The cold now biting, my Saturday mornings are spent defrosting the fingers with a mug of coffee, before dirtying them with the print of the football press. The Preamble takes us through the predicted lineups, in search of clues to solve the key dilemmas ahead of another gameweek…
Will Rafael Van der Vaart be recalled by Harry?
It seems that this has become a weekly game we play. So many have a vested interest in whether Tottenham’s Dutch master takes the field, Harry Redknapp’s teamsheet has become a vital component of our weekend. If Van der Vaart starts, he has the ability to inflict heavy damage and return handsome Fantasy profits – if not, he will frustrate thousands and leave those who shipped him out over the last ten days feeling rather smug. Few players have so much influence on our Fantasy fortunes.
So with Spurs facing a tough trip to the Britannia and Gareth Bale and Jermain Defoe doubts, how do the press feel about Redknapp’s lineup?
The good news for Van der Vaart owners, is that almost 100% of our today’s sources award a start to the Dutchman. Only the Independent start with Defoe alongside Emmanuel Adebayor, with The Sun, The Times, The Telegraph, The Mail and The Guardian, all opting for Van der Vaart in a 4-4-2.
The general opinion is also that Gareth Bale will shake off a foot injury to start, although The Sun have omitted him, handing a shirt to Jake Livermore in midfield, while The Mail give Steven Pienaar a start on the left-flank.
Will Alex Ferguson turn to Danny Welbeck in his hour of need?
The United teamsheet is another that always has a major influence on our gameweek – at least that’s the feeling we have prior to kick-off. In reality, United’s attacking returns have been so blunted of late, only regular clean sheets have kept the United profits ticking.
With a potentially profitable home clash with Wolves to come however, fortunes may well turn and Ferguson’s men could cut loose with a few goals. They may have to – without Nemanja Vidic to secure the back four, suddenly United’s potential to return clean sheets looks in danger. Ferguson may well be forced to chase goals and that could open the way for Danny Welbeck, amongst our Differentials this week, to shine. With Javier Hernandez stricken by injury, will Ferguson turn to Welbeck in tandem with Wayne Rooney?
It seems likely. This morning’s press all support the claims for a Welbeck start, aside from the Telegraph – they opt for a 4-4-2 with Giggs in midfield and Nani pushed up in support of Rooney.
As for the defence, the Telegraph goes with starts for Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans, with Phil Jones in midfield once again. The Times puts Jones alongside Rio Ferdinand with no place for Evans, while The Sun has Jones at right-back, with Smalling absent.
It’s guesswork basically. Ferguson has the pieces in Smalling, Evans and Jones, to put out a defence that could stand firm against Wolves and the forthcoming opposition, but we’ll need today’s teamsheet to inform us on his thinking. Right now, we can only speculate on how he will configure things in the absence of Vidic. What we do know however, is that United will be more vulnerable without the Serb’s substantial influence.
Any other points of interest?
We tweeted this morning how The Independent are claiming that Bobby Zamora will be left out by Martin Jol for Fulham’s trip to Swansea. Interestingly, they still have him in their predicted lineup, but there could yet be something in this. Should Zamora miss out, you have to wonder if Clint Dempsey will earn a start as the spearhead striker – something to look out for later.
Many sources were claiming that Ashley Young had suffered a recurrence of his toe injury in the Champions League defeat on Wednesday. There was no confirmation of this from official United sources and, with Young’s name not mentioned in Ferguson’s press conference, we’ve kept him in our thoughts in our Predicted lineup. The press seem to agree – the majority have Young in their lineups this morning, so we expect him to figure against Wolves. Whether he’ll be effective, is another matter.
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