There’s a nip in the air along with a sense of expectancy ahead of Chelsea’s first real test at Man City in a matter of hours.
At last us Fantasy Managers have something to think about, as the likes of Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda face opponents that might just put a halt to their relentless heavy scoring. Maybe not though. City have injuries at the back and the impact of those problems is a key issue to be considered in this morning’s preamble, along with Redknapp’s resources for the Upton Park visit and a potential Nasri niggle, as Arsenal prepare for a kind little Emirates match-up with West Brom.
How will City’s defensive problems impact on their lineup?
Roberto Mancini may have spent millions but he goes into his biggest game of the season so far with injuries to Bridge, Kolarov, Lescott and Richards giving him very few options at the full-back positions. There is talk of Dedryck Boyata lining up at right-back, allowing Zabaleta to remain on the left. But Gareth Barry could switch to the left-back role, vacating a central midfield spot for Milner to drop back into, with both Adam Johnson and David Silva starting. Would Mancini disrupt his whole side and go with such an attacking lineup? Let’s see how the press are feeling…
The Sun: The tabloid has Barry dropping to left-back with Zabaleta switching to right-back. This means that Milner fills in a deeper central role with Johnson coming in alongside Silva in support of lone striker Tevez.
The Times: The feel that Lescott will pass a fitness test after returning to training this week and take up the left-back role with Zabaleta switching right. They still find a start for Johnson in midfield however, despite him starting the midweek Carling Cup tie. There’s no place for Silva – that’s surely not likely.
The Telegraph: They match the Sun’s lineup with Barry at left-back, Milner dropping deeper and both Johnson and Silva in the lineup.
The Guardian: The only one of the morning papers to go with Boyata at right-back. This means there’s no disruption elsewhere in Mancini’s lineup with Silva starting ahead of Johnson in midfield.
I say: I go with the Guardian’s appraisal. It’s unknown whether Lescott or even Boateng will be fit having returned to training this week, or if Richards will shake off the hamstring. If we go with a negative on all three then I feel that Boyata is more likely to come in as it allows Mancini to keep the rest of his side intact. The midfield trio of Barry, Toure and De Jong are so important to City and Mancini has shown a reluctance to break them up, home or away. I see him trying to avoid that at all costs against Chelsea and hoping that Boyata can cope with Malouda at right-back. It might just be a key encounter.
How will Harry Redknapp juggle his resources with injuries and a forthcoming Champions League tie to contend with?
With Luka Modric back from injury, Redknapp has plenty of options in midfield and with the prospect of starting both the Croatian and Van der Vaart in what would be a very attacking, creative lineup. For Fantasy Managers the role given to Gareth Bale is key; with Benoit Assou-Ekotto playing 120 minutes in midweek, it seems likely that Bale will be shifted to full-back which could hamper his attacking returns against the West Ham defence. How do the papers see this one going?
The Sun: Both Van der Vaart and Modric start with no sign of Redknapp resting either of them for the Champions League tie next week. The return of Modric in midfield has Bale switching to left-back with no place for Assou-Ekotto. Bassong starts alongside Gallas as King is rested for Europe.
The Times: Modric starts here too, with Van der Vaart up in support of Crouch the lone striker. Again Bale finds himself at left-back and, like the Sun, Hutton keeps his spot at right-back. They bring Corluka into a central defensive role alongside Gallas with King rested.
The Telegraph: They also go with Modric and Van der Vaart and again Bale is deployed at left-back with no start for either Assou-Ekotto or King.
The Guardian: This is the only paper to drop Van der Vaart with Modric brought in to play the support role to Crouch up front. Assou-Ekotto starts at left-back with Bale in front of him in a midfield role. Corluka starts ahead of Hutton at right-back and King starts, presumably with no regard for the Champions League game to come.
I say: I just don’t see Redknapp putting both Modric and Van der Vaart into the mix for a London derby. He will surely want to keep one of them fresh for the Champions League tie with FC Twente on Wednesday. I noticed that Harry didn’t start with Kranjcar in the Carling tie against Arsenal and later reassured him that he will get his chance. I just feel this is a game for Kranjcar and that he will start on the left with Bale dropping back to full-back. Van der Vaart to start ahead of Modric for me up in support of Crouch.
Will Samir Nasri be given the opportunity to cash in on the Emirates encounter with West Brom?
The Fantasy Premier League game are telling us that Samir Nasri is doubtful for the home encounter with West Brom. Is he carrying an mysterious injury or is this just caution on the part of the FPL after Nasri’s 120 minute Carling Cup appearance at White Hart Lane in midweek? What do the morning rags say?
Simple this one. All four have Nasri in their Arsenal lineups and I agree with them. There’s some logic behind this – Nasri is not carrying a known injury. Unless they have an inside tip-off, the FPL have presumably marked Nasri with a little yellow flag because they feel he is a doubt having played extra time in the Carling Cup in midweek. With Arsenal travelling to Belgrade for the Champions League in midweek, he may well be preserved, but this is the first time I’ve seen the FPL consider such factors and mark a players as “doubtful”.
I see Nasri amongst the players that will lineup against West Brom with Wenger hoping that he gets the opportunity to withdraw him, along with Arshavin and Chamakh, once the Gunners establish a winning margin.
That’s about it then. Time to collect thoughts and consider a pre-match breakfast. The issue of FPL Captain is of course, still rattling around in my head. Right now I’m playing safe with Didier Drogba keeping the armband. That may change before 11.30 but I just see Chelsea nicking the win at Eastlands and we’ve seen that Drogba is not only a supreme scorer but also a major contributor of assists. If Chelsea do get the points, it seems unlikely that Drogba will go empty-handed. Then again, I don’t have the dilemma of having Arsenal players in my squad making the decision all the more easy.