Jose Enrique looks like following Joey Barton through the St James’ exit door. Sir Alex Ferguson talks up Phil Jones and Ashley Young, while hinting at a possible exit for a certain enigmatic Bulgarian. Jack Wilshere’s ankle knock is fine, he tweets. Roy Hodgson enthuses over new Baggies boy Zoltan Gera and Stephen Hunt predict a less-defensive Wolves next season. This morning’s Scribbles are here, folks:
Jose Enrique’s proposed move to Liverpool is looking more likely by the day. The left-back has one year left on his contract at Newcastle and the club are now ready to cash in, following a summer of unrest on Tyneside. The move would be of significant interest to Fantasy managers- priced at 5.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), the Spaniard would offer plenty attacking impetus and defensive returns if his move to Anfield transpires.
Jack Wilshere’s ankle knock should only keep the midfielder for a few more days. The 19 year old took to twitter last night to confirm the initial prognosis of the Arsenal medical staff, after he picked up the injury against New York Red Bulls last weekend. Wilshere tweeted:
“Ankle scan just showed some inflammation. Hopefully will settle down in a few days.”
Sir Alex Ferguson provides up with plenty to consider this morning. Speaking to the club magazine Inside United, Fergie suggested Phil Jones may play a bigger part in first-team matters this upcoming season than many have anticipated:
‘You might think he might not play, but the ability he’s got and the determination he’s got, he could quite easily play. He’s the future obviously, but he could certainly come in right away.’
Jones played at centre half and in a holding midfield role for Blackburn last term and has already been utilised at right-back this pre-season by the United boss. At 5.5 in FPL, he’d certainly be worth considering if plenty starts prove to be the case, but it’s more of a wait-and-see situation- there are plenty more guaranteed players in that price range and to punt on Jones this early would surely be an unnecessary gamble.
In the same interview, Fergie then turned his attention to fellow new boy Ashley Young. The United boss confirmed Young will mainly be used as a left winger in 2011/12, saying:
Ashley can play in more than one position. He can play wide right, left, even behind the striker, so we have options there. But, initially, we’ll start him as a wide left player.
With Young earmarked for a spot on the left, then, and the less-versatile Antonio Valencia only offering an option on the right, it seems that Nani will flit between appearances on both flanks next term.
Valencia, at 8.0, offers better value than Young and Nani at 10.0, but with the rumoured move for Wesley Sneijder also on the cards, United’s attacking midfield options could prove to be a Fantasy nightmare next season.
Our final Fergie-related matter concerns the future of Dimitar Berbatov. United were in Monaco last night for a charity football match against Marseille and, in a post-match interview with French tv, the United boss was asked if Berbatov could play at big-spending Paris St Germain next summer. His reply:
“Yes. Absolutely, no problem.”
Berbatov has fallen firmly behind Javier Hernandez in the Old Trafford pecking order and any funds from a possible move could be used in the club’s bid to acquire Sneijder from Inter, and help recoup some of the £50m already spent this summer.
Stephen Hunt has suggested Wolves are intent on playing 4-4-2 next season. Having survived the drop despite a final day defeat at Molineux last term, Hunt reckons the club will be adopting a slightly less-cautious approach in 2011/12, with a front pairing of Steven Fletcher and Kevin Doyle ready to take on Premier League defences together. Doyle has mainly featured as a lone striker under Mick McCarthy and Fletcher only grabbed his chance when the Irishman was sidelined with a knee injury in the latter part of 2010/11. With the pair relatively low-priced – Doyle is 6.0 and Fletcher 6.5- it’s certainly a situation worth monitoring.
West Brom boss Roy Hodgson is delighted with new signing Zoltan Gera. Having previously linked up at Fulham before, the Baggies boss is fully aware of the midfielder’s capabilities and has snapped the Hungarian up on a free transfer. Gera is currently regaining fitness following an ankle injury and is also banned for the first three games of the new campaign, but it’s clear Hodgson is a firm favourite of his talents and plenty starts seem likely. Gera may also share set-piece duties with Chris Brunt and his versatility may even offer a role just off the main striker in Hodgson’s 4-4-1-1 formation. Hodgson enthused yesterday:
I of course know him well and admired him in the two years we worked together at Fulham, where he was an integral part of the team that did well during those years. I think it is a massive coup for the club that we have been able to persuade him to come back to West Brom. I think it is an excellent signing and he is a player I hope will do as well in the coming seasons as he has done in the past seasons with West Brom and Fulham.
