Three wide men dominate my Saturday morning thinking. On their day, all three can provide the spark to win matches and yet, in a football climate that often opts for the caution of an industrious midfield five with the aim to choke midfield talent rather than exploit it, the winger is now seen as a luxury; an far from essential selection.
Except that is if we’re talking about Gareth Bale. After his incredible display in the San Siro, it’s surely unthinkable that we will be spending another Saturday morning pondering the prospect of Harry Redknapp tinkering with his left-wing role? That would be the case had Harry not put the wind up us with his pre-match comments yesterday.
Bale remains a focus for the preamble then, with City’s Adam Johnson and Villa’s Marc Albrighton the other subjects that have their starting eleven credentials examined courtesy of the Saturday morning press.
Will Marc Albrighton return for Villa to bring back his Midfield budget potential?
There’s a question mark hanging over the Villa starlet’s starting role having missed the 0-0 with Chelsea last weekend. Gerard Houllier started with Ashley Young on the left flank and moved Stephen Ireland to the support role for the lone striker – John Carew. Against Sunderland, Houllier has the option to bring back Emile Heskey to lead his line and could shift Young back to a central role and recall the dribbling skills of Albrighton on the right. It would be a big shift in the system, so will Houllier accommodate the 4.6 winger?
The Sun: Yes. Albrighton starts on the right with Downing back on the left and Young up in support of Heskey. There’s no place for Ireland in the XI.
The Times: The first broadsheet agrees. Albrighton gets back in and they go with the same lineup as the Sun, except Carew keeps his place leaving Heskey benched.
The Telegraph: Yes. Again the winger makes a return shifting Young to a support role to Heskey in this predicted lineup.
The Guardian: No. This is the only paper this morning that feels that Houllier will stick with his Chelsea gameplan. Heskey is recalled with Carew dropping to the bench but Ireland retains his “in the hole” starting role.
I say: I’m going with the Guardian’s view that Houllier will keep faith with Ireland, with Young and Downing on the left and right flanks respectively. Albrighton may well face a battle to earn a recall if Ireland can make this role his own and even when he does regain a start, he will come under even greater threat once Gabby Agbonlahor is fit.
Surely Harry Redknapp won’t rest Gareth Bale against Everton?
Bale looked a world-beater against Inter on Wednesday so it seems unfathomable that he will be left out of Tottenham’s starting XI against Everton. Redknapp has gone on record to say in his pre-match build up that the young Welshman is “running on empty” however, putting Fantasy Managers on alert to the prospect of him being rested to the bench and kept as an impact sub. Scaremongering surely?
The Sun: Bale starts on the left in a Spurs lineup that includes a recall for Palacios in midfield. There’s no start for Luka Modric or Jermaine Jenas then as Aaron Lennon takes the right-flank and Rafael Van der Vaart is recalled in the support striker role behind Peter Crouch.
The Times: Bale starts on the left of midfield with Modric, Lennon and Tom Huddlestone completing a midfield. Van der Vaart is back to support Crouch up front here.
The Telegraph: Another start for Bale with Palacios taking up a midfield role, ousting Huddlestone to the bench. This paper goes with Roman Pavlyuchenko up front.
The Guardian: A full house – Bale looks safe and sound this week with all four morning papers handing him the left midfield slot. Huddlestone, Modric and Lennon complete the midfield and it’s Crouch up front with Van der Vaart here.
I say: Bale has got to start but Redknapp’s options in midfield now look plentiful. Sandro and Palacios are battling for a midfield starting role against Everton and it’s touch and go who will get the nod. I see Modric making way personally, with Lennon retaining a start on the right. For me, Huddlestone is too much of a key figure in Harry’s midfield to be rested.
Will Adam Johnson’s form be rewarded with a start against the Gunners?
What more does Johnson have to do? His direct, tricky wing play has been a feature for City and England when on the pitch, and yet we approach this key league fixture for City unsure whether he will be granted the opportunity to become a potential match winner for Roberto Mancini. Emmanuel Adebayor’s midweek hat-trick in the Europa League has put the idea of a 4-4-2 forward and with James Milner and David Silva to accommodate, that would leave Johnson benched. What do the rags reckon?
The Sun: Johnson starts in the usual 4-5-1 City setup, so Adebayor is left on the bench here with Sliva and Carlos Tevez completing the” front three”.
The Times: They also start with Johnson, although they take the bold step of dropping Silva to the bench with Milner handed the opposite flank and Yaya Toure, Gareth Barry and Nigel De Jong all starting in central midfield.
The Telegraph: Johnson is left on the bench. It’s a 4-4-2 from Mancini with Adebayor given a start against his former club, up in tandem with Tevez. Silva keeps his starting role with Milner on the opposite flank.
The Guardian: This paper agrees with the Telegraph. Adebayor keeps a starting role after his midweek performance and Mancini has no place for Johnson in his lineup. David Silva is also absent with a solid looking midfield behind the front two.
I say: The City situation is now getting incredibly tricky to predict and, as a result, Fantasy investment has become restricted to skipper Carlos Tevez. With Mario Balotelli an option for Mancini very soon, even he will be subject to rest and rotation at times. As for Johnson, opinion is split on whether he will start. Personally I see Johnson missing out as Mancini goes with his “Chelsea lineup” which includes maximum midfield protection and the wizardry of Silva to provide the magic with Tevez.
By the way – all four papers go with Florent Malouda to start against Wolves. I agree.
