Here’s the final Saturday fantasy premier league match catch up with games involving Liverpool, Fulham, Stoke, WBA, Norwich and Southampton. We’ll be studying the games for form, line up issues and looking for value in players
Liverpool 0 Celtic 1
Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Toure, Wisdom, Enrique, Lucas, Gerrard, Allen (Henderson 58), Downing (Ibe 72), Aspas (Sturridge 46), Coutinho.
Subs not used: Jones, Alberto, Assaidi, Coates, Borini, Sterling, Kelly, Flanagan.
With Agger injured, but expected to be back for GW1, Wisdom came in to the centre of defence. By the way, what is going on with Skrtel? I have no information that he’s injured. Lucas and Gerrard played in the double pivot of 4-2-3-1 and Allen weirdly, again, played behind Aspas and Allen was flanked by Coutinho and Downing. I’m assuming that Aspas will play that role that Allen is filling when Sturridge starts in GW1. Apart from those points it seems like a full strength lineup. Unfortuantely for those fantasy premier league bargain hunters Sterling (£5.5m) didn’t start and with the assault charge a start in GW1 is starting to look doubtful. The only hope is that with Downings future looking elsewhere, according to rumour, he may just lineup there although he has competition from Alberto. The line up situation is further clouded by the fact that Rodgers seems to want to flit between 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3.
This must have been a hugely disappointing result for Rosgers as although I’d normally watch the Bolivian league before I watched Scottish football this looked like a bit of a Celtic reserve side to me.
The standouts were predicaable. Coutinho was the star as usual and Sturridge made an impact when coming on. Toure also played well despite a rather shaky looking defence.
Fulham 1 Parma 2
Fulham: Stekelenburg; Riether, Richardson (Riise 79); Boateng (Karagounis 63); Hughes, Hangeland; Dejagah (Taarabt 63), Sidwell (David 79); Berbatov (Rodallega 45); Ruiz (Kasami 76); Mesca (Duff 56)
Subs not used: Stockdale, Senderos, Frei
Goal: Sidwell 10
This pretty much looks the favoured line up. I’m not a fan of the Fulham defence and its all over priced apart from Hangelands partner which on this evidence was £4.5m Hughes although Amorebieta, who’s avaliable at the same price has also filled in. So no certainty there.
Unfortunately the midfield holding position where either £4.5m Karagounis or Boateng are available has also been unclear so no guaranteed 2 point bench warmer there either. Dejagh at £5.5m and Duff at £6.0m are far too eaxpensive. Taarabt has yet to be added but I’ve been burnt with him before and have no intention of going there.
However its not all doom and gloom. The 4-4-1-1 saw fantasy premier league managers favoured Ruiz behind Berba pairing and given good fixtures for Fulham Berba has potential in my mind. Whether it will last or not is unclear as Jol continues to be linked with people such as Bent as he feels the front 2 lack pace.
Mesca who hasnt been added to fantasy premier league and Sidwell were the star performers.
Stoke 0 Genoa 0
Stoke: Begovic, Cameron (Shotton,64), Pieters (Muniesa,64), Shawcross, Huth (Wilkinson,76), Walters (Jones,76), Palacios (Wilson,64), Nzonzi (Kightly,76), Adam (Whelan,46), Etherington (Pennant,46), Crouch (Jerome,46). Subs not used: Sorensen, Cuvelier.As Cameron and Pieters both at £5.0m hold the FB spots the defence, especially with Wilsons (£4.5m) midfield role looking doubtful, just isnt an option given Hughes’ more attacking style and other options at £5.0m. The midfield 5 also saw anther attacking £4.5m midfielder in Pennant not make the starting lineup and now he is also shrouded in doubt for GW1 as Etherington and Walters started on the flanks. Palacios who is also a £4.5m midfielder seems to be getting starts but its hard to take someone seriously for your fantasy premier league lineup when he’s got 1 goal and 1 assist in 4 season and 4000 minutes but somehow managed to rack up 16 yellow cards at the same time. This team looks like the GW1 lineup though to me.No real standouts here. Adam who looks like he will play behind the striker at £6.0m at a push but with Stokes terrible fixtures to start with I can’t see it happening to my fantasy premier league team.
WBA 2 Bologna 0
WBA: Foster; Jones, McAuley (Dawson 60), Olsson (c) (Lugano 60), Ridgewell; Morrison (Long 60), Mulumbu, Yacob, Dorrans; Anelka, Rosenberg (Berahino 77). Subs not used: L Daniels (gk), Popov, Tamas, Roofe.
GOALS: – Rosenberg (32), Anelka (35).
Interesting line up. Clarke played 4-4-2 instead of his favoured 4-2-3-1. Brunt and Reid were missing due to a mixture of inury niggles and match fitness. Given the absentees and te formation this looks like a final line up although Long and Rosenberg would fight out the 2 striker role. What it would do though is give more certainty to Anelkas position who is great value at £5.5m given his pre-season form. The formation is definitely not great for Morrison who beind the striker at £6.0m is a reasonable prospect but out on the flank as he was here definitely isnt. Dorrans at £5.0m is good value but Brunt may get the starting line up nod. There’s also the talk of Sinclair joining from City to throw further doubt his way.
Anelka again was the standout.
Norwich 2 Panathanikos 0
Norwich City: Ruddy; Martin (Whittaker 45), Turner, R Bennett, Garrido; Snodgrass (Fer 45), Tettey, Johnson (Redmond 80), Olsson (van Wolfswinkel 45); Hoolahan; Hooper (E Bennett 57). Subs not used: Bunn, Ayala, Howson, Butterfield, Becchio.
Interesting line up. Not good for the players of interest to us though. Whittaker a £4.0m defender who was always a long shot didnt start and Redmond a £5.0m midfielder when Norwich have strong fixtures also didn’t. Pretty much a final line up although Olsson in midfoeld was a strange one.
Johnson who got both goals was the star. Hoopers injury is expected to clear up for GW1 and its a little unclear who will start at the moment.
All in all a fairly unhelpful game
Southampton 4 Sociedad 3
Southampton: Boruc (K. Davis 46), Chambers (Cork 62), Lovren (Yoshida 62), Hooiveld (Fonte 46), Shaw (Fox 45), Wanyama (Ward-Prowse 62), Schneiderlin (Isgrove 75), Lallana (c) (Punchon75), Guly (S. Davis 46), Rodriguez (Mayuka 75), Lambert (Ramirez 46).
Subs not used: Gazzaniga
Booked: Lambert
Goals: Lallana 7, Schneiderlin 33, Hooiveld 40, Puncheon 83.
This pretty much looked like a GW1 lineup although I would be surprised if Ramirez doesnt start instead of Guly. The defence is definitely worth investing in despite the defensive disaster of this game and with £4.5m defenders Clyne and Shaw injured and with no certainty over who will be the CB partner to Lovren then I’m going for Clyne on the basis that Poccetino thinks that Clyne could be ready for GW1.
I’m a little undecided on the strikers. Rodrguez looks good value at £6.0m and Lamberts consistency plus pens and free kicks gives him an attraction but he’s quite expensive at £7.5m.
The attacking players including Puncheon in 15 minutes were the stars.
Thats it Sundays games to finish off and then thats the friendly analysis over
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