Roberto Mancini has opted for Joe Hart in goal for today’s opener at White Hart Lane – presumably making him his number one for the coming season. This leaves Shay Given on the bench and, in the light of his recent comments, his future now looks in doubt.
In Fantasy terms this now makes Joe Hart a secure and realistic proposition in the City squad. Both Hart and Given are available for 6.0 in the Fantasy Premier League game and in truth, we would need to see Given leave the club before we’re given the security to make that kind of investment.
City’s defence is yet to prove that it has the talent to rank up there with the top four in terms of clean sheet gathering. The likes of Heurellio Gomes at Spurs and Tim Howard at Everton can offer mid-price clean sheet potential for 5.5 and right now, they look sounder investments. We will need to see evidence a stronger City defensive unit before that changes…
Elsewhere in the City lineup Shaun Wright-Phillips gets a surprise vote of confidence in midfield whilst new signing David Silva takes the opposite flank, leaving Adam Johnson benched. It looks as though that pairing will be pushed up in support of Carlos Tevez who skippers the side as a lone striker. The award of the armband to Tevez is interesting and sugggest that he will be assured 30+ starts now as a result, despite the competition for places in the City side.
As for Spurs, they go with Crouch and Defoe up front and it looks as though Gareth Bale will start in a left-wing role with Assou-Ekotto selected at left-back today. Good news for the many who claimed Bale in their initial lineups.
Today’s Dugout Discussion chatroom is now open to soak up your real-time reactions to today’s games.