Background

Options

RVP

Can it really be a week without a last minute  injury drama from RVP?  It seems to good to be true.  Well after the misinformation in the past nothing is impossible and I have no faith in the completeness of anything that comes out of Moyes mouth on any injury subject to be blunt.

Anyway  back to the assumption that RVP will play.  He’s returned in his last 2 and now has his consistency return rate up to 50%. His underlying shooting stats are excellent.   However his creating chances has really dropped off to virtually nothing.  This is mainly due to a lack of set piece involvement which did improve on the weekend with him and Rooney sharing free kicks and corners.  He does have pens which is an important factor.

The Fulham defence I’ve rated as the 16th best overall which makes them one of the worst in the league.  They were terrible against Southampton and with Hangeleand not expected to play the omens look good for United.  Fulham have won 1 game at home against Stoke which they should have lost easily.  Anyone who saw Arsenal win there 3-1 will know how vulnerable they are against any opposition let alone quality opposition

He’s definitely an option for me

Rooney

Plays behind RVP and doesn’t have anything worth writing home about  on the shooting stats  front.  Having checked them against against last year they don’t look that different so there’s no reason to think he wont continue returning.  I say that because it’s worth noting that his points per minute last year were very good.  Its just the lack of minutes that made it seem he had a bad year but when he was on the pitch he was productive.  So you’ve just got to go with the form of  4 goals and 4 assists in 8 games and a 75% consistency return rate.

Same comments apply as above to the Fulham defence.

He is an option for me

Aguero

7 goals and 4 assists in 8 games.  A 75% return rate and possibly only Suarez has better underlying shooting and creating chances stats. He’s been particularly ruthless at home averaging 8.5 points and returning in each game except against Hull.   The only shadow is rotation. Surely this is the type of game that you would rotate.  On the face of it, a relatively easy home game before a champions league fixture is exactly the type of game you do want to rotate.  The issue is compounded by the fact that Pellegrini does seem to like to use his strikers as subs.  Negredo’s 4 minutes at the weekend is a classic example.  The positive signs are that Jovetic is injured with no return date and Pellegrini has pretty much played 2 strikers.  He was also no where near the Capital One Cup game in mid week.

Personally I think   Aguero will start but Pellegrini is not that predictable and it would be a very nervous read of the team sheet when it comes out that’s for sure

The Norwich defence I’ve rated as the 15th best in the league.  Apart from the Stoke game they’ve conceded in every game away.  They lost 4-1 against Arsenal but the result was a little harsh with 2 late goals after Norwich tried to push for an equaliser when the score was 2-1.  Underlying stats wise they are a mid table away team so there certainly are alot worse teams.

However lets not kid ourselves, Man City have scored 13 goals in 4 home games so you have to be positive about the amount of goals that will be scored

Silva

The alternative city option.  Although Nasri can provide the creative midfield option, Silva’s importance to Pellegrini was shown when he returned to the side after injury as soon as he possibly could.  He did come on as sub in the Capital One Cup midweek but I would be very surprised if he didn’t start against Norwich.

He’s more of an all round scorer than Aguero and not as devastating at home as Aguero is only averaging 5.3 points in the 3 home games he’s played.  Overall he’s got 2 goals and 3 assists in 6 games with a 75% return consistency rate.  He does have good shooting and creating chances stats

He’s definitely an option but more of a safe gametime option who doesn’t really have the potential for devastation like Aguero does.  I also would prefer a striker as a  captain as a general rule as they’re far more likely to score

Summary:

Yes in order:

1.  Aguero

2.  RVP

3.  Rooney

4.  Silva

William Hill check

Here’s how William Hill see the anytime goal scorer odds market with all players at under £2.00

1.  Aguero – £1.50

2.  Negredo – £1.73

3.  Dzeko  – £1.91

Torres – £1.91

Rooney – £1.91

RVP is £2.00 and Silva is £2.25.  Personally I think that’s a good price for RVP.  I’ve discounted Negredo and Dzeko due to selection uncertainty.  I think its likely Torres will play at Newcastle after Eto’o played most of the game in the Capital One Cup midweek.  However,  I still think 3 strikers into 1 place is inherently risky and that’s before you even get your head around  wiping out 2 years of mediocre form (and that’s being kind) due to a couple of good performances this season.

I hope that gives you some food for thought

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