There’s plenty of Premier League clubs in action this afternoon, as pre-season starts to pick up the pace. Ahead of an afternoon in front of the tv with the Emirates Cup and Dublin Super Cup served up as weekend offerings, here’s this morning’s Scout Scribbles:
Roberto Mancini has warned his Premier League rivals that the signing of Sergio Aguero won’t be Man City’s last this summer. Speaking in a press conference ahead of this weekend’s Dublin Super Cup, the Italian explained:
If we want to compete with all the other top teams – Champions League or Premier League – we need other players, but the club are working in this way.
When asked what positions he felt the club needed to bolster, Mancini elaborated:
“One midfielder, one winger.”
This statement will only add to the speculation of a move for Samir Nasri and perhaps further re-inforce the idea that Adam Johnson could be heading to Everton in a loan deal, with Mancini yet to be convinced by his young winger’s consistency, much to the chagrin of the City fans.
James Collins has spoken at length of the new defensive solidity shown by Aston Villa in pre-season. Villa were something of a disappointment in terms of Fantasy investment last season, racking up just 7 clean sheets compared to 15 in the previous 2009/10 campaign but, under new boss Alex McLeish, are looking a better proposition at the back already.
Collins points to the re-introduction of Stephen Warnock to the starting XI as a significant boost to the side, saying:
Stephen had come back in and he’s been great. Obviously when he wasn’t in the team last season, you could still see in training he was still keen to show his qualities. Since he’s been back in, the two games he’s played and in training he’s looked first-class again. So that is like a new signing if you like. I am looking forward to playing with him again.
Warnock played just half Villa’s league games last season and as a result, comes in at 5.0, compared to the 5.5 of Collins and fellow centre-half Richard Dunne.
Aaron Ramsey looks likely to have a pivotal role for Arsenal in this weekend’s Emirates Cup. With Cesc Fabregas sidelined with a hamstring injury and Arsene Wenger concerned over his “unsettled” captain’s state of mind, Ramsey will take centre stage against the likes of Paris Saint Germain and New York Red Bulls over the next couple of days and spoke of his determination to make up for lost time, following his leg-break in February of last year. Playing in the advance central midfield role usually taken by Fabregas, many Fantasy managers will be eyeing up Ramsey ahead of next season; with a 6.5 FPL price-tag against his name, the young Welshman may be a steal.
In other Arsenal-related news, Arsene Wenger confirmed the news that Theo Walcott’s ankle injury is not as bad as the club had anticipated. Asked in yesterday’s press conference if the player will be ready for the start of the season in a fortnight’s time, Wenger replied that the club are hopeful on the matter. A bit of good news for the Gunners, then.
The idea of a Carlos Tevez/Samuel Eto’o swap deal has re-surfaced once again. Both Man City and Inter Milan are taking part in this weekend’s Dublin Super Cup and with Tevez desperate for a move away from the Etihad Stadium, City are reportedly determined to seal a deal for Eto’o, their long-term target.
A hamstring injury may have scuppered John O’Shea’s start to his Sunderland career, but Black Cats boss Steve Bruce is confident his new captain will be fit for the season opener at Liverpool:
I’ve got no worries about John. I’m not looking at risking him in our next two friendlies – it’s a case of erring on the right side caution….the knock he’s got is not a serious one. And he’s one of those players who can come into training and pick things up very quickly. As things stand, I’m sure he’ll be all right for the Liverpool game.
Great news, then, for Fantasy managers considering O’Shea ahead of the August 13th kick-off. Priced at 5.0 in FPL, we’re expecting big things from the Irishman this season, too; check out our Members Projections area to see just why.
QPR look set to boost their forward options by snapping up DJ Campbell from relegated Blackpool. Campbell was one of the best value Fantasy options last term, scoring 13 goals for Ian Holloway’s side, but while Blackpool were given license to attack by Holloway’s open 4-3-3 formation, QPR tend to operate far more tentatively, with a 4-2-3-1 shape set up to get the best out of Adel Taarabt. Campbell may well be vying with fellow new signing Jay Bothroyd for the lone forward slot, unless Neil Warnock has an alternative plan up his sleeve.
Spurs were the only Premier League club in action yesterday, chalking up a 4-1 win at Leyton Orient. Nico Krancjar continued his fantastic pre-season form by grabbing a goal, with Peter Crouch picking up a double in the one-sided affair. Krancjar is a real source of frustration for Fantasy managers- clearly, he’s got the talent but, in spite of his recent impressive form, it would be something of a surprise if he found his way into Harry Redknapp’s first-team thinking at Tottenham. At just 6.0, many will be hoping ‘Arry has a change of heart, particularly if Luka Modric does depart the Lane this summer.
