Scout Notes – Pre-Season Round Up – Saturday

Scott Sinclair bags a hat-trick as Villa draw with Forest. Philippe Coutinho helps Liverpool to victory. Cameron Jerome returns from injury to net for Norwich. Jeremain Lens fires the winner for Sunderland, whilst Raheem Sterling provides a pair of assists as City stumble in Stuttgart. Here’s a round-up of yesterday’s action, which saw 12 top-flight teams take to the pitch…

Cologne 2 Stoke 1

In the first of two weekend matches, Mark Hughes rolled out a mixture of first-team players and fringe assets for yesterday’s loss to Cologne. Jack Butland was protected by a back-four of Glen Johnson, Marc Muniesa, Dionatan Teixeira and Erik Pieters, whilst Steve Sidwell and new signing Ibrahim Afellay sat in the double-pivot in a 4-2-3-1. Jon Walters, Marco van Ginkel and Stephen Ireland tucked in behind lone striker Joselu. The Potters boss made just one change in the second period, bringing on Peter Odemwingie for Afellay, and the Nigerian grabbed his side’s consolation, heading home from a Van Ginkel cross.

After the match, Hughes hailed Odemwingie’s impact as the former West Brom man – priced at 5.0 in FPL – looks to put his injury problems behind him. The Potters boss also confirmed his plans to rotate for today’s match with Porto:

“It was good for Pete to get on the scoresheet and I thought he gave us a little bit more of a threat in behind when he came on. He affected the game in the right manner and it was a really good finish by him after what was also a good ball in. At that point it went to 1-1 and we expected to see the game out but it wasn’t to be and we’ll come again tomorrow handing some game time to a number of the other guys.”

Fulham 1 Crystal Palace 1

Pape Souare grabbed the Eagles’ only goal, courtesy of an assist from substitute Jordon Mutch. Alan Pardew rang the changes from the side that defeated Bromley Town 6-0 on Thursday evening. Wayne Hennessey earned the nod between the posts, with Julian Speroni missing out due to a hand problem, whilst Joel Ward, Damien Delaney, Scott Dann and Souare made up the back-four. With Mile Jedinak and James McArthur stationed in the double-pivot, Yohan Cabye tucked in behind lone striker Glenn Murray, with Jason Puncheon and Chung-Yong Lee handed the roles on the flanks. Pardew made seven changes over the course of the second period, introducing the likes of Fraizer Campbell, Dwight Gayle, Mutch and Wilfried Zaha, but his side were unable to find a winner.

Hoffenheim 0 Bournemouth 0

Having played against Cardiff on Friday evening, Eddie Howe tweaked his lineup for yesterday’s trip to Germany. The Cherries manager named Artur Boruc in goal, with Adam Smith, Tommy Elphick, Steve Cook and Tyrone Mings in the back-four. Further up the field, Matt Ritchie, Dan Gosling, Shaun MacDonald, Junior Stanislas and Joshua King lined up behind lone frontman Callum Wilson. The latter came close on a couple of occasions but despite dominating the proceedings, with Ritchie pulling the strings, the visitors were unable to find a way past the Hoffenheim keeper.

Nottingham Forest 3 Aston Villa 3

Scott Sinclair hogged the headlines after bagging a hat-trick in a six-goal thriller at Forest. Tim Sherwood handed new boys Jordan Ayew and Jose Angel Crespo their first starts, Jordan Veretout made his debut at half-time, though the match came too soon for Rudy Gestede, who signed for the midlands outfit on Friday afternoon.

Sherwood named Mark Bunn in goal, with Crespo, Micah Richards, Ciaran Clark and Jordan Amavi making up a four-man backline. Crespo lasted just over half an hour before he was replaced by Alan Hutton after limping off with a knee problem. Leandro Bacuna was again selected on the right flank, with Idrissa Gueye, Ashley Westwood and Sinclair stationed behind a front two of Ayew and Libor Kozak.

Left-back Amavi continued his impressive form by providing the assist for Sinclair’s first, whilst Joe Cole – one of seven changes by Sherwood – teed up the wide man to complete his hat-trick. With a price of just 5.0 in FPL, Sinclair may well come to the fore as one of the best budget midfield options around and has some kind opening fixtures to maintain his current showings.

Leeds United 2 Everton 0

Roberto Martinez clearly had one eye on today’s clash with Villarreal, as the Toffees made their way to Elland Road. The likes of Joel Robles, James McCarthy, Ross Barkley, Bryan Oviedo, Steven Naismith and Arouna Kone were joined by a number of Academy players, though Tom Cleverley and Kevin Mirallas were afforded minutes off the bench in the second period.

After the match, Martinez confirmed that Romelu Lukaku will be ready to face Watford in next week’s opener at Goodison, though the big Belgian may be rested for Duncan Ferguson’s testimonial later day:

“We’ll assess him [ahead of the game against Villarreal]. I don’t think we’re going to take any risks with him on Sunday. I would say from a medical point of view, he is fully fit. It is just a case of making sure we give him a good introduction to work with the group because he’s not had a chance to do that yet. I wouldn’t risk him in a pre-season game – but Rom will be fully fit for the start of the season against Watford at home.”

Birmingham City 2 Leicester City 3

Goals from Robert Huth, Danny Drinkwater and Shinji Okazaki sealed a dramatic comeback win for the Foxes, who finish their pre-season campaign unbeaten under Claudio Ranieri.

The Italian lined his side up in a 3-4-1-2 set-up once again, with Kasper Schmeichel behind a back-three of Marcin Wasilewski, Huth and Ben Chilwell. Marc Albrighton and Jeffrey Schlupp were fielded as wing-backs, with Andy King and Drinkwater stationed in central midfield, whilst Riyad Mahrez tucked in behind Leonardo Ulloa and Jamie Vardy.

Mahrez played a pivotal part in all three of his side’s goals. Priced at 5.5 in FPL, the Algerian’s corner was flicked on by King for Huth to net the Foxes’ first, before he provided the assist for Leicester’s final two strikes.

Ranieri made five changes over the course of the second period, with Christian Fuchs, Andrej Kramaric and goal scorer Okazaki amongst those who emerged from the bench.

Newcastle United 0 Borussia MGladbach 1

The Magpies spurned a host of opportunities – with new boy Aleksandar Mitrovic hitting the woodwork – as they fell to a fourth defeat in the last six summer friendlies.

Once again, Newcastle lined up a 4-2-3-1 formation. Tim Krul, Daryl Janmaat, Mike Williamson, Steven Taylor and Massadio Haidara made up the home side’s defence, whilst Vurnon Anita and Jack Colback were stationed in the double-pivot. Further up the field, Moussa Sissoko, Georginio Wijnaldum and Gabriel Obertan were handed the attacking midfield roles behind Papiss Cisse. Steve McClaren made five alterations as the second-half unfolded – Mitrovic and fellow new boy Chancel Mbemba made their debut bows, whilst Rolando Aarons, Siem de Jong and Ayoze Perez picked up valuable pitch time.

After the match, the Magpies manager suggested that the pre-season schedule has hindered his side’s evolution as they adjust to his tactical approach:

“We lost a week two weeks ago with travelling in the States and playing a game on astroturf. We are trying to get that back and recover from the travel. I am delighted where the players are considering that schedule. Do we need to do more? Lots more. We have to be patient. It’s a word I don’t like but you can’t force things but I am pleased with the development with the team have made.”

Norwich City 2 Brentford 1

The Canaries triumphed in their final summer friendly thanks to goals from Wes Hoolahan and fit-again Cameron Jerome. Alex Neil named John Ruddy in goal, with a defence comprising of Steven Whittaker, Russell Martin, Seb Bassong and Robbie Brady, who was fielded at left-back on his debut. Jonny Howson, Youssouf Mulumbu, Graham Dorrans and Bradley Johnson started in midfield, with Hoolahan tucked in behind Lewis Grabban up top.

Brady was handed a share of dead-ball duties, whilst fellow summer signing Andre Wisdom made an instant impact, emerging from the bench to provide the assist for fellow-sub Jerome’s sixth pre-season strike.

Post-match, Neil took time out to praise the displays of his two new signings:

“Robbie has great quality in his left foot, and is flexible in terms of where he can play along that flank. He had a good delivery for us to go and attack, but also has great stamina. He’s not had a huge amount of game-time over pre-season but certainly looked fit today. If you look at Andre’s size and stature, he’s a big boy, and you need that in the Premier League. Unfortunately he only got 30 minutes today, but once we get the two of them up to speed they’ll be fine – it was a fantastic pass from him for Cameron’s goal.”

The Canaries boss also rolled out an injury update on Mulumbu, who was forced off with ten minutes remaining:

“We’re hoping he’s going to be ok but these kind of things normally take 24 hours to settle it down. We’ll get it scanned tonight if we can and then we’ll find out the extent, if there is an injury there. It’s on the outside of his foot so we’re hoping he’s going to be available for the next game.”

Hannover 0 Sunderland 1

Jeremain Lens and Costel Pantilimon were the star performers as the Black Cats registered a 1-0 win over their German hosts. The Dutchman fired the only goal of the match late in the second period, whilst Pantilimon made a number of saves, including a last-minute penalty stop.

Dick Advocaat named new signings Seb Coates and Younes Kaboul in central defence, with Billy Jones and Patrick van Aanholt completing the four-man backline. Lee Cattermole, Jack Rodwell and Seb Larsson were stationed in central midfield, with a front three of Adam Johnson, Jermain Defoe and Lens. Steven Fletcher missed out through injury, whilst Connor Wickham played no part ahead of his expected move to Palace.

After the match, the Dutchman praised his side’s defensive display after the Wearsiders earned their first clean sheet of a six-match pre-season:

“We can see some things during the game that we have to improve, but we have a week to do that. That’s what we have to work on, making the team better. We didn’t give a lot of chances away today, which was a positive, but we still have to work on pressurising the ball earlier.”

Stuttgart 4 Manchester City 2

Devoid of their Copa America contingent, in addition to the absence of Yaya Toure and Fernando in the centre of the park, City were turned over before a late Raheem Sterling-inspired rally clawed back half the four-goal deficit.

Manuel Pellegrini enlisted plenty of experience at the back, with Joe Hart, Bacary Sagna, Vincent Kompany, Eliaquim Mangala and Aleksandar Kolarov all amongst the starters. In midfield, young George Evans joined the likes of David Silva, Sterling, Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas, with Wilfried Bony leading the line in his first pre-season outing.

Whilst City’s dire defensive display will deter many, Sterling’s star is on the rise – the youngster supplied assists for Edin Dzeko and Kelechi Iheanacho in an otherwise disappointing performance.

Swansea City 0 Deportivo La Coruna 0

The Swans finished their summer schedule unbeaten after a goalless draw at the Liberty. Garry Monk’s side went close on a number of occasions, with Andre Ayew, Jonjo Shelvey, Bafe Gomis and Kin Sung-Yueng all unlucky not to find the net.

Monk named Lukasz Fabianski in goal, with a back-four of Kyle Naughton, Federico Fernandez, Ashley Williams and Neil Taylor. In midfielder, Jack Cork, Ki, Jonjo Shelvey, Wayne Routledge and Andre Ayew lined up behind lone striker Bafe Gomis. Monk seems undecided over three positions and swapped a trio of players at the break – Franck Tabanou replaced Taylor, Gylfi Sigurdsson came on for Shelvey and Routledge was hauled off for Jefferson Montero as the Swans boss assesses his options ahead of next weekend’s trip to Chelsea.

After the goalless draw, Monk conceded his side are lacking bite further up the pitch, having scored just five times in as many matches over the summer:

“It’s hard what to make of the game really. We started well, we were on the front foot and should have scored when we had the momentum. The match came in spurts really but it was a good workout once again and the players got the minutes they needed. Both teams wanted to win, it was an honest game, but we just couldn’t find that killer touch in the final third. But we’ll get sharper as the week goes on and look ahead to the trip to Chelsea.”

HJK Helsinki 0 Liverpool 2

Goals from substitute Divock Origi and Philippe Coutinho – in his first outing of the summer – sealed victory for the Merseysiders yesterday evening.

Brendan Rodgers started with Simon Mignolet in goal, with a back-four of Nathaniel Clyne, Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren and young Joe Gomez. Jordan Henderson and James Milner lined up in the double-pivot, with Coutinho, Jordan Ibe and Adam Lallana lining up behind Danny Ings. The Reds boss switched from from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3 after the break, with Ibe and Lallana on either side of Ings. The in-form Milner provided the assist for both goals, though Ibe once again sparkled, particularly after Rodgers’ half-time tactical switch.

Post-match, Rodgers discussed his defensive dilemma for the season ahead. The Reds boss admitted Gomez may well start ahead of Alberto Moreno at left-back, before confirming he is undecided on whether Dejan Lovren or Mamadou Sakho will partner Martin Skrtel at centre-half:

“I wouldn’t have any issues (with playing Gomez). You’ve seen from my time here that irrespective of the age of a player, it’s about the quality and personality. Whether they are 17 or 27, if I think they are ready, I’ll play them….It’s not something I’ve totally decided upon yet (playing Sakho or Lovren). I’ll sit down with the staff and we’ll look at it next week. The key is getting consistency in that area of the field. Your two centre-halves are critical. They are the tactical decision makers in the game. That balance is important for us this season. We had too many defensive changes last year and that’s not something that I like. Hopefully this season we’ll be more consistent as a back four.”