QPR keep up their winning ways with a narrow 2-1 triumph in the final game of their pre-season tour of Asia. Bobby Zamora is amongst the goals once again for Mark Hughes’ outfit, with Samba Diakite, Adel Taarabt and Fabio (playing as a right winger) the main protagonists. Tim Cahill looks to be on his way out of Everton after the Toffees accept a bid from New York Red Bulls, while Sir Alex Ferguson reveals Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans may not be ready in time for the new season as United’s central defensive crisis deepens:
Persebaya 1 QPR 2
Mark Hughes’s side finished their Asia tour with a 100% record after their third successive win yesterday. After back-to-back 5-0 victories in their previous two games, QPR didn’t get things their own way, though, and conceded their first goal of pre-season on 17 minutes – Rob Green failed to gather a long ball into the box, allowing home forward Soler the chance to slot home from close-range. Samba Diakite, in particular, was lauded by the QPR website for a superb showing in central midfield but it was on-loan Fabio who again played his part offensively. Playing on the right of midfield for Hughes’ side, the Brazilian was hauled down in the box on 26 minutes, with Adel Taarabt slotting home the resultant spot-kick. Fabio – at 4.5 in FPL and 4.3 in the Sky Sports game – already looks set for plenty investment but the added possibility of game time in midfield will really catch the attention of Fantasy managers.
In a game played under sweltering conditions, the pace began to slow as the match progressed but Taarabt maintained his strong recent form and continued to provide plenty menace going forward. It was no surprise when the Moroccan and Fabio were involved in the visitors’ winner; their combination eventually played in Jamie Mackie on the right, with the sub teeing up Bobby Zamora to slot home. The former Fulham man has now notched in all three of his side’s games so far and, priced at 6.5 in FPL and 8.2 in the Sky Sports game, may be one to watch going into the new season.
QPR Starting XI: Green (Cerny 45), Onuoha, Ferdinand (Doughty 45), Connolly, Hill (Ehmer), Fabio (Harriman), Taarabt, Diakite (Park), Traore (Wright-Phillips), Zamora (Ephraim), Helguson (Mackie 45).
In Other News…
Tim Cahill may well have played his last game for Everton after the club confirmed they have accepted a bid of £1m from New York Red Bulls for the Australian’s services. Cahill – who is due to serve a three-match suspension at the start of the season after his dismissal in the Toffees’ final league match of 2011/12 – was a huge disappointment last time round, notching just twice in 35 appearances, and his likely departure now increases the chances of other candidates in David Moyes’ first XI.
With the Everton boss favouring a 4-5-1, a role in “the hole” is up for grabs now – Marouane Fellaini, Leon Osman and Steven Naismith seem the most obvious options; the Belgian impressed there towards the end of the previous campaign, notably in the 4-4 draw against United, but Naismith’s partnership with Nikica Jelavic at Glasgow Rangers may work in his favour. Certainly, Fellaini and Osman hold the most appeal from an Fantasy perspective, mainly as Naismith is classified as a forward in both FPL and the Sky Sports game. All three come in at 6.5 in FPL, though Fellaini is definitely the most intriguing in the Sky game; at 6.1, he is far cheaper than Osman (7.5), with Naismith setting you back 6.7. The move perhaps edges Steven Pienaar towards a Toffees return. With Cahill’s exit helping Moyes balance the books, the South African could be poised to make his way back to Goodison from Spurs – averaging over 5 ppg during his loan spell last term, Pienaar was outstanding value for money and, coming in at 6.5 in FPL this time round, is surely set to pick up plenty investment if he seals his move back to Merseyside.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s central defensive worries show no sign of abating, with the news that United skipper Nemanja Vidic may not be fit in time for the new season. The Serb missed the vast majority of the previous campaign and was expected to be ready for the opener at Everton on Monday August 20 but the Old Trafford boss admitted there are question marks hanging over both Vidic and Jonny Evans, going on to tell a press conference in Shanghai:
It’s not 100 per cent that Jonny Evans and Vida will start the season. Jonny will start running today. Vida and Phil Jones started full training today, which is very positive. If I can keep Rio fit, then Vidic and Jones should give us ample cover.
With Chris Smalling ruled out for 10 weeks due to a metatarsal injury and Evans still recovering from an ankle injury, Scott Wootton has partnered Rio Ferdinand at centre-half in the club’s two pre-season matches thus far. Jones has now returned to training after time off due to Euro 2012 duties, however, and could now come into contention in our Fantasy thinking if Vidic and Evans fail to recover in time; both Jones and Ferdinand are priced at 6.0 in FPL and come in at 7.0 and 6.8 respectively in the Sky Sports game.
