The midweek intentional fixtures threw up some interesting talking points, as Daniel Sturridge potentially faces a month out with a hip problem. Radamel Falcao scores two in four minutes against a hapless Bahrain outfit, Chelsea’s Brazilian contingent inspire a 3-1 victory in France’s backyard, while Arsenal’s star forwards had time to rest in their respective friendlies. Elsewhere, Glenn Murray lauds the impact of Palace’s high-flying wingers, David Nugent pushes for a starting berth, and Everton assuage fears over Arouna Kone’s injury to round off today’s Scribbles.
Sturridge Concern for Reds Yet Again
The Liverpool striker could be set for yet another spell on the sidelines after pulling out of the England squad with a hip injury. Speaking to the press, Roy Hodgson went on to reveal:
“I’m a little bit disappointed for Daniel Sturridge, because when he came to us he didn’t really feel that the slight problem he felt was really any problem at all. When we did the scan and it turned out that there was a problem, he was absolutely devastated because he didn’t want to leave us. There was no option because he has a slight tear and you can’t play through that.”
The Scout Says: With four goals and three assists in eight appearances since returning from a previous problem, Sturridge has been quick to find his form for the Merseysiders. After months of struggling without him, Brendan Rodgers’ decision to roll out a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Raheem Sterling up front, harvested four wins and a draw in the five matches prior to Sturridge’s return in Gameweek 23. Whilst a possible absence for Sturridge will deprive Fantasy managers of another option for our three-man frontline, it once again boosts Sterling’s potential – farmed out wide in recent matches, his failure to earn points has coincided with Sturridge’s return to the starting line-up in each of the last three. Given that Sterling has scored or assisted in six of his last eight appearances through the middle by comparison, his stock could be on the rise once again.
Falcao nets quick-fire brace in rout
Radamel Falcao reminded his current employers of his goalscoring ability with two goals in four minutes during Colombia’s friendly against Bahrain. The Manchester United loan forward also bagged the assist for Carlos Bacca’s opener, as Los Cafeteros put six past the Asian minnows.
The Scout Says: Given that Bahrain currently sit 103rd in the FIFA rankings, Falcao’s double during the international friendly is unlikely to present Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal with a selection headache ahead of their home tie against Aston Villa. Wayne Rooney has flourished in the lone striker role in the past four Gameweeks, while Robin van Persie’s scheduled return for the Manchester derby should demote the Monaco loanee further down the pecking order. Nonetheless, the confidence Falcao will have garnered from a strong showing with Colombia may encourage Van Gaal to afford him a longer spell off the bench against the Villains, having handed him eight minutes to impress in the Red Devils’ last two outings.
Chelsea pair impress in Brazil victory
Oscar netted and Willian bagged a pair of assists as Brazil ran out 3-1 winners over France in their Paris friendly last night. The duo’s Chelsea team-mate Filipe Luis featured from start to finish in a match that also saw the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Mamadou Sakho, Bacary Sagna and Moussa Sissoko start for the hosts.
The Scout Says: Oscar’s goal against a strong French side is food for thought for Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who dropped the South American playmaker for their last encounter against Hull City. However, the Portuguese manager’s hand could be forced as the Blues prepare to entertain Stoke in eight days time, given that midfield duo Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic are both one yellow card away from a two-match suspension – prompting Mourinho to draft Ramires into the midfield pivot and push Fabregas into the No. 10 role, as he did for the Tigers clash. Having reclaimed his right-wing slot for Chelsea’s home clash with Southampton, Willian’s influential display against Les Bleus should further cement his place in the side – he’s bagged a goal and two assists in his last four league starts for the Stamford Bridge outfit. Brazil now begin their preparations for a South American showdown with Chile at the Emirates on Sunday, meaning their Premier League contingent will be well placed to resume training in the absence of a long-haul flight.
Arsenal duo handed sub roles
Alexis Sanchez played just one half of Chile’s 2-0 defeat to Iran after emerging from the bench after the break, while Olivier Giroud graced the pitch for only six minutes in France’s loss to Brazil.
The Scout Says: Arsene Wenger recently mused on Alexis Sanchez’s current dip in form, suggesting that he’s over-compensating from a physical standpoint and could be in need of a rest before the season’s denouement. With that in mind, the Gunners boss will doubtless be delighted that the Chilean livewire wasn’t tasked with playing out the full 90 minutes against Iran. It’s also worth noting that this match-up was staged in the neutral location of Austria, limiting the travel Sanchez would have otherwise been subject to. Giroud’s brief cameo is clearly great news for his 15.1% ownership ahead of Arsenal’s tough tie against Liverpool next Gameweek. Fatigue is unlikely to be a concern for Giroud given his inactivity during the first half of the season, yet an injury to their form forward threatens to derail the north London club’s charge up the table.
Murray enjoying reunion with Palace wingers
Glenn Murray has relished the opportunity to play alongside Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie again after the former sealed a permanent switch back to Crystal Palace in the January transfer window. The Eagles striker insisted that the trio play to each other’s strengths and have improved massively since they first forged a partnership at Selhurst Park in their Championship days. The ex-Brighton forward went on to compare the contrasting styles of former manager Tony Pulis and the incumbent Alan Pardew:
“It’s something that is old – but new again. We’ve got that connection from a while back. Wilf has left and come back. It’s nice to get on the field with both of them again. We’ve played with each other a long time now. They do what I want – put the ball in the box. I do what they want – put the ball in the channels and then just hit the box. They’ve both improved a lot since we all played together. And so have I. Absolutely everything has been improved – their pace, power and skill. When to go past someone or when to cross it – what option to choose to do. Tony Pulis’ philosophy worked. It did what it needed to do and kept us in the Premier League – which was the one and only thing we needed to do. Whichever way he did that, he was successful. The gaffer is completely different – more attacking. He likes to take the game to people and believes in his forward players a little bit more.”
The Scout Says: Murray’s return from injury has revitalised Palace’s attack in recent weeks. With Pardew’s heightened emphasis on distributing to the flanks and delivering crosses into dangerous areas (only Manchester City’s 27 attempted crosses bettered the Eagles’ 26 last Gameweek), Murray serves as a perfect foil to the wing wizardy of Zaha and Bolasie. His four goals in as many appearances – which included a 12-minute cameo against Arsenal – render him an enticing differential prospect in the budget striker slot. However, potential investors may well opt to draft Murray in after Palace’s Gameweek 31 home tie against Manchester City, with three kinder fixtures (sun, WBA, HUL) on the horizon. Nonetheless, an unforgiving run of four fixtures to close out the season (che, MUN, liv, SWA) limits the Palace stalwart to being a short-term option for those managers searching for a low-ownership (0.1%) punt.
Nugent eyes up starting role
Having notched a goal and an assist against Spurs in his first start in five matches, Leicester City frontman David Nugent is eager to secure a regular berth during the run-in. The former Portsmouth marksman suggested that the Foxes created enough to deserve something out of the Tottenham clash and reiterated the tireless manner in which he and Jamie Vardy ran the channels all afternoon:
“We went for it. We went attacking with Leo Ulloa coming in. He’s a strong lad and we needed him to hold the ball up and lay it off to Matty James and Esteban Cambiasso, then me and Vards (Jamie Vardy) running in behind. We’ve seen that we’ve created more chances than Tottenham and we should have got something from the game. When you’ve got me and Vards on the wings then you know what you’re going to get. That’s hard work, running in behind and running back defending.”
The Scout Says: Nugent has been a peripheral figure for Nigel Pearson’s outfit this campaign, yet his performance at White Hart Lane was redolent of a seasoned Premier League forward. Only four strikers fashioned more shots than Nugent (five) last Gameweek, while his 10 penalty box touches ranked sixth among his peers. Nugent’s commanding performance on the right flank looks set to earn him a run of starts as Leicester gear up for a decent batch of fixtures (WHU, wba, SWA, bur) which might encourage investment in their cheap forward line. Those eyeing up Riyad Mahrez – who was consigned to a 15-minute cameo against the Lilywhites by virture of Nugent’s inclusion – may have to turn their attentions elsewhere if the Algerian fails to find a way back into Nigel Pearson’s XI as a result of Nugent’s displays.
Toffes handed positive Kone prognosis
Arouna Kone remains a doubt for Everton’s next match-up with Southampton but doesn’t face a lengthy injury lay-off after scans revealed no serious damage to his knee.
The Scout Says: Although Kone’s injury status is of minor interest to Fantasy managers on a direct level (the Ivory Coast international has notched one goal in four starts) his absence might pave the way for Steven Naismith to reclaim a starting berth in Roberto Martinez’s favoured XI – the 4.8-priced striker has tallied seven goals so far this season in spite of Everton’s lacklustre form. Now that the Toffees appear to have turned a corner in recent Gameweeks – recording back-to-back wins and exhibiting an increased fluidity to their play – the Scotland international could profit from a run of starts alongside Romelu Lukaku, given that Kone has partnered the Belgian in a 4-4-2 formation for each of the last two Gameweeks. Certainly, with five of Everton’s concluding eight fixtures set to take place at Goodison Park, the Merseysiders’ Fantasy potential warrants investigation in the coming Gameweeks.
