Rafa licks his Skrtel-shaped wounds after a stalemate with Reidy’s Thailand. Martinez rights another defeat off as “irrelevant” as Wigan slip again in Austria. Wolves welcome back Kightly but fall flat at Port Vale and Luis Jimenez shows encouraging glimpses on his Hammers debut. Here’s the notes from another night’s warm-ups…
Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Peter Reid’s Thailand was more notable for the aforementioned hamstring injury to Martin Skrtel. The match itself saw Ryan Babel give Rafa’s men the lead from a Carragher long ball, before they were pegged back in the second-half. Benitez again made ten changes at half-time in this one, making it impossible to take too much from his lineup. The game was notable for the return of Liverpool’s Spanishcontingent with Albert Riera, Pepe Reina, Alvaro Arbeloa and Fernando Torres all seeing action. Their return should make it easier for us to decode Rafa’s thinking over the next few friendlies.
Interestingly, Ryan Babel did remain on the pitch after the break in this one and he has been the focus of some attention from the Liverpool boss of late. The Dutchman’s impact on the Premier League has been minimal to this point. You’d have to expect him to step up his game this term and he should provide increased fantasy returns if he is provided with starts. There’s a big question mark in that area but clearly Rafa is happy to shine some limelight Babel’s way and given that he took his opportunity here, his form will need to be monitored in Liverpool’s remaining pre-season games.
Roberto Martinez is still looking for a first win in charge at Wigan, after his side slipped to a 2-0 loss against Romania’s FC Timiosara in Austria. Having drawn 1-1 with Hannover 96 on Tuesday, Martinez again made wholesale changes to his lineup at half-time in this one. Yes it’s impossible to take too much from lineups at this stage, although so far, Paul Scharner has started as a centre back with Cattermole and Gomez looking likely to hold the central midfield roles. Although there is competition for the centre back positions in the form of Boyce and Bramble, it would appear that there’s little sign of Scharner being employed in a midfield role under Martinez right now. Erik Edman is also getting his fair share of starts in the left-back role so he is a clear threat to Maynor Figueroa – a big fantasy favourite last season. Both Edman and Figueroa could and have been employed in central defensive roles so far in pre-season.
As reported by Greek Fan earlier today, Wigan later confirmed that Kapo suffered a knee injury in last night’s game and is now a doubt for the season kick-off. Kapo has strained the anterior ligaments in his knee and is now likely to miss the entire pre-season.
Mick McCarthy also tasted defeat; his Wolves side lost 2-1 to Port Vale. Ryan Jarvis got the Premier League’s side only goal. The big news from this one is the return of midfielder Michael Kightly. He emerged as a sub in the second-half – his first appearances since April. Kightly is a key figure in the Wolves lineup and possibly their main source of creativity in the season to come. Last term his fantasy returns read 8 goals and a massive 20 assists in 38 starts. Stats like that make him worthy of your attention as a budget consideration in midfield, so he’ll need a closer examination over the remainder of the pre-season.
Harry Redknapp gave a debut to new signing Kyle Naughton but saw a Spurs eleven lose 3-1 at Aldershot. It was a makeshift lineup from Spurs, although first-teamers Gomes and Hutton were in the lineup. Right-back Naughton announced himself with the assist for the only Spurs goal.
Finally Zola’s West Ham were held 1-1 by Turks Buraspor. Kieron Dyer got the Hammers goal offering further suggestions that he could promise an increase in fantasy returns should he stay fit. He was employed as part of a central midfield alongside Luis Jimenez who was handed his debut in a fluid 4-3-3 formation and got 80 minutes, littered with some sublime touches. He’s another who appears to be deserving of some pre-season attention. More on him in due course.