The Pre-season Friendly Hub Part 2
Pre-season preparations are now well and truly underway. All Premier League teams have played and depending on where you are in the world and what your sports subscription is, you may have had the opportunity to view first hand, a number of them. Be aware though that most managers see the first two or three games as purely an exercise to blow away the cobwebs and to get the joints moving once again. This is the reason a lot of the time you will see 22 (or more) players playing in a game. In short, you shouldn’t concern yourself if one of your fantasy picks only played 45 minutes in a game. This is not a reliable indication of manager intent or a forewarning to the season. Usually. The US seems to be the market everyone is trying to crack this pre-season and we know a number of site members have been lucky enough to go to some of these games. Manchester City, Manchester Utd, Liverpool, West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City are all in the world’s latest soccer (sic) market. Heck, even Arsenal nipped out for five minutes to face the Red Bulls last night. World Cup fever has caught stateside and the Premier League teams are dipping their bread in.
Newcastle and West Ham are in Oceania, with contrasting opening results and Chelsea are back-packing around Europe, whilst the rest seem to be preparing closer to home.
Today/Yesterday has been a massive day of action with no less than nine Premier League clubs continuing their preparations. Here is a rundown on the games involving Premier League teams from Wednesday to last night…
WEST HAM UNITED
West Ham United V Wellington Phoenix
23 July 2014
GOAL: Mauro Zarate (assisted by Matt Jarvis) 71 mins
Jaaskelainen
Demel, Reid, Collins, Cresswell
Kouyate, Noble, Diame, Nolan, Jarvis
C Cole, Nolan
Subs:
60min Zarate, Downing on – Cole and Kouyate off
68min Tomkins, O’Brien on – Collins and Demel off
77 min Potts on – Cresswell Off
81min Whitehead on – Diame off
83 Fanimo on – Nolan off
CHELSEA
Wolfsberger 1-1 Chelsea
23 July 2014
GOAL:
Jeremie Boga (assisted by Branislav Ivanovic) 84 mins
Cech
Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Luis (Ake 60)
Van Ginkel (Romeu 60), Matic (Chalobah 81); Salah (Swift 85), Baker (Boga 45)
Brown (Christensen 77); Bamford (Solanke 60)
HULL CITY
York City 0-2 Hull City
23 July 2014
GOALS:
Sone Aluko (unassisted) 50 mins
Yannick Sagbo (unassisted) 79 mins
Allan McGregor
Ahmed Elmohamady (Liam Rosenior 46), James Chester (Alex Bruce 46), Paul McShane (Curtis Davies 46), Conor Townsend
Robert Snodgrass (Sone Aluko 46), David Meyler (Tom Huddlestone 46), Stephen Quinn (Jake Livermore 46), Robbie Brady (Tom Ince 46)
Shane Long (Yannick Sagbo 46) George Boyd (Joe Dudgeon 68)
SUNDERLAND
Hartlepool Utd. 0-3 Sunderland
23 July 2014
GOALS:
Carl Lawson (assisted by Mickael Mandron) 70 mins
Andrew Cartwright (unassisted) 73 mins
Andrew Cartwright (unassisted) 77 mins
Sunderland 1-61 mins
Pantilimon
Watmore, Ferguson, Roberge, O’Shea
Cattermole, Larsson, Ba, Johnson
Fletcher, Clayton
Sunderland 62-90 mins
Cartwright
Pickford, T Robson, Harrison, Beadling
Agnew, Honeyman, Smith, Gooch
Lawson, Mandron.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Toronto 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur
24 July 2014
GOALS:
Erik Lamela (assisted by Roberto Soldado) 15 mins
Erik Lamela (assisted by Roberto Soldado) 39 mins
Andros Townsend (assisted by Lewis Holtby) 84 mins
First Half:
Brad Fridel
Kyle Naughton, Younes Kaboul, Milos Veljkovic, Ben Davies
Ettiene Capoue, Ryan Mason
Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela, Aaron Lennon
Roberto Soldado
Second Half:
Friedel
Walker, Dawson, Fryers, Rose
Carroll, Holtby, Ceballos, Townsend
Falque, Kane
CRYSTAL PALACE
Columbus Crew 2-2 Crystal Palace
24 July 2014
GOALS:
Glenn Murray (assisted by Yannick Bolassie) 36 mins
Jake Gray (assisted by Marouane Chamakh) 70 mins
Speroni (Hennessey 45)
Ward (Mariappa 51), Dann, Delaney (Ramage 60), Jerome Williams (Boateng 60)
Puncheon (Gray 60), Jedinak (O’Keefe 51), Ledley (Jonny Williams 60 {Ledley 73}), Bolasie (Bannan 60)
Murray (Chamakh 51), Gayle (Guedioura 60)
LIVERPOOL
Liverpool 0-1 Roma
24 July 2014
Jones
Kelly (Coady), Skrtel, Coates (Agger 60), Enrique (Robinson 48)
Lucas, Allen (Henderson 80)
Coutinho (Phillips 85), Borini (Can 11), Ibe (Suso 80)
Lambert (Peterson 60)
MANCHESTER CITY
Sporting Kansas City 1-4 Manchester City
24 July 2014
GOALS:
Bruno Zuculini (unassisted) 3 mins
Dedryck Boyata (assisted by Jesus Navas) 44 mins
Aleksandr Kolarov (PENALTY won by Scott Sinclair) 72 mins
Kelechi Iheanacho (assisted by Jesus Navas) 88 mins
Caballero
Richards (Clichy 46), Boyata, Rekik (Nastastic 75), Kolarov
Navas, Fernando (Javi Garcia 65), Zuculini (Huws 74), Kelechi Iheanacho (Denayer 90)
Sinclair (Leigh 88), Jovetic (Guidetti 65)
ASTON VILLA
FC Dallas 0-2 Aston Villa
24 July 2014
GOALS:
Andreas Weimann (assisted by Darren Bent) 44 mins
Charles N’Zogbia (unassisted) 49 mins
First Half:
Given
Hutton, Okore, Stevens, Baker
Herd, Bacuna, Gardner, Grealish
Weimann, Bent
Second Half:
Given
Lowton, Senderos, Clark, Bennett
Westwood, El Ahmadi, Delph, N’Zogbia
Agbonlahor, Richardson
MANCHESTER UTD
LA Galaxy 0-7 Manchester Utd.
24 July 2014
GOALS:
Juan Mata 13 mins
Wayne Rooney (PENALTY won by Valencia) 41 mins
Wayne Rooney (unassisted) 45 mins
Reece James (assisted by Ashley Young) 62 mins
Reece James (assisted by Shinji Kagawa) 84 mins
Ashley Young (assisted by Ander Herrera) 88 mins
Ashley Young (assisted by Ander Herrera) 90 mins
First Half:
De Gea
Smalling, Jones, Evans
Valencia
Fletcher (c), Herrera, Mata, Shaw
Welbeck, Rooney
Second Half:
Lindegaard
James, Fletcher, Keane M
Rafael, Blackett, Kagawa, Cleverley, Herrera
Nani, Young
SOUTHAMPTON
AFC Bournemouth 0-1 Southampton
25 July 2014
GOAL:
Lloyd Isgrove (assisted by Nathaniel Clyne) 20 mins
Boruc
Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida (Hoiveld 60), Targett
S. Davis (Reid 60), Ward-Prowse (Stephens 74), Tadi? (McQueen 60), Ramírez (Cork 45)
Isgrove (Mayuka 74), Pellè (Gallagher 74)
WEST HAM UTD
Sydney FC 3-1 West Ham Utd.
26 July 2014
GOAL: (Petkovic OG, assisted by Matt Jarvis ) 51 mins
Adrian (Howes 81)
Demel, O’Brien (Potts 72), Reid, Collins
Noble (Whitehead 68), Diame (Poyet 68), Nolan, Downing (Fanimo 81)
Jarvis (Vaz Te 59), Cole (Zarate 45)
NEWCASTLE UTD
Wellington Phoenix 0-1 Newcastle Utd.
26 July 2014
GOAL: Yoan Gouffran (assisted by Vurnon Anita) 41 mins
Rob Elliot
Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini (Haris Vuckic 78), Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Lubo Satka 65) Massadio Haidara (Paul Dummett 76)
Vurnon Anita, Mehdi Abeid (Rolando Aarons 46), Jack Colback, Yoan Gouffran (Adam Campbell 85),
Emmanuel Riviere (Adam Armstrong 65), Siem de Jong (Ayoze Perez 33)
CRYSTAL PALACE
Philadelphia Union 0-1 Crystal Palace
26 July 2014
GOAL: White (OG, assisted by Scott Dann) 20 mins
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).
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Sacramento Republic 1-3 West Bromwich Albion
26 July 2014
GOALS:
Saido Berahino (assisted by Victor Anichbe) 13 mins
Yousseff Mulumbu (assisted by Saido Berahino) 30 mins
Victor Anichebe (unassisited) 62 mins
Foster (L Daniels 45)
Wisdom, Dawson (D Daniels 69), Olsson (A Nabi 83), Pocognoli
Baird (Atkinson 85), Yacob (O’Neil 45), Mulumbu
Berahino (Roofe 63), Anichebe, Dorrans (Garmston 67).
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Red Bull Leipzig 2-0 Queens Park Rangers
26 July 2014
First half:
Green
Simpson, Ferdinand, Dunne, Hill
Phillips, Barton, Wright-Phillips, Doughty, Henry
Austin
Second half:
Green
Caulker, Collison, Dunne (Sendles-White 69), Onuoha,
O’Neil, Faurlin, Petrasso, Wright-Phillips (Ehmer 69)
Zamora, Sutherland.
BURNLEY
Accrington Stanley 0-1 Burnley
26 July 2014
GOAL: Jason Gilchrist (assisted by Scott Arfield) 73 mins
First half:
Gilks
Mee (Conlan 41), Shackell, Anderson, Trippier
Taylor, Hewitt, Marney, Hall
Ings, Sordell.
Second Half:
Cisak
Lafferty, Duff. Long. O’Neill
Arfield, Howieson, Jones, Hewitt (Lowe 70)
Gilchrist, Jutkiewicz.
HULL CITY
Barnsley 1-1 Hull City
26 July 2014
GOAL: Shane Long (unassisted) 47 mins
Steve Harper (Eldin Jakupovic 45)
Liam Rosenior (Joe Dudgeon 63), Ahmed Elmohamady, James Chester, Paul McShane
Tom Ince (George Boyd 63), Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore , Robert Snodgrass (Stephen Quinn 63),
Sone Aluko (Robbie Brady 63) Shane Long (Yannick Sagbo 63)
STOKE CITY
1860 Munich 2-0 Stoke City
26 July 2014
First Half:
Sorensen
Wilkinson, Shawcross, Wilson, Muniesa
Shotton, Ireland,Whelan, Arnautovic
Bojan
Diouf
Second Half:
Bachmann
Bardsley, Huth, Teixeira, Pieters
Walters, Adam, Nzonzi, Sidwell
Shea
Crouch
ARSENAL
New York Red Bulls 1-0 Arsenal
26 July 2014
First Half:
Szczesny
Jenkinson, Hayden, Monreal, Gibbs
Arteta, Wilshere,
Zelalem, Ramsey, Cazorla
Rosicky
Second Half:
Martinez
Bellerin, Monreal, Miquel, Gibbs
Coquelin, Flamini
Diaby, Rosicky (Toral 70), Cazorla (Olsson 70)
Akpom
MANCHESTER UTD
Manchester Utd. 3-2 Roma
26 July 2014
GOALS:
Wayne Rooney (assisted by Juan Mata) 36 mins
Juan Mata (assisted by Wayne Rooney) 39 mins
Wayne Rooney (PENALTY, won by Danny Welbeck) 45 mins
First Half:
Johnstone
Jones, Evans, Blackett
Valencia, Cleverley, Herrera, James
Mata
Welbeck, Rooney
Second Half:
Amos
M Keane, Smalling, Blackett
Young, Cleverley (Hernandez 70), Kagawa, Shaw
Nani
Lingard, W Keane
ASTON VILLA
Houston Dynamo 0-1 Aston Villa
27 July 2014
GOAL: Joe Bennett (assisted by Andreas Weimann) 41 mins
First Half:
Steer
Herd, Senderos, Baker, Lowton
Bennett, El Ahmadi, Delph [Richardson, 30] N’Zogbia
Agbonlahor, Weimann
Second Half:
Steer
Hutton, Richardson, Herd, Clark, Stephens, Gardner, Westwood, Bacuna, Grealish, Bent
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Chicago Fire 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
27 July 2014
GOALS:
Harry Kane (assisted by Lewis Holtby) 5 mins
Aaron Lennon (assisted by Roberto Soldado) 84 mins
Friedel (McGee, 78)
Walker (Naughton, 46), Dawson, Veljkovic (Fredericks, 80), Rose (Davies, 46)
Capoue, Mason; Holtby (Falque, 64), Lamela (Eriksen, 46)
Townsend (Lennon, 46); Kane (Soldado, 46)
CONCLUSIONS
HOT:
Man Utd started the van Gaal era impressively with a 7-0 win against LA Galaxy. Granted this was only an MLS side but any 7-0 deserves some credit. It would have been pleasing for Wayne Rooney owners to see him scoring so early (four goals in two games including sticking away two penalties) and they’ll be hoping it continues to the start of the season, especially as Man Utd. have some really attractive opening fixtures, as is well documented.
Luke Shaw appears to be lined up for the wide left position of a five in midfield as Man Utd’s default 3-5-2 formation. This in essence, makes him prospectively, the first and biggest, Out Of Position (OOP) player this season.
Ander Herrera began his Man Utd. career by dictating the LA Galaxy match and assisted two goals for Ashley Young (no mean feat!) and he may be a more attractive player in fantasy terms then first anticipated. A midfield destroyer he isn’t and never was, he is a classy player who although may play in a deep role, can unpick defences and may continue his assist scoring into the season.
The question is will Robin van Persie be used sparingly at the beginning of the season due to the burden able to be shared between Rooney, Mata, Valencia, Shaw and Herrera?
Enjoy discussing . . .
NOT
West Ham Utd. have now lost both their games against ‘A’ league opposition, in the form of Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC. OK, so it is pre-season, they have travelled a long way but you would have to be flag these two results as ‘warning signs’.
Andy Carroll has now been ruled out through injury (again). This time for a reported four months so their main striker being out and it has been one heck of a trip for Sam Allardyce and his men. Add to this the hullabaloo surrounding who he actually wants to sign / retain (Ravel Morrison) and can’t, and who he didn’t (Mauro Zarate) and did. This is all alleged of course but there usually is no smoke without fire.
Big Sam has already agreed with the owners that to appease them he will finish in the top half of the table minimum. Also, and to appease the Hammers’ support, he has promised a more attractive style of football. A return to the ‘West Ham Way’ (whatever that may be, like some, I have no idea).
The pressure is already on Big Sam and it could be argued that he now needs results (even though it is pre-season) against Schalke 04 and Malaga in Germany next weekend.
Hope you are enjoying these reviews and happy tinkering to all . . .
Right im certain on my front line now and that it will not be changed! Same goes for the back,
Just how do I spend my 37m left on my midfield…..
very secretive 😉 haha. seem confident, want to know who you have now 😉
Any comments on Albrighton Siggy Sterling Mata Fabregas?
Sterling may not be a regular starter, so also is fabregas
+1 also 8.5 mil for sterling is really not the right price
Scoring,
You can go
Mata, Ramsey, Siggy, de jong and Albrighton for just 37.5M as they say.
So how’s my harem of tinkering darlings this happy evening?
I see Siggy, Costa and Fabregas appear to be the names on everyone’s lips after today’s friendlies. Oh and Remy – that’s a first, someone faking an injury to avoid going to the Slipperpool
Cookie,
Fine ta. Wondering if I can get away without Sigurdsson in midfield. Thought I was happy with the midfield. Can see him doing very well for £6M.
GP, had a play around tonight and am as confused as ever – going to have to make some tough choices, but I would suggest Siggy at 6mln may well start the season as a musty, esp with their fixtures.
Cookie,
Yeah I feel that myself. I’m only looking for £1M to accommodate it. Got Davis at £5.0M currently.
I know you are no fan of Fletcher (£5.5M) so I could either go him to Zamora or Wood of Leicester and play 3-5-2 or downgrade on my defense which would probably involve removing two players which I’m not so keen on.
What are you thinking of your own team plan? Without giving too much away of course 😉
That’s the thing GP, right now none of the strikers you mentioned appeal, I hate the cheapo 3rd striker. But I guess a 3-5-2 may not be the worst option.
Currently I have Rooney, Dzeko and Costa up front.
Siggy, Hazard, Mata and Ramsey in midfield.
I want a reason not to pick Costa! That would solve a few problems – not wishing an injury or anything but maybe he can bite someone soon?!
I’m with Cookie on this one.. The 3rd cheapo striker isn’t ideal, but I’ve had to go that route right now to work with the current draft I have. I see Sturridge stepping forward as the only option for goals for LFC right now, so he’s in place instead of Costa. This will probably change closer to the start of the season – and if LFC go spend money on a big name striker (which they need to do).
Cookie/M & B,
I agree but in a straight comparison – I could ask myself, would I be better served by Davis & Fletcher OR Sigurdsson and Zamora ?
Hi TGP.
I was thiking about what you were waying the other day about rotting Davis with Nugent.
Looking at the fixtures, apart from GW1, Davis rotates pretty well with Siggy.
I would prefer to play Siggy most of the time but Davis has easyish fixtures with Siggy has difficult ones so a ‘Siggy +’ option if you will.
All for 11 million allowing the other 3 midfielders to be from the top drawer.
Horse
So you see where I am just now:
Krul/Mannone
Pieters/Filipe Luis/Shaw (Shackell, Neil Taylor)
Ramsey/Mata/de Jong/Nasri (Davis)
Rooney/Costa (Fletcher)
If SIggy comes in, it is for Davis I think.
What you reckon?
@TGP
How about downgrade Nasri to Siggy upgrade Fletcher to Dzeko.
You will still need another 0.5m to find (perhaps from your defence) but I think that is a better side.
Horse,
That is an interesting one. Not adverse to it. Would have Dzeko in a minute and if that meant Nasri then it is gain one, lose one and City are still covered.
Mmmmm. . . that might be an idea.
Cheers for that.
GP – Great work mate. Many many thanks. You’ve saved a lot of people a lot of time.
Quick question on how you post the teams. A lot seem to be in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Is that actually how they’ve lined up, your best guess or just a standard format you’re using? Reason I ask is that I noticed that Lamela appears as the middle of a 3 man unit behind the lone striker. He could be a good shout for this year if that’s how he’s actually being used. And he scored two. Basically guaranteeing an amazing season ahead…..
Anyway. Thanks!
Chins
Thanks pal. I use the official club twitter feed. The line-up will be announced before the game but then supplemented by updates once the game starts from the club’s own reporter at the game on how the team shapes up. If this does not happen for whatever reason I use a number of football websites and form a general consensus opinion. Of course teams and players swap formations and positions during the game and I’ll try to reflect this with first and second half formation line-ups.
I watched Spurs in the Toronto match and Lamela, Eriksen and Lennon were interchanging behind Soldado. Can’t comment on last night’s match as I didn’t see it. If you fancy Lamela, then his game-time for me would be encouragement enough to include him. If on the pitch, he will be involved in the attack at some stage.
Thanks mate. Appreciate that. Might take a punt on him. Decent differential maybe and he can’t be any worse than last year! Although Spuds players always let me down. One for the watchlist anyway. Cheers.
Rooney + Costa
OR
RVP + 9M striker (Giroud/Bony/Pelle)
Also, is Shaw worth the 6M? He is currently sitting in my team comfortably.
Rooney n costa for me
Thanks. Was thinking the same.
B
I have Rooney, Costa and Shaw so I’m gonna say ‘Option 1’ and ‘Yes’
Think Rooney barring injury will hit the season running based on his pre-season so far, Costa scored today and opens up against two promoted sides and has an abundance of attacking support behind him. Shaw could well be an extra midfielder this season, but one who can also benefit from CS points in a decent opening spell.
Great reasoning GP. Glad to know you have those three in the team.
I have Hazard as well, showing too much faith in Chelsea at the moment.
B
I wouldn’t criticise that.
Currently I’m going Luis and Costa & Shaw, Mata and Rooney.