With just hours left until the Gameweek 1 deadline, we roll out the second part of our guide to the summer schedule tonight. Having looked at Arsenal to Man United yesterday evening, our search for likely starters and formations concludes with the remaining ten teams, from Newcastle to West Ham.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Top Minutes Played
Sissoko 414, Janmaat 405, Williamson 405, Colback 403, Haidara 388, Anita 384, Cisse 374, De Jong 324, Ayoze Perez 317, Aarons 304, Lascelles 291, Gouffran 285, Krul 270, Obertan 269
Lessons Learned
Steve McClaren has been pretty consistent in favouring the 4-2-3-1 formation during pre-season, and with the first seven players on the minutes played list all logging over 374, they all look strong contenders to line up against Southampton on Sunday. Summer signing Aleksandar Mitrovic has only played 98 minutes since making the move to the North East, so based on playing time over the past few weeks, Papiss Cisse looks the favourite to start as the lone striker.
In midfield, Jack Colback, Vurnon Anita and Moussa Sissoko all appear likely to feature in the starting XI, with the latter perhaps on the right of the attacking midfield three. Georginio Wijnaldum played the full 90 minutes against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday and could play in “the hole” behind Cisse, although he could also line up in the double-pivot. Siem de Jong, Rolando Aarons and Gabriel Obertan look the front runners for a berth on the left flank, although there are several options available to McClaren, with Ayoze Perez and Yoan Gouffran having also gained plenty of pitch time though pre-season.
At the back, Tim Krul is nailed on in goal, while Massadio Haidara and Daryl Janmaat look set to start at left-back and right-back respectively. Mike Williamson is another whose pre-season minutes suggest a near certain starting berth, leaving Steven Taylor the slight favourite to complete the centre-back pairing, having played the full 90 minutes in the magpies final pre-season outing. Fabricio Coloccini hasn’t featured in pre-season because of an Achilles injury and looks pretty certain to miss out against the Saints. Youngster Jamaal Lascelles has seen plenty of game time over the last few weeks and offers an alternative, while Chancel Mbemba made his debut last Saturday with a 28 minute cameo appearance and could be chanced from the start, given the DR Congo international is expected to be a regular starter at the back once he’s settled on Tyneside.
Paul Dummett and Remy Cabella haven’t featured at all during pre-season because of hamstring and thigh injuries respectively, while Emmanuel Riviere picked up a knee injury in training and will miss the start of the season.
NORWICH CITY
Top Minutes Played
Ruddy 420, Johnson 364, Toffolo 358, R Bennett 340, E Bennett 330, O’Neil 330, Bassong 315, Dorrans 313, Martin 285, Turner 285, Mulumbu 275, Hooper 273, Howson 271, Grabban 268, Tettey 257, Hoolahan 257, Whittaker 257
Lessons Learned
Norwich boss Alex Neil generally shared the minutes around during pre-season, although John Ruddy and Bradley Johnson, who featured the most over the last few weeks, do look certain starters against Crystal Palace. Johnson did have one or two outings at left-back at the start of pre-season, but new signing Robbie Brady filled that position in the final friendly against Brentford last Saturday and he looks the favourite to start there against the Eagles. The former Leeds midfielder may now line up on the left of the three attacking midfield players in the 4-2-3-1 system favoured by Neil during pre-season. Wes Hoolahan is likely to fill the position in “the hole”, with Nathan Redmond, who was handed an extended break after logging 270 minutes for England under-21s in the summer, likely to start on the right. Redmond has managed 179 minutes for the Canaries in their final four pre-season matches.
Neil was dealt a huge blow when Youssouf Mulumbu picked up a metatarsal injury in the 2-1 win against Brentford. He will now be out for several weeks, so Jonny Howson perhaps looks the slight favourite ahead of Graham Dorrans to get the nod alongside Alex Tettey in the double-pivot. Another option for Neil could be to shift Johnson to a deeper position, while Tony Andreu has logged 242 minutes over the past few weeks and appears an outside bet to earn a start on Saturday.
At the back, Russell Martin and Sebastian Bassong both played the full 90 minutes against Brentford in the final pre-season friendly and appear likely to form the centre-back partnership. Steven Whittaker played 62 minutes in that match and should start at right-back, with Brady, as previously mentioned, at left-back. Elliot Bennett, listed as a midfielder in FPL, has played plenty of minutes at right-back during pre-season, but appears unlikely to usurp Whittaker, while youngster Harry Toffolo was a regular at left-back before Brady’s arrival. Martin Olsson has missed all of pre-season after shoulder surgery, but should be back to full fitness in the next few weeks.
SOUTHAMPTON
Top Minutes Played
Fonte 405, Davis 392, Wanyama 397, Stekelenburg 360, Yoshida 360, Pelle 357, Mane 348, Tadic 340, Cedric Soares 336, Ward-Prowse 325, Targett 270
Lessons Learned
Having already played a competitive match, Fantasy managers can perhaps be slightly more certain how the Saints may line up on the opening weekend of the new campaign compared to some of the other sides. New right-back Cedric Soares, Jose Fonte and Matt Targett all look set to start against Newcastle on Sunday, with it appearing a choice between Maya Yoshida and new loan signing Steven Caulker for the final spot. Caulker played 78 minutes in the 1-1 draw in Southampton’s final friendly against Espanyol on Sunday and the full 90 against Vitesse Arnhem last night, and could be thrust into the starting XI. Behind them, Maarten Stekelenburg has logged more than double the number of minutes (135) played by Kelvin Davis and Paolo Gazzaniga during pre-season, and looks certain to start in goal.
Manager Ronald Koeman has stuck with the 4-2-3-1 system that proved so successful last season, with Victor Wanyama and new addition Jordy Clasie the favourites to form the double-pivot in midfield. The latter is a doubt for the trip to St James’ Park after picking up a hamstring injury against Vitesse. Should the Dutch international fail to recover in time, James Ward-Prowse, who played 90 minutes against Espanyol and Vitesse, could step in, while Steven Davis, who has featured more in the attacking three positions during pre-season, could drop back to the base of midfield. Harrison Reed would be an outside bet to grab a starting spot.
Dusan Tadic and Sadio Mane have seen plenty of pitch time during pre-season and look likely starters in those attacking midfield positions, while Graziano Pelle should start as the lone striker. Jay Rodriguez played 90 minutes against Espanyol but dropped to the bench in midweek and is slowly working his way back to full fitness. He could be among the substitutes on Sunday, alongside summer signing Juanmi, who appears to be behind Pelle in the pecking order up front. Shane Long is another alternative on the right of the attacking midfield trio, but is a doubt due to illness.
Ryan Bertrand has missed all of pre-season due to a knee injury, but should return over the next few weeks, while Florin Gardos picked up a serious knee injury against Red Bull Salzburg.
STOKE CITY
Top Minutes Played
Cameron 360, Van Ginkel 322, Sidwell 319, Muniesa 315, Wollscheid 295, Adam 287, Joselu 285, Teixeira 281, Odemwingie 287, Ireland 275, Walters 258, Diouf 250, Bardsley 225
Lessons Learned
Mark Hughes has generally shared the minutes around during pre-season, making it tougher to establish who is preferred starting XI will include. Certainly, he’ll need to address the absence of Ryan Shawcross in central defence, with the skipper ruled out for at least two months after undergoing back surgery. Marc Wilson is a doubt for the season opener because of an ankle injury. The minutes played list would suggest Geoff Cameron and Marc Muniesa are the slight favourites to line up at centre-back, but Philipp Wollscheid and Wilson can’t be overlooked. Phil Bardsley didn’t feature in either of the Potters’ matches last weekend, while Glen Johnson played 90 minutes against Cologne, perhaps making him the slight favourite to get the nod at right-back. Erik Pieters also played 90 minutes against the German outfit and is likely to start at left-back.
One thing that has been consistent during pre-season is Hughes’ continued use of the 4-2-3-1 formation, Glenn Whelan played only 216 minutes over the last few weeks, but managed 90 minutes against Porto on Sunday and is expected to get the nod, while Marco van Ginkel has started three of the Potters last four pre-season matches and could well play in the double-pivot. Charlie Adam and, to a lesser extent, Steve Sidwell are alternatives for the Welshman here.
Hughes also has several options for the three attacking midfield positions, with Jon Walters perhaps looking the most likely starter after playing 239 minutes in Stoke’s final four friendlies. Marko Arnautovic would probably be another expected to figure, but the Austrian is a slight doubt with a thigh injury picked up against Porto on Sunday. Stephen Ireland and Peter Odemwingie have seen plenty of pre-season action, but would appear to be outside bets for a starting berth. Ibrahim Afellay played 59 minutes against Cologne last Saturday, but is probably short of full fitness and more likely to appear off the bench.
Other options include playing Adam in “the hole”, while Mame Biram Diouf could play wide on the right. The Senegal international appears to be competing with Joselu for the lone forward role, with Peter Crouch likely to be among the substitutes. Bojan has played 109 minutes in the last three pre-season matches, but is perhaps still lacking some match sharpness and maybe another more likely to start among the substitutes.
SUNDERLAND
Top Minutes Played
Defoe 426, Cattermole 417, Rodwell 386, Jones 362, Johnson 352, Van Aanholt 315, Brown 315, Larsson 315, Giaccherini 303, Pantilimon 270, O’Shea 258, Matthews 252, Fletcher 241
Lessons Learned
With nine players logging over 300 minutes during pre-season for the Black Cats, Dick Advocaat looks to have provided us with some decent clues as to who could lineup at Leicester on Saturday.
Compared to many of the other Premier League managers, Advocaat has not been afraid to try different formations during pre-season, using 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 systems. As the minutes played list suggests, though, the likes of Jermain Defoe, Lee Cattermole and Jack Rodwell appear nailed-on starters, whatever formation he opts for against the Foxes.
Big summer signing Jeremain Lens doesn’t appear on the top minutes played list, but he has played 172 minutes in the Black Cats final two warm-up matches and is expected to the start on the left of the front three, with Adam Johnson the favourite to play on the right having started the final three friendlies. Emanuele Giaccherini has logged plenty of minutes over the past few weeks, and looks the main alternative for one of the wide positions. If Advocaat opts to play a 4-3-3 formation, Sebastian Larsson looks the favourite to join Cattermole and Rodwell in the engine room. Liam Bridcutt has been limited to 183 minutes during pre-season and appears to be lower down the pecking order, while Yann M’Vila has only just arrived on a season-long loan. Jordi Gomez has missed all of pre-season with a knee injury and will be unavailable for the season opener.
Adam Matthews only played 27 minutes in the Black Cats’ last two friendlies, so it appears Billy Jones will take the starting berth at right-back. Patrick van Aanholt will start at left-back, with John O’Shea, Sebastian Coates and Younes Kaboul seemingly battling it out for the two centre-back positions. Coates appears the most likely to start, having played 153 minutes in the final two friendlies, compared to 101 for Kaboul and 88 for O’Shea. This article seems to suggest club captain O’Shea could be left out for the trip to the King Power stadium. Costel Pantilimon will start in goal for the Black Cats.
SWANSEA CITY
Top Minutes Played
Williams 271, Naughton 271, Ki Sung-yeung 271, Cork 269, Fernandez 269, Ayew 255, Fabianski 240, Tabanou 226, Sigurdsson 226, Taylor 224, Shelvey 224, Routledge 224, Grimes 224
Lessons Learned
Garry Monk is another boss who has decided to share around the minutes during pre-season, allowing all his squad to get plenty of playing time. In goal, Lukasz Fabianski is nailed on, while Kyle Naughton, Ashley Williams and Federico Fernandez appear certain starters at the back. At left-back, there appears very little to choose between Neil Taylor and summer signing Franck Tabanou, but with a tough trip to Stamford Bridge in the opening Gameweek, the more defensive minded Taylor may get the nod. Jordi Amat hasn’t featured during pre-season because of a foot injury, so Kyle Bartley will provide cover at centre-back.
It’s in midfield where Monk will have some tough decisions to make, depending on which formation he opts for. He has trialled a 4-1-4-1 formation during pre-season, which would possibly mean Gylfi Sigurdsson missing out, with Jack Cork as the defensive midfielder, and Jonjo Shelvey and Ki Sung-yeung just in front. Sigurdsson played the second half of Swansea’s final friendly against Deportivo La Coruna, with Shelvey featuring in the first. Depending on which formation Monk chooses to play, one of those two could find themselves among the substitutes. Andre Ayew and Wayne Routledge are the favourites for the wide berths, although Jefferson Montero has impressed since returning late to pre-season after playing all 270 minutes of Ecuador’s Copa America campaign. He has, however, only logged 115 minutes for the Welsh side and may have to settle for a place on the bench against Chelsea. Monk could also return to the midfield diamond used last season against the Blues, which could see both Shelvey and Sigurdsson start, with Routledge the likeliest to miss out.
Bafetimbi Gomis completed 74 minutes against Deportivo last Saturday after a minor hamstring concern and should lead the line, with Eder providing back-up.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Top Minutes Played
Kane 163, Chadli 162, Dier 162, Dembele 160, Bentaleb 159, Carroll 157, Alderweireld 153, Davies 153, Vorm 153, Trippier 145, Walker 145, Vertonghen 135, Wimmer 135, Alli 134, Lamela 128
Lessons Learned
Spurs have had quite a strange pre-season in the fact they have only played three official friendlies, with two of those coming in the Audi Cup this week. Mauricio Pochettino will be mightily relieved Hugo Lloris managed to get 36 minutes under his belt against AC Milan, and the France international should be fit to start in goal against Manchester United.
With so few matches played, it’s difficult to read too much into very similar numbers of minutes played, but perhaps tellingly, Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose were all unused substitutes against AC Milan on Wednesday. All five could well start at Old Trafford ,then. Jan Vertonghen only played 45 minutes against the Italian outfit and should line up alongside his Belgian team-mate. The right-back situation looks less clear cut, but as Kieran Trippier played the full 90 minutes on Wednesday, Walker could yet emerge as the front runner.
Pochettino seems likely to stick with his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, so Nabil Bentaleb appears a likely starter, although Ryan Mason, usually stationed alongside the Algerian last term, has only played 36 minutes across the three matches. That suggests Mousa Dembele or even highly rated youngster Dele Alli could be handed a start in the double-pivot, although it’s widely accepted that Eric Dier will be given a holding midfield role at Old Trafford having been deployed there in pre-season. Tom Carroll has also impressed after returning from a season-long loan spell at Swansea, but he appears an outside bet for a starting spot.
Nacer Chadli netted the opening goal against Milan and should line up alongside Eriksen in the attacking midfield positions, with the other spot looking up for grabs. Erik Lamela played 83 minutes on Wednesday, so Dembele or Alli could also come into the equation for a more advanced role behind lone striker Kane. Andros Townsend has missed all of pre-season with a shoulder injury and is very unlikely to be fit to the trip to Old Trafford, while Emmanuel Adebayor is rumoured to be heading for the exit door and Roberto Soldado has struggled with a back problem.
WATFORD
Top Minutes Played
Cathcart 594, Deeney 558, Capoue 543, Prodl 473, Watson 398, Anya 395, Ighalo 378, Abdi 345, Gomes 315, Nyom 315, Arlauskis 303, Pudil 288, Behrami 268, Vydra 267
Lessons Learned
With so many new faces arriving at Vicarage Road throughout pre-season, correctly guessing Quique Sanchez Flores’ starting XI would be some achievement. Having said that, the minutes played by captain Troy Deeney, Etienne Capoue and Craig Cathcart suggest they will line up at Goodison Park.
Heurelho Gomes will start in goal – although Giedrius Arlauskis played 303 minutes, he’s suspended for the first couple of matches.
Flores has favoured a 4-2-3-1 system during pre-season, with the previously mentioned Cathcart and Sebastian Prodl the likely centre-back pairing, given the minutes they’ve played, plus the fact they started the final friendly against Sevilla. Right-back Allan Nyom also started that match and appears in the box seat for that position. The left-back spot appears more up in the air, with Ikechi Anya starting that final pre-season friendly, although he was replaced by Jose Holebas after 53 minutes. Holebas has played exactly 45 minutes in three of the Hornets last five warm-up matches and is perhaps being carefully managed before being handed the starting position against Everton.
In midfield, Capoue looks set to line up alongside Valon Behrami at the base, with the Swiss international playing 166 minutes of Watford’s final two friendlies. Ben Watson has seen plenty of action over the past few weeks and appears to be the next in line. Further forward, Almen Abdi is a serious doubt for the trip to Goodison Park after missing the final two pre-season matches with a knee injury. His absence would likely see Jurado handed the “number ten” role, although he has only played 174 minutes for the Hornets.
Odion Ighalo has played on the left of the attacking midfield positions during pre-season and could start there if Abdi is ruled out. Steven Berghius is also expected to sit out the weekend through injury, although he is also short of playing time, having only logged 51 minutes over the last two matches. Anya has played wide on the right at times during pre-season and certainly has enough minutes under his belt, while Miguel Layun started the Sevilla match, making his first appearance of pre-season after playing 557 minutes for Mexico in Copa America and the CONCACAF Gold Cup during the summer.
Troy Deeney will start in attack, with Matej Vydra probably having to settle for a place among the substitutes, unless he comes into contention for one of the attacking midfield positions.
WEST BROM
Top Minutes Played
Myhill 575, McLean 548, Yacob 474, Fletcher 416, Gardner 415, Olsson 415, McManaman 410, Morrison 373, Anichebe 347, Brunt 344, Dawson 308, Lescott 302, Berahino 301, Ideye 285
Lessons Learned
Tony Pulis appears to be one of only a handful of top flight bosses who will line up with a 4-4-2 formation if pre-season is anything to go by. With Ben Foster injured, Boaz Myhill will start in goal, with speculation still linking the Baggies with a move for Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall something to monitor.
New signing James Chester played 64 minutes on his debut against Bristol Rovers last Friday, albeit at right-back, but could start alongside Joleon Lescott in central defence, particularly with Gareth McAuley a doubt with a calf injury. Lescott is expected to recover from a knock, whilst McAuley didn’t feature in either of the Baggies final two friendlies. Craig Dawson played at centre-back against Bristol Rovers, but featured for most of last season at right-back and is the favourite to take that starting position. Chris Brunt has played at left-back for much of pre-season, and could get the nod in that position. Jonas Olsson has seen plenty of playing time during pre-season and also looks to have claims for a start, while Christian Gamboa hasn’t featured over the past few weeks after playing 277 minutes for Costa Rica in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
In midfield, Claudio Yacob and Darren Fletcher have racked up plenty of minutes during pre-season and appear to be in the box seats for the two central midfield roles. Craig Gardner will also be considered for the central positions, as well as being able to operate out wide. Pulis has several options for the flank roles, however, with James McLean the favourite to start on the left, given he’s played 548 minutes during pre-season. Callum McManaman could also earn a start out wide, while James Morrison, like Gardner, could slot in anywhere across the midfield, although he perhaps looks an outside bet for a place in the starting XI.
Rickie Lambert scored twice on his debut for the Baggies at his former club Bristol Rovers, playing 56 minutes alongside Saido Berahino, with that forward pairing expected to start against City on Monday night. Victor Anichebe has logged more minutes than Brown Ideye, but both look destined to be among the substitutes for the opening match.
WEST HAM
Top Minutes Played
Tomkins 629, Poyet 537, Adrian 495, Oxford 465, Jarvis 463, Sakho 456, Zarate 453, Noble 453, Randolph 450, Maiga 448, Cresswell 420, Collins 405, Amalfitano 371, O’Brien 366, Ogbonna 333
Lessons Learned
West Ham have played twelve matches before even kicking a ball in the Premier League thanks to their Europa League campaign, but Slaven Bilic has given plenty of players opportunities in both friendlies and in European competition. To an extent, the minutes have also been affected by three-match bans in Europe for Diafra Sakho and, to a lesser extent, James Tomkins.
Tomkins has logged the most minutes with 629, but even he doesn’t look certain of a starting spot against Arsenal, with Winston Reid an alternative for the Croatian boss, although he hasn’t played since July 16. According to this report, he could be fit to face the Gunners, and partner new signing Angelo Ogbonna at the heart of the defence. James Collins appears to be fourth in the pecking order. Aaron Cresswell will start at left-back at the Emirates, with Joey O’Brien appears likely to line up at right-back, with Carl Jenkinson ineligible to play against his parent club. He should return to the starting XI against Leicester in Gameweek 2.
Bilic has tried a few different formations during pre-season, with a midfield diamond a possibility for Sunday’s match. Cheikhou Kouyate has played 363 minutes during pre-season after missing the first couple of matches, and should start just in front of holding midfielder Mark Noble. Pedro Obiang hasn’t played since making his debut against Peterborough on July 11, but could be fit to face Arsenal. Should he fail to make it, Bilic could well opt for a different formation. Diego Poyet could perhaps he handed the chance to start, although that appears unlikely. Youngster Reece Oxford can also play in midfield and has impressed during pre-season. Kevin Nolan played in only one of the Hammers last three matches – in a second-string XI in Europe last night – and may struggle to earn a start.
Dimitri Payet should start either as the “number ten” or among the attacking midfield positions, while Mauro Zarate appears to have gained favour under the former Besiktas manager and could start alongside Diafra Sakho or as part of on attacking midfield three if Bilic opts for a 4-2-3-1 system. Matt Jarvis looks set to be named amongst the substitutes if he can shake off a minor niggle, although Enner Valencia is out with a serious knee injury suffered against Astra Giurgiu. Andy Carroll remains out with a knee injury and won’t return until next month at the earliest.
