Michael Laudrup has high hopes for Danny Graham after the former Watford man racked up the pre-season goals for Swansea. Roberto Mancini reveals Emmanuel Adebayor won’t feature for City this season, Daniel Agger is keen to stay at Liverpool, Stephane Sessegnon remains a doubt for Sunderland’s trip to the Emirates, while Wigan snap up Ryo Miyaichi on loan from Arsenal:
Michael Laudrup is expecting a big season from Danny Graham after the forward’s recent scoring exploits in pre-season. The former Watford man has netted six times in his last three matches and, with a strong opening schedule for the campaign ahead, his mid-price valuation across the Fantasy games has earned him a place in many a team right now. The new Swansea boss reckons Graham should comfortably surpass last season’s debut Premier League haul of 12 – a sign of his faith in the forward’s ability and a clear indication he is content with him leading the line:
“Every day the connection between Danny and Michu looks better and better and we can expect a lot from them. I don’t know what Danny’s record is, but if he stays fit I would say he can score between 15 and 20 goals in the Premier League.”
While there are concerns about Swansesa’s ability to match their defensive output from last season, suddenly there seems to be renewed confidence in their goal-getting. Graham’s pre-season form has been eye-catching, while Michu is an option that many have considered in the hope that he can translate his La Liga goal record to the Premier League. The opener at Loftus Road could be a tough start for the Swans, but there’s no denying that things improve markedly and that they have one of the easiest openings to the season. Cover of Swansea’s attacking potential looks to be a decent option, then.
Roberto Mancini also admitted there is no way back for Emmanuel Adebayor at City for the season ahead. The Togo international had been expected to move to Spurs this summer after a hugely successful loan spell at the London outfit in 2011/12 but his allegedly extortionate wage demands have subsequently stalled any possible move so far. While he’s keen to offload the former Arsenal man, Mancini revealed he has plenty faith in the forwards who played last season – a clear hint that Edin Dzeko is set to stay, despite recent reports linking the Bosnian with a move away:
“I am sorry for him because he is here and not playing. But he has no chance of playing this season for us. It’s important for him that he can find a good solution because he scored a lot of goals last season and he’s a top striker. I hope for him he can find a good solution very quickly….I still have confidence in the four strikers. They scored 70 goals between them last season. They will all stay.”
Mancini’s options up front are set to be a key concern for Fantasy managers. There’s little doubt that we’ll see Mario Balotelli make an impression on the new season – just how he is rotated with Sergio Aguero and, in particular, Carlos Tevez, is a key concern. Edin Dzeko is another part of the equation, although Fantasy managers will be hoping he’s restricted to a cameo role. Inevitably, however, he’ll get some pitch time.
Wigan yesterday acquired the services of Arsenal’s Ryo Miyaichi on a season-long loan deal. The Japanese youngster flourished briefly during a temporary stint at Bolton last season and is immediately back under the radar of Fantasy managers due to a kind pricing across the Fantasy games – he comes in at 5.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL). With Jean Beausejour and Emmerson Boyce looking odds-on to nail down the wide roles in Wigan’s 3-4-2-1, the new boy is expected to provided plenty competition for Victor Moses and Shaun Maloney in the more advanced midfield roles and could well prove to be a prominent member of Roberto Martinez’s first-team this term if Moses’ proposed move to Chelsea goes through.
Miyaichi’s spell at Bolton drew some interest from Fantasy managers last term, who were rewarded with modest returns. The playmaker displayed plenty of creativity, however and, under Roberto Martinez, there’s every chance we’ll see that come to the fore. The departure of Moses is key to his potential – should Martinez retain the services of the former Palace man, then Miyaichi will seemingly be vying for starts with Maloney, denting the potential of both players.
Martin O’Neill has reportedly stated that full-back Phil Bardsley could be out for “a good while” with the ankle injury sustained in pre-season training. Meanwhile, the suggestion is that Stephane Sessegnon will be available for the trip to Arsenal, despite missing the pre-season programme. O’Neill will surely be concerned on his match fitness, however.
Bardsley’s absence could see John O’Shea moved to the full-back area, though Ahmed Elmohamady has been handed a role there by O’Neill in recent matches. It’s got to be said that Sunderland’s pre-season form has been simply woeful; the possible absence of Stephane Sessegnon would just compound matters and will see Martin O’Neill’s side travel to the Emirates with low confidence and bereft of a cutting edge. Short-term Fantasy investment in the Arsenal back four, with Carl Jenkinson (4.5) looking a likely starter at right-back, could be an option worth exploring, then.
O’Neill also revealed Simon Mignolet has stiff competition for a place between the posts from Kieren Westwood this season. The Belgian was the Black Cats’ first-choice in the second half of last term but Westwood has impressed his manager in pre-season and could well push for a starting berth, with O’Neill telling the local press:
“We’re really strong in goal with the two of them here – there’s good competition for places, which is great. They’re two international goalkeepers, and I’m in a good position on that score. Keiren was unlucky when he was ill, Simon came in and did wonderfully well. It has been Simon’s position since. Keiren now thinks he might get a game with Ireland, and Simon with Belgium, although he has competition there. But it’s good to have the two.”
Daniel Agger has admitted he is keen to reject the advances of City and stay at Liverpool. Having acquired Jack Rodwell at the weekend, Mancini has been keen to add the Dane to the Etihad ranks, with Agger’s versatility and ball-playing ability at the back perhaps earmarked with the recent 3-4-1-2 formation in mind but, when asked about City’s interest, the centre-half seemed determined to dig his heels in and remain at Anfield:
“No, I haven’t heard anything. That is how the club wants to do it. I would prefer to stay. I can’t imagine playing for other clubs in England. But, you never know if the club prefers to sell me.”
Agger will surely be crucial to Liverpool’s defensive output this season and there will be keen interest in their back four if we can detect Brendan Rodgers has translated his possession football to Anfield. Agger will surely be identified by Rodgers as a ball carrying centre-back, playing a similar role as Ashley Williams for Rodgers’ Swansea last term. That will ensure that Agger will be a key performer in the Sky Sports game, whilst his threat from set-plays will likely draw interest if he can stay fit and the clean sheets start flowing. Arguably, there are better options in Rodgers’ back four – certainly the full-backs Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique will start earning investment if they are to handed more advanced roles: Enrique at 6.0 looks to be the preferred option. There’s no doubt, however, that both will benefit from Agger’s stay at Anfield.
