Javier Hernandez is passed fit for Man United’s game at Stoke tomorrow. Darren Bent complains about his lack of service at Villa as Stiliyan Petrov promises goals. Alan Pardew confirms his central role plans for Hatem Ben Arfa, Kenny Dalglish admits no one is guaranteed a start at Liverpool and Andre Villas-Boas talks up Oriol Romeu, after a brilliant Carling Cup performance. Here’s some Scribbles for this morning:
With one goal in his first five games, it’s little wonder Darren Bent has been complaining about Aston Villa’s style under Alex McLeish. While Villa remain unbeaten in the league, there’s no doubt Big Eck has yet to find a system to suit his star striker- at the moment, Gabby Agbonlahor has been the stand-out forward for McLeish’s side, scoring three of their six league goals to date. Bent complained yesterday:
We have to find the right balance for the team to be solid an offensive. When you are a striker, you are used to scoring left, right and centre and when the ball is not coming and you are not getting as many opportunities, then it is going to play on your mind.
While Bent is frustrated, Stiliyan Petrov has been reveling in his more attacking role for Villa. The Bulgarian was known for his goalscoring ability north of the border with Celtic but has played more defensively since his move to the Midlands. Alex McLeish is determined to rediscover the player’s eye for goal and Petrov is more than happy to oblige:
Hopefully they’ll be more to follow after that one at Goodison Park. I know it’s something I am capable of. After all, I scored more than 60 when I was at Celtic. In those days I frequently ventured into the final third of the pitch but now it’s a bit strange, not having done it for a while. Just bear with me while I get used to it again.
Carlos Tevez has been left out of Argentina’s squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Venezuela. As expected, Sergio Aguero is included on the 24-man list and with the games coming thick and fast for Man City, Tevez could see further league game time as Roberto Mancini looks to keep Aguero fresh.
Hatem Ben Arfa may have returned to first-team action in the midweek Carling Cup clash with Nottingham Forest, but Alan Pardew has been quick to downplay expectations. Although the Frenchman won’t be rushed back into a Newcastle starting role for tomorrow’s home match with Blackburn, Pardew did admit there is a chance Ben Arfa could feature from the bench. Pardew also explained how he intends to utilize Ben Arfa in his team, an indication that he could be a real out-of-position proposition this Fantasy season:
My view is he can’t play out wide. He has not got the relish for it and his best football comes through the middle.
Kenny Dalglish revealed his team’s performance at Brighton in midweek has given him a real selection headache ahead of tomorrow’s home game with Wolves.
Those who played did everything to help themselves and make it difficult for me to pick the team. That’s what we want. The boys gave themselves the best possible chance for selection by the way they played.We don’t have a team, we have a squad and there will be times when people play and others won’t. Sometimes you’ll be lucky and sometimes you’ll be unlucky.
Andre Villas-Boas has lavished praise on Oriol Romeu after the youngster’s Carling Cup performance against Fulham. The ex-Barcelona player excelled in the defensive midfield role as Chelsea battled Martin Jol’s side with ten men for seventy minutes, after Alex’s sending off:
He had an amazing game. His ability to receive the ball is something out of this world.Oriol was extraordinarily composed with the ball, receiving it straight from the goalkeeper under pressure, as you saw it. It shows the school where he was formed was fantastic. And it shows he can play his part in the Premier League.
After a man of the match performance in the Carling Cup win over Millwall, Adlene Guedioura has set his sights on regaining a place in the Wolves starting XI. The Algerian has recovered from minor ankle surgery and caught the eye with a goal and an assist in the 5-0 romp in midweek:
I was glad I played the full game and I am feeling good about my fitness.I want to play games now and hopefully I will get to play at Anfield if the gaffer needs me.
If you haven’t already noticed in our tweets, Javier Hernandez has been passed fit and is available to play in tomorrow evening’s game with Stoke. The Mexican was expected to be sidelined for around two weeks after Ashley Cole’s horror tackle at Old Trafford last weekend but has resumed training and Sir Alex Ferguson said in his press conference :
At the time it happened, he had no feeling in the leg. There was numbness and and we thought there might have been some nerve damage…He’s available for tomorrow.
