Has a stitched Wayne Rooney made things simple? Have we already got the template attacking lineup? Certainly Robin Van Persie’s goal, coupled with the injury to Rooney that looks to have sidelined him for a month, suggests that the source of attacking points at United is settled. Unless, of course, you’re committing to the slick trickery of Shinji Kagawa over Van Persie’s pure goal power.
City’s Carlos Tevez surely has another spot up front reserved for him and, while Fernando Torres is doing his upmost to cling to our affections, Eden Hazard’s irresistible form surely means that we have a preferred route to Chelsea’s flowing attacking points.
After just two weeks, a combination of Van Persie, Tevez and Hazard appears to give the very best coverage of potentially the three most potent teams in the league.
You can argue around this – Kagawa, Samir Nasri and Torres all offer the alternatives but, right now, while these words are typed, I’m struggling to see past this new holy trinity as the most powerful combination.
Throw in Michu, Steven Pienaar or Mauroanne Fellaini – perhaps dabble with Danny Graham up front while Swansea’s fixtures remain favourable, or even Emmanuel Adebayor to cover Tottenham’s attacking threat, and the template after Gameweek 2 begins to look solid.
As we discussed in the ScoutCast this week, there will be new names emerging that will threaten to break the ideas we have now but, in all honesty, it’s difficult to see Van Persie, Tevez and Hazard being anything other than season keepers; barring injury.
It can’t really be that simple and yet the twist of fate that saw Rooney first benched and then stretchered down the tunnel, almost rubber-stamped matters. There will surely be thousands scrambling for Van Perise, even more suitors for Hazard after another bout or returns from this evening’s victory. Meanwhile, Tevez has Liverpool in his sights tomorrow with a clear run of appearances while Sergio Aguero recuperates.
If you currently sit on all three, congratulations; please fight back the smugness. If you’ve none of the above, cling to the hope that there’s naivety in these words and that these power houses will falter. Either that, or scrub up for some serious squad surgery.
