Let’s do something different to take us to the gameweek deadlines. Let’s delve into the dark world of the British press and see how they’re predicting the Premier League lineups this weekend. Who knows, it might even prove useful…
The Sun
The Current Bun predicts no place for Abdoulaye Faye in the Stoke lineup on his return from suspension. They rule out James Collins for Villa, bring Bullard into the Hull lineup for Marney. They see Mark Hughes sticking with 4-5-1 with Bellamy wide left and Ireland in midfield.
Evans will apparently start alongside Vidic for United with no place for Giggs in the eleven but Berbatov starts. Bent is in their Sunderland lineup, although they predict a 4-4-2 with Campbell starting ahead of Henderson. I just can’t see. They have Rosicky as a starter for Arsenal – I have to agree there. Gallas is also in. Drogba and Lampard are both safely in the lineup for Chelsea, with Ivanovic and Carvalho in the defence. There’s no place for Joe Cole though with Deco getting the nod.
They are not optimistic on Torres’ chances of making – going with Ngog up front for Liverpool with Benayoun on the left. They predict that Rodwell and Saha will be fit for Everton despite a late injury scares. Dempsey is up front for Fulham with Nevland his partner.
The Guardian
The first of the broadsheets has Faye recalled to the Stoke defence, with Huth replacing Wilkinson at right-back. They also see James Collins missing out for Villa. Bullard starts for Hull, with Boateng making way. They also have Hesselink up front for Phil Brown’s side – the only one of the three papers who opts for him over Altidore. The Guardian don’t agree with the Sun on Man City – Tevez starts in a 4-4-2 for them with Ireland out of the eleven.
Evans and O’Shea are both missing from their United lineup – so it’s Brown alongside Vidic. They too don’t see a start for Giggs – they’ve gone for Nani and Valencia on the flanks which seems unlikely to me. Berbatov is in again. Bent starts for Sunderland in a 4-5-1 which I agree with. There’s no Rosicky in their Arsenal lineup; they go for Nasri and Arshavin on the flanks. Gallas starts for them too. They also predict starts for Ivanovic and Carvalho, with Deco in for Joe Cole on the point of the diamond.
Torres starts in their Liverpool eleven, as does Benayoun. Saha makes it for Everton and Rodwell also recovers from his injury. Interestingly they predict that Zamora will be fit for Fulham, partnering Nevland up front which pushes Dempsey back into midfield.
The Telegraph
The Telegraph leaves the Stoke defence untouched so there’s no start for Faye. Collins doesn’t make it into the Villa lineup – one other major difference here – the Telegraph on the only paper of the three to predict a start for Robbie Keane at Villa Park. Bullard comes in alongside Boateng in the Hull midfield; Marney makes way. There’s no place for Bellamy in their City lineup – Tevez comes in and Ireland keeps his midfield starting role.
It’s Brown and Vidic for them in the United defence, with Giggs on one flank and Valencia on the other; Berbatov again starts. That looks about right to me. Bent starts for Sunderland, again in the 4-5-1 that I favour for Steve Bruce’s men. Rosicky and Nasri both start in their Arsenal lineup – they offer no place to Denilson here with Nasri presumably taking up a more defensive role. They hedge their bets with Gallas, predicting a start for either him or Silvestre. Joe Cole is on the point of their Chelsea diamond and again, Lampard starts. It’s Belletti and Carvalho in their defence for Chelsea, so no place for Ivanovic.
Torres doesn’t make it into their Liverpool lineup but they also see Benayoun wide left for Rafa. Again, both Saha and Rodwell make it for Everton. Dempsey starts with Nevland in attack for Fulham.
Interesting stuff. Of the three, It almost shames me to say that I’m most in bed with the Telegraph. I’m not so sure about some of the Sun’s claims. Evans starting for United? No Joe Cole? I stand by our own Team News predictions over these three. We’ll see though.