Distracted with technical tweaking behind the scenes and with so many friendlies taking place over the last few days, I’ve a lot to catch up on. So let’s start working through those notable pre-season games, starting with Friday’s matches…
Things got underway at midday with United’s 3-2 win over FC Seoul – goals from Rooney, Berbatov and Macheda sealing a hard-fought victory. Another goal for the young Italian then, in his second consecutive start – suggesting that he could come more and more into the equation up front as the season progresses. To be honest, given the likely rotation between Owen, Berbatov and Rooney, it’s the last thing we need. I’ll save my thoughts on that particularly painful situation for another post though.
There was little else to take from this one to be honest – apart from perhaps the fact that Wes Brown completed another 90 minutes in pre-season. He is surely set to be a major factor in Ferguson’s defensive plans, either at right-back or as relief to Ferdinand and Vidic in the centre. Again, that’s likely to lead to uncertainty for us fantasy managers, particularly for those pre and post Champions League fixtures.
While United carved out that victory on Friday afternoon, Chelsea were taking on AC Milan in Baltimore and ran out 2-1 winners. Drogba and man of the match, Zhirkov were the scorers for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Chelsea’s new signing from Russia poses a particular problem for us fantasy managers. He was employed on the left of a midfield diamond in this one, with Belletti starting on the right. As Foch’s earlier Catch-Up article mentioned, Zhirkov is much fancied going into the season, particularly as he is classified as a defender across the majority of the fantasy games. Yes, he is expensive (7.5 in the Fantasy Premier League game) but should he pin down a regular start in the Chelsea midfield then his returns will surely be substantial. The presence of an in-form Malouda (form which continued today with a goal and an assist vs Club America) and the return to fitness of Joe Cole does put doubt on his likelihood of gaining regular starts however, while Ashley Cole surely has the left-back position secured. Maybe.
Steve Bruce saw his new Sunderland side suffer a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Benfica in their opening match of the Amsterdam tournament. Again Bruce employed a 4-5-1, this time with Kenwyne Jones spearheading the attack with Richardson the main support from midfield. That particular pairing worked to even greater effect on Sunday night, a game which saw Sunderland claim a 2-0 win over Athletico Madrid with Richardson claiming a brace. Bruce hinted after the game that he liked Richardson in this role – some indication that he could adopt this position come the season kick-off, making him a true consideration in fantasy terms. Bruce’s thinking could well change however, should he seal a deal for Tottenham’s Darren Bent.
Finally for Friday’s round-up, Spurs met Barcelona in the Wembley Cup, which ended in a credible 1-1 draw for Redknapp’s side. Young Jake Livermore headed the Spurs equaliser from a Robbie Keane cross to cancel out Barcelona’s opener from Bojan Krkic’s. Redknapp was without a first choice centre-back with injuries to King, Woodgate and Dawson, so started this one with a Corluka/Huddlestone pairing. Hutton was preferred to new signing Naughton at right-back and interestingly, Redknapp went with a five man midfield, leaving Defoe as a lone striker.
Given Redknapp’s likely resources up front, I can’t see him keeping with this formation too often, although it could be something he looks at away from White Hart Lane against top four opposition. The Spurs boss switched to 4-4-2 as he chased the game in the second-half, introducing Keane up front. Keane then started in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Cetlic, but I’ll bring you more on that in a follow-up post.