Alexis Sanchez makes his Gunners debut as Yaya Sanogo runs riot. A re-invented Ashley Young fires a salvo as United set up a lip-smacking clash with Liverpool after Brendan Rodgers side win again, without the injured Daniel Sturridge. Elsewhere, Louis van Gaal rules Robin van Persie out of the season opener, as City’s Stevan Jovetic continued his scoring spree and Erik Lamela’s stock continued to rise as Spurs blitzed Celtic in Helsinki. Here’s our exhaustive round-up of all Saturday’s pre-season action…
Sanogo Hits Four in Gunners Romp
All eyes were on debutant Alexis Sanchez for yesterday’s clash with Benfica but while the Chilean had to make do with a brief appearance off the bench, Yaya Sanogo stole the show by scoring four times in a 5-1 win. Intriguingly, Arsene Wenger handed Callum Chambers a 90-minute debut in central defence – highlighting the youngster’s versatility, perhaps in light of Thomas Vermaelen’s impending departure – with Joel Campbell fielded on the right flank and Sanogo leading the line. Campbell also turned in an impressive display with a goal and assist from out wide, while Aaron Ramsey’s early form is a cause for optimism after he served up a pair of assists for the home side.
After the game, Wenger had plenty to offer us. First up, he discussed the options that the versatile Sanchez is likely to offer the Gunners:
“He (Sanchez) is not fit yet, but he has shown through some runs he will be very dangerous. He can play on the flanks and through the middle. [On Sunday] I will certainly play him on the flank for 45 minutes. He is not fit yet, but in one week he should be much better.â€
The Arsenal boss also went on to suggest both Sanogo and Campbell could also have a part to play next term and is keen to avoid sending the latter out on loan again:
“He (Sanogo) has a big future here, or course, he is 21. He has something of Adebayor. He is strong, a strong body, similar strengths [to Adebayor], but as well technical skill….Campbell has done very well. I like the way he plays, he’s good on the ball, creative and collectively as well he has a good balance between individual skill and collective attitude – that’s not easy to find. There is no reason to let him go.â€
Another Arsenal lineup will face Monaco at the Emirates today, with the Community Shield lineup next Sunday likely to reveal further insight into Wenger’s starting lineup for the season opener with Crystal Palace.
Lamela Nets Again in Spurs Rout
Erik Lamela grabbed his third goal of the summer as Mauricio Pochettino’s side humbled a young Celtic side 6-1. Lamela was one of six players to get amongst the goals for the London outfit – Christian Eriksen, Lewis Holtby, Roberto Soldado, Harry Kane and Emmanuel Adebayor also found the net. With all three strikers scoring, the lone forward role still looks no closer to being resolved as the season approaches, whilst in midfield, Eriksen’s superb free-kick merely underlines why 13.9% of FPL managers have drafted him in so far. Lamela’s form continues to impress, though – similarly priced at 8.0, he seems transformed under his compatriot’s guidance and with a mere 2.3% ownership right now, is shaping up to be a possible differential.
Hoilett and Austin at the Double
QPR turned in their most convincing display of the close season with a 4-0 win over Shamrock Rovers yesterday. Junior Hoilett and Charlie Austin both scored twice for the R’s, with the former’s display earning particular praise from the club’s official website – handed the role in “the hole†behind Austin and Bobby Zamora as Harry Redknapp moved from a basic 3-5-2 to a 3-4-1-2, Hoilett was heavily involved in the final third and could have produced more. Both he and Austin have now scored three times in pre-season and, with home games against Hull, Sunderland and Stoke, have the potential to be decent differentials – priced at 5.0 and 6.0 in FPL, they are currently owned by just 0.8% and 1.9% respectively.
Problems Mount for West Brom
The Baggies fell to their first defeat of the pre-season after losing 1-0 to Nottingham Forest yesterday. With the season now less than two weeks away, Alan Irvine’s plans continued to be disrupted by injury and enforced absences which leave his preferred starting XI far from certain – new boy Brown Ideye has yet to make his debut as he awaits a Visa, Stephane Sessegnon is away on international duty, Victor Anichebe has just recovered from illness, whilst Chris Brunt made a brief 18-minute appearance yesterday; his first of the season following a return from injury.
Furthermore, Joleon Lescott and Sebastien Pocognoli were both forced off with injuries, whilst Gareth McAuley and James Morrison also remain out with calf and knee problems, as Irvine’s options lessen by the week. Aside from the absentees, both Andre Wisdom and Chris Baird (4.0 apiece in FPL) managed the full 90 minutes – the on-loan Liverpool man was fielded at right-back, with Baird handed a role in the double-pivot in a 4-2-3-1.
De Jong Rested in Magpies Loss
Fantasy managers were again denied the chance to scout Newcastle’s summer signing after he was omitted from the squad for this weekend’s Schalke Cup. De Jong, who scored in his first two appearances for the club, picked up a foot problem last week and Alan Pardew continues to show caution with his pitch time in order to ensure he remains on course for the season kick-off.
With a game against Schalke to follow today, Pardew handed a number of younger players the chance to impress and started with Adam Armstrong and Ayoze Perez in the central attacking areas in a 3-1 loss to Malaga. After the game, though, he conceded his selection was made with today’s game in mind and is set to name a stronger XI:
“It’s important that our senior players are ready to go. We protected a few because we’ve got another game tomorrow. We haven’t got an abundance of senior players and I wanted to save some for what will be a tough game tomorrow. We will have a much more experienced team tomorrow. I take full responsibility for that first half. It was perhaps a bit too young.â€
The main points of note from a Fantasy perspective were that Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa has started all five of Newcastle’s friendlies now, while Jack Colback continues to take a fair share of the Magpies’ corners – he earned an assist for Gabriel Obertan’s consolation.
Second String Stoke in Stalemate
Peter Odemwingie and Geoff Cameron were afforded their first taste of pre-season action as the Potters were held to a goalless draw by Burton Albion. Little should be read into yesterday’s match, though; with a game against Blackburn later today, Mark Hughes mainly utilised his fringe players for yesterday’s clash, and is expected to roll out a full-strength line-up at Ewood Park this afternoon.
Post-match, Hughes revealed he is keen to build up Cameron and Odemwingie’s fitness ahead of the new season – the pair have only recently returned to training after playing in this summer’s World Cup:
“We needed to give Geoff Cameron and Peter Odemwingie some playing time, and we will up the tempo for them next week so they can get up to the same levels as the rest of the squad. â€
Sordell Nets Again for Clarets
A third goal in four summer appearances from Marvin Sordell was enough to see Burnley get the better of Blackpool. Sean Dyche started with a mixture of fringe players and first-teamers for yesterday’s 1-0 win over – regulars such as Kieran Trippier, Danny Ings and Scott Arfield were named on the bench, as the likes of Steven Reid, Ashley Barnes and Sordell were handed the chance to impress. With Sam Vokes still injured, Sordell is certainly making a claim to partner Ings up top – both he and fellow forward Lukas Jutkiewicz have each notched three of The Clarets’ 11 pre-season goals, while Ings has yet to find the net.
Campbell Hits Three on Palace Debut
With a couple of friendly games to contend with yesterday, Tony Pulis split his squad into two in order to cope with the schedule. The Eagles’ summer signing Fraizer Campbell and fellow new boy Brede Hangeland both made their debuts against Forest Green in a starting XI that mainly contained fringe players – the former instantly strengthened his claims for a first-team spot by netting all three of his side’s goals.
Elsewhere, Adrian Mariappa’s Fantasy suitors were given a boost after the full-back was named in what looked like the strongest outfield line-up available to Pulis at present. The former Watford man seemed to have fallen down the pecking order over the summer but Pulis’ decision to play Jerome Williams in the Forest Green game saw Joel Ward start at left-back in a 3-2 loss at Brentford, allowing Mariappa a spot on the other side of defence, with Scott Dann and Damien Delaney at centre-half. Front two Glenn Murray and Marouane Chamakh both grabbed a goal apiece (Yannick Bolasie and Joe Ledley earned the assists) to suggest Campbell may not be immediately catapulted into the XI when the campaign gets underway. Owned by just 0.2% of FPL managers, the 5.5-priced Murray has now scored five goals over the summer – only Steven Jovetic of City can match that summer tally.
Pulis later confirmed that winger Johnny Williams missed the outing through injury – his only current casualty:
“He’s got a thigh strain, he’s the only one we’re struggling with at the moment but that should be ok. We’re hoping in the next couple of days that will be fine.”
Swansea Wide Men in the Goals
New boy Bafetimbi Gomis netted for the second successive match, while Wayne Routledge bagged a brace in Swansea’s 3-1 win at Reading. Reports in the local press suggest Garry Monk utilised a front three in yesterday’s win, with Routledge and Gomis pushed up on either side of Wilfried Bony, allowing Gylfi Sigurdsson more space as the advanced central midfielder. Bony and Sigurdsson grabbed an assist apiece but the former somewhat blotted his copybook by firing a first-half spot-kick off the bar before making way on 66 minutes as he continues to build up his fitness. For Sigurdsson, that’s two goals and two assists in his first couple of appearances since returning to the club, though the 6.0-priced midfielder remains under the radar in FPL – he’s owned by less than 8% of managers.
Pearson Rings the Changes
After beating Walsall in midweek, Nigel Pearson made ten alterations to his starting XI for yesterday’s 1-1 stalemate at Preston. With only Paul Konchesky retaining his place, it’s clear The Foxes boss is still fine-tuning his options ahead of the new season – he started with Leonardo Ulloa as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 before the introduction of David Nugent and Chris Wood saw a return to the default 4-4-2. Liam Moore (priced at 4.0 in FPL) raised Fantasy managers’ hopes by grabbing the visitors’ only goal, to suggest he may be able to cement a role alongside Wes Morgan at the heart of Leicester’s back-four. Moore made 30 appearances last season but fell out of favour as the campaign unfolded and started only five of the final 19 matches. Again, though, with a game against Milton Keynes later today, Pearson is clearly another manager keen to utilise the depth of his squad right now.
Pearson later confirmed that the striker, Jamie Vardy, had been withdrawn during the first half as a precaution:
“He’s had a tight thigh and I want him available for the start of the season. I see no mileage in putting players in a situation where there’s potential for them to injure themselves and keep them out of the side. It was just a precaution today.”
N’Zogbia Strikes in Villa Defeat
The Frenchman emerged from the bench to fire Villa’s only goal in a 4-1 defeat at Dutch side Groningen. With Ron Vlaar yet to return to action after his World Cup exploits with Holland, Paul Lambert fielded Nathan Baker and Philippe Senderos at centre-half and with Ciaran Clark getting the nod at left-back, new boy Kieran Richardson was handed the role in “the hole†behind Darren Bent. After months on the sidelines through injury, N’Zogbia is being gradually introduced back into the fold, and his expertly-taken free-kick takes his tally to two goals and an assist over the summer so far.
Post-match, Paul Lambert gave us an update on his injured parties – Christian Benteke, Libor Kozak and Joe Cole:
“In terms of injuries, Libor is doing great. He won’t be fit for the start of the season. Christian won’t be fit either. But they are both ahead of their scheduled time. Joe is doing great. He started running again. We will see how he is next week. But Libor and Christian, as our long-term injuries, are doing really well.”
Jaaskelainen the Hammers Hero
In their first match of the Schalke Cup, West Ham defeated the hosts on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes. With a showdown against Malaga later today, Sam Allardyce took the chance to utilise the depth of his squad and handed a number of youngsters a starts alongside the likes of Jaaskelainen, Kevin Nolan, James Tomkins and new boys Cheick Kouyate and Diego Poyet.
After the match, the Hammers boss confirmed he’s still in the market for a new forward. Allardyce, who has Andy Carroll sidelined for four months with ankle ligament damage, revealed new boy Enner Valencia is still far off the pace in terms of match fitness:
“I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Certainly while we’ve been here the Chairman has made enquiries, whether they can be finalised I won’t know until I get back. Everyone is working hard to bring in a new face to give us the opportunity to score the goals with the chances we’re creating. We’ve got Enner Valencia but obviously we need to do three weeks work with him before we consider him for the first team so we’ve got other players we hope will be successful on the front line in that time.”
Black Cats Draw a Blank
Sunderland’s pre-season tour of Portugal ended with a dull 0-0 stalemate with Vitoria Setubal. Gus Poyet’s side were denied an apparent second-half spot-kick when Adam Johnson was brought down but, aside from that and a long-range effort from the former City winger, there were few highlights of note.
The goalkeeper situation continues to offer the main point of interest for Fantasy managers but there was little to learn from yesterday’s clash, with Poyet revealing that Vito Manonne was sidelined through illness.
“Vito didn’t play because has been unwell. He had a stomach problem, nothing too serious, but we didn’t want to take the risk with him.”
Costel Pantilimon was again between the sticks, then, with Poyet as yet undecided on his number one. Elsewhere, Charalampos Mavrias was preferred to new signing, Billy Jones, at right-back, while Steven Fletcher lead the line, with Connor Wickham again starting the match deployed on the left-flank.
The Black Cats now prepare for friendlies with Real Betis and Udinese, before making the trip to the Hawthorns on the opening day.
Young Fires United to Final
Ashley Young continued his unlikely resurgence under Louis van Gaal with a double-strike to ensure that United progressed to the final of International Champions Cup. Javier Hernandez notched United’s third as they ran out 3-1 winners over Real Madrid in front of the largest crowd ever to witness a football match in the US.
Young gave Van Gaal’s side a first half lead via a Danny Welbeck assist after a fine 20-pass move, before a Gareth Bale spot-kick leveled matters. Young’s curling cross-come shot then sailed into the Madrid net to restore United’s lead. Hernandez then sealed the victory, with a diving header at the far post from Shinji Kagawa’s cross.
Man-of-the-Match, Young, was again deployed in the left wing-back role in United’s 3-4-1-2 formation, with Antonio Valencia lining up on the right, and Juan Mata tucked behind Welbeck and Wayne Rooney. Darren Fletcher skippered the side.
Young’s performances in his new position are beginning to cast doubt over Luke Shaw’s prospects to begin the season in the starting lineup. Shaw figured as a second-half sub but clearly faces a task to see off Young for the season opener with Swansea at Old Trafford.
Van Gaal Rules Van Persie Out of Opener
Post-match, Van Gaal stated that Robin van Persie will not be considered for United’s remaining friendly with Valencia and, more significantly, the opening day fixture with Swansea:
“I’m sure he [Van Persie] won’t play in those games. He has to train. I’m sorry, but when you have three weeks’ holiday you need training sessions, not a game. Everyone can criticise me but I know what you have to do with players who have had that length of holiday. The player himself always wants to play but the other 30 players want to play also.”
Such a statement will cause Fantasy managers to re-appraise their initial lineups. There’s no doubt that, given United’s friendly start to the campaign, many would have been lining up Van Persie for the forward lines in anticipation of early returns. With the striker seemingly ruled out of Gameweek 1, however, focus will now turn to Rooney and Juan Mata as a source of attacking returns from that first fixture. Van Persie currently holds 13% ownership in the FPL, with Rooney remaining the key target having found a spot in 31% of squads. That trend will surely continue following these latest comments from Van Gaal.
Liverpool Win Again To Set up United Clash
Liverpool will meet United in Tuesday’s final after sealing a 2-0 win over AC Milan, despite Rickie Lambert failing to convert a first-half penalty.
The industrious Joe Allen gave the Reds the lead, following up Raheem Sterling’s parried effort. Sterling was also involved in the penalty missed by Lambert, drawing a foul on the hour-mark. Brendan Rodgers then made eight changes before Suso sealed the victory from a Philippe Coutinho assist – giving the Reds three wins from three in the tournament.
The searing pace of Sterling and 18-year-old Jordon Ibe tormented Milan though out and helped to compensate for the absence of Daniel Sturridge with a hamstring problem sustained in training. Lazar Markovic was the other notable absentee: he missed out with a tendon injury.
Post-match, Rodgers confirmed that Sturridge had returned to the UK to undergo treatment:
“Dan has flown back to the UK. He wasn’t going to be ready for the game on Monday – but there’s no concern there, he’ll be ready for Borussia Dortmund at the weekend. It was just best to get him back early, back to the training ground so he could get some treatment there. He had a really, really slight feeling in his hamstring. It’s nothing major.”
While that prognosis sounds encouraging, Fantasy managers will be wary of news of hamstring concerns for a striker previously cursed by injuries. Having scored nine Premier Leagues in his first 13 starts last season, Sturridge missed the next eight Gameweeks with an ankle injury sustained in November 2013, eventually returning for Gameweek 21 in the New Year.
Jovetic Goes On Scoring
City’s tasted defeat in another penalty shoot-out, as they were held 2-2 by Olympiacos in the third International Champions Cup tie. Stevan Jovetic’s fifth goal of the pre-season again put Fantasy managers on alert, giving City the lead with a smart finish on 35 minutes. Aleks Kolarov was City’s other scorer, converting from the spot after David Silva was felled early in the second-half, with Yaya Toure off the pitch.
Jovetic started up front with Edin Dzeko and played 75 minutes, with Sergio Aguero still preserved from pre-season action following his World Cup campaign. The Montenegrin has duly taken his opportunity to play himself firmly into Manuel Pellegrini’s plans for the season kick-off at Newcastle. Jovetic’s long-term prospects will undoubtedly be under constant threat of rotation but, as a short-term prospect for the opening Gameweeks, he’s emerging as a clear option. The Community Shield lineup next Sunday will tell us more, with the likes of Aguero, Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis and Fernandinho likely to play some part following their return to training on Monday.
