon isnt even in the squad! haha wtf

      Open Controls
    4. tm245
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Thanks, as always.

      Open Controls
    5. NapalmDeath (Northern Chaos…
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Thanks Parm 🙂

      Open Controls
    6. BONZ
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Excellent post.......unlike the bell ends that post wrong teams!

      Open Controls
  4. Make United Great Again
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    No Rooney!

    Open Controls
  5. Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    No hughes or nelson. Bloody helll

    Open Controls
    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      no hughes?

      Open Controls
      1. Ricky - it doesn\'t ta…
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        Bench

        Open Controls
    2. Bad Pen
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Hughes is the surprise omission for me too, annoying as I only have Garrido for backup.

      Open Controls
  6. Lateriser 12
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Down to ten with no Nelsen. Anyone else?

    Open Controls
    1. Manani
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      yes,
      no shorey, rooney(C)10 for me.
      and berba (VC), blessing in disguise?? 🙂

      Open Controls
      1. Manani
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        wait, just looked up.
        no hughes too!
        9men left 🙁

        Open Controls
  7. super zlatan
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Wish list

    Davies cleanie
    Rvp(c) brace
    Mata goal
    Berba goal and assist
    Silva goal and maximum baps

    Tevez blank
    Bale blank
    Nasty red card

    Open Controls
  8. The King
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Would LOVE Sidwell & Puncheon to score. Come on!

    Open Controls
    1. super zlatan
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      -1

      Open Controls
  9. Demí
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    ‏@MCFC
    SUBS: Pantilimon, Lescott, Rekik, Barry, Razak, Sinclair, Dzeko

    Open Controls
    1. NapalmDeath (Northern Chaos…
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      1-man bench

      Open Controls
  10. Jax
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    nelsen and shorey not on bench

    Open Controls
  11. afcblegend
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    1409:
    Sunderland v Man City (1500 GMT)
    Manchester City have made three changes to their team for the trip to Sunderland, with Maicon, Vincent Kompany and James Milner coming in to the team in place of Karim Rekik, Matija Nastasic and Saturday's match-winner, Gareth Barry.

    eh?

    Open Controls
    1. Dial Square
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      they have now posted the lineup with Nasty playing...

      Open Controls
  12. Jimmers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    The 2 grandads starting for United - hmmmm

    Open Controls
  13. The Finnisher
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Did Tevez > Ba in a moment of panic after looking at the Scout picks and the fixture dates.

    Mainly for funds this week to get Walcott in, but I should have waited a week.

    Open Controls
    1. Paolo Di Laernu - low rep r…
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Another victim of a scoutpicks trolling

      Open Controls
      1. The Finnisher
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        Nah I don't blame the Scouts, but picking Dzeko just urged me to thinking Tevez would be rested. Either way, sun nor STK isn't the best. He is back in on the Wildcard though.

        Open Controls
  14. FPL Daniel
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Chelsea team is most tempting. Tons of options.

    Torres
    Mata
    Hazard (even that he id rested now)
    Moses
    Luiz
    Ivan
    Cashley
    Cesar
    Cahill

    Open Controls
  15. GoonerByron
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Already down to 10 men due to no Nelsen, the risk of punting on both Gibbs and Sagna I suppose!

    Open Controls
  16. COMH
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    * Amended City and WBA added

    Everton – Howard, Baines, Gibson, Jagielka, Jelavic, Distin, Hitzlsperger, Neville, Osman, Pienaar, Anichebe

    Wigan – Al Habsi, Kone, McCarthy, Caldwell, Jones, Maloney, McArthur, Boyce, Beausejour, Stam, Figueroa

    ————————————————————————————————————————————

    Fulham – Schwarzer, Riether, Hangeland, Senderos, Riise, Dejagah, Sidwell, Baird, Kacaniklic, Berbatov, Rodallega

    Southampton – K. Davis, Clyne, Fonte (c), Yoshida, Shaw, Schneiderlin, Cork, S. Davis, Puncheon, Ramírez, Lambert

    ————————————————————————————————————————————

    Man United – De Gea, Smalling, Evra, Evans, Ferdinand, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Scholes, Hernandez, van Persie

    Newcastle – Krul; Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini (c), Santon; Anita, Perch, Bigirimana; Cisse, Ba, Marveaux

    —————————————————————————————————————————————

    Norwich – Bunn; R. Martin, Bassong, Turner, Garrido; Pilkington, Johnson, Tettey, Snodgrass, Hoolahan; Holt

    Chelsea – Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole, Mikel, Luiz, Moses, Mata, Oscar, Torres

    —————————————————————————————————————————————

    QPR – Green, Traore, Ferdinand, Hill, Cisse, Taarabt, SWP, Mackie, Fabio, Faurlin, Mbia

    West Brom – Foster; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Popov; Mulumbu, Morrison; Fortune, Gera, Brunt; Lukaku

    —————————————————————————————————————————————

    Reading – Federici, Gunter, Pearce, Mariappa, Harte, McAnuff, Kebe, Guthrie, Leigertwood, Karacan, Pogrebnyak

    Swansea – Vorm, Tiendalli, Davies, Flores, Williams; Britton, Ki, Michu; Dyer, Routledge, Moore

    ————————————————————————————————————————————-

    Sunderland – Mignolet, Gardner, Rose, Kilgallon, Cuellar (c), Larsson, Colback, Johnson, McClean, Sessegnon, Fletcher

    Man City – Hart, Nastasic, Kompany (c), Kolo Toure, Zabaleta, Garcia, Milner, Yaya Toure, Silva, Aguero, Tevez

    ————————————————————————————————————————————-

    Open Controls
    1. Parm
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Meh, I have it all above with subs 😎

      Open Controls
      1. COMH
        • 12 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        Meh, you stole my layout 😉

        Open Controls
  17. Hello. Yes, This is Dog
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    if luiz stays in midfield im going to be very tempted. plus Fks/occasional pens

    Open Controls
  18. Green-Pea
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Yeah 11 players (:

    Open Controls
  19. Chris_White
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    No Nelsen cameo please...

    Open Controls
    1. Demí
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Not on the bench so..

      Open Controls
      1. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
        • 15 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        🙁

        Open Controls
      2. Smarty Pants
        • 14 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        excellent!

        Open Controls
      3. Chris_White
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        Cheers, good news

        Open Controls
    2. SuperDunny - Used to be goo…
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      He's on the bench? I would take anything tbh, only have 10 playing now 🙁

      Open Controls
      1. Chris_White
        • 13 Years
        11 years, 10 months ago

        Unlucky mate, I reckon he is injured 🙁

        Open Controls
  20. सनकी
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    oh nooo, no Ruiz 🙁

    Open Controls
  21. Dante
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Either way, looks like a back 3 for City with Zab OOP.

    Open Controls
  22. The Finnisher
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Lukaku 2 starts in a row. BANDWAGON.

    Open Controls
  23. The King
    • 11 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Used my FT to take Hughes out for Cameron. Great decision (for now anyway)

    Open Controls
  24. Caine & Co.
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Im gonna boss this GW

    Open Controls
  25. Demí
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    E Bennett, Barnett, R Bennett all benched for Norwich..

    Open Controls
    1. Jax
      • 15 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      is the ref steve bennett?

      Open Controls
  26. Tommytour
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    A yellow for RVP would make it a lot easier for next GW at least we wouldn't have to guess whether he gets a rest or not.

    Open Controls
    1. Mílanista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      Rooney getting rested for this one suggests RVP will get rested next GW.

      Open Controls
  27. Sarnab
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    When is Spurs' game??

    Open Controls
    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      17:30

      Open Controls
    2. Viper
      • 14 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      5.30

      Open Controls
    3. DLL18
      • 12 Years
      11 years, 10 months ago

      5:30pm

      Open Controls
  28. Jax
    • 15 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    were always going to be players rested/rotated/benched today. this will happen in the next 2 gameweeks also. brace yourselves!

    have shorey/nelsen/rooney myself not playing but luckily all my subs are playing.

    Open Controls
  29. Shane Ferguson 4.0
    • 13 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Can I cut 28 pts lead from my ML leader?
    Difference
    He - Puncheon, Ba, Torres (c)
    Me - Mata, Bale, Silva, RvP, Berbatov, Suarez

    Open Controls
  30. Dial Square
    • 12 Years
    11 years, 10 months ago

    Rooney out means I have Cuellar coming off the bench and Taarabt captain. Terrified!

    Open Controls