One man dominates my thinking right now. Heβs someone I trust implicitly. Someone who brought a smile to my face time after time when others failed me. Donβt get me wrong, heβs not infallible, heβs disappointed me, but rarely without redeeming himself spectacularly soon after. Now Iβm about to put my emotions in his hands him again β it feels exciting and dangerous.
This is not fifty shades of grey. It’s all very black and white. Today you’re either backing Robin Van Persie or hoping he fails miserably and that “Torres” can be the safe word to save you from a beating.
United’s striker will shape the next 24-hours. For all the faith put in Swanseaβs Michu, all the hype that Eden Hazard has built around himself with his sparkle so far. Everyone else will be forgotten, reduced to sums of Fantasy cash that perhaps could be transferred out in order to raise the funds to acquire Van Perise. If the Dutchman impresses β even hints that heβll become the player who took our seasons by the scruff of the neck last term, then panic will likely ensue.
United face Fulham at Old Trafford today with Sir Alex Ferguson strongly hinting that his primary weapon will be loaded and tilted the way of Martin Jolβs defence. For Fantasy managers currently holding down the pause button on the idea of acquiring Van Persie, theyβll be hoping for a blank, for perhaps an hour of nice touches, smiles and the odd wayward shot with hands running through immaculately gelled hair in frustration.
Should the Roy of the Rovers script come into play with Van Persie finding the net once or twice, United’s looming fixtures against Southampton and Wigan will light up and surely force the hand of many. Or more likely, the wildcard.
Those clinging to the hope that theyβll get time, that Van Persie will be preserved and perhaps eased in at St Maryβs next weekend, to be rested over the international break, look set to be disappointed already. Todayβs press are in no doubt that Van Persie starts.
Even the Independent, well known for striking out and opting for their own path, have Van Persie up with Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck relegated to the bench. That view is shared by all todayβs papers β and by our predicted lineups. Van Persie will surely start, a year on from the 8-2 defeat he suffered with Arsenal on the same pitch.
Elsewhere amongst the press boys, thereβs a split on Emmanuel Adebayorβs chances of being installed in Andre Villas-Boasβ lineup against West Brom β the Independent keep faith with Jermain Defoe, the Guardian back them up. Meanwhile, The Times choose to omit Rickie Lambert from their Southampton lineup, predicting an unchanged side from Nigel Adkins despite Lambertβs impact at City.
Thatβs perhaps the nearest we get to a shock, on a day that finds the media nicely aligned when it comes to the likely teamsheets.
Itβs almost as if they called a truce. Sat down and agreed with Premier League bosses that, on day that that will see us nervously monitoring the progress of Van Persie, we could do without the noise and fuzz from the rest of the lineups.
So now we sit and wait. Watch for every update from Old Trafford and, depending what camp weβre in, wish for Van Persie to be involved or stand idle as a spectator.
Itβs got a ring of dΓ©jΓ vu to it. Twelve months ago I knew exactly what camp I was in β Iβm just about to press the button to join up again. I’m feeling vulnerable and slightly giddy. Nobody will hear me if I end up screaming “Torres”.
