Here’s the first part of my catch up of the weekends preseason games. We’ll look at the lineup in the games and what it tells us for GW1. We’ll also look at who’s in form and how the value players are performing. Lastly we’ll give you our latest thoughts on the potential GW1 lineup given the current information. In this catch up we’ve got Arsenal, Villa, Burnley, Palace, Hull, Chelsea, Leicester, Everton, Liverpool and Man City.
fantasy premier league preseason catch up – Saturday 26 July & Sunday 27 July games – part 1
NY Red Bulls 1 Arsenal 0
Arsenal (4-3-2-1): Szczesny (Martinez 46); Jenkinson (Bellerin 46), Hayden (Miquel 46), Monreal, Gibbs; Arteta (Diaby 46), Wilshere (Coquelin 46), Ramsey (Flamini 46); Zelalem (Akpom 46), Cazorla (Olsson 71 ); Rosicky (Toral 71).
Arsenal had 12 players at the World Cup and only Wilshere and Cazorla were here for this game. We already know the German contingent of Mertesacker, Ozil and Podolski wont be starting for GW1. This game with so many absentees was of little use and the result meant little positives form wise.
Here’s how I see the Arsenal lineup for GW1 at the moment: Szczesny – Debuchy, Gibbs/Monreal, Veramelen, Koscielny – Arteta, Ramsey – Cazorla, Sanchez, Rosicky/The Ox/Wilshere – Giroud
Houston Dynamo 0 Aston Villa 1
Villa [First Half] 4-3-3: Steer, Herd, Senderos, Baker, Lowton, Bennett, El Ahmadi, Delph [Richardson, 30], N’Zogbia, Agbonlahor [c], Weimann.
Villa [Second Half] 4-4-1-1: Steer, Hutton, Richardson, Herd, Clark, Stephens, Gardner, Westwood, Bacuna, Grealish, Bent.
Goal: Bennett
Vlaar and Guzan still World Cup absentees. A bit of a mixed side still so no clear first team out there and only Herd played the full game. Form wise Bent had another good game as did Alan Hutton. In terms of the value in the side the defence is a similar £4.5m price so Vlaar is the only option if fit after the WC.
Richardson at £5.0m as a midfielder is an interesting option and he played in a fairly advanced position in the 2nd half. Bent at £5.0m with Benteke injured could be a 3-5-2 option
Here’s my view of the possible line up based on 4-3-3: Guzan – Lowton/Bacuna/Hutton, Bennett/Luna, Baker/Clark/Herd/Senderos, Vlaar – Westwood, Delph, Bacuna/ElAhmadi – Weiman, Bent, Agbonlahor
Accrington 0 Burnley 1
BURNLEY (1st half): Gilks, Mee (Conlan 41), Shackell, Anderson, Trippier, Taylor, Hewitt, Marney, Hall, Ings, Sordell.
BURNLEY (2nd Half): Cisak, Lafferty, Duff. Long. O’Neill, Arfield, Howieson, Jones, Hewitt (Lowe 70), Gilchrist, Jutkiewicz.
Goal; Gilchrist
Again a pretty mixed 11 of 2 halves so hard to pick a lineup so far. New signings have also made it difficult. Cheapie £4.0m CB Duff is worth monitoring. There are a few £5.0m midfielders in Kightly, Matt Taylor and Arfield who may give a cheap rotation option but gametime again needs establishing. Upfront Ings is the goal scorer but just a little too expensive at £6.0m for 3-5-2. Too early to establish if someone cheaper will partner him.
Young CM Hewitt, who’s not even in FPL was probably the star along with Arfield
No estimate of the lineup yet sorry. Need more preseason direction.
Philadelphia 0 Crystal Palace 1
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ward (Mariappa 50), Dann (McCarthy 54, Ramage 65), Delaney, Jerome Williams (Boateng 65), Puncheon (Bannan 54), Jedinak (O’Keefe 50), Ledley (Gray 65), Bolasie (Thomas 54), Chamakh (Guedioura 65), Gayle (Murray 50).
Goal: OG
At least someone is helping us predict a lineup for GW1 as Pulis puts out what looks close to a GW1 side. In defence Mariappa is the cheapie at £4.5m. However 19 yo Jerome Williams, who’s not even on FPL, again takes the LB position. An LB signing must surely be coming. In the midfield Puncheon is the attraction although he’s had his price hiked to £6.0m which is expensive. Up front Chamakh and Gayle started with Murray on the bench. All are £5.5m. Gayle and Murray are the 2 better options for me, it’s just picking who will start if you want a 3-5-2 option.
Form wise Bolasie was probably the liveliest for Palace
Here’s how I see the GW1 side at the moment:
Speroni – Ward, ????, Dann, Delaney – Jedinak, Ledley, Bolasie, Puncheon – Chamakh, Gayle/Murray
Barnsley 1 Hull 1
Hull City: Steve Harper (Eldin Jakupovic, 46), Liam Rosenior (Joe Dudgeon, 63), Ahmed Elmohamady, James Chester, Paul McShane, Tom Ince (George Boyd, 63), Tom Huddlestone, Shane Long (Yannick Sagbo, 63), Robert Snodgrass (Stephen Quinn, 63), Jake Livermore, Sone Aluko (Robbie Brady, 63).
Goal: Shane Long
Well this looks close enough to a GW1 lineup to make anyone nervous who’s not there. Alex Bruce, McGregor and Meyler have injury issues. Hull have Figueroa and Jelavic on World Cup rest. The Hull defence is £4.5m apart from £4.0m Alex Bruce who seems a big gametime risk. In the midfield Snodgrass will have to dominate set pieces to be value at £6.0m. Ince if he can hold down a place has good goal scoring potential at £5.5m. Upfront Long and Jelavic are both £6.0m. Midfielder Robbie Brady is cheap at £5.0m but needs set piece involvement.
No real star player in this game to pick out.
We should get a good look at the team for their upcoming Europa League tie where presumably Bruce will play the strongest available team.
Here’s my estimate at the moment based on 4-4-2:
McGregor, Elmo, Rosenior/Figueroa, Chester, Davies – Huddlestone, Livermore, Snodgrass, Meyler/Brady/Ince/Boyd – Jelavic, Long
Ljubljana 1 Chelsea 2
First half line-up (4-2-3-1): Delac; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Cahill (c), Luis; Fabregas, Matic; Salah, Boga, Brown; Costa.
Second half line-up (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry (c), Ake; Fabregas (Romeu 63), Matic (Solanke 70), Van Ginkel; Salah (Chalobah 70), Costa (Bamford 70), Torres.
Unused subs Christensen, Baker, Swift.
Scorers Costa 55, Zouma 63
A mixed lineup which doesn’t show how they will line yup for GW1. Working out the lineup for the defence isn’t that easy. The value is Filipe Luis at £6.0m. He again started at LB and both Azpili and Ivanovic started as RBs which helped the Luis case. No clue who will play with Hazard in the attacking midfield here though.
Fabregas was the star and showed excellent form and his ability to create chances for others was noticable. Costa also started his Chelsea career well.
Here’s how I see the lineup at the moment: Courtois/Cech – Ivanovic/Azpilicueta, Cahill/Ivanovic, Terry (rotatable though), Luis/Azpilicueta – Matic, Fabregas – Hazard and 2 of Salah/Schurrle/Oscar/Willian – Costa. Oscar, Willian and Hazard still not involves complicates the picture even further.
Everton 0 Leicester 1
LEICESTER CITY: Schmeichel (Moore, 45), De Laet (Wasilewski, 45) Konchesky (Sclupp, 45), Drinkwater (Hammond, 45) Morgan (Capt), Moore, Knockaert (King, 45), Albrighton (Mahrez, 45), Nugent (Wood, 45), Ulloa (Vardy, 45). Goal: Taylor-Fletcher (65).
EVERTON: (3-5-2): Robles, Hibbert, Distin (Lundstram, 77) Duffy (Stones, 45), Garbutt (Browning, 45) McCarthy (Kennedy, ), Barry (Gibson, 45) Osman (Lundstram, 77) Pienaar (McAleny, 45), McGeady (Long, 45), Naismith (Alcaraz, 45).
Goal: Taylor-Fletcher
No WC absentees of Howard, Baines, Jagielka, Mirallas and Barkley for Everton so difficult to establish anything here for them. The Leicester team though does look closer to a GW1 team. No sign of £4.0m Upson as yet who’s the cheapie defensive target. Albrighton at £4.5m starting though which is a good sign. 2 strikers in Nugent and Ulloa at £5.5m both played for those looking at 3-5-2. Interestingly £5.0m cheapie forward Vardy was the star of this game and if he continues could upset the other 2.
As for Everton they need a striker otherwise it’s hard to see goals being in anything like the amount required.
Here’s how I see the lineups at the moment:
Everton: Howard – Coleman, Baines, Jagielka, Stones/Distin – McCarthy, Barry – Mirallas/Osman, Barkely, Pienaar – Naismith/Kone (if fit)
Leicester: Schmeicel – Delaat, Konchesky/Schlupp, Morgan, Upson/Wasileweski – Drinkwater, Hammond, Knockaert, Albrighton – Nugent, Ulloa
Olympiakos 0 Liverpool 1
Liverpool: Jones, Johnson (Kelly 60), Skrtel, Toure (Coates 60), Enrique (Robinson 46), Gerrard (Lucas 60), Henderson, Can (Allen 46), Sterling (Ibe 74), Markovic (Coutinho 46), Sturridge (Lambert 74).
Goal: Sterling
Rodgers played a good bet for a GW1 side. He also interestingly played 4-3-3 and Markovic started with Sterling either side of Sturridge. Markovic is a bit pricey at £7.5m for a 19 year old and Sterling at just £1.om more expensive is probably the safer bet. Enrique is looking like he might get the LB spot giving a bit of value at £5.0m if Liverpool can tighten up their defence.
The players who looked best in this game were Skrtel, Sterling and Coutinho. Markovic had a promising debut and his pace will fit in well with the quick Liverpool counters
Here’s my view of the potential GW1 lineup with 2 formations: Mignolet – Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Enrique – Gerrard, Henderson – Markovic, Coutinho, Sterling – Sturridge. For 4-3-3 replace Markovic or Coutinho for Emre Can.
AC Milan 1 Man City 5
MAN CITY: Caballero; Clichy; Boyata (Rekik 77), Nastasic, Kolarov (Richards 70); Navas (Leigh 77), Fernando (Garcia 62), Zuculini (Rodwell 77), Sinclair; Jovetic (Guidetti 70), Iheanacho (Huws 62).
Subs (not used): Hart, Wright, Lawlor, Denayer.
Goals: Jovetic 12, 58, Sinclair 14, Navas 23, Iheanacho 26
No World Cup players still makes this of little use to predicting a lineup. The form of Jovetic with 2 goals was easily the highlight.
Here’s how I see City’s potential GW1 lineup although its subject to match fitness:
Hart – Zabaleta/Sagna, Clichy/Kolarov, Demichelis Kompany – Fernadinho/Fernando, YYT, Silva, Nasri – Dzeko/Aguero/Jovetic
Thats it. 2nd part will be posted tomorrow.
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premier league preseason
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