Say What?

Our trawl through the press conferences and post-match reports returns as we fish for fresh, tasty sound bites. This week, Tim Sherwood talks tactics, David Moyes discusses Adnan Januzaj’s game time, Brendan Rodgers lifts the lid on Steven Gerrard’s new role, Arsene Wenger discusses his midfield options, whilst new managers Gunnar Solskjaer and Rene Meulensteen also have their say:

After his captain’s deepest average position of the season, Brendan Rogers addressed veteran midfielder Steven Gerrard’s new position in the first team. Gerrard has racked up fantasy points (87, or 5.1 ppg) in typical fashion despite missing several games though injury. Fantasy owners need not be overly concerned by his repositioning, with much of his attacking threat this season coming by way of set pieces – but, at 8.8, Gerrard remains Liverpool’s most expensive midfielder. Budget-friendly Jordan Henderson (6.4) and Raheem Sterling (5.3) both played the full 90, in spite of Daniel Sturridge’s return to action. Both sit on 3.4 ppg, meaning the case for Gerrard remains.

“He fits the profile of that controlling role. In the period out [with a hamstring injury], we had real success with a player in the controlling role and two guys pressing and playing in the central corridor. I just feel that the position is perfect for Steven. Firstly, he has the personality to play it. When you play in that controlling role, you need someone who can get on the ball. He gives us great variety in his passing. You saw it a couple of times today, he’d pick it up from deep, make a short pass and open the game up for us and he stretched the game with his vision and quality. I’ve spoken to him a lot on the subject and I think it was just about the timing really of when to play him in the role”
Brendan Rogers confirms Steven Gerrard’s future role for Liverpool.

Arsene Wenger revealed, somewhat surprisingly, his ambitions for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. With Theo Walcott forced out through injury, many managers may have earmarked Chamberlain (6.7) as a cut-price replacement but it appears Wenger has other ideas for his progression into the side. This could signal the mouth watering prospect of a 4.2-priced advanced midfield option in the Arsenal’s front line….

“At the moment he is still in formation. It is good for his education as he plays left, right and centrally when needed. After [the age of] 23 or 24 you settle in a definite position. He will be deeper as he has a good long ball, penetration from deep and a good quality to distribute and penetrate individually. Certainly he has the same qualities to Steven Gerrard. He is a bit of a Ramsey type.”
Arsene Wenger on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s positional prospects.

Wenger’s comments on Serge Gnabry look set to tempt Fantasy managers as they prepare for the return of a highly popular, budget-stretching Argentine up top. Selecting the exceptionally cheap young German looks a great punt, but a quick word of caution – with Arsenal looking primed for investment, a non-playing 4.2-priced midfielder could prove hard to shift for managers looking to accommodate a third Arsenal starter if Gnabry fails to get regular first team action.

“He has a lot in the locker… We are looking at a guy who has great pace, good individual talent, can pass people, is a good finisher who can finish right and left as he is two-footed, and he has a very good football brain, with good vision.”
Arsene Wenger talks up Serge Gnabry’s great potential.

Cardiff City’s new manager Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer explains his central defensive selection headache. The ‘baby-faced assassin’ took the sword to the usual back four by handing Mark Hudson a start – first in the midweek cup tie and then again in the league, as forum-favourite Ben Turner was forced to the bench. Budget-friendly Turner (4.2) had played every minute of the season before this weekend’s defeat by the Hammers but, with Hudson ousting the formerly ever-present EnglishmAn from Cardiff’s starting XI, doubts remain over the first-choice partner for captain Caulker.

“Mark has been on the bench all year but he was brilliant up at Newcastle, he was absolutely outstanding when Steven had to miss the game with a few knocks. So I opted for him and I thought Mark did really well. Ben has done nothing wrong all year. So I’ve got three good centre-backs there and we’ll need the depth of the squad.”
Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer on Ben Turner’s recent absence from the starting XI.

Having started his tenure with a 4-4-2 formation, Spurs boss Tim Sherwood hinted at a possible change to accommodate more of the club’s summer signings. Spurs have won four out of their five league matches under the new manager but face mixed fortunes, hosting both Man City and Everton and facing three away fixtures in the next five. Fantasy owners of Christian Eriksen (7.3m), won’t be too concerned, given the Dane’s superb average of 7.2 points per game under the new leadership, though the likes of Roberto Soldado may have reason to worry if Sherwood reverts to one up front, given the recent impact of Emmanuel Adebayor.

“We’ve got Nacer Chadli – for me his best position is going to be off the front – and Erik Lamela. I think he will play in the hole behind the main striker. These boys are halfway through the settling-in period so I don’t want to bring somebody else in and knock them back. We will crack on with what we have got – and I believe in them. I believe they can do a job and we will change the way we play, maybe. I’m looking for a change of style, possibly, to freshen it up – and we have the options within the squad already.”
Tim Sherwood on a potential shift in style and personnel in Spurs’ starting XI.

Eden Hazard’s match-winning contribution against a resilient Hull City at the weekend prompted calls from Jose Mourinho, to award his star player’s form with a player of the month trophy. Fantasy owners will, no doubt, empathise after the young Belgian’s performance was rewarded with no Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Bonus Points, but there is cause for optimism amid the frustration. At 10.6 Hazard is the FPL’s stand-out midfielder – most expensive, most points and comfortably top of the ICT rankings. Having played a key role in the victory against Liverpool, Hazard now appears focussed on taking the responsibility of changing games ahead of a tricky tie against reigning champions Manchester United.

“He is playing very well for a long time. He is more than just a talented kid now. He feels and accepts the responsibility, accepts that a team player is more than a talented player. Without losing his fantastic ability he is giving us other things. Let’s see if the Barclays Premier League decide to give him a player of the month, because the kid is waiting and the trophy is not arriving. Maybe they don’t like to go to Cobham!”
Jose Mourinho talks up Eden Hazard’s consistency as Chelsea’s star turn.

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet moved to reinforce his prematch comments on Adam Johnson’s ‘match winner’ potential following his FPL player-of-the-week performance against Meulensteen’s beleaguered Fulham. His comments suggest that Johnson is now central to the teams attacking play and it would appear a shrewd move from the new manager. His remarkable performance banked 22 fantasy points, exactly one third of his total points tally and 75% of his seasons goals in a rampant 90 minutes at Craven Cottage. Sunderland play host in three of their next four fixtures (SOT, STO, new, Hull) – a favourable-looking run for the 6.4-priced winger.

“Johnno today, he would make the difference at any level. We were looking to get that style of play for him to take advantage and make the difference. Johnno needs to play for a team that keeps the ball, gives him the ball at the right time, gives him the space to break. We were trying, it wasn’t easy at first, but in the last two or three weeks when we’ve been passing better and the team has been more solid, that’s given him the freedom to perform.”
Gus Poyet on Adam Johnson’s ‘key player’ status at Sunderland.

Fantasy favourite, David Moyes – whose comments are typically shrouded in mystery – took time to elaborate on Man United starlet Adnan Januzaj’s increasingly obvious talent, after deploying him in a central role behind Danny Welbeck. Though the 5.2-priced youngster failed to register any significant FPL return, he is already the champions’ highest-scoring midfielder with 54 points. His out-of-position prospects may quickly diminish, with the potential return of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, but Moyes’ public recognition of Adnan’s versatility should serve managers with encouragement.

“Adnan can play in all the positions around the front. I speak to him a lot and he tells me he could play everywhere and he would have no problem. He’s not a nervous boy. I wanted to see if it would give us any more creativity, any more [attacking] positions, and help us. He needs teaching and understanding because he is still learning the game in a lot of the things he is doing. But his talent and natural ability is up there with the best and I think, in time, he will prove to be that.”
David Moyes on Adnan Januzaj’s versatility for Manchester Utd.

Fans of the west London side and their Fantasy investors need look no further than the January reunion of a formerly lucrative Fantasy combination – Clint Dempsey and a Fulham FC jersey. Meulensteen has been quick to acknowledge his loanee’s value to the club and we’d expect to see the 7.4-priced American back in the points soon. Dempsey delivered triple-figure hauls in six of his seven seasons in the Premier League and his final season at the club (2011/12) harvested an astonishing 209 points. This season’s 7-7.5 midfield price-bracket is packed with talent – Ramsay, Lallana, Eriksen and Cabaye attracting strong investment – but if Dempsey rediscovers his devastating form, he’ll make for a wonderful differential.

“Clint’s a fit boy and that comes pretty quickly… the more minutes and games he gets under his belt the quicker that will all come. It won’t take long for him to be right back up there… He’s just got to keep working, but that’s his character and that’s exactly what we know he will do.”
Rene Meulensteen, buoyed by the return of former Fulham favourite, on Clint Dempsey.