With as many as 16 Premier League sides preparing for friendlies tomorrow afternoon, the stage was left for Swansea last night as Michael Laudrup’s side eased through to the Europa League play-offs. Elsewhere, Jan Vertonghen is optimistic he’ll be ready for Tottenham’s trip to Palace, Sam Allardyce is doubtful over Andy Carroll’s availability, while Liverpool owner John W Henry has stated Luis Suarez is going nowhere this season.
Malmo 0 Swansea 0
Michael Laudrup made seven changes from the side that triumphed 4-0 at home in the first-leg of their Europa League qualifier last week. Only Ashley Williams, Wayne Routledge, Michu and Wilfried Bony kept their places, with summer signings such as Jose Canas and Alejandro Pozuelo getting the nod in central midfield and on the flank respectively. Chico also recovered from the thigh injury that has kept him on the sidelines recently as Jordi Amat dropped to the bench in a defence that also included Neil Taylor and Ashley Richards. Routledge and Michu were both subbed off midway through the second period as the Swans secured a comfortable passage into the play-offs, with the draw set for later today.
After the game, Laudrup praised his side’s defensive display after the visitors kept out their opponents yet again. The Swans have now registered seven clean sheets in a row and have conceded just one goal in nine games across their entire pre-season campaign – a record that their manager reckons bodes well for the season ahead:
“I am happy with the clean sheets. Not only that, but we are not even giving away chances and that’s important. That gives confidence to the whole team, the fans, when you know you are strong and that you won’t give much away. It is different when you concede every time then you need to score two goals to win a game. We had periods last year when every time opponent came close to our box it was a goal but I think we have improved and I am pleased that area…If we had to find something negative then maybe offensively we did not play that well and we could have done much better. We have to do much better. But when you play away in Europe or the Premier League you cannot always dominate and clean sheets are always important. “
In Other News
Liverpool owner John W Henry remains adamant the club will not be selling Luis Suarez this summer. The Uruguayan has been forced to train away from the first-team after his very public attempt to push through a transfer earlier in the week and despite threatening to bring the PFA into the matter, it seems Suarez may well find himself unable to force the issue.
Speaking to the media yesterday, Henry revealed Suarez and his agent had been informed any transfer needed to take place earlier in the transfer window in order to allow Brendan Rodgers time to draft in replacements – despite the fact he is banned for the first six matches of the season.
“I think the issue has been resolved now. We have said ‘no’. Luis will be a Liverpool player on September 3 [the day after the transfer window closes]. I’m unequivocal that we won’t sell to Arsenal, whatever the bid is. I have not said it to Stan [Kroenke, Arsenal’s majority shareholder] but I had a personal conversation with others at Arsenal and told him [Gazidis] we would not sell to Arsenal. He won’t be sold even if a foreign club comes in because we do not have time to sign a suitable replacement.. It’s a football reason. It’s not about finances. That’s why at this point, so late in the window, with everyone who’s already moved or isn’t moving, we can’t replace him. So for football reasons we can’t sell, and especially to Arsenal.”
With the relationship between Suarez and Rodgers having broken down completely earlier in the week, it remains to be seen just where this leaves Suarez in the Liverpool pecking order, should Henry keep to his word. Certainly, a move to the Emirates looked the best solution for both parties but the Uruguayan will need to ingratiate himself in Rodgers’ good books before Fantasy managers will contemplate him once again, with Daniel Sturridge’s position as the main forward looking stronger by the day. Over at the Emirates, the situation also bodes well for Olivier Giroud’s prospects for the season ahead. After also failing in a bid for Gonzalo Higuain, Arsene Wenger may well decide to keep faith with his compatriot, handing us an 8.5 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) priced option as the Gunners’ lone forward – given that there’s still over three weeks left of the transfer window, though, this one is likely to run right until the death.
Jan Vertonghen remains hopeful of making Tottenham’s Gameweek 1 opener at Crystal Palace. The Belgian was stretchered off after turning his ankle on a rain-soaked pitch in Hong Kong against Sunderland recently and looked likely to be ruled out of the Eagles clash but speaking to the press yesterday, he revealed:
“It was two weeks ago that I was injured in Hong Kong and I’m making a lot of progress. I’m starting to run, but the next game is in 10 days’ time so it is going to be quite close. You never know what can happen and I will always aim for the best and hope next week I’ll be very close.”
The Belgian’s return looks vital to his side after the decision to sell Steven Caulker left Andre Villas-Boas with limited options at the back. A superb opening schedule sees Spurs face just two of last season’s top six in the opening nine Gameweeks and, having finished fifth top scoring defender in his debut campaign, with five goals to his name, Vertonghen – providing he proves his fitness – certainly looks to have the platform to push on and take advantage of a very favourable run of upcoming fixtures. His potential return dents the appeal of Michael Dawson and Younes Kaboul, though – as yet it remains unclear as to who is regarded as the first-choice partner for Vertonghen in central defence but with both priced at just 5.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Fantasy managers are hoping Villas-Boas gives an indication to his preferred regulars as we look for a budget-friendly route into the Spurs backline.
Andy Carroll is facing a race against time to be fit for West Ham’s opener against Cardiff a week tomorrow. Yet to feature at all this summer due to a heel injury, the Hammers forward had stated earlier this week that he felt on course for a return but, speaking to the media yesterday, Sam Allardyce was far more sceptical and even suggested Carroll may not be fit until Gameweek 4:
“Andy is making good progress and doing some running. We will look at things over the next week but considering where he is in his preparation. I would have thought that we’re looking more realistically at the match following the international break, which is Southampton away on September 15.”
Providing Carroll is ruled out, the Hammers first three fixtures (CAR, new, STO) may see ownership in Kevin Nolan pick up. The West Ham captain notched a hat-trick in his previous home game (albeit with his sidekick Carroll leading the line) and has already notched three times in pre-season – at 7.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), he looks a decent shout for those Fantasy managers intent on wildcarding after Gameweek 3, in order to cash in on the typically hectic market activity over that two-week domestic hiatus.
