Marouane Fellaini is handed a role up front as United sweep aside Cambridge at Old Trafford. Sunderland get the better of Fulham but Gus Poyet has worries out wide ahead of the weekend trip to Swansea. Harry Redknapp quits as QPR boss, whilst Garry Monk’s midfield worries grow as Marvin Emnes is ruled out through injury.
UNITED THROUGH ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT
Goals from Juan Mata, Marcus Rojo and James Wilson saw Man United ease past Cambridge 3-0 in their FA Cup fourth round replay last night. Wayne Rooney, Angel Di Maria and Robin van Persie all started against the League Two side, whilst Jonny Evans and Ashley Young marked their return from injury with starting and substitute roles respectively. In a surprising move, Louis van Gaal handed Marouane Fellaini a role up front, and after watching the Belgian contribute to two of United’s goals, the Reds boss explained his decision post-match:
“With Fellaini, we have always also an attacking point through the air. Cambridge have very tall players and we could score also in the air and not only along the floor. That was our game plan and he confirmed that [his aerial prowess] again. I think we could have scored more goals. In the second half, we played a little bit more forward and I believe we created more chances. Robin van Persie had four possibilities so we could have scored more but I am very happy the first chance of the match, for Cambridge, was against the post.”
Van Gaal also explained his decision to sub off Van Persie was pre-planned and cited an increase in fixture schedule as the main factor:
“I said already [to Robin] at half-time, ‘I shall change after 60-70 minutes because I want you to play against West Ham United.’ It’s always difficult to play three matches in a week. I have given rest to five players. I think that when we have won, after the match I can say it was a very good decision. I gave Van Persie a rest during the match and also Di Maria, and I gave Ashley Young minutes to play because he is back again.”
The Scout Says: Having talked up his side’s chances of going all the way in the cup, Van Gaal’s numerous changes were perhaps a sign that the Reds’ boss will be keen to utilise his squad in a season which has deprived them of such opportunities. Yesterday’s shift in tactics was heavily criticised by some pundits, though managers will now be monitoring Fellaini in the hope that he is offered more chances in an attacking role – the 6.3-valued Belgian has notched twice in his last five appearances in the league. Meanwhile, Rooney was shifted to the right of the midfield diamond – with Mata handed the role in “the hole” – and the England skipper blanked once again. The same can be said of Van Persie, who now has just one goal in his previous six outings in all competitions, and with Wilson pushing hard for more pitch time with yesterday’s strike from the bench, it remains to be seen how long Van Gaal keeps faith with his fellow countryman.
BLACK CATS BATTLE BACK AGAINST THE COTTAGERS
Gus Poyet made three changes to his Sunderland XI for last night’s FA Cup replay against Fulham. Ricardo Alvarez, Steven Fletcher and Emanuele Giaccherini were handed call-ups, with the former putting his side in the lead after an own goal had cancelled out Hugo Rodallega’s opener for the hosts, whilst Jordi Gomez sealed the 3-1 victory from the penalty spot late on. Post-match, it was confirmed that a trio of Black Cats players missed out due to injury. Jack Rodwell suffered a knock in training on the day and Connor Wickham picked up a calf problem in the warm-up, though Poyet remained coy over the extent of either player’s complaint. Adam Johnson, meanwhile, was absent after undergoing minor surgery on a thumb problem, but revealed that he should be available for his side’s trip to Swansea at the weekend:
“I just have to get it done, it’s not a serious thing. But I need the wound to heel. It’s the risk of infection that’s keeping me out. It’s the best time to do it with the games coming up though.”
After the win, Poyet talked up Alvarez’ prospects after the on-loan winger turned on the style at the Cottage:
“Hopefully, this is the start of something special for him. You could see from the reaction of his team-mates what it meant to them too. They see him in training every day, and know what he can do because they have to try to get the ball from him.The problem is that we haven’t been able to play him a lot, but I said after the last game, ‘I have to play Ricky’. We needed to find a way to get him into the team and enable him to play, and the circumstances enabled me to play him here. Now, everyone can see why I need him on the pitch – let’s see if we can get him to the pace of English football and find the balance that will help him succeed.”
The Scout Says: The Black Cats may have got themselves back to winning form against Burnley at the weekend, but this new spate of injuries could hinder their chances of building any real momentum. Johnson and Wickham were fielded on the flanks against the Clarets on Saturday but depending on the extent of the problems, we could see the Wearsiders return to a five-man backline set-up at the weekend, with Patrick Van Aanholt and Anthony Reveillere utilised as wing-backs. With that formation in mind, Johnson should slot back in behind a front two if he is indeed available in time for the Swansea encounter, though the 5.7-priced Alvarez certainly staked a claim for inclusion with last night’s strike, which could prove detrimental to the former Man City man’s minutes. Meanwhile, Jermain Defoe’s owners will have been disappointed to see Jordi Gomez on penalty duties against the Cottagers, suggesting that the Spaniard, when on the pitch, is ahead in the pecking order for now.
REDKNAPP STEPS DOWN
Harry Redknapp announced his resignation as QPR manager yesterday, with Les Ferdinand and Chris Ramsey temporarily taking charge of the Hoops.
The Scout Says: Wise move ‘Arry. Yesterday’s shock news raised a whole lot of questions surrounding the exact nature of his resignation, with the veteran manager claiming an imminent knee operation to be the cause of his departure. Either way, without a win on the road this season and currently amidst a three-match losing streak, the R’s are mired in the bottom three and are clearly floundering. Will a change in management reignite things at Loftus Road? From a Fantasy perspective, the main interest will be how the changes affect Charlie Austin, who currently stands as the third most owned forward in the Fantasy Premier League game, and yet he has only managed one goal in his last five. Indeed, the striker has failed to score from open play since Gameweek 17, and his owners will be keen to see a new manager instigate a fresh wave of form from the 6.5-priced man.
EMNES OUT FOR SWANSEA
Marvin Emnes has been ruled out for two to three weeks with the hamstring strain he suffered against Southampton last Sunday.
The Scout Says: With Wayne Routledge still injured and Jefferson Montero currently a doubt heading into the Swans’ weekend clash with Sunderland, Garry Monk may have to place his faith in Mo Barrow and hand the young Gambian, who is expected to recover from Ryan Bertrand’s vicious challenge at St Mary’s, his first league start on the left flank. With Sunderland, West Brom and Burnley in the Swans’ next four, interest in their assets would normally be high right now but, with their current injury and suspension difficulties, only Sunday’s match-winner Jonjo Shelvey looks worthy of our attention, though even he has only managed to attract 900 new owners this week.
