A predictable canter for a Ronaldo-inspired United. An unpredictable festival of goals at White Hart Lane. Here’s the notes from a barmy night in the Premiership.
Man United 2 Bolton 0
Team Lineups
Ferguson threw us a real curveball by making no less than 7 changes from the side that won at Derby. Kuszczak returned in goal after serving his one-match ban, despite Foster’s efforts at the weekend. Hargreaves came in at right-back and O’Shea moved to the left with Brown and Evra benched. Ferdinand didn’t play, despite Ferguson’s comments earlier in the week on the threat of Davies and the ability of Ferdinand and Vidic to counter it. Pique lined up alongside Vidic instead.
The midfield saw the usual level of rotation, although thankfully, Ronaldo kept his place. Fletcher and Nani came in with Giggs dropping out and Scholes taking a place on the bench. Up front, Rooney was rested with Saha and Tevez starting.
Megson was forced into changes for Bolton with Nolan out with a back injury and Cahill sidelined with a bruised foot. Meite lined up in defence then, while McCann came into the midfield. Guthrie also got a recall, as did Joey O’Brien. Campo and Cohen dropped out.
Notes and Form
Ronaldo’s brilliance is getting rather problematic. Next season is going to be about which 10 players you pick around him and how you can possibly mend the big hole in your fantasy wallet he’ll cause. Two more goals here took him to 24 Premiership strikes for the season.
Ferdinand was conspicuous by his absence again, although it would appear this was Ferguson genuinely resting the centre-back, rather than Rio suffering further complications with a reported back injury. Expect both Ferdinand and Van der Sar to return for the Liverpool game at the weekend.
Vidic did go off with a facial injury in this one but that’s unlikely to keep him out. He was subbed before the hour mark, so bizarrely, with Evra and Brown both benched, it meant that none of United’s regular defenders left this game with points for a clean sheet. This was United’s third in a row and they now have 18 for the season, more than any other side.
It’s 3 home games in 4 to come for United, although Liverpool, Villa and Arsenal provide considerable opposition in those games. It’s not an easy run of fixtures in the next five for United, particularly when you consider that they have Champions League action sewn into them. That’s likely to see Ferguson shuffle things with Tevez and Rooney particularly at risk. The home game with Villa on March 29 (gameweek 32) and the visit to Boro on April 6 (gameweek 33) appear to be the hotspot fixtures for rotation – both games precede the Quarter-Final with Roma.
As for Bolton – they weren’t expected to get a result here but the alarm bells are ringing soundly regardless -it’s 5 straight defeats now and Megson’s side have scored just twice in that run. They do have 3 home games in 4 to come, with City and Arsenal at the Reebok next. Fantasy interest in their players will be minimal however, given their run of form.
Injuries and Suspensions
Vidic picked up an injury and was withdrawn on 58-minutes.
Tottenham 4 Chelsea 4
Team Linueps
Ramos welcomed back King to his defence with Dawson dropping to the bench. Elsewhere, they were unchanged from the side that lost at City at the weekend.
Grant was fairly conservative in his changes. Makelele returned for Obi in midfield, Essien came in for Ballack and Carvalho returned for Alex in defence. Drogba led the attack with Anelka out of the sixteen again. Cudicini remained in goal with Cech failing to make the game despite making rapid progress with his injury.
Notes and Form
Ramos went with arguably his strongest side here – the same eleven that started the Carling Cup Final. That meant no place for Huddlestone, although he did make a sub appearance for Jenas at half-time and took his chance with a lovely goal and an assist. He will remain a threat to Jenas and Lennon in the coming weeks which is a factor if you’re considering or own any of those players.
Berbatov’s goal was his fifth in 6 games, Keane’s his third in 5 as both Spurs strikers maintained excellent fantasy returns. Defensively though, Ramos will be worried – Spurs have now conceded 10 in the last 4 games and, having tightened things when he first arrived, he’ll be looking to plug the gaps in the remaining games. I’d expect some changes with Chimbonda most likely for the chop. Ramos could even be tempted to oust Robinson once more, with Cerny perhaps profiting.
Spurs now have 3 home games in 4 with Portsmouth and Newcastle at the Lane next. That’s followed by a trip to, home game with Boro, then a trip to Wigan. Very very decent fixtures. Those who invested in Berbatov for the double fixture week should get continued rewards and he appears to fully justify the number one spot in my forward rankings, despite the form of Torres.
As for Chelsea, there are some pretty significant points of interest to be made from Grant’s lineup tonight. Firstly Ballack’s omission from the side to accommodate Essien appears to indicated that the German midfielder is now vulnerable once more. His form to this point seemed to assure him of starts, even with Lampard’s return. It now appears that Grant has had a change of heart and that Ballack owners will need to urgently consider the players’ prospects for the rest of the season.
There is perhaps a ready-made replacement in the Chelsea lineup with Joe Cole continuing his excellent run of form with two goals and an assist here. I have him ranked fourth in my current midifleder rankings and that’s just about right in this current run. He’s assured of starts and, along with Lampard, is a major attacking threat and source of fantasy points.
Drogba’s selection, with Anelka out of the squad, is another interesting one. Has Grant made up his mind here? It seems doubtful given that Grant pursued Anelka so relentlessly. Still too early to make the move for either of these two then – a real waste.
At the back Ferreira and Ashley Cole seem to have wrestled the full-back positions from Belletti and Bridge, although after conceding goals here, you just never know how Grant will react. Meanwhile, Cech can’t return quick enough. If he’s 90% fit, he’s likely to make a return at the weekend against Arsenal.
That game at Stamford Bridge is followed by a home game with Boro before the Champions League Quarter-Final first leg with Fenerbahce. There could be rotation for that Boro game then with the full-backs, Carvalho, Lampard and Cole all under threat it would seem.
After that Chelsea’s Premiership game against City on the weekend (gameweek 33) before the second leg, is currently shown as postponed. However, according to reports on the City site, the game will take place on Saturday April 5 and will therefore remain in gameweek 33. There’s no confirmation of this to be found as yet but it certainly makes sense.
Again, the trip to City could see Grant rest players depending on the state of play in the tie with Fenerbahce. After that second-leg it’s Wigan at home and Everton away. Not an awful run of games but with Europe sandwiched between them, the risk of rest and rotation is high, even amongst Grant’s key players.
Injuries and Suspensions
Jenas picked up an injury and was replaced at half-time.