Fantasy premier league preseason catch up – 21-25 July games – part 2

Preseason

rooney 3

Here’s the 2nd part of last weeks friendly reviews.  We’ll be looking at the lineups, player form and who we should be looking out for to include in our FPL teams.  We’ll also give you what we think the GW1 lineup will be based on the current information

Fantasy premier league preseason catch up – 21-25 July games – part 2

Roma 1 Liverpool 0

Liverpool: Jones, Kelly, Skrtel, Coates (Agger 60), Enrique (Robinson 46), Lucas, Allen (Henderson 77), Coutinho (Phillips 85), Borini (Can 12), Lambert (Peterson 60), Ibe (Suso 77).

Subs not used: Ward, Coady.

Liverpool are one of the teams that are most affected by the World Cup and only Henderson and Lambert were on show from the 12 or so players who went to the World Cup.   New signing Markovic also didn’t feature.   Enrique back at LB is interesting.  At £5.0m he’s the value along with Flanagan at the same price.  Hard to think that there won’t be an acquisition here though.

The team out apart from Agger and Henderson was the best available but as I said meant little with the World Cup absentees.

Emre Can and Leiva were probably the outstanding players.  Interestingly Rodgers played 4-3-3 which is the formation which may allow FPL £7.5m Markovic into the side although it seems a big ask to start with the young Serbian.  Borini went off injured which may cause problems for any Sunderland transfer although I’m not up to date with the latest on this.

Here’s how I see the GW1 lineup at the moment:

Mignolet – Johnson, Enrique/Flanagan, Skrtel, Toure/Agger – Gerrard, Henderson,Sterling, Coutinho – Remy Sturridge.  Swap Remy for Markovic for 4-3-3.  Lallana is injured by the way and will miss the start of the season.

Sporting Kansas 1 Man City 4

MAN CITY: Caballero; Richards (Clichy 45), Boyata, Rekik (Nastasic 75), Kolarov; Navas, Fernando (Garcia 65), Zuculini (Huws 75), Sinclair; Iheanacho (Denayer 90+1), Jovetic (Guidetti 65).
Subs not used: Wright, Lawlar, Leigh, Rodwell.
Scorers: Zuculini 3, Boyata 45, Kolarov pen 73, Iheanacho 89

Man City still without 12 World Cup players so games again are fairly meaningless in terms of lineup.  No Nasri for this match who is nursing an injury not thought to be serious. Would be a shame for someone who missed the World Cup and should be a fresh and preseason fit representation for City in our FPL teams.  New signings GK Caballero and Fernando did get a run out though.  The Stars were 21 yo Argentinian CM Zuculini who last season scored 4 goals from 30 games for Argentinian side Avellaneda.  Also starring was young 17 yo  trialist Iheanacho.  Elsewhere the defence looked shaky but CDM Fernando was excellent.

Here’s how I see the GW1 lineup at the moment although that depends on when the WC players are back:  Hart – Zabaleta/Sagna, Kolarov/Clichy, Kompany, Demichelis – YYT, Fernandinho, Nasri, Silva – Dzeko, Aguero

LA Galaxy 0 Man Utd 7

Man United first-half (3-4-3): De Gea; Smalling, Jones, Evans; Valencia, Fletcher, Herrera, Shaw; Mata; Welbeck, Rooney.
Man United second-half (3-4-3): Lindegaard; M Keane, Fletcher, Blackett; Rafael, Cleverley, Herrera, James; Kagawa; Nani, Young.
Goals: Welbeck 13, Rooney 41 (pen) and 45, James 62 and 84, Young 88 and 90.

Apart from RVP seemingly all of the World Cup players are back and in this game.  The first half team seemed to be as close as they could put out as a first team apart from Herrera who it seems hard to believe won’t start.  The 3 man defence is all £5.5m in FPL.  Shaw as a LWB in that system looks dangerous but slightly more expensive at £6.0m.  RVP would probably replace Welbeck and become the central striker.

Herrera was the unquestionable star with Mata, Rooney, Jones, Welbeck and Valencia impressing

Using this formation here’s how I see the GW1 lineup at the moment:  De Gea – Jones, Smalling, Evans – Shaw, Valencia, Herrara, Fletcher/Fellaini – Mata, RVP, Rooney

Sydney 0 Newcastle 4

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Elliot, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini (Campbell), S Taylor (Satka), Haidara (Dummett), Anita, Colback (Abied), Gouffran (Armstrong), De Jong (Vuckic), Aarons (Ameobi), Riviere (Perez).

Goals: De Jong 19′, Riviere 26′, Yanga-Mbiwa 33′, Armstrong 82′

Still no Krul, Janmaat, Sissoko, Cabella and Tiote.  Team taking some shape and apart from the absentees this looked something like a first choice team.   Lots of value in the Newcastle team.  In defence Taylor and Dummett give £4.0m options if they can get secure gametime.  Taylor started although Haidara started over Dummett.  Striker Perez at £5.0m is also value if he starts for those looking at 3-5-2.

New boys Riverie and Dejong both looked good as did Gouffran.

Hard to pick the GW1 lineup at the moment:  Krul – Janmaat, Dummett/Haidara/Santon, Coloccini, STaylor/YMB – Tiote, Colback/Anita – Cabella/Gouffran, De Jong, Sissoko – Riverie

Swindon 0 Southampton 1

Southampton: Kelvin Davis (Paulo Gazzaniga 46), Nathaniel Clyne (Calum Chambers 62), José Fonte (Maya Yoshida 62), Jos Hooiveld (Jordan Turnbull 62), Matt Targett (Jason McCarthy 62), James Ward-Prowse (Jack Stephens 62), Jack Cork (Jake Flannigan 62), Harrison Reed (Billy Sharp 62), Lloyd Isgrove (Jake Sinclair 62), Sam McQueen (Emmanuel Mayuka 46), Graziano Pellè (Sam Gallagher 62).
Goal:  Hooiveld

Lovren, Ramirez, Schneiderlin were the WC absentees.  New boy Tadic also didn’t appear.   However Lovren and Schneiderlin look likely to leave.  It’s hard to look at lineups at the moment as you have to think that there will be a number of incomings.  Hooiveld is the £4.0m defender who could give some value if he can make the team.

FPL £7.5m forward Pelle was the main form player for Saints in this game.

Too difficult to guess a GW1 lineup at the moment.

Hartlepool 0 Sunderland 3

Sunderland to 60 minutes: Pantilimon, Watmore, Ferguson, Roberge, O’Shea, Cattermole, Larsson, Ba, Fletcher, Clayton, Johnson.
Sunderland after 60 minutes:   Cartwright, Pickford, T Robson, Harrison, Beadling, Agnew, Honeyman, Smith, Gooch, Lawson, Mandron.

A game where a number of players were rested.  It was a game of 60 and 30 minutes with the more experienced players starting and then the youngsters coming on after that and winning the game.  Adam Johnson and young RM Cartwright were the stars.  Ba also had an excellent game.  Interestingly it was the plus 60 minute team that showed up the more experienced starters.  4-1-4-1 was again the formation.  Even for the young team.   Here’s my likely GW1 lineup:

Pantilimon/Mannone, Jones, Van Aarnholt, Brown, O’Shea – Cattermole/Bridcutt – Johnson, Giaccherini, Gomez/Ba, Larsson/Ba – Fletcher/Wickham

Toronto 2 Spurs 3

Spurs first-half XI: Brad Friedel; Kyle Naughton, Younes Kaboul, Milos Veljkovic, Ben Davies; Etienne Capoue, Ryan Mason; Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela, Aaron Lennon; Roberto Soldado.
Spurs 2nd half XI: Friedel; Kyle Walker, Michael Dawson, Zeki Fryers, Danny Rose; Tom Carroll, Lewis Holtby; Andros Townsend, Cristian Ceballos, Iago Falque; Harry Kane.

With 7 players on post World Cup rest and a mixed team of 2 halves we learnt very little in terms of lineup.  Davies and Dawson both at £5.0m offer some defensive value if they start.  The midfield is way to difficult to assess with a new manager and no clues really yet.  The main talking point from the game was the form, goals and praise heaped on Erik Lamela.  £8.0m though when you can get Eriksen for the same price seems way too hot for me.

I’m not going to try and predict a GW1 line up yet.  Needs far more certainty with the mixed teams, the WC and the new manager.

Sacremento 0 WBA 1

West Bromwich Albion: Myhill; O’Neil, Baird, Olsson (D Daniels, 81), Pocognoli; Gardner, Mulumbu, Yacob, Dorrans; Berahino, Anichebe (Roofe, 77).

Goal:  Dorrans pen

Only Foster is missing from the WC.  However injuries to McAuley, Lescott, Morrison, Brunt and Dawson have made a significant hole in the team and preparations.  Only really Myhill shone in this game where WBA struggled.  £4.0m Liverpool RB loanee Wisdomis the value in this team if he can hold his place.  Brunt has potential as a £5.5m cheapie with set piece responsibilities as does Dorrans at £5.0m if he can stake a place in the team.  Upfront Anichebe at £5.0m has potential for those wanting to play 3-5-2 but new boy Ideye at £6.0m is the obstacle here.

Here’s a potential GW1 lineup isgnoring the current injuries:

Foster – Wisdom, Pocognoli, McAuley, Lescott – Mulumbu Yacob – Morrison/Dorrans/ Brunt, Sessegnon – Ideye

Wellington Phoenix 2 West Ham 1

West Ham: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Guy Demel (Joey O’Brien, 68), Winston Reid, James Collins (James Tomkins, 68), Aaron Cresswell (Danny Potts, 78), Cheikhou Kouyate (Mauro Zarate, 60), Mark Noble (Diego Poyet, 71), Kevin Nolan, Mohamed Diame (Danny Whitehead, 81), Matthew Jarvis (Ricardo Vaz Te, 71), Carlton Cole (Stewart Downing, 60)
Goal: Zarate

This is West Hams 3rd preseason game and we are now looking at a team that started that does resemble a GW1 team.  The CBs are the tricky area Valencia will start over Carlton Cole and Adrian over Jaas but essentially that looks to be the team.  Nothing positive on the form front.  Zarate probably got what little plaudits there were.

Here’s where I think the team is at the moment:

Adrian – Demel, Creswell, Reid/Tomkins/Collins – Nolan, Noble, Kouyate – Diame, Downing, Valencia

Ok thats it.  Hope you found it interesting and useful in tinkering with your team.  I’ll start the review of the weekend tomorrow

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