Friendlies Round-Up – Saturday

Christian Benteke is at the double as Villa get the better of Malaga. Theo Walcott produces a goal and pair of assists in Arsenal’s win over City, Fraizer Campbell and Nicolas Anelka register a goal and assist apiece for Hull and West Brom respectively, Roberto Soldado opens his Tottenham account, Ravel Morrison is amongst the goals yet again for West Ham and Romleu Lukaku climbs off the bench to fire Chelsea to victory against Roma:

Aston Villa 3 Malaga 2
Christian Benteke bagged a brace to take his tally to seven in just five appearances over the summer. Ron Vlaar notched Villa’s other goal, heading in an Aleksandar Tonev corner, with the latter’s display also praised highly by the club’s website. Antonio Luna continues to look nailed-on at left-back and he was joined in defence by fellow new boy Jores Okore, who partnered Vlaar at centre-half.

Paul Lambert acknowledged that he had “a rough idea” of his starting XI for next weekend, whilst stressing the importance of Aleksandar Tonev and Jores Okore earning 76 minutes – their first action of the pre-season. They, along with Joe Bennett, Marc Albrighton and Jordan Bowery, all need more games according to the Villa boss.

“Okore and Tonev needed games. There are one or two short of match practice…It was a bonus to get Joe on. Marc is still a bit short. He started last Monday. Jordan has just come back this week as well. But it is pleasing that they are starting to come back.”

Tonev and Okore would seem unlikely to feature from the start next weekend, then, with Nathan Baker or Ciaran Clark set to partner Vlaar in defence.

Norwich 2 Real Sociedad 0
Chris Hughton continued with a 4-4-1-1 formation for yesterday’s match. Gary Hooper got the nod up front, with Wes Hoolahan tucking in behind, while summer signing Martin Olsson was handed a role on the left of midfield as Javier Garrido was selected at left-back. Bradley Johnson was the hosts’ unlikely goal hero, nodding home a Robert Snodgrass set-piece before heading the second thanks to a Garrido cross. Hughton sent on Ricky Van Wolfswinkel, Leroy Fer and Steven Whittaker at the break, though will be sweating on the fitness of Hooper after the former Celtic man was stretchered off just before the hour mark. Hughton indicated post-match that Hooper will undergo precautionary X-rays on the injury.

The Norwich boss also spoke out about new captain, Seb Bassong and has not ruled the defender out of the season opener, indicating that he could feature in an arranged match later this week…

“We have a game this week that we would like him [Bassong] to play some part in. He’s a strong character…and has, in some ways, proven us wrong in games where we had thought he wasn’t able to play so we’ll see, we’ll see how the week goes. What’s more important is that we have him available for a long period of time so any decision we do make, we will have to make sure that it’s the right one.”

Norwich will lose three players to international duty in midweek, with Snodgrass, Russell Martin and Martin Olsson all absent.

Celtic 1 Liverpool 0
Brendan Rodgers handed Iago Aspas the lone forward role against the Scottish champions, with Philippe Coutinho and Stewart Downing flanking him. Daniel Agger missed out after failing to train all week due to fluid in his knee, allowing Andre Wisdom to partner Kolo Toure in the back-four as the Reds tasted defeat for the first time this summer. Aspas lasted just 45 minutes before making way for Daniel Sturridge, as the former Chelsea man made his first appearance of the summer after finally recovering from an ankle injury. The Reds spurned a host of chances to find the net and Toure saw a goal ruled out for offside but despite the loss, Rodgers looked on the positive side, with Sturridge’s display catching the eye in particular…

“I thought he was excellent. You saw the difference when he came on in the second half – that power and pace, and his link-up play with Coutinho was great. He’s working really hard to get fit and he’s looked really strong in training this week. He got 45 minutes today and we’ve got a behind-closed-doors game in the early part of the week. We can assess him after that but he looked really good.”

Sturridge also gave an interview with Liverpool’s official website and certainly indicated he is raring to go ahead of Saturday’s Anfield clash with Stoke:

“It’s been a long road – a bumpy one at that – but I’m delighted to be back out there and I’m thankful to God for healing my injury so quickly because I wasn’t sure I’d be back for the start of the season. I’m fit and good to go. If I’m selected against Stoke then I’ll be ready. I didn’t think I’d be as sharp as I was, to be honest, so I’m happy! I would have loved to have scored and marked my return with a goal, but the important thing was to leave the pitch healthy with no injury or anything.”

Crystal Palace 0 Lazio 1
Jerome Thomas limped off midway through the first-half as Ian Holloway’s side lost narrowly to their Serie A visitors. The Eagles boss started with one up front but move to a two-man frontline after the break, sending on Dwight Gayle and Kevin Phillips as he replaced all 10 of his outfield starters over the course of the match. Dean Moxey continues to deputise for the injured Jonathan Parr at left-back and looks in pole position to start the season. Holloway was given further reason for concern after a challenge on Mile Jedinak forced the midfielder off with swelling around the eye.

Post-match, Holloway was in the dark when asked if he had a prognosis on Thomas’ injury…

“None whatsoever, I won’t find out until tomorrow”

The Palace boss went on to suggest that, having switched for a 4-4-2 in the second-half, he may now have to force such a change on his side for the weekend opener with Spurs…

“What I’ve got to try and do is come up with a formation that works with the group that I’ve got…I switched it, I had to use a different formation because our old formation, that the lads know really well and are really comfortable with, might not work so I’ve just had a bit of a pop at them and said ‘right, you’ve got to start learning.'”

Southampton 4 Real Sociedad 3
Luke Shaw was subbed off before the break with a knee problem, according to the Saints official website. The hosts went in at the break 3-2 ahead thanks to goals from Adam Lallana, Morgan Schneiderlin and Jos Hooiveld, with Rickie Lambert, Lallana and Victor Wanyama providing the assists. Mauricio Pochettino made 11 changes over the course of the game as he continues to assess his squad – Jason Puncheon climbed off the bench to notch the winner, after being teed up by fellow sub Lloyd Isgrove.

After the game, Pochettino admitted he is sweating on Shaw’s fitness ahead of next weekend’s trip to West Brom, though he remains hopeful Nathaniel Clyne will be fit to start at right-back, despite having failed to feature over the summer so far…

“We’re hoping that what happened to Luke Shaw isn’t too serious. We have a bitter feeling because we’ve been playing well without getting injuries. Hopefully it’s nothing too serious and that we can count on him for the start of the season. We need to know what the doctors say, but he has a bit of a problem with his knee ligaments. Hopefully he will be okay… We want him (Clyne) training with us from the start of next week. If that happens, he will have his chance of starting against West Bromwich Albion.”

Stoke 0 Genoa 0
The Potters registered their fourth successive clean sheet of the summer in yesterday’s stalemate. Mark Hughes once again handed Geoff Cameron and Erik Pieters the full-back roles, with Charlie Adam the most advanced central midfielder behind lone forward Peter Crouch, as Matt Etherington and Jonathan Walters patrolled the flanks. Hughes made nine changes in the second-half, bringing on the likes of Glenn Whelan, Cameron Jerome and Jermain Pennant at the break but the Serie A visitors held firm.

Cardiff 2 Athletic Bilbao 1
Steven Caulker made his first start for the Bluebirds while Aron Gunnarsson recovered from a shoulder injury to take his place in the first XI. Fraizer Campbell took full advantage of his chance to lead the attack – with summer signing Andreas Cornelius still nursing an ankle injury – Campbell teed up Peter Whittingham for the opener before notching the second. Malky Mackay gave Matthew Connolly the chance to impress at right-back and left new boy John Brayford on the bench, with Ben Turner partnering Caulker in the heart of defence. Declan John again started at left-back and is set to take that role for the season opener at West Ham, with regular choice, Andrew Taylor, suspended. Elsewhere, Craig Bellamy recovered from the illness that forced him out of last weekend’s win over Chievo to earn a start.

Arsenal 3 Man City 1
Theo Walcott was the Gunners’ main man yesterday after playing a part in all three of the goals against City. The winger opened the scoring before providing assists for both Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud, with the latter notching his eighth goal of the summer – more than any other player in the top-flight. Prior to the game, though, Wenger admitted his line-up would be “close” to the one that starts against Villa next week and raised a few eyebrows by dropping Giroud to the bench, with Lukas Podolski leading the line and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left, allowing Jack Wilshere to tuck in behind the German as the most advanced central midfielder. Wilshere and Podolski made way for Santi Cazorla and Giroud at the break, though, as Wenger made a total of seven changes in an impressive display by the north London outfit.

After the match, Wenger admitted he is still a little tentative with Wilshere’s game time after the youngster suffered of an ankle injury midway through the previous campaign:

“I decided before the game to play him only 45 minutes because I want to build him up step by step and because he will go with the national team when England plays against Scotland on Wednesday night. That as well will be a very committed game.”

For City, Manuel Pellegrini fielded Joleon Lescott alongside Vincent Kompany at centre-half, with Pablo Zabaleta and Gael Clichy handed the full-back roles. David Silva and James Milner were named on the flanks as the Chilean opted for a front two of Edin Dzeko and Alvaro Negredo, though City changed to a lone forward system after the break when Dzeko made way for Jesus Navas. Negredo – one of only three outfield players to last the full 90 minutes along with Kompany and Clichy – fired home his side’s consolation and has now found the net in back-to-back matches.

Hull 3 Real Betis 0
Steve Bruce partnered summer signings Danny Graham and Yannick Sagbo up top in a comprehensive win for the Tigers. Graham notched his first goal since moving on loan from Sunderland after heading home a Robbie Brady set-piece before Sone Aluko and George Boyd extended the hosts’ lead. Bruce made a raft of changes after the break, with only Curtis Davies and Allan McGregor afforded 90 minutes apiece ahead of the season opener against Chelsea.

West Ham 2 Pacos de Ferreira 1
The Hammers registered their eighth win of the pre-season yesterday afternoon. Sam Allardyce’s side were quick out the blocks as Joe Cole teed up Ravel Morrison for his sixth goal of the summer after just 16 seconds before Modibo Maiga – playing through the middle in the continued absence of Andy Carroll – notched the second just five minutes before the break. With the midweek internationals in mind, Allardyce made numerous alterations as the match unfolded, handing Razvan Rat 45 minutes on his home debut, while the likes of Kevin Nolan, Jussi Jaaskelainen and Joe Cole were replaced midway through the second-half with one eye on Saturday’s home game against Cardiff.

First team coach Ian Hendon spoke to the club’s official website after the match and heaped praise upon the two goalscorers…

“Ravel has done very well in pre-season. He’s come back and looked focused in what he’s doing, and in his football. I think his performances have showed that. Modibo, too, has performed well and scored a week before the season. He did ever so well when the ball went up to him today, he held it up, won his headers and flick-ons, so it was nice for him to get on the scoresheet.”

West Brom 2 Bologna 0
Nicolas Anelka continues to make a convincing case for Fantasy managers with yet another eye-catching display for the Baggies yesterday. Starting up front in a 4-4-2, the summer signing teed up strike-partner Markus Rosenberg for the opener before netting the hosts’ second thanks to a James Morrison assist; his seventh goal of the summer period. Morrison and Graham Dorrans were handed the flank roles in a game that saw Diego Lugano make his debut after climbing off the bench as one of four second-half alterations. Steve Clarke was without Chris Brunt and Steven Reid due to “a niggle” and fitness respectively.

Fulham 1 Parma 2
Martin Jol restored Bryan Ruiz to a central forward position, allowing Dimitar Berbatov to lead the line against the Italian side. This afforded Ashkan Dejagah and Mesca Na Bangna the chance to start on the flanks, though it was Steve Sidwell who grabbed the hosts only goal with a superb long-range effort. Jol made seven alterations in the second period, replacing Berbatov with Hugo Rodallega at the break and handing Adel Taarabt his Cottagers debut just after the hour mark as a replacement for Dejagah. After the match, Jol revealed he remains determined to bolster his side’s attacking options for the season ahead:

“Everybody knows how I feel about it. We need pace up front. We need goals and if you see our flank players they are very talented, but since Clint Dempsey left we have not scored enough. I think Adel [Taarabt] is capable of scoring goals, Berbatov is, Bryan could be. But what I need is someone who can score more….If we stay as we are then we will have the same season. But with a couple of additions, Taarabt and two or three others, then we will have a very good team. But we will also need a couple of weeks to adjust.””

The Cottagers boss also admitted John Arne-Riise could be heading towards the exit door after becoming a somewhat peripheral figure in recent weeks. From a Fantasy perspective, it’s somewhat frustrating, though, given his likely replacement, Kieran Richardson, is listed as a midfielder across the Fantasy games:

“John has been a great servant to this Club. I have lots of options, I have [Matthew] Briggs, Kieran [Richardson], John and Fernando [Amorebieta] can play at left-back as well. What I have told John is that it is up to him; he is always reliable. Kieran had a few injuries last season, but when he is fit, he is too good for the bench. John and I spoke about it and I will be happy if he stays because he is a very good player, but he may decide to go somewhere as Kieran has been my first-choice in pre-season.”

Newcastle 1 Braga 1
Alan Pardew opted for a 4-4-2 formation for yesterday’s match, pairing Papiss Cisse with the in-form Shola Ameobi up top. In defence, Fabricio Coloccini was joined by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and the pair were, intriguingly, the only players to be handed the full 90 minutes by the Magpies boss – perhaps a sign of his intentions for the season ahead. Tim Krul climbed off the bench and managed another 45 minutes as he steps up his recovery from a shoulder operation, while Yohan Cabaye and Cheick Tiote were handed a half apiece alongside Moussa Sissoko in central midfield. Coloccini netted the hosts only goal, heading home from a Ben Arfa corner on the hour mark.

Tottenham 1 Espanyol 1
Andre Villas-Boas rolled out a 4-2-3-1 formation for yesterday’s match at the Lane. Summer signings Paulinho, Nacer Chadli and Roberto Soldado were all named in the first XI, while Younes Kaboul and Sandro both climbed off the bench to signal their respective returns from injury. Danny Rose was selected to start at left-back once again and a foul inside the box on the former Sunderland loan star afforded Soldado the chance to convert from the spot within 30 minutes. Gylfi Sigurdsson was handed most of the set-pieces in the absence of Gareth Bale and the Icelandic international was one of only three players to last the full 90 minutes – perhaps a sign of his growing influence in the first-team.

After the game, Villas-Boas felt he had plenty reason to be optimistic:

“The result didn’t go with the performance. I think we deserved better and I’m extremely happy with everyone. It was the first time at White Hart Lane for the new signings, with that intensity, the fans were pushing us on and they did well, Nacer, Paulinho and Soldado. We saw great signs from Kaboul and Sandro coming back, Michael Dawson played 90 minutes after an injury. There were lots and lots of positives. I just hope we can translate it into three points against Palace next week.”

Unsurprisingly, the Spurs boss was bombarded with questions on Bale’s future and while he was reluctant to get involved in the speculation, Villas-Boas did admit the Welshman could be a doubt for the Gameweek 1 trip to Palace due to a lack of match-fitness:

“The only thing I can tell you is the player is under the treatment of the medical department for this pain in the foot which is disturbing him. He has been called up for his national team [for a friendly match against the Republic of Ireland], our medical department is going to be in contact with the Wales medical department to make sure they have everything available in terms of giving information on how the player has been doing in these last weeks. If he gets to a fixture available to play it is because he hasn’t felt pain. He is training on his own so there is a possibility he makes a recovery. If we manage to recover the player, but obviously he is far, far off fitness regarding what the others have done. It is three weeks since he played for Tottenham so I wouldn’t expect him to play for us. (against Palace)”

Chelsea 2 Roma 1
Jose Mourinho rested several of his previous summer starters to the bench in a game that took place in the early hours of this morning. David Luiz returned from injury and the likes of Mark Schwarzer, Cesar Azpilicueta, Victor Moses, Ryan Bertrand, John Obi Mikel and Fernando Torres were named in the starting XI but the Blues boss rang the half-time changes, replacing six players after his side went in at the break 1-0 down. Frank Lampard levelled the match with a long-range efforts after being teed up by fellow sub Demba Ba, while Romelu Lukaku once again highlighted his capabilities from the bench – sent on as a 78th minute sub, the Belgian needed just 10 minutes to fire the winner after good work by Eden Hazard.

After the game, Chelsea coach Rui Faria explained the idea behind Mourinho’s selection:

“We tried to rest the players who are going away with their national teams, and also those who played a lot of minutes against Real Madrid as we are preparing for the first match.”